It’s been a really busy few days. The weather is still mild, but it can all change overnight.

Despite this, I’ve continued to take the arrival of March as a signal that I can keep on sowing, except this time I’ve also thought ahead to my patio pots and hanging baskets by doing my annual Spider Plant pot-on.

Using Spider Plants in the garden

I use Spider Plant ‘Chlorophytum Comosum’ as an interesting companion plant in my patio pots – like bedding plants. My houseplants certainly produce enough baby plants to keep this going, and sometimes I will remember to bring them in before the frosts get them.

It’s easy to cut the umbilical cord, which is much like a Strawberry runner when the plant is of a reasonable size and showing some attempt at roots. Just pop it in some compost, water it in, and off you go.

They’ll soon put on new growth and give you some great free summer plants that add interest in the shape and colours of their leaves that can off-set flowers perfectly.

Sowing the Peppers

Before sowing time last year, I realised that I use a lot of peppers in cooking (i’m a great stir-fry fan) as they are colourful, interestingly shaped when sliced up, and they are packed full of vitamin C.

I’m a big fan of the orange and yellow ones, so wanted to grow my own. I managed it, but winds flattened the plants daily and I managed to harvest no more than half-a-dozen.

This year, I’ve dug out some old seed from years ago for Sweet Pepper ‘Friggitello’, which results in red or green long peppers (they look a bit like a chilli or paprika, but without the punch), and also a new pack of Pepper ‘Colour Spectrum’ which, like last year’s lone remaining seed, should provide me with a range of colours once ripe.

I’ll be interested to see if the old Friggitello seeds germinate, and I’d probably pick up a new packet if they don’t.

Do you grow peppers without a greenhouse? What’s your trick to making them a success?

Thanks for reading, and happy gardening,

Andrew