Hi, Dave, How big's your pot? I plant mine about 20 cms apart and I'm already planting up such pots as I have free.

Plant now, but its difficult to say re the pot because you've not said what size it is - as a guide, I'd put one upright evergreen, an ivy, and 4 or 5 pansies in a 14 inch basket. Using pansies alone in something that wide, probably 7 or 8.

Just seen your response Gattina - 20 cm apart seems quite a lot at this time of year - they really don't get much bigger now than they are when you buy them, well, not before next Spring anyway.

cheers i think a 3ft trough :-)

Answered under your new question...

Sorry, Dave, Bamboo's right - I forget the difference in area and temperatures - it's still pretty much summer here, so mine will spread a bit more than ones grown in the UK before winter stops them.

Well believe it or not, Gattina, it's already 25 deg C in London today at 11.10 a.m. - really weird, because its dark by just after 6 pm, doesn't feel right at all, lol! And the mist build up from the river on the fields overnight is stunning...