Is your patio looking a little bare? While many national gardening guides tell you to wait until the end of May, here in the Sittingbourne and Rainham microclimate, we're often a step ahead. Because of our proximity to the coast, our last spring frost typically passes by end of April, meaning May is prime time to get your summer displays established.

 

The Coastal Advantage

While inland areas may still be shivering, our local temperatures often stay just that bit higher. This means you can get your Geraniums, Fuchsias, and Petunias into their final positions sooner, giving them a longer season to bloom.

  • The “Local” Rule: By early May, the risk of a hard frost in our part of Kent is generally very low.
  • Keep an Eye Out: We still recommend keeping a bit of horticultural fleece handy for those rare “cold sky” nights, just in case!

What to Plant Now (Available at Gardening World)

Our half-acre greenhouse is really getting full, you are welcome to wander up and down our growing beds to choose individual plants and inspiration.

  • For Instant Impact: Our 10cm pots patio are fully established and ready to go straight into your containers and hanging baskets.
  • For Value: Our summer bedding packs (6-packs) are perfect for filling large borders and pockets of ground between shrubs and perennials.
  • The “Thriller, Filler, Spiller” Method:
    • Thriller: A bold upright Geranium, stunning Canna Lily or a beautiful Fuchsia for height.
    • Filler: Bushy Million Bells (Calibrachoa), French Marigolds, upright Petunias and perfumed Nemesia are just some suggestions to pack in the colour.
    • Spiller: Trailing Lobelia, Bacopa, trailing Petunias or trailing Fuchsias to soften the edges of your pots and baskets.

Why Local Plants Are Better

Bedding plants are often “forced” in high-heat industrial nurseries and can go into shock when they hit the Kent air. At Gardening World, our plants are nurtured right here in Newington in between Rainham and Sittingbourne, and we never heat our greenhouses we ourselves fleece our growing beds on cold nights. Therefore, all our plants are acclimatised to our local conditions, which means they'll grow stronger and flower longer in your garden.

 

Pop into Gardening World Limited, Newington this week to explore our massive range of locally-ready summer colour. Our team is always on hand to help you pick the perfect plants for your specific garden spots!