Innholdsfortegnelse for 1-Apr-2017 i Amateur Gardening

EVEN though my frost-free greenhouse is heaving with plants and seedlings squeezed into every available space, it’s time to start sowing the tender flowers and veg which will go out into the garden at the end of May. The ‘window’ for sowing some plants is uncomfortably small. For instance if you don’t get first year flowering perennials and some perennial chilli peppers started in February under glass you’ll be lucky to enjoy a result. The perennial ornamentals will, of course, flower the following year but the chillies are tricky to overwinter. And the further north you live, the shorter and more critical sowing windows are. Start too early and you’ll spend a fortune on heating the greenhouse – and seedlings may fail through lack of light. Start too late and…

PERHAPS we tend to look at the past through rose-tinted spectacles, but when I was growing-up, summers were hot and seemed to go on forever. We can’t turn the clock back to the scorchers of the 1970s and ‘80s, but we can grow plants that bring a touch of tropical heat to our borders – even if this summer is a washout. Cannas do well in any sunny (south or west-facing) border. Don’t even think about growing them in the shade though, or you’ll get sluggish, leafy plants with limited or no flowers. Leaving it until summer to buy canna plants can be expensive. It’s more rewarding to start them off from rhizomes, available now at garden centres for a few quid each – and you get a much better…

• Keeping a diary or calendar is an important job, giving you a reference for future years. • I find it’s a useful tool for reminding myself when I planted, sowed or took cuttings. • I also use it to note where I planted varieties that die back in winter, so I don’t dig them up by accident! • It also helps you remember what hasn’t worked so well, and why, so you can try and resolve the problem the following year. • I also keep a note of the year’s first swallow, hedgehog activity, and birds and butterflies that have frequented the garden.…

1 Dig up and remove all weeds, and cut away any protruding tree roots that may tear the fabric. Rake then tamp the ground flat after digging. 2 When the ground is weed-free and levelled, cut the Permatex to size and lay it. You shouldn’t need to peg it down as the weight of the gravel will hold it in place. 3 Add the gravel, giving a thick covering so that gaps won’t be left when the stones are scuffed about during times of heavy use. 4 I anchored the end of the Permatex under a wooden baton to create a neat and level edge, and help keep the stones in place.…

IF you have a small garden, and want to grow your own fruit, a container-grown tree is the ideal solution. The only requirement is that your plant is grown on dwarf rootstock, so it will remain a manageable size. Plant it in a nutrient-rich, loam-based compost such as John Innes No 3. If your tree is a small whip, pot it on annually over a few years. Larger specimens can go straight in an 18-20in (45-50cm) container. Top dressed with a layer of fresh compost at the start of each growing season. Once your tree is in its final pot, keep it healthy by root pruning annually. TopTip Feed container-grown fruit trees fortnightly with a liquid tomato fertiliser during the growing season.…

THIS week’s free seeds have the potential to benefit your garden in many ways. Not only are Mr Fothergill’s Lavatera ‘Ruby Regis’ a glorious, rich and glossy cerise pink, they will also attract many beneficial insects. The RHS has labeled them ‘Perfect for Pollinators’, and they also work well as companion plants, attracting predatory insects such as lacewings and hoverflies that will work their way through aphids and other unwanted visitors. I am showing you two ways to sow your free Lavatera seeds. As hardy annuals, they can withstand adverse weather conditions and freezing temperatures, and can be sown directly into flower beds outdoors, now. You can thin them out once they have germinated and started to fill out, and transplant healthy young plants to other areas of the garden…

IS there a rash of seedlings in your propagator? Pricking them out now will keep them healthy by giving them plenty of room to grow with no competition. Exactly how the term ‘pricking out’ came about I’ve no idea, but it refers to the process of moving tiny seedlings from mass-sown seed trays into individual pots. I’ve sown my celeriac and parsley in trays – they germinated about a week ago and now, as the first true leaves appear is the perfect moment to move them on. If I left them their roots would entangle with the other seedlings so that when I did finally get round to it I’d snap off many of them – not good. So don’t put this job off – as soon as your seedlings…

