Pinks are perfectly hardy growing their best in a neutral to alkaline well drained garden soil. Once planted they can remain in their planted position for several years hence there popularity in a cottage garden. The colour range is enormous, ranging from deep red right the way through the shades of pink, orange, and on to white. Not forgetting all the bi-colours and laced varieties. Pinks will provide a waft of that heady clove cinnamon scent every time you pass it.
Cultivation Tips
All Pinks prefer an open sunny situation so avoid planting too close to other plants where air movement might be restricted.
Feed and water at the base not over the leaves. Pinks do not like to be too wet.
Pinks will grow and flower their best if fed regularly during the growing season with a rose or tomato 4:4:8 fertiliser. This is particularly important after the first flush of blooms has finished in order to encourage them to flower again. Start them off with some blood fish and bone when planting.
Deadhead when the main stem has finished flowering pick or cut off the stem at the base of the plant in order to keep the plant tidy and to encourage repeat flowering.
Hardy Pinks don’t mind the cold. The silver grey leaves last through winter and bring you the promise that spring growth is just around the corner.
Varieties Worth Growing
Doris with its light pink ground and a zoned red eye.
Mrs Sinkins a clear white self colour, A word of warning on this variety. It only flowers once per season and then only for a month or so, but still worth growing for its outstanding perfume.
Or Grans Favourite with its white background with pink lacing,
Cranmere Pool AGM is one I am growing at the moment with a clean white outer and a dark maroon centre.
I have just bought cuttings of Haytor Rock and Laced Monarch and was advised to grow then on quite dry.
The Alpine varieties that look so good include Whatfield Can-Can, Mendelsham Minx and Waithmans Beauty
Brian Yates of the British National Carnation Society recommends
‘Freckles, a Camellia Rose, flecked and spotted scarlet. Double blooms and highly scented. This Pink is one of the very best to grow.
Widecombe Fair a Pinkish/Cream with a hint of Yellow. Double blooms and scented. A flower favoured by florists to use in bridal bouquets as it blends so well with other pastel blooms. A real discussion point.
Devon Wizard, a Reddish/Purple bloom on stout stems. Double blooms and clove scented.
Sam Barlow, raised in the 19th century, a White ground with zoned Purple Double blooms. A very pretty flower that has truly stood the test of time.
Laced Hero White ground, laced Purple, zoned black. Double blooms. One of the best laced varieties around. ‘
Propagate from cuttings selecting healthy non-flowering shoots in July/August and insert in a pot of seed compost. Water in well, cover with a polythene bag or mist regularly for the first couple of weeks. Place on a windowsill out of direct sunshine and wait for approximately four weeks, checking from time to time that they have not dried out. When rooted, pot on into 3inch pots.
- Pinks at T&M
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