Innholdsfortegnelse for 13-feb-16 i Amateur Gardening

SO, whose job is it to clean the bird feeders? Both my wife, Kath, and I are fascinated by garden wildlife. Many years ago summers and winters were drier. Filling the tower feeder with shelled sunflower seed resulted in a week’s enjoyment of sparrows, blue tits, black caps, greenfinches, goldfinches and more squabbling over the free lunch, a clean, empty feeder and an easy job of pouring more seed into it. Kath always beat me to it. But in recent years the weather has become wetter. However carefully we protect the feeders, days of solid rain leave sodden birdseed rotting in the tube. Someone has to regularly de-clag and clean it or it stops working. The more often this happened, the more I’d notice the feeder remained in a sorry…

• If you are unsure of your rose’s variety, simply prune it, and then watch how it grows afterwards. • If it has long, arching stems, or needs support, it is a climber or rambler. Shorten single, thick old stems by a third or a half. If it is multi-stemmed, remove one or two of the older stems (with grey, flaky bark) as near to the base as possible. • Larger roses might be hybrid tea, floribunda, a named species or a shrub rose. Get rid of one or two old stems close to ground level, or down to younger looking side stems. Shorten other stems by a third to a half.…

• Watering: Let the compost almost dry out between watering, then plunge the pot into just-warm water for a few minutes (see above). Keep foliage dry. Allow all water to drain from the pot. • Feeding: Feeds regularly (a couple of times a month) during the growing season. Make sure you water at least once a month with no fertiliser. Use a specialist orchid feed. • Temperature: Moth orchids like it warm, so grow in a minimum room temperature of 19°C (66°F). Keep night temperatures at 16°C (61°F) or above.…

• Cheerful yellow winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) are another late winter flower that does best if planted in the green. • To get a natural look, throw a handful of tubers, or lay out the plants on the ground to judge best position. • Plant tubers to a depth of 2 in (5cm), and plant in the green to the same level as they were originally grown. • Leave winter aconites undisturbed as much as possible. Very congested clumps can be carefully divided.…

• If you have hated this winter’s cold, wet weather, spare a thought for your alpine plants. • Alpines like poor, free-draining soils, so the torrential rains of this winter have done them no favours. • Help them by keeping their surroundings as weed-and-debris-free as possible, to prevent water from accumulating. If conditions are extremely harsh, shelter them under a sheet of glass or plastic raised on bricks. Check alpines regularly for diseases and pests.…

I MENTIONED last week my plan to train some sun-loving fruit trees along a south-facing boundary in our garden – it’s the ideal spot to encourage pollinating bees, and to boost the crops’ sugar levels. I chose a ‘Rochester’ peach – it’s a reliable ripener in our climate and, being self-fertile, you only need one tree to get a crop. If space is tight or, like me, you want to cram the maximum range of fruit into your garden, then fan-training is the ideal solution. As the name implies, you literally fan the branches out against a wall or fence. Sunlight and bees can reach the fruits easily on this compact, two-dimensional tree shape. I’ve planted my peach against horizontal wires and cut the central shoot out to leave just…

1 A couple of months before planting, dig over the ground and add manure. Remove weeds and stones. 2 Remove any loose skin at the top of each set, as birds can pull on this to prise them out of the soil. 3 Gently push the sets into soft, well-worked soil so that the tip is just showing, then firm the soil around it. 4 As the onions grow, weed them regularly, but water sparingly to avoid diseases such as botrytis.…

IT’S a fact – many of the wild birds that visit our gardens are in trouble. This is due, most significantly, to the loss of natural habitats through building developments, road construction and intensive farming methods. So, providing a nest box that replicates the lost wild environment may help to preserve numbers and allowyou to watch them. National Nest BoxWeek (14-21 February) is organized by the British Trust for Ornithology every year. All veryappropriate as, according to tradition, St. Valentine’s Day is the day when birds are supposed to start pairing up. Install a box now, and you may find that birds will use it for their broods this spring. The type of box, and size of hole, will influence the type of birds that will nest in them, so…

Propagating zinnia is easy – just followAnne Swithinbank’s three simple steps and your seedlings will soon be up and growing strong: 1 Mix two parts of seed-sowing compost with one of sharp sand, vermiculite or a combination of both and fill a pack of modules lightly, while making sure there are no air gaps. 2 Zinnia seeds are a good size, so place one on each module and then go back and plant the seeds just under the compost (covered by its own size) using a dibber and fingers. 3 Water the seeds in lightly, using a fine rose (sprinkler) on the can and place them in a warm propagating case with the thermostat set at 15 ° C (60 ° F). Don’t cook the seeds!…

WITH a small garden it pays to cling on to every last inch of space you’ve got, which includes preventing an invasion of wayward shoots, branches or massive leaves from plants belonging to neighbouring properties. So when a star jasmine wandered in from next door recently some judicious pruning was called for. A native of Japan, Trachelospermum jasminoides is a white flowered climber that gives off a wonderful scent in summer. However, it’s a vigorous beast. The wiry shoots billow through the trellis that divides us, easily shaving off 2ft (60cm) from my garden, and attempting to shin along my pergola. There’s only one way to deal with it – cut it back hard so the wayward stems lie flush with the trellis. Trimming a star jasmine like this won’t…

FEW gardens smell good in winter. Damp air, soggy soil and decaying plant matter combine to make a pungent cocktail that hardly entices us to sniff the air like an old fashioned Bisto kid. If you really want to exhale a satisfying “Aah” that has nothing to do with gravy, then find some space for a sarcococca. This group of evergreen shrubs don’t have the largest flowers, but have a potent fragrance that will lift your garden, along with the air, far beyond your boundaries. These plants range in height from 2ft (60cm) to 5ft 10in (1.8m), making them perfect for a small garden. Alongside flowers they also boast attractive glossy foliage and produce masses of red, purple or black berries - these develop after blooms fall and can last…

“People now grow edibles alongside ornamental flowers” Brits reckon they have saved an average of £268 peryear on their shopping bills by growing their own fruit and veg. OnePoll surveyed 1,000 UK residents and asked if they had grown their own food in the last five years, and if so, how much it had saved them perweek. Wolverhampton in the West Midlands topped the list, with residents saying they had saved £579 peryear – more than twice the national average. Half of people in the city said they’d grown their own produce in the last five years, with 58 per cent pledging to grow fruit and veg this year, too. But residents of Aberystwyth in Wales said growing their own saved them just £52. However, the poll did not ask…

THE sap is rising and gardeners are itching to get growing – so much so that they started their spring shopping in December. So says the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade, which claims that UK garden centres benefitted from a 20.33 per cent rise in seed and bulb sales in December 2015, compared to the same month the previous year. Sales of outdoor plants rose by 20.27 per cent and house plants did well too, increasing by 6.59 per cent. Ian Wylie, chief executive of the GCA, which represents 200 garden centres across the UK, said: “There’s plenty to be done in the garden at this time of year in preparation for the new season, so it’s not surprising to see customers buying-up seeds and bulbs in readiness.”…

Why won’t my roses grow and how can I encourage them to establish? QI have been having problems with my roses. In the past five years, only one of my six climbers reached 6ft (1.8m). I bought new roses, fed them, but it made no difference. Whywon’t they grow? Terry Jones, Lancing, West Sussex A Planting roses in the same spot where roses have been growing before is not a good idea, unless action is taken. The symptoms you describe are those often associated with replant disease. It causes roses, planted in soil where roses previously grew, to perform poorly. Replant disease is believed to be caused by a build-up of pests and diseases, along with nematodes (eelworms). Having soil tested for this is difficult, due to the unspecific nature…

APART from humming to yourself, a portable radio is the easiest way to get some entertainment in the garden, be it music, current affairs or a lively quiz show. Whether it’s Gardeners’ Question Time, The Archers, Pop Master or smooth classics you’re into, many portable radios now come with both DAB and FM reception so you’re bound to find a station that suits your taste. The old analogue (FM) wavelength will eventually be turned off, but not for a fewyears. There’s a huge range of radio prices, shapes and styles on offer, so we’ve made a selection of cheap and pricey brands. Only one radio in the test is water resistant – the remainder need protecting from moisture. Lenco Lucille Retro DAB /FM Radio £66.00 + P&P £5.95 0800 514131…