GOT a pond? If so, are there any frogs, toads or newts in it? If the answer’s yes, then it’s around now you’ll be seeing the gelatinous spawn masses, to be followed soon by emerging tadpoles. These baby amphibians are fun and gratifying to watch, because you know that the few to make it to adulthood will be consummate eaters of slugs and other garden pests. Amphibians lay large numbers of eggs as a natural way to counter the range of predators that eat spawn and tadpoles. Experts reckon that only around one in 50 frogs’ eggs laid in a pond will actually emerge as a froglet. The rest will be eaten by pond predators – fish, dragonfly larvae, newts, predatory diving beetles and even some birds (such as kingfishers).…

AN air ambulance service will benefit from the introduction of two new dahlias by specialists Halls of Heddon. Miniature cactus varieties ‘Josudi Hercules’ and ‘Josudi Telstar’ were created by Falmouth breeder Peter Greenway. The Cornwall Air Ambulance Service will get a share of proceeds. Sadly, Peter died earlier this year. ‘Hercules’ has brick-red flowers that are said to stand up to rain well, while ‘Telstar’ has an unusual blend of pink and yellow. Both varieties grow to just over a metre high and are exclusive to Halls for 2017. They’re priced from £4.35. Go to hallsofheddon.co.uk or call (01661) 852445 for more information.…

IT might elicit oohs and ahhs from your neighbours each spring, but the rhododendron has been declared an enemy of the countryside by the RSPB as part of Invasive Species Week, which runs from 27 March to 1 April. The genus is found on more than 40 of the RSPB’s reserves, where it shades out native trees and other plants and hosts diseases. The RSPB is trying to eradicate it. The rhody is among several non-native plants such as Japanese knotweed and Himalyan balsam that the charity is actively trying to wipe out at its properties.…

DECIDING what type of fence and how much of it to go for is very much down to personal preference. Last week I had a local timber company install fencing down both sides of my garden. Fifteen 8ft tall posts were concreted into the ground or screwed to walls, making sturdy supports for the new panels. I wanted a fence that was bold, architectural and contemporary in its design, and the stylish Urban Garden Screen from Grange ( grangefen.co.uk) fitted the bill. At around £60 per panel (120cm x 180cm), it’s not cheap, but competitive with similar products. The slatted design won’t suit those who hanker for complete privacy, but I often chat to my neighbours over the fence so that’s no problem. For me a big plus is that…

Bulbs True bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, are made up of rings (scales), which are protected by an outer papery skin. The roots grow from the base; the flower and leaf stems from the pointed part at the top. Corms Do not have rings when cut open. Adapted to store nutrients, they have a growing point at the top. At the end of the season, a new corm replaces the mother corm. Popular corms include crocosmia, gladiolus and crocus. Rhizomes A swollen underground stem that grows sideways, rooting below and producing leaves from the top. Canna, ginger, and iris are all rhizomes. Tubers Examples are begonia and cyclamen. Modified stems that store food, with growth buds (eyes) at the top. Tubers get bigger each year.…

AFTER the dark, wet months of winter, driveways, patios and decking can be dirty and slippery with moss and algae, and now’s the time to give them a good spring clean. Sprucing them up is much quicker and easier with a pressure washer. Of course you can also use it to blast road dirt and film from the car, mud from the kids’ bikes, and they’re the perfect tool for jetting caked-on sticky wet soil from spades and forks. Before buying a pressure washer it’s wise to think about what you really want to use it for, and just how powerful it Stihl RE109 £240 RRP 01276 20202 stihl.co.uk  for dealer locator Features This compact 1700W RE109 offers 110bar maximum pressure and a flow rate of 380litres/hour. Has…

Fill Root Trainers (long modules, pictured above) with compost and sow one seed to each. Or sow six to seven seeds, evenly spaced in a 5in (13cm) pot. Protect with a clear plastic lid or fine-mesh wire to keep mice off. Preparing soil well, ideally in autumn but just before planting is better than nothing. Fork in plenty of well-rotted garden compost or manure per wigwam and, if soil is poor, add pelleted chicken manure. Fix supports by pushing five 6ft (1.8m) canes or poles firmly into soil in a circle (use a metal pin to make deep holes if necessary), Draw the tops together and tie them over the centre to make a wigwam. Push fan-like twigs around the base to start plants climbing. From April, harden plants off…

ThIs special family secret recipe uses napa cabbage, which is so mild in taste its presence it barely noticeable, but the high water content contributes to the juiciness of these dumplings. The finely chopped cabbage is combined with minced pork and crabmeat, as well as other flavoursome ingredients, and wrapped in dumpling wrappers, which are easily found in Asian supermarkets. They are cooked in a pan of boiling water, but could also be steamed. We serve them with a little soy sauce or Asian black vinegar. Wendy’s book The Chinese Kitchen Garden contains the full recipe, as well other mouthwatering authentic Chinese recipes (see the reader offer on the book overleaf).…

