Late Chelsea implications

Some will benefit, but others will be missing, says Peter

- Peter Seabrook

POSTPONING this year’s Chelsea Flower Show from late May to the last week of September has really thrown all the balls in the air. There are exhibitors whose specialisms are completely out of season – Johnny Walker’s daffodils immediately come to mind – while others, including Jon Wheatley’s dahlias, are in natural season.

Speaking to Raymond Evison, I hear he plans to cut all of his May show clematis back and get regrowth in flower for the autumn. Similarly, Simon Blackmore will cut back Blackmore & Langdon show delphiniums in May, and feed and water well to get new shoots into flower for September. The May cancellation was very frustrating for Blackmore & Langdon, as they had been growing their begonias under lights in heated greenhouses since last November.