How to grow Clematis in the UK
A climber covered in flowers - grows up a fence, an arch or an old tree.
- DifficultyA bit more care
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunfull sun or part shade
- Grows to250cm
- Spacing100cm
- Time to first pickabout 12 weeks
- Typeclimber
When to sow, plant and harvest clematis
| Plant | mid March to mid June or early September to mid October |
|---|---|
| In flower | early May to late September |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Water your new plants in their pots first
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 100cm apart each way
Top tips for growing clematis
- Plant it 5cm deeper than its pot, with its 'feet' (the roots) in shade and its head in sun.
- Check the label for when to prune.
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Harvesting and eating clematis
Enjoy the flowers - some kinds have fluffy seed heads after.
Saving your own clematis seed
Late spring or summer.
- Snip a soft, non-flowering shoot about 10cm long, just below a leaf
- Pull off the bottom leaves and push it into a small pot of gritty compost
- Cover with a clear plastic bag and keep it out of hot sun
- In 4-8 weeks it grows roots - a new plant
Where to buy clematis plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Clematis questions
When do I plant out clematis?
Plant clematis out from mid March to mid June or early September to mid October.
When can I enjoy clematis?
Clematis is ready from early May to late September. Enjoy the flowers - some kinds have fluffy seed heads after.
How long do clematis take to grow?
Roughly 12 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are clematis easy to grow?
Clematis are rated 'a bit more care' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
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