Cornflowers These brightest of blue flowers (Centaurea cyanus) delight in a sunny spot. Try also their upmarket cousins ‘Blue Ball’ and ‘Black Ball with heads of ragged blue and deepest purple petals. They all flower at around 65cms (2ft) and look great teamed up with poppies and ox-eye daisies. Larkspur Consolida ajacis are more dainty than their delphinium cousins. Spires of blue, pink or white flowers above ferny foliage. Seeds require dark for germination so plant them deeply enough and cover well with soil. Best sown direct as they don’t like disturbance. (1-4ft/30-120cm). Chrysanthemum carinatum Painted daisies is an apt name for these unusual tricoloured flowers. They look great in the border or in the vase. Available in a colour mix like ‘Sunshine Mix’ from Suttons or single colours like…

Star letter Well said AG! I WOULD like to congratulate AG on the way they covered the recent study concerning British bumble bees and their susceptibility to entomopathogenic nematode pest controls. (News 2 Jan). The study cited was verywell explained, not onlywith some extrapolation of the results, but also with an opportunity for those who market the particular nematodes in the study to counter the argument. As an ecologist, I have always struggled with the widespread use of biological pest controls such as nematodes, under the assumption that they’re the most environmentally friendlywayto control pests. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that this study suggests certain biological controls may actually cause more harm to other species in the wider environment than some traditional chemical pesticides. The argument that nematodes…

MOST gardens have at least one rose planted somewhere – but how many gardeners own inherited roses without labels or any form of formal identification? Roses come in many shapes and sizes, from roof-high climbers and ramblers, to flamboyant floribundas and delicate container plants. Whatever the growing habit of your roses, late winter is an important time for preparing them for the growing season ahead. They need pruning hard to take out old, dead and damaged branches, and prepare the plant for major growth when the weather warms up. Roses are hungry plants, so feed them well now too, with a special rose fertiliser or grow more. This will give them a boost for blooming in late spring to summer. In the south, these jobs can be done in mid-February,…

MOTH orchids (Phalaenopsis) are one of Britain’s most popular houseplants. Virtually indestructible, flowers last up to three months, and they keep blooming all year-round. Avoid growing them in gloomy, north-facing rooms though, as good winter light levels are essential to keep the flowers coming. However, in spring and summer, avoid placing orchids in direct sunlight – they’ll thank you for a bit of shade. When flowers do go over and drop, cut the stem back to just above the second node (small joint). A healthy plant will develop a fresh side-shoot with new flowers.…

Freshly planted clumps of snowdrops in the green can look isolated and patchy, but in a year or two they spread and create drifts of winter flowers. 1 Clumps of plants you buy in the green will have their roots wrapped in paper or plastic to keep them damp before planting. Don’t let the roots dry out. 2 Before planting your snowdrops, clear the area of weeds and stones, and feed the soil with well-rotted garden compost or leafmould. 3 Plant groups of 3 to 5 snowdrops at the same depth they were planted at before. The stem of plant that has been underground will be white. 4 Gently firm the soil around the plants to give support. Water them in well, and topdress with multi-purpose compost or well-rotted organic…

I LIKE a bargain as much as the next person, and if securing one takes a bit of effort, then so be it. Dividing your garden’s herbaceous perennials is an incredibly easy way of expanding your plant stock for free. It is also good for the plants, because you are taking a large and tired specimen, dividing it into two or more smaller plants, and giving them more room and improved soil so they can grow away and thrive. A knapweed (Centaurea nigra) in one of my borders was looking rather tired. I decided to divide it, replanting half in its original border, and the other in a new site to spread some colour.…

“Heathers are better lightly sheared over after flowering” TO prune or not to prune? The best answer I can muster is: “if in doubt don’t.” Most articles on this subject focus on cutting out dead wood and crossing branches.”The dead wood is obvious and there are not many crossing branches on deciduous shrubs and trees as they grow out naturally towards the light. Timing is often as important as what to cut. Prune grapes and birch when sap is on the move at this time of year, and cuts will bleed, leaving them debilitated and open to infection. We are advised to leave dead foliage on decorative grasses and sedges because brown looks attractive, trembling in the breeze or covered in hoare frost. Most, however, need cutting hardback before new…

1 If, like us, you’re replacing an old row with new, you need to deal with any soil disease build up. We dig out a 12in x 12in (30cm x 30cm) trench and distribute the soil elsewhere. 2 The new raspberry canes are then positioned in the trench. Splay the roots out and ensure they’re at the same depth as they were grown by looking for the soil mark. 3 Backfill your trench, firming in stages. We’re using a mixture of new soil (from an onion bed) and well-rotted manure, plus we’re adding beneficial mycorrhizal fungi.…

I’M never without a few chilli pepper plants every summer. I love the colour of the fruits and fiery flavour – they’re so exotic! I grow a selection of varieties to enjoy a kaleidoscope of colours, showing them off in terracotta pots. I’ll sow mild types like my favoured ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’ later on in March. However, the very hottest varieties – nagas, habaneros, bird’s eyes and the like – take ages to germinate so I’m sowing them now. This is one time when a heated propagator is a real bonus. Hot varieties like at least 20°C (70ºF) before they pop their head above the seed compost (taking two weeks or more to emerge). An airing cupboard is a good substitute, but move seedlings somewhere with good light and warmth…

“Don’t be tempted to plant supermarket cooking potatoes” ONE of the easiest crops to grow is potatoes from sets. These are small potatoes, which grow into plants and produce lots more potatoes. It’s almost foolproof, but yields vary a lot depending on what you do and what the weather brings that year. With early varieties a crop of new potatoes is almost guaranteed. True, a late frost or two will knock back the yield but rarely do they fail completely. The later main crop varieties can give much bigger yields but these are more subject to pest and weather losses, and especially to blight. Although it is simple enough to save our own sets, it is sensible to buy in new clean stock each year. Although these are not cheap,…

BACK in the 1980s TV gardener Geoff Hamilton said you can control slugs and snails by getting rid of them during February, when they start breeding. Geoff was an organic gardener, so he would hand-pick every slug or snail he saw, and dispatch it bywhatever means – not including pellets or any risk to wildlife. Remember that other creatures enjoy a diet of these slimy pests, so if you have to use pellets, just put down up to 10 in a small space, and then suspend a cover over them on bricks or slabs, to stop larger mammals from being tempted.…

How to grow seedlings on Zinnia ‘Jazz’ contains some dazzling colours but to enjoy the full range offered by these and other mixtures, be canny. Here’s how: • During the pricking out (transplanting of seedlings) or thinning down stages, we have to select what we think are the best seedlings to keep. • While it is natural to opt for the strongest, deepest-green seedlings, this can mean we are unwittingly homing in on only one colour. • In mixtures, seedlings of some colours can appear paler or weaker and when pricking out, it is best to take every one of a patch of seedlings rather than selecting the strongest. Aftercare advice • Plant into good, fertile soil, setting plants 12in (30cm) apart. If you have trouble digging a hole with…

MANY of us sow leafy salads from spring onwards, but just because the weather is colder doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some tasty pickings. There are plenty of crops that will do well in winter, so long as you can provide them with a little bit of protection against the worst of the weather. Lamb’s lettuce, mustards, wild rocket and oriental salads, such as mizuna, kamatsuna, pak choi and tatsoi are perfect. All of the major companies sell straight varieties, along with mixtures containing several of these tough cookies – look out for packets marked as winter mix or winter blend. I’m sure other mixes would be fine, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Salads aren’t deep rooting so you can get away with fairly shallow containers. Pots filled with…

Repairing well-worn lawns Rather than buying turf to repair a well trodden path Tamsin makes use of some lifted during work to enlarge a border Preparing the water garden for spring Follow Tamsin’s guide to clearing streams and bog gardens ready for the arrival of spring-flowering marginal plants Buying bare-root plants A trip to the local tree nursery leads to the purchase of bare-root hedging plants and pot grown trees for the garden…

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’ Feathery foliage and generous white flowers. Will flower until the first frosts. Alchemilla mollis Herbaceous perennial with foamyyellow- green flowers June to September. Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’ Claret-coloured cornflower. Looks especially good with paler roses. Moluccella laevis Commonly known as bells of Ireland; an easy annual with emerald green spires. Ammi majus Annual with cow parsley-like flowers; great for mixing with bolder blooms. Gladioli The tall arching stems of gladioli are a classic vase partner for roses. Mail order rose suppliers David Austin Roses davidaustinroses.co.uk 01902 376300 Peter Beales classicroses.co.uk 01953 454707…

POLITICIANS have been urged to start offering gardening as a treatment on the National Health service within five years. Members of the Houses of commons and Lords met garden industry chiefs at Westminster, where an action plan for British horticulture was launched. As well as pushing for NHs medics to prescribe gardening as therapy, industry leaders again appealed for garden centres to be exempt from the sundaytrading Act. theywant big garden centres to be allowed to open for more than six hours on sundays. MPs also heard calls for an international garden expo to celebrate Brits’ passion for horticulture – and demands for more UKgrown plants to be used in projects. chief executive of the Horticultural trades Association, carol Paris, told MPs that by looking at health and environmental benefits…

A new-look event called the RHS London Early Spring Fair will take place at the Society’s Westminster halls on 16-17 February. An RHS spokesman said: “Fresh winter colour and early-flowering plants including snowdrops will be on display by some of the UK’s best growers, with an abundance of bulbs and plants to purchase.” The showwas formerly the RHS London Plant and Potato Fair. Despite the new format, the RHS promised gardeners that “the potato will still be celebrated with a massive variety of seed potatoes and onion sets to buy”. Visit rhs.org.uk/shows-events for details.…

• Improving soil with well-rotted manure orwell-rotted compost will help. I make sure that newly-planted roses are watered well, to help them establish during the first couple of seasons. • Apply a 3in (8cm) mulch of well-rotted organic matter to reduce weed growth around the base of the plant. It will also conserve moisture. Make sure the mulch does not touch the stems of roses.…

01283 543974 garden4less.co.uk A 3D heart shape with polished steel finish, this spinnerwill look great in any garden. It’s 8in (20cm) wide and comes with a line hanger. As well as a symbol of love, it could also be a useful bird scarer! Heart-shaped steel windspinner £7.95 delivery included  0333 400 1500 harrodhorticultural.com For digging, planting or potting, this heart shaped trowel will show how much you love your garden. A quality hand tool featuring a cherry wood handle and steel blade hand-forged in the Netherlands. Length 10in (25cm), 4in (10cm) wide. Heart-shaped trowel £32.95 + £4.95 delivery Willington Companion Seat £199 SSP from garden centres 01829 261 121 rowgar.co.uk Made from responsibly-sourced hardwood, the Willington has shaped seats and…

Nigella and geranium For a double helping of gorgeous purple blue flowers, grow Nigella damascena (love-in-a-mist) with a blue hardy geranium. The two companions will flower together all summer long. ‘African Bride’ is a particularly lovely variety of nigella with white flowers and striking black seedpods. Calendula ‘Indian Prince’, The English marigold has deep orange daisy-like flowerheads. They make excellent cut flowers and they also look pretty in salads and on chocolate cakes. They associate well with cornflower ‘Black Ball’ (pictured), and also in ‘hot’ schemes with yellow fennel flowers and daylilies. 18in (45cm). Californian poppies Officially known as Eschscholzia these silky petalled low-growing favourites are much easier on the eye than the tongue. They come single or double in soft orange, yellow and apricot shades; here they’ve been teamed…

Persicaria orientalis This is a real stunner growing up to 6ft (2m) very quickly; flowers late summer. Lovely in vase arrangements. Crepis rubra This delightful pink dandelion-like annual won’t take over your garden like the common dandelion! Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’ Curious mottled leaves from which rise deep blue bracts protecting violet flowers. Will self-seed in a sunny spot. Lupinus texensis This hardy annual blue lupin, known as Texas bluebonnet makes a super plant in a well-drained sunny border.…

