How to grow Hydrangea in the UK
Huge flower heads in pink, blue or white. Loves a shady, damp spot.
- DifficultyEasy peasy
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunpart shade or shade
- Grows to120cm
- Spacing120cm
- Time to first pickabout 16 weeks
- Typeshrub
When to sow, plant and harvest hydrangea
| Plant | mid March to late May or mid September to late October |
|---|---|
| In flower | early July 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 120cm apart each way
Top tips for growing hydrangea
- Water lots in summer - the name means 'water jar'!
- Leave the dead flower heads on over winter to protect the buds.
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 hydrangea
Cut a few heads for the house - they dry beautifully too.
Saving your own hydrangea 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 hydrangea plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
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Hydrangea questions
When do I plant out hydrangea?
Plant hydrangea out from mid March to late May or mid September to late October.
When can I enjoy hydrangea?
Hydrangea is ready from early July to late September. Cut a few heads for the house - they dry beautifully too.
How long do hydrangea take to grow?
Roughly 16 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are hydrangea easy to grow?
Hydrangea are rated 'easy peasy' 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.
Start growing - it's free