GARDEN LIFE
Check out winter blooms
Kiran Narain

French marigold Mesembryanthemum Antirrhinum and Calendula

THE plants which complete their lifecycle from germination to seed ripening within a year are called annuals. They flower, produce seed and die, all within a few months and can be reproduced the following year through seeds. However, their flowering period can be prolonged by removing the dead and dying flowers.

Even though there is a vast variety of winter annuals which add beauty and colour to gardens during winters in the plains in North India, the 10 most popular and widely grown annuals are

Antirrhinum (Snapdragons): Vertical in form, these are among the most beloved of garden flowers. These are available in tall and dwarf varieties in crimson, orange, yellow apricot, pink and white and look very effective in individual beds and mixed herbaceous borders. Growing up to 4 ft tall to just under a foot, they make excellent cut flowers.

Asters: They come in double as well as single varieties ranging from ray-petalled, Ostrich-plumed, anemone-flowered to giants and powder-puffs. They are also available in medium and dwarf varieties and come in an array of white, pink, mauve, magenta, blue, violet and purple colours. Loving an open sunny position with sandy soil, Asters do not like dampness. Planted 10-12 inches apart, they do well with pinching which makes them nice and bushy. They enjoy a little lime in the soil and make an excellent cut flower.

Calendula: Foolproof continuous flowering annual in many shades of orange, apricot, and yellow, calendula grows quickly and easily without much care. These grow up to 1.5-2 ft high, the seedlings should be planted 9 inches apart. Good for cutting.

Candytuft: With flowers in white, pink and mauve, Candytuft grows better if sown in situ but can stand transplanting. The hyacinth flowered Candytuft is of erect habit (15 inches tall) with white spikes and is most popular as a cut flower for "fillers" in bouquets and vases. The globe-variety, growing in clusters up to 6-15 inches is preferred for edgings, dwarf borders and rock-gardens.

Larkspur: The erect spikes of closely formed flowers are in pink, lilac, rosy scarlet, mauve and white. The single stem with secondary branches makes an excellent plant as a background flower in borders as well as a valuable cut flower. Seeds may be sown in situ or seedlings be transplanted in rich soil having a sunny position.

Marigold: No annual grows more quickly and easily as marigolds. Available in many shades of cream, yellow, orange, maroon and rust, they come in sizes varying from 5 inches to 50 inches. Pinching in early stages encourages branching resulting in heavier flowering for a prolonged season. Popular for garlands, "poojas" and pots these are an integral part of a gardener’s choice.

Mesembryanthemum: Popularly known as "Nine to Five" for its habit of spreading the sparkling petals in the morning and closing them down before sunset, it is a plant of spreading habit bearing a host of daisy-like flowers in dazzling orange, carmine, red, pink and white. The low-growing plant thrives in a dry, sunny position and gives surprisingly good performance in poorest of soils.

Nasturtium: One of the most widely grown annuals, Nasturtium with its golden, orange, scarlet, salmon and cherry flowers comes in single, semi-double and double varieties, with plain to variegated and freckled foliage. Particularly suitable for locations that are difficult to manage and irrigate, Nasturtiums are creepers suitable for trellises, window-boxes and hanging baskets in addition to beds and borders.

Phlox: Bearing flowers in a wonderful range of pink, rose, salmon, crimson, mauve, blue, purple and white, many with contrasting eyes, Phlox enjoys a rich soil capable of retaining moisture and a sunny position.

Salvia: Used as a bedding plant against dark-green background or surrounded by whites in mixed borders, the brightest red salvias give a stunning performance even in poor soils.