When the herb bergamot is referred to, is it Monarda didyma or Monarda
fistulosa? Is either easily grown in SE England?
--
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by
this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
Jonathan Swift: Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
When the herb bergamot is referred to, is it Monarda didyma or Monarda
fistulosa? Is either easily grown in SE England?
--
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by
this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
Jonathan Swift: Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting

The former I think, our climate is generally too soft for them and they tend
to die out without constant propagating, but if you are prepared to do up
fresh young plants each year to renew the clumps they do look good and
flower for a long time, here in the wetter SW I find life expectancy further
reduced by slugs and snails and I have now given up trying to grow them.

My advice would be before buying named cultivars for several pounds per
plant, buy seed grow the plants for a season or two and find out whether
they are going to like your garden, they are easy and quick from seed
normally flowering in the first season from early sowings.


--
Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall
Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella
and Lapageria rosea cvs
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk