1. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 1 Annuals, Biennials and Bedding Plants

2. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 2 Annuals An annual can be used to describe any plant whose entire life cycle is completed within one year from germination through to seed production and death

3. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 3 Annual Lifecycle

4. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 4 Plants with Even Shorter Life Cycles Some plants (weeds) have even shorter life cycles Weeds such as bittercress can be described as ephemeral that is completing a several of life cycles within one year Where the growing and soil conditions a favourable weeds such as bittercress can complete many life cycles in one year

5. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 5 Ephemeral Plants Cardamine Hirsuta Hairy bittercress Stellaria media Chickweed Senecio vulgaris Groundsel

6. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 6 Bedding Plants Bedding can be described as the planting in outdoor beds of mostly greenhouse- raised flowering and foliage ornamentals for display Summer bedding are mainly composed of half-hardy annuals Spring and winter bedding is possible using hardy plants

7. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 7 Carpet Bedding Carpet or tapestry bedding popular in the Victorian era consisted of high density planting of low growing species to create intricate patterns Beds may have been raised or sloped to create maximum impact Carpet bedding developed in the nineteenth century as a type of annual bedding. The idea, deriving from knot gardens and parterres, was to create carpet-like patterns

8. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 8 Carpet Bedding

9. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 9 Half-Hardy Annuals Half-hardy annuals are those plants that will die outdoors when the temperature falls below freezing point, and must be planted out after the risk of frost has passed

10. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 10 Examples of Half-hardy Annuals Nasturtium Cosmos Petunia Sunflower Busy lizzie Stocks

11. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 11 Hardy Annuals Hardy annuals are capable of withstanding frost and may be sown in situ in early autumn or spring (March or April). Delay sowing if the soil is cold and wet. Hardy annuals sown in autumn bloom earlier than their spring-sown counterparts. For early flowering treat like half-hardy annuals sowing indoors and plant out after the risk of frost has passed However some hardy annuals hate root disturbance

12. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 12 Examples of Hardy Annuals Cornflower Pot marigold Baby's breath Candytuft

13. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 13 Biennials Biennials on the other hand require two growing seasons During the first year after sowing they produce only leaf growth During the following year they flower

14. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 14 When to Sow Biennials Seeds are sown outdoors in a nursery/seed bed between late spring and mid-summer The exact timing however depends on the speed of development of the plant in question Forget-me-nots grow rapidly and can be sown in mid- summer Slower growing biennials such as foxgloves should be sown in late spring Once established seedlings can be moved in autumn or early spring to they to their flower Pinch out any flowers that appear before winter to avoid reduced flowering

15. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 15 Spring Flowering Biennials Forget-me-not Campanula Wallflower Pansy Sweet William Daisy

16. Tuesday 16th March 2010 RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 16 Summer Flowering Biennials Foxglove Hollyhock Sweet William verbascum Honesty