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Agapanthus - in pots or the ground..?

learnhow2salsalearnhow2salsa Posts: 8
in Plants
Hi all,

I read a lot that agapanthus like to have their roots constricted and not to over-pot them.

How can this be achieved if they are planted in the ground? I would prefer not to have them in containers as they require so much extra care.

Any advice on this would be gratefully received.

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Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze I garden in South Notts on an improved clay soil Posts: 3,059
    @learnhow2salsa For many years I grew a deciduous one close to a path. Then I split it into five. Two were further back in the border but flowered just as well. I water and feed them once a week from mid April until a few weeks after flowering. Some  flower better than others. The evergreen ones are not hardy here.
    The most serious gardening I do would seem very strange to an onlooker,for it involves hours of walking round in circles,apparently doing nothing. Helen Dillon.
  • JennyJJennyJ DoncasterPosts: 7,670
    I think it's at least partly a myth. I have some in the ground and they flower fine (better than the ones in pots, but that might be down to variety - they are different ones).
  • learnhow2salsalearnhow2salsa Posts: 8
    Thank for your responses. That is helpful. It seemed to me that if a plant cannot thrive in the ground, then it's not a 'plant' (!) if you know what I mean.
  • learnhow2salsalearnhow2salsa Posts: 8
    GHardenerSuze - I take your point about hardiness though. : )
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,294
    I used to chat with the National Collection Holder of agapanthus and a breeder of over 250 varieties. In his words " Agapanthus are best in the ground " 
    Devon.
  • learnhow2salsalearnhow2salsa Posts: 8
    Thank you Hostafan1 - that's really good to know : )
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze I garden in South Notts on an improved clay soil Posts: 3,059
    @learnhow2salsa I grow A. Navy Blue and it had about 30 flowers on the five plants. The best for flowers in my opinion.
    The most serious gardening I do would seem very strange to an onlooker,for it involves hours of walking round in circles,apparently doing nothing. Helen Dillon.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,294
    I've about 30 deciduous varieties in the ground and about 20 evergreen varieties ( they are in pots and go into a polytunnel in winter )
    Devon.
  • learnhow2salsalearnhow2salsa Posts: 8
    I'm fairly new to growing agapanthus, but I love them. Good to know that the evergreen ones are less hardy - thank you.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze I garden in South Notts on an improved clay soil Posts: 3,059
    @learnhow2salsa I guess it may depend on where you are in the country. The evergreen ones are often grown in pots so that they can go in a greenhouse over winter. All of the tall ones in pots will lean away from the wall to the sun.
    The most serious gardening I do would seem very strange to an onlooker,for it involves hours of walking round in circles,apparently doing nothing. Helen Dillon.
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