Chatterbox cheer HOW lovely it is to get an unexpectedly warm, sunny day which means we gardeners can get out and start putting into practice all the advice and tips we’ve gathered from our winter issues of AG. It also brings out the local wildlife and I love hearing the happy chattering of my favourite garden visitors. These long-tailed tits are still sticking together in their family group, before pairing off to nest. What a pleasure to have them keeping me company while I prepare for the new season. I can’t wait! Margaret Kovrlija, Knottingley, N Yorks Beans meanz bees! WE thought you might like to see one of our ‘bumble bees’ which we’ve made from various size tin cans. They’re now proudly buzzing around our allotment and brightening up…

SUMMER-FLOWERING bulbs are a simple, yet spectacular, way of bringing a rainbow of colours to the summer garden. Get them in the ground now for this season’s display, as the soil is warming up after winter. This is also the time to check and prepare the bulbs, corms and tubers of tender plants, such as gladioli, dahlias and begonias, that you lifted and stored last autumn. Once the soil begins to warm up you can replant them, having discarded any that have turned soft or started to rot during winter storage. Don’t worry if any bulbs have already started to sprout. They may not flower as strongly as you hoped this year, but will improve each year with feeding and care. This year I have planted two lots of new…

1 Only buy rhizomes that have been stored in bags of moist compost. Any that have been allowed to dry out may be tricky to get going. 2 As a guide, you’ll need to use plant pots with a minimum diameter of 8in (20cm), depending on the size of the rhizome. Use multi-purpose compost. 3 Plant the rhizome at a shallow depth (just covered with compost). If shoots are visible, don’t bury them but leave them exposed to light. 4 Water and place in a light position, keeping at 10-16°C (50-60°F). As plants increase in size, they’ll appreciate more heat (20°C/68°F). 5 I keep plants under glass until all risk of frost has passed. Ahead of planting out, choose a sunny, well-drained site and dig in plenty of well-rotted compost.…

1 Before removing the plants, water their container well. This makes it easier to dig out the bulbs. 2 Spring bulbs look best grown in groups, so dig holes large enough to fit several plants in each one. 3 Using a trowel, lift the plants from the container, keeping plenty of soil around their bulbs and roots. 4 If you need the pot, but can’t plant your bulbs immediately, lift and wrap their roots in damp newspaper.…

• The aim of using membrane is to block all light coming through, as this will stop weeds growing. • Make sure you take the fabric right to the edge of, and even over, the extent of the area you want to cover. • Where possible, secure the edge of the fabric under overhanging objects. • If you need to cut the material to fit an awkward space, make sure the smaller bit is slotted under the main piece with a big overlap to create an unbroken expanse of fabric.…

• My lemon trees spent winter sheltered in the greenhouse. • Between now and late October, they will need regular feeding with a high-nitrogen fertiliser. • Lawn feed is a good option, and you can also use a specialist citrus food, including slow-drip phials that are spiked into the compost. • If your citrus has outgrown its container, repot it now. Alternatively, remove the top 2in (5cm) of compost, and replace with fresh loam-based compost such as John Innes No 2/3. • In summer, move your plant outside somewhere sunny and sheltered. Water with rainwater.…

DO you ever buy plants because you feel sorry for them? On a recent garden centre visit (I won’t name and shame) I came across a good-sized specimen of the pony tail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) languishing at the back of a bench. The plant itself was healthy but it had dead leaves, a tuft of oxalis growing from the top of a tiny pot and (though I didn’t notice them at the time) an infestation of mealy bug. I couldn’t resist the impulse to rescue it. After a week of settling in, the plant was taken to the greenhouse for the horticultural equivalent of spa treatment. Also known as bottle palm or elephant foot tree, the pony tail palm is so-called because the narrow, sharp-edged leaves make a fountain of…

BACK in mid February I encouraged you to begin forcing strawberries. If you followed my lead you should now be looking at lush, leafy plants adorned by frothy sprigs of white (or pink) blossom. Lush foliage is a magnet for pests, specifically greenfly and red spider mite on strawberries. Check growing points and leaf undersides in particular for colonies. If you find any apply an organic insecticide containing plant oils or fatty acids. Only do this if your plants are covered and are NOT accessible to bees and other pollinators. Simultaneously rub your hands gently over open blooms to pollinate them. Liquid feed plants with potash regularly.…

A NEWLY planted tree could deliver annual harvests for twenty years or more, so it pays to look after your investment. Now, as flowers bloom and fruits start to set, is a crucial time for your tree, so what’s the best way to nurture it? Well, strong root growth is fundamental for a good start and sound future, so watering well is important. Not only will roots suffer in dry soil, but flowers and fruitlets will abort, too. Give your tree a good soak in any dry spells, and mulch the roots to lock in the moisture. Mulching also keeps roots cool, provides valuable nutrients and keeps weeds at bay. Use well rotted manure or garden compost, adding a layer 2in (5cm) deep as far as the branches spread.…

• 1 April: Ravensford Farm, Hamsterley, County Durham DL13 3NH. Spring bulbs are a feature with unusual shrubs and trees. Open 2pm-5pm for NGS, 01388 488305, ngs.org.uk • 1 April: Stockton Bury Gardens, Kimbolton, Herefordshire HR6 0HA. Visit the garden tended by AG’s country garden expert Tamsin Westhorpe – a superb sheltered four-acre garden with colour and interest all year. Open 12pm-5pm for NGS, 07880 712649, stocktonbury.co.uk • 1-2 April: Waye Cottage, Lerryn, nr Lostwithiel, Cornwall PL22 0QQ. Cottage garden with large and interesting collection of plants, meandering paths and stunning river views. Open 11am-5pm for NGS, 01208 872119, ngs.org.uk • 1 April: Ightham Mote, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0NT. Moated medieval manor with 14-acre pleasure and formal gardens, lake stumpery, fernery, ornamental ponds and early 18th century cascade.…

A COLLECTION of new clematis has been unveiled nearly two months before they make their official debut at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show on 23 May, and chief among them is one with a fearsome set of ‘teeth’. ‘Taiga’ – along with several other varieties – is exclusive to Norfolk-based Thorncroft Clematis. Its double purple-blue flowers are produced in summer and autumn, and have white-tipped tepals that look like gnashers. As they age the centre opens out to create a double bloom. Also making its debut is ‘Green Passion’, which some gardeners will love and others will hate, says Thorncroft. Its fully double green flowers appear in the autumn and blend in with the mid-green leaves. Clematis ‘Pernille’ has purple-tinged white flowers and is a viticella, so blooms over…

THERE are many reasons why you might want to move a shrub. In my case, a large Melianthus major is simply growing in the wrong place. When I planted this gorgeous shrub it was fairly compact, but since then it has grown so much that it’s preventing light from reaching a fan-trained fig on my back wall. My solution is to move it into the right hand corner of the bed, where it won’t interfere with anything else. Shrubs are best moved while dormant, between November and early March – but needs must! The aim is to dig around its perimeter and then undercut, allowing a large rootball with lots of roots to be removed. Severing some roots is unavoidable, but if done properly, the plant will recover once it…

WHEN you’re strapped for space the most convenient way to grow potatoes is to plant tubers in containers. For the past six weeks or so, my kitchen windowsill has been home to a few egg cartons housing seed potatoes. During their tenure indoors they have formed lots of short, stubby green shoots that are about 1in (2.5cm) long. This is a sign that the potatoes are ready for planting. It’s possible to use all sorts of containers for this including buckets, old compost bags, large pots or something else – just ensure that whatever you go for has some drainage holes in the base. I’m using special woven potato sacks, with handles that make them easy to move around. Planting is simple. Add a 4in (10cm) layer of multipurpose compost…

How do I tidy tulips and daffodils? Q My daffodils have gone over and tulips will soon finish flowering. Do I need to feed them and when should I cut the foliage down? Sandy Cronin, Torquay A It’s important to allow the leaves of all bulbs to die back naturally because they photosynthesise – make their own food to allow the development of the new bulb for next year. Many years ago research at RHS Wisley found that all bulbs should be allowed at least six weeks after flowers have faded before the foliage is removed, having gone yellow and dried or partially dried. At the same time, feeding with a general fertiliser such as Growmore, fish, blood and bone or a balanced liquid feed also helps to ensure good…

