Gardeners' favourites

This month is a peak time in our gardens, which got Philippa Pearson wondering what plants fellow gardeners love most on their plots

- Philippa Pearson

June is seen as the pinnacle of the season by most gardeners, a time when many plants are putting on a fabulous display and all the hard work getting the garden ready and prepared in spring pays off handsomely. We all have our favourite plants, and I’m a huge fan of perennials and grow many from seed when I can. I also like lots of annuals for summer borders packed with colour, and I grow lots of cosmos in many shades, putting young plants sown in February and March outside in the garden in June. Some of my favourites include Cosmos bipinnatus Purity, which has elegant pure white flowers, and Cosmos b. Seashells, which has unusual fluted rolled petals, just like its namesake. Last year I discovered Cosmos b. Double Click Cranberries and was stunned by the gorgeous burgundy ruffles of double flowers. I’ve grown at least double the amount this year as it’s my favourite must-have of the moment.

All Cosmos flower from June to the first frosts in November and the trick to keeping the display going for these and many other plants is to deadhead regularly. Try and spend 15-20 minutes or so pottering around the garden at least once a week and snip off the spent flowers before they go to seed to encourage plants to produce new flowers. Garden Divas, an online gardening shop based in Hitchin with lots of tools and lovely gifts, has a good range of little deadheading snips which are perfect for the job.

Interested to know what plants other gardeners are favouring this season I asked Kevin Hilditch, head gardener at Knebworth House, what plants are catching his eye in the stately home’s gardens.

‘Choosing a favourite plant from a 28-acre all year round garden is not easy!’ he laughs. Luckily, with the help of his gardening team, a selection of favourites were chosen.