If you’re interested in learning how to grow geum, there are four factors to consider. Avens or geum may not be the most common perennials, but they make an excellent consideration if you want flowers from late spring to summer. They also offer various colours and are relatively hardy, so you can assume that they are easy to grow without any issues.
However, it’s best to know your growing zone and expected climate to prepare for potential problems year-round. You can choose the geum species that will suit your UK area’s conditions or use a greenhouse to mimic their ideal growing conditions. Remember that even one can consider dub though a plant easy to grow, you must always put them somewhere stable and supportive of their needs.
How To Grow Geum For Beginners
Factor #1. Ideal location
The first factor to consider when growing geums is the location. Remember that any plant must start in an environment that will provide them with their ideal conditions. Geums thrive well in hardiness zones 4 to 9, which gives you an idea that they won’t do well in dry and hot UK areas.
Therefore, you can grow them in the polytunnel, where you control the temperatures and other conditions. More so, check the soil you’re using because you want to grow geums in moist but well-draining soil. Otherwise, they’d do well in acid or alkaline soils without problems.
Depending on the geum plant you have, you can choose a spot that’s either shady or bright. For example, some geum types do well with shade, but others require sunlight. Regardless, extreme heat and direct light will damage the plants’ foliage, so always be mindful.
Factor #2. Maintenance
Geums are relatively easy to maintain, but they will benefit from regular deadheading. Removing the dead and faded flowers after your geums bloom will help them grow more flowers and extend blooming time. At the same time, you must divide mature geums every three years to rejuvenate them and keep the area neat.
As mentioned earlier, some geums require light, and this is beneficial, especially for flowering. However, you want to maintain soil moisture still, especially when it’s summer or if your climate is hot and humid. You can amend the soil with organic matter to improve its retentiveness, but make sure you check it when it gets soggy in winter.
How to fertilise geums? You can fertilise when you start them and during the growing season to encourage flowering. Afterwards, treat them as perennials and lightly fertilise early in spring with a balanced granular fertiliser.
Factor #3. Common problems in growing geum
Geums are not that problematic as long as you maintain a stable growing environment and regular management practices. For example, the emphasis is necessary on regularly dividing mature plants to prevent pests and ensure proper air circulation within the area. Removing dead and dried plant parts will be beneficial not just from an aesthetic standpoint but also for plant health.
It would help if you also were on the lookout for wet soil in the winter because this can cause root rot. On the other hand, humidity and damp foliage can encourage fungal diseases like powdery mildew. If you noticed infected plants, it’s best to remove them immediately and check your growing conditions.
When it comes to pests, vine weevils are notorious problems for geum growers. A telltale sign that they might be present is if you notice the end of the stems dying. If so, replant the infested geum onto another spot.
Factor #4. Propagation
The final factor to consider when growing geums is the proper propagation techniques for them. As mentioned earlier, the division is a maintenance practice that you should do every three years. Therefore, this also becomes the most common propagation technique for geums.
You can dig and divide mature geums every spring or early autumn and replant them in the polytunnel or garden in the UK. Ensure that when you divide geums, you will plant them immediately to prevent them from drying. More so, don’t use divisions with rotten or diseased parts.
Some gardeners in the United Kingdom also use seeds for starting geums. Of course, this will take more time and require more demands than division. However, you can sow them in the polytunnel in late winter or early spring, but some also directly plant in the summer or spring British garden.
What Geum Variety Should You Get?
Gardeners in the UK often choose geum varieties depending on their flowers. For example, you can check Mrs Bradshaw and Lady Stratheden varieties if you want large flowers. The former has scarlet red blossoms, and the former gives of yellow ones.
You can also grow the Georgenberg variety, known for having an extended blooming period in the growing season.
Conclusion
Geums offer different varieties of colourful blossoms and extended blooming periods. But is it possible to learn how to grow geum without issues? This plant is relatively easy to cultivate in the UK as long as you bear four factors in mind.
First, use polytunnel in your area in the UK is dry and humid because geums won’t thrive under these conditions. Using a polytunnel gives you control over the indoor climate. The second is maintenance, where you aim to check the variety’s needs if they thrive under shade or light.
You should also ensure soil moisture and fertilise geums to help them grow and bloom healthily. The third factor is anticipating the potential problems, which are easy to avoid under stable growing conditions and practices. And lastly, learn the proper propagation method for geums.