Plant of the Month: Chrysanthemum

Everyone loves a ‘Mum’. Chrysanthemums are in full bloom during September and October, and bring great colour and vibrancy to your Autumn garden, patio, or balcony. When looked after by dead heading they will keep giving throughout autumn and makes for prolonged flowering.
Available in a beautiful array of colours, you’ll be seeing them flowering now when planted in early spring or if you want instant effect, but them already fully in bloom and plant where ever colour is desired.

Most hardy chrysanthemums can survive temperatures down to at least -5˚C, which with Jersey’s soft winters is a doable things. If frost is on the cards it may be safer to lift and store plants over winter in light, frost-free conditions, such as a frost free greenhouse, a cool conservatory, verandah or similar.

When planting keep in mind that Mums love a sheltered sunny spot, and a good helping of rich, fertile soil, so dig in a bucketful well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, before planting. When planting in containers, use John Innes No 2 compost and a container with a diameter of at least 30cm.