BIRDS supplement their diet with garden bird food throughout the year, especially during the breeding season or over winter, so it’s important to give them tried and tested nourishment to ensure they survive and thrive. Working closely with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Britain’s leading wild bird research organisation, Ernest Charles has now developed a premium wild bird care range that provides all the essentials wild birds need. Top tips for attracting the widest range of species and helping birds stay in peak condition include placing a number of different feeders around your garden that offer a variety of food; such as Ernest Charles All Seasons, Mealworm and Sunflower blends. These should always be supplemented with a fresh source of water throughout the year, both for drinking and bathing.…

“The ‘crump’ that the roots make is a satisfying noise” THE stars have aligned! Not for Valentine’s Day; nor for astrological conjunctions with tall, dark and handsome strangers. No, this is a week of celestial significance because we are now further from midwinter’s day than we are the spring equinox in March. It’s what I like to think of as the beginning-of-the-end-of-winter. Admittedly, when the garden is gripped by February’s icy fingers, it’s hard to believe. But look and listen closely and the clues signalling spring’s arrival are everywhere. Birds are courting and arguing over places to nest, while in the pond, male frogs croon their croaking serenades. Even more noticeable though are the burgeoning shoots on the herbaceous perennials, especiallywhen they are dug up from the soil. I’ve been…

Finally mulch your rose with home-made organic compost or well-rotted manure. The end result will be short and strong, and ready to bud in spring. 1 I semi-pruned my roses in the autumn to protect them from wind rock during winter storms. Now they need a hard prune to boost regeneration in spring. 2 Remove brown, dead wood. Remove it with a sloping cut back to where the branch is green, and the pith inside is white and healthy-looking. 3 If your rose has produced suckers, pull them off below ground level. Don’t cut them off at the base of the plant, as they will simply regrow. 4 Prune strong green stems down to outward-facing buds. Make a sloping cut away from the bud, so water runs off and doesn’t…

Once repotted, firm compost to hold the plant upright, and water if necessary. The orchid will need repotting again in a year or two, when the compost is exhausted. 1 Your miltonia orchid will be ready to re-pot when new shoots start appearing at the base of the plant. They will be happy re-potted into any good orchid compost. 2 Carefully remove and discard the old, decayed compost, and gently tease the orchid roots and plant apart. Pull off and dispose of any old, dead bits of plant. 3 Position the pieces you want to keep in the pot. The pot should be large enough to give the roots extra room, but not too large as they like to be slightly crowded. 4 Carefully holding the orchid, fill around its…

PRISTINE drifts of snowdrops are one of the first signs that winter is on its way out, and spring will soon be ushered in. With their blade-shaped leaves and delicate white-and-green drooping flowers, snowdrops happily spread in dappled shade, and look equally good in huge swathes in impressive parklands, or in little clumps in domestic gardens. The best time to plant is immediately after flowering, while they still have green leaves. Buy rooted clumps of recently-flowered plants. You can also buy them in pots (more expensive), and as bulbs to plant in autumn, but they don’t establish so well.…

Repeat steps 1-4 with the plant’s divisions. Once they are in the ground, firm them in, water well, and mulch to suppress weeds and boost nutrition. 1 Using a spade or garden fork, carefully dig right round the plant, loosening the roots without damaging them, and lift out the plant and rootball. 2 Using two forks back-to-back, lever the roots apart. This may take some doing, and you may need to cut through the last bit with a spade blade. 3 Dig out a planting hole, and add a generous amount of multi-purpose or well-rotted homemade compost, to the base of the hole. 4 Replace the plant to the depth of its rootball. Back-fill with the removed soil, and water well to help the plant re-establish itself.…

I HAVE fond memories of picking homegrown raspberries and sharing them with my grandad’s tortoise - it’s face was completely pink with juice afterwards, which amused me. I also remember waiting for tiny tadpoles to turn into froglets, and being worried that it would happen overnight and I would miss it. These days, I enjoy re-creating activities with my own children that remind me of my childhood. Robbie has recently planted some ‘Autumn Bliss’ raspberry canes which could bear fruit into October, and we are looking forward to picking them together. We don’t have a tortoise anymore, but we do have some tadpoles, temporarily. Joe and I collected some newly-hatched tadpoles from Grandma’s pond. Robbie was in charge of holding the jam jar in the car, but it was a…

