Absent Gardener

[Jane]

I’m wanting to put some pots out in the garden, but as I won’t be there for most of the year, only visiting several times, I’m looking for something so hardy it would survive arid conditions in a pot. Anyone got any advice? The weeds are thriving btw 

[Brian]

Bear in mind that everything I know about gardening can be written on one tooth of a chainsaw...

I hope someone with greater knowledge will be along soon, but we find that rosemary bushes do well when severely neglected.

Also, we have two pots of flowers that we bought at Montmorillon's Jardin Passion event in April 2016 that go from strength to strength even though we've never so much as watered them.

The first are daisy-like with an orange outer and yellow inner. They open and close with the sun (note the condition of the terra cotta pot):



And Thyme just loves the conditions here. Pretty blue/mauve flowers and good for cooking. I have no idea where the single chive plant came from:


Any help?
Brian

[Jane]

Great help, thanks Brian. That’s exactly what I want to know. I never thought of Rosemary or Thyme. That’d do for two of my pots, when I get back in the Summer. I need any more suggestions for my other two pots please, if anyone has any ideas. Just something that can be left when we’re not there, thank you. 
Btw, where did you buy your Rosemary and Thyme from?

[Fred]

Ok I have some suggestions.

#1 Our Sage does very well without water.

#2 Bay tree should do ok. But a young one will need to be protected in the winter.

#3 One guaranteed not to fail is Horseradish. Do not put it in the ground without digging a barrier down deep But we grow it in pots, you can use the young leaves in salads and at the end of the year lift the root out, use what you want and shove a few bits back in. Next year they will fill your pot again. (Dispose of your unused roots carefully as it will grow anywhere)

#4 Geraniums can do reasonably well without much attention.

#5 Alpine plants are great. Beg borrow or steal some pieces they will grow anywhere and can give some very nice colours.

[Jane]

Ok I have some suggestions.

#1 Our Sage does very well without water.

#2 Bay tree should do ok. But a young one will need to be protected in the winter.

#3 One guaranteed not to fail is Horseradish. Do not put it in the ground without digging a barrier down deep But we grow it in pots, you can use the young leaves in salads and at the end of the year lift the root out, use what you want and shove a few bits back in. Next year they will fill your pot again. (Dispose of your unused roots carefully as it will grow anywhere)

#4 Geraniums can do reasonably well without much attention.

#5 Alpine plants are great. Beg borrow or steal some pieces they will grow anywhere and can give some very nice colours.

Thanks so much for these suggestions. I didn't want to plant something for it to just die whilst we're away. I shall be taking a trip to the garden nurseries when we're next over. I never even thought about geraniums too. I have a geranium here in the UK, which has basically survived everything, but I never thought about one surviving over there. Thank you 

[Fred]

The geranium may die if left out in the winter so remember to put them in a sheltered place to over winter.

Also easy to take cuttings if you spot a nice one on your journey.

[Jane]

The geranium may die if left out in the winter so remember to put them in a sheltered place to over winter.

Also easy to take cuttings if you spot a nice one on your journey.  

Not that we'd advocate stealing plants from other people's gardens of course 

[Fred]

The geranium may die if left out in the winter so remember to put them in a sheltered place to over winter.

Also easy to take cuttings if you spot a nice one on your journey.  

Not that we'd advocate stealing plants from other people's gardens of course 

[Jane]

You said it 

[Admiral]

Two of the things Fed suggested do really well here - especially outside over winter..

Sage works a treat and nothing seems to affect it.  Oops that's done it.

By far the best plants to survive all year round are alpines and cacti.  Grown in pots - plastic of course - just move a to sheltered wall of the house in late autumn and they are more than happy to thrive.

Also good plants to take cuttings from or you can lift and divide when they outgrow the pot.