Which annuals require feeding weekly, TB? I don't know of any. They just get on and grow, then die - they are annuals.

Perhaps they are potted annuals? Example, hanging baskets?

I'm thinking of things like osteospermum, leucanthemum, cosmos etc. As you say, Loosestrife, it's the things in pots/hanging baskets.

I still wouldn't feed - just keep well watered.

My wife has a potted osteospermum she purchased at a garden store and the instructions that came with the plant recommend feeding on a weekly basis. She uses miracle grow. Cosmos I would never feed since it reduces flower production. Leucanthemum really don't require weekly feeding at all. Maybe some other members would recommend something else but we use miracle grow to feed our eventually root bound annuals which grow in pots and in hanging baskets.

I sprinkle a bit of slow release fertilise balls in most pots, it works on temperatures, the mild winters mean that the osteospermums are overwintering in my cold gh snd need a bit of feeding up, and a spring trim as they seemed to flower all winter in there!

I find that Miracle grow encourages good strong growth but I change to tomato food for flowering, the way I see it I do like a meal as well as a drink so why shouldn't my plants, lol....

Lincslass, you have now got my curiosity up and I am going to try your method.

I agree Lincs, when I feed the toms anything left in the watering can goes in the tubs or baskets

Well, that was food for thought. I have to say, I was wondering about tomato food, as that's what my clematis get. The reason for asking is, as Loosestrife mentioned, that the information on the labels suggested weekly feeding - probably not the cosmos, I think I threw that in by mistake! Thank you for all the imparted wisdom.

I have to admit that I always feed the baskets and pots weekly with MiracleGro, but they are very densely planted, often with recycled compost.

Why feed annuals… they are going to die at the end of the season no mater what!

I don't know - I just always have!

Well thats simple, because we like our flowers to look good and last as long as possible, a bunch of flowers once cut is going to die but one still puts them in water to care for them and enjoy them for as long as possible, many bouquets now arrive with a packet of feed to add to the water...

Yes - I just assumed that feeding them would make them grow and flower better.

Personally I think it is just a con. to get people to spend more money. Our neighbour sowed shake and rack annual seeds last year, did nothing but water them, had a fantastic display, let them seed and voila has another great display this year for free...

Moongrower "going to die at the end of the season"...Aren't we all... I sometimes worry that's the attitude of some hospitals toward the elderly

Stera thats exactly what went through my mind yesterday, good job we're not all of the same mind..
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Moongrower your neighbour is not the only one with flowers for free, you have to admit its personal choice what and how one cares for the garden, its also ones own choice as to whether one thinks something is a con, there is a possibility some of us are speaking from our own experiences...
Another point to be taken into consideration, many of us have annuals planted last year that continued throughout the winter months and are now in flower, they did not just die at the end of the season, yes it was mainly down to weather changes and the fact that we didn't really have a winter as such but there might also be the fact that they were cared for and fed..

I would suggest that they may still all have been just as good without feed! The only plants that we feed are bulbs in containers to encourage flowering for next year. Everything else manages just fine in a healthy soil.
Tomatoes etc are different in that you are wanting to bulk up the fruits.

Yes quite so Bulba and you could possibly be correct, without turning back time we are not going to be able to prove that point either way are we, other than the fact that there are annuals in many gardens in their second year that forgot to die at the end of their season, lol, very nice too, I really didn't mind having a mild winter and obviously neither did my plants, thing is I can accept your opinion without being sarky about it, doing things differently or using something that another person doesn't does not make it wrong or a waste of time or money..
Sometimes ones thoughts are best left unsaid.....

Peace, little ones....

Peace indeed, Stera. I didn't intend to provoke any upset.

You haven't really T.bear

Thanks, MG, that's a relief.