Some small, unexpected mishaps meant there were no markets in May, but the stall will definitely be back this month with a range of interesting plants and some lovely seasonal flowers.

June 2nd: Wolvercote Community Market at the White Hart Pub in Wolvercote

June 16th: Sofacoma Market in the Community Centre off Lake St

Both markets run from 10.00am until midday. If you would like to pre-order for pick up at either market, then please email me before 6.00pm on Saturday at: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Free delivery might also be possible for orders £10 and over – please contact me.

Flowers

The last of the peonies, sweetly scented roses, delphiniums and other beauties will be in this week’s bunches, pickle pots and jam jars. There will only be a limited number available so pre-ordering is advisable.

Prices:

Jam Jars: £7.50 with at least 12 stems

Pickle Pots: £10 – £12.00 with at least 20 stems

Bouquets start at £15

Plants

Perennial Plants: these are all healthy resilient plants grown by me from seed, cuttings or division in peat free compost. Each one is attractive to pollinators as well as being beautiful. They have all been hardened off and most are ready to be planted out immediately. A few have recently been potted on and would benefit from a week or so longer in their pots. The pictures below are for guidance; the plants will bloom this year, but most are not in flower yet.

Salvias

Salvia nachtvalinder: one of the very best salvias which despite being a tender perennial comes back reliably year after year even in the harshest winters. Velvet-like, deep plum coloured flowers appear from May to the frosts. It grows up to around 50 cms in my garden; likes sun and free draining soil and is very happy in a pot if you don’t have the right conditions. Don’t cut back until April as the top growth protects the plant. Prune to healthy new shoots when they appear. These have been grown from cuttings and are limited in number: £3.00 a 9cm pot and £5.00 a one litre pot.

Salvia deep pink/red: another lovely, healthy salvia grown from seed – no name as the label for its parent plant has been lost. The original plant is reliable and grows to around a metre. Same care as above. £3.00 a 9cm pot and £5.00 a one litre pot

Veronica Longifolia Blaureisin

An attractive upright perennial with narrow mid-green leaves formed in a rosette. Spikes of bright lilac-blue flowers appear in summer and early autumn. It can be grown in sun or part shade and can reach up to 75cm. Loved by pollinating insects, it is a very elegant plant which bushes out. These plants are divisions from the plot and are ready to be planted out. £5.00 for a one litre pot; £7.50 for a 2 or 3 litre pot

Campanula Lactifolia ‘Pritchard’s Variety’

A true cottage garden variety which is also one of the RHS plants for pollinators recommendations. It has clusters of trumpet shaped pale lilac-blue flowers and grows up to 75cm in sun or part shade. A lovely plant which clumps up once established. These are from divisions from the plot. £5.00 a one litre pot; £7.50 a 2 or 3 litre pot

Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’

Very pretty daisy with upright habit and strong growth. It can grow up to over a metre when established and it is a prolific flowerer. Each flower consists of a double row of flat chalk-white petals which surround the large central yellow disc. Flowers later than most daisies in late Summer. £4.50 a litre pot and £7.50 for 2 or 3 litre pot

Eryngium ‘Blue Glitter’

I love this plant! It has been grown from seed collected from the garden: a true perennial, it has strong, erect stems that are an ornamental silver-blue colour and is beautiful fresh or dried. It is a magnet for pollinators and gives height and beauty to the border. Although the plants are small now they should flower in late Summer. They appreciate being planted out before they grow too big as they establish long tap roots and don’t like lots of potting on. £3.00 a 9cm or 11 cm pot; £5.00 a 1 litre pot

Half Hardy Annuals

The weather hasn’t helped quick growth and the only Cosmos ready so far is the lovely Double Click Cranberries below (Purity and Dazzler coming, but need to put on some growth):

Cosmos Double Click Cranberries:

Beautifully elegant double flower in the richest ruby. Cosmos are full of nectar and pollen, making them excellent for pollinators. They are hugely productive and keep flowering to the first frosts if dead headed. Can grow over a metre high and an easy to grow, glamorous addition. The plants are in small 9cm and 11 cm pots and have been pinched out and hardened off so are ready to plant out straightaway. £1.50 a pot

Zinnia

In a mixture of colours from white to bright, Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow and are particularly loved by butterflies. They make an excellent cut flower and as well as brightening up the garden. They like full sun and a well drained soil though also like to be well watered. These plants have been grown from plugs and need a week or two before being planted about 30 cms apart. They need to be pinched out at about 20 cms tall if they haven’t had growing tip removed already. This encourages them to bunch out and produce many more flowers. They flower most vigorously towards the end of Summer. £1.25 a 9cm pot

Vegetable Plants

Courgettes and squash in 9cm pots at £1.50 a pot.

Courgette Defender: a highly productive and delicious dark green courgette, which crops over a long period. It has resistance to mildew and mosaic virus and is a good variety for courgette flowers too. Plants have been hardened off and are ready for planting out.

Winter Squash Red Kuri: a favourite squash because of it has great taste and texture – waxy and sweet, tasting of chestnuts – and it doesn’t get too huge. Can be trained up a support or used to fill a gap in a vegetable garden or allotment. Needs to be kept well watered in dry weather.

Butternut Squash: reliable,tasty and versatile.

Apologies for lack of tomato plants, but they are not good enough to sell as this year’s Spring weather has given them a beating.