I SOWED some onion seeds around Christmas, which are doing well, and now want to boost this year’s crop by planting some sets in the garden. Sets are small, immature onions, and are often grown in preference to seeds because they perform better in colder regions and are less likely to be attacked by certain pests and diseases. Shallots are a variety of small, tasty onion that can also be planted as sets, at the same time. Both need a relatively long growing season, and can be inter planted with faster-growing crops to maximise the use of available space. Onions and shallots like a sunny site with well-drained soil and plenty of growing room. Beds and borders are ideal but they are also happy in deep containers and raised beds,…

• 13 Feb: Seedy Saturday seed swap (11am-4pm), Holy Sepulchre, Church Halls, Sheep Street, Northampton, NN1 3NL; fruitfulabundance.org • 13 Feb: So You Want to be a Garden Designer? RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB; 0203 1765 830; rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley • 13 Feb: Hellebore Tour (One hour walks, 10.15am-2.30pm), Ashwood Nurseries, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 0AE; 01384 401996; ashwood-nurseries.co.uk • 13 Feb: Orchids Open Day, McBeans Orchids, Cooksbridge, Lewis, East Sussex BN8 4PR; 01273 400228; mcbeansorchids.co.uk • 13 Feb: East Anglia Potato Day (9.30am-1.30pm), Mid-Suffolk Showground, Stonham Barns, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 6AT; eapd.btck.com • 13 -14 Feb: See the Snowdrops, Colesbourne Gardens, Colesbourne Park, Nr Cheltenham, Glos GL53 9NP; 01242 870264/01242 870567; colesbournegardens.org.uk • 13 Feb-13 March: Snowdrop Walks, Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever,…

1 Line the traywith plastic to stop compost from spilling out of gaps, then punch a few holes in the material for drainage 2 Fill with good quality seed compost and level with a piece of wood. Firm down gently until the surface is flat. 3 I prefer to scatter seeds thinly over the surface. Don’t worry if some are touching, you can thin them out later. 4 Use a sieve to cover with a thin layer of compost. Water-in using a watering can fitted with a rose. Don’t forget to label.…

Purchase Bare root roses are best bought via mail order because they are dug up freshly to order. You can usually store bare roots somewhere cool (wrapped in their packaging) for up to 10 days before planting out if need be. Rehydrate Before planting out place the roots in a bucket of water and allow to soak for an hour or two. Prepare the ground. Dig a large hole that’s wide and deep enough for the root system and fork in well-rotted manure. Plant Water the hole generously and wait for the water to sink in. Plant the rose so that the graft (where the branches join the rootstock) is at soil level. Use a cane or piece of wood to identify where the top of the planting hole is.…

Should I warm soil before planting? Q Myveg garden has been frosted a few times this winter. Is there any point in covering the soil with fleece now, or should I wait until it warms up? Bill Hanson, Shrewsbury A A layer of fleece laid over soil would be effective at keeping some of the frost off, as long as it was in place before the frost arrived. If laid over already frosted soil, I don’t think it will have any impact on warming up the soil, and might even hold the frost in the soil for a bit longer. This is because it could act like a blanket, and trap in the cold air. It is probably best to leave covering the veg bed until it has warmed up…

WELCOME to a rose breeding breakthrough – these deliciously fruity roses are brand new on the market and are, we believe, the first in the world to be offered in half standard form. The stunning open centred single roses have a deep red maroon heart, the result of crossing with exotic Persian Rose species. The result is a cocktail of ‘tutti-frutti’ colours. A much less formal rose flower style, the open centres are a magnet for bees. In this amazing collection you will get one each of: ‘Sunshine’is a tropical mix of red, orange and warm yellows. The flowers change as they age, the colours get darker. ‘Cream’ is a lovely pure cream, just like vanilla ice cream, splashed burgundy red in the centre eye, slowly fading paler as it…