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No matter where we live, there is always something that won’t grow for us. If you have stony soil in your garden you’ll have trouble with carrots and parsnips and if the ground is damp and

boggy then grey-leaved sun lovers are out of the question. In my garden it is rhododendrons and camellias that are impossible to grow as my soil is chalky. But I can’t imagine being without

them at this time of the year when their perfectly formed waxy rosettes of flowers stud the evergreen bushes. Go to Antony House or Caerhays Castle in Cornwall to see them at their best in

acid woodland but if you are on alkaline soil, don’t despair. You can still grow them in containers of lime-free ericaceous compost. Alongside our old barn I have 16 camellias – in lead

planters to prevent them tipping over when they become top heavy.  The plants are about five years old, five or six feet tall and three feet across, and each summer I watch as the fat buds

develop. It is vital, especially in July and August, that the compost in the containers is not allowed to dry out. If it does, the fat buds which look so promising through the winter are

likely to drop off just before they open. I’ve rigged up water butts between the camellias so it is only a short walk with a watering can to soak each of them. Right now they are a picture

with their flowers of crimson, pink, white and deep red.  I love the white and candy-striped Camellia ‘Lavinia Maggi’, the soft pink and perfectly formed Camellia ‘Ave Maria’, the pink and

rosette-like Camellia ‘EG Waterhouse’ and that old favourite, the rich pink ‘Donation’. So go to a garden centre now and choose a plant in flower that appeals to you. Plant it in dappled

shade away from harsh, early-morning sun, which can damage the blossoms if there’s a frost. Other than that they are remarkably easy to please. I love ’em!  _DON’T MISS ALAN’S GARDENING

COLUMN IN TODAY’S DAILY EXPRESS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HIS RANGE OF GARDENING PRODUCTS, VISIT ALANTITCHMARSH.COM._