For many it will provide the impetus to visit their local garden retailer or nursery, so what should you be stocking in your store?
The Sun Flower Square, the industry exhibit, championed by Peter Seabrook and co-ordinated by the HTA, is leading the way with 40 new novelties on its gardens.
Wyevale Nurseries will be launching a collection of new dahlias with the Candy Collection.
Salvias will also be popular with Salvia ‘Little Kiss’, Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’ and Salvia ‘Radio Red’ making a statement at the show. Wyevale will also be launching the all new Ligustrum ‘Sunshine, a low-growing hedge that doesn’t bloom (which is good news for allergy sufferers).
Petunias will play a big part on The Sun Flower Square with Petunia ‘Night Sky’, ‘Tumbelina Anna’ and ‘Tidal Wave Red Velour’ all being showcased. Begonias, heucheras and sweet peas will be prominent this spring across the gardens.
Seed wise, Thompson and Morgan will be growing new varieties especially for Chelsea. Bidens ‘Bee Dance’, Buddleja ‘Buzz’, Digitalis “Illumination Ruby Slippers”, Geranium ‘Chocolate’, Geranium Caramel, Marigold ‘Strawberry Blonde’ will be on show on the Seed Garden. Mr Fothergill’s will be growing Calendula x hybrida ‘PowerDaisy Sunny. Johnsons will be showcasing ‘Cabbage Cabice’. Suttons are exhibiting a grow your own theme by displaying Mangetout 'Golden Sweet' and Mangetout 'Shiraz'. The Seed Garden will be completed by Unwins who will be growing Raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’, Runner Bean 'Firestorm' and Tomato ‘Montello’.
The garden will see Thompson and Morgan’s Sweet Pea ‘Eleanore Udall’ for Thrive make its debut, whilst the Time to Live Rose for Breast Cancer Now is set to be popular with visitors who will see it at Chelsea for the first time.
The Sun Flower Square has five plants in the Plant of the Year Award:
- Calendula Powerdaisy Sunny ('Kercalsun') (PowerDaisy Series) bred by Kerley & Co.
- Lilium 'Perfect Joy' bred by Pinetops’ Stuart Paton.
- Petunia Nightsky ('Kleph15313') bred by Selecta One.
- Coleus Campfire (‘Uf12823’) bred by Florida Foundation Seed Producers.
- Marigold 'Strawberry Blonde' bred by T&M.
- David Austin Roses Rosa Roald Dahl (‘Ausowlish’)
- Hillier Nurseries Acer shirasawanum Moonrise
- Peter Beales Roses Rosa Sandringham (‘Beamolly’)
- Scotts’ Solanum tuberosum + Solanum melongena Egg and Chips plant bred by Thompson & Morgan.
- Scotts’ Fuchsia Fuchsiaberry bred by T&M.
- Cooks Garden Centre’s Photinia serratifolia Pink Cripsy (‘Oploo5’)
The gardens are ‘Room Outside’, designed by Lovania and made up of HTA members, the GCA Jubilee Hanging Basket Garden, The Seed Garden and the Rising Stars Garden, supported by Westland Horticulture.
For more information
Horticultural Trades Association
Horticulture House
19 High Street
Theale
Reading
West Berkshire
RG7 5AH
T: +44 (0)118 930 3132
Fax: +44 (0)118 932 3453
NGGV: +44 (0)118 930 2092
www.the-hta.org.uk
