Zinnias

Late Summer

Zinnias

The zinnias have loved the heat of this summer and are a riot of colour all in one pot on a table. These smaller headed varieties are perfect for pots and shouldn't need staking. They dislike cold nights so shouldn't be sown until May or June, but then will really grow when the nights warm up and are a great cut flower to bring inside.

Plant Directory

Zinnia 'Aztec Sunset Mix'

Zinnias love the sunshine and heat of the summer and Arthur shows how a pot planted with purely zinnias really sings.

---

Independent Garden Centres

London

• N1 Garden Centre
• W6 Garden Centre
• Petersham Nurseries
• Camden Garden Centre
• Alleyn Park Garden Centre
• Alexandra Nurseries

South East

• Coolings
• Grovewell Garden Centres
• Clifton Nurseries
• Priory Farm Nursery
• Perryhill Nurseries

South West

• Andy's Air plants
• Roseland House Nursery
• Bowdens
• Little Groves
• Hoo House Nursery
• Derry Watkin's Special Plants

East of England

• Monksilver Nursery
• Daisy Roots
• Homestead Nurseries
• Hattens Farm Nurseries

East Midlands

• Tissington Nursery
• Piecemeal Plants
• Mendle Nursery
• Coton Manor
• Norwell Nurseries
• The Herb Nursery

West Midlands

• Newent Plant Centre
• Mynd Hardy Plant
• Hazles Cross Farm Nursery
• Durno's Nurseries
• Pacific Nurseries
• The Gobbett Nursery

North East

• Polemonium Plantery
• Harperley Hall Farm Nurseries
• Bide-A-Wee Cottage Gardens and Nursery
• Perennial Favourites

North West

• Barton Grange Garden Centre
• Gordale Garden and Home Centre
• Manor Garden Centre
• Trebaron Garden Centre Ltd
• Bud Garden Centre

Yorkshire

• All Plants North
• Hoyland Plant Centre
• Bents Green Nurseries
• Dark Star Plants

Wales

• Seven Oaks Garden Centre & Cafe
• Caerphilly Garden Centre
• Crûg Farm Plants
• Camlan Garden Centre, Farm Shop & Cafe

Scotland

• Mill Garden Centre
• New Hopetoun Gardens
• Abriachan Nurseries, The Garden On Loch Ness
• Caulders Loch Lomond Garden Centre & Restaurant

Northern Ireland

• Mahon Garden
• Mid Ulster Garden
• Dundonald Nurseries
• Hillside Nursery Centre
• Inver Garden Centre

California

• Armstrong Garden Centers & Pike Nurseries
• Calloway's Nursery
• Sloat Garden Center
• SummerWinds Garden Centers
• Roger's Gardens

Texas

• Ruibal's Plants of Texas
• Enchanted Gardens
• Smith's Gardentown
• Calloway's Nursery

Florida

• Tallahassee Nurseries
• Lukas Nursery & Garden Shop
• Mariposa Nursery & Garden Center

New York

• Urban Garden Center
• Plant Shed
• Natty Garden
• Gowanus Nursery

Australia

• Oxley Nursery
• Swane's Nursery – Dural
• Gehl Garden Centre
• Burnetts On Barney Landscaping Hub & Garden Centre

---

Suggested Reading

The Flower Yard: Growing Flamboyant Flowers in Containers by Arthur Parkinson

This Sunday Times Bestseller is a great gardening book, especially if you plant primarily in pots or containers and space is at a premium. It is one of the best books you can buy.

This book shows you how to transform a few square feet—or even a few square inches—of outdoor pot space into a visually stunning display that will give you joy for months to come.

The Pottery Gardener: Flowers and Hens at the Emma Bridgewater Factory by Arthur Parkinson

For city dwellers, this book is a must-read. The book explains how everyone can share in the creativity of flowers. All sizes of containers are used to create beautiful gardens.

The Land Gardeners Cut Flowers by Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld

This book explores the history of floristry and the fundamentals of soil health, additionally providing the reader with essential resources for pursuing floristry projects.

Nature's Palette by Patrick Baty

This is a great book that Arthur recommends for developing colour palettes. It is important to start in the beginning and begin to really understand the colours that you be.

In A Year Full of Flowers: Gardening for all Seasons by Sarah Raven

Sarah Raven provides lots of helpful information, along with plenty of pictures showing the different types of plants she suggests planting. This book is a valuable reference and suitable for coffee-table display.

The Cutting Garden by Sarah Raven

Using flowers and foliage as decorative elements, in this practical guide, Sarah Raven demonstrates how to grow and create floral arrangements, from simple bunches to romantic hanging globes.

---

Suggested Listening

Grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & Arthur Parkinson

This weekly podcast features a relaxed informative chat between Sarah & I across a variety of topics. In addition to discussing gardening and growing, Sarah provides some of her favourite recipes packed with ingredients you can grow at home.

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Podcast

This podcast offers a lively conversation about gardening with the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine crew. They discuss growing for health and wildlife, producing local foods and flowers, and greening up your home.

---

Suggested Shops & Suppliers

Online shops for buying bulbs:

• Avon Bulbs
• Bloms Bulbs
• De Jager
• Peter Nyssen
• Sarah Raven
• Shipton Bulbs

Online shops for buying bulbs (USA):

• American Meadows
• Breck's
• Eden Brother's
• Nature Hills

---

Arthur's Chickens

Arthur shows you his pride and joy, his chickens, describing how they've transformed his garden.

Arthur raises Pekin Bantams and Polish Chamois chickens. He's thinking of fencing off his flowerbeds with steel fences to make having chickens in the garden more harmonious. He prefers little Bantams because they do less damage, and they're a lot friendlier.

There's a pecking order that develops among chickens, determining who will be the boss. The sound and movement of chickens really help to bring the garden to life.

It's all about knowing what plants they like and sectioning off areas when you know what foods they eat.