Lathyrus latifolius ‘Albus’ White flowers open from green-tinted buds creating a bright display. Plants sold as ‘Weisse Perle’ or ‘White Pearl’ should have larger flowers. Less vigorous than other forms. L. latifolius ‘Pink Pearl’ A pretty pale pink, ideal to arrange with roses in rich red, pink or white, or can be grown up the same support as a purple summer clematis like ‘Jackmanii’. L. rotundifolius Long spikes of pinkish red flowers open for many weeks on plants that are shorter and less vigorous than other species. ‘Tillyperone’ is a rich-red, long-flowering variety.…

PointMaster Tool £19.95 + £3.95 P&P 0208 133 5396 pointmaster.co.uk Designed to quickly, efficiently and cleanly inject mortar into the gaps between paving slabs. It ensures the cavity is filled from the back and completely sealed – far more effective than simply brushing in dry cement that can leave air pockets. LaHacienda Alexis Steel Fire Bowl £90 click & collect or free delivery 0333 014 3098 diy.com Bring light as well as warmth to your patio. This bronze coloured steel bowl features an attractive decorative surround, log grate, poker tool and a mesh lid to stop sparks flying. Also includes a cooking grill. Lead Effect Trough £31.99 RRP 0203 657 5230 stewart-garden. co.uk  for stockists Looking like a traditional design in lead/…

‘Cupani’ Full of character, this is close to the wild Sicilian sweet pea. Magenta and purple, intensely fragrant flowers on short stems. ‘Painted Lady’ A variety dating back to the 1700s, whose bi-coloured, flowers of deep-pink-and-white emit a strong, sweet fragrance. ‘Robert Uvedale’ A Spencer type named after the Enfield schoolmaster credited with growing the first sweet peas in the uk. Large, frilly pink blooms. ‘Nimbus’ First popular in the 1920s, rippled and flaked sweet peas are back in fashion. This one has dark maroon markings and is scented.…

Bunching onions An easy-to-grow hardy perennial that increases each year and is resistant to pests and diseases. The mild onionygarlicy flavour goes with everything in the Asian kitchen Sow seed directly into the ground in spring. Also known as the Welsh onion! Long beans Also known as the yard long bean or the asparagus bean due to their asparagus-like taste. Very tasty and surprisingly stringless. Harvest when they’re around 12 inches long, still young and crisp, and stir-fry or deep-fry. Chinese chillies ‘Tien Tsin’ and ‘Facing Heaven’ are well-known red chilli pepper varieties grown in China and used to add heat in Sichuan and Hunan cuisine. The Just Seed company on amazon.co.uk is currently selling a 50-seed pack of ‘Facing Heaven’ for £4.55. Napa cabbage Chunky cabbages with a mild,…

The guide features in-depth plant profiles, outlining ideal growing conditions. There are also tips for tackling pests and diseases, improving the soil and using traditional Chinese gardening tools, while almost every vegetable chosen has its own accompanying family recipe. • Readers can order The Chinese Kitchen Garden for the special price of £12.99 (rrp £14.99) with free p&p in the UK mainland. To order, please contact EFC Bookshop on 01872 562327.efcbookshop.com…

BLOSSOM is my favourite word; conjuring up images of spring sunshine and abundance. The first trees to flower are Prunus cerasifera, the cherry plums which although shapeless and nondescript for most of the year light up the hedge banks with their spun-sugar pink and white petals. When I see these in flower, I always think ‘here comes spring’ as when one starts, more will follow. After the cherry plums come shell-pink almonds and blossom of ice-white plums and pears, followed by the tiny white clusters of quick thorn or Prunus spinosa whose flowers turn to sloes in autumn. weather, as for buds to open they require a protracted period of warm weather. This is an evolutionary trait, meaning blossom coincides with the first significant hatch of bees taking to the…

1 It’s a basic requirement, but always plant bulbs with their ‘pointy’ end facing upwards, and the flatter rooting end in the soil. 2 Don’t panic if you forgot about your bulbs and they have started to sprout. Just get them in the ground as soon as possible. 3 Tender bulbs lifted last autumn can be returned to the soil now. If frosts are forecast, cover the soil with a layer of protective fleece after planting. 4 Begonia tubers and dahlia corms should be sprouting well now. Pot them on in John Innes No 2, harden them off, and plant out after the frosts. 5 Lily beetles decimate lilies. Their larvae cover themselves in their own poo, and bright red adults nibble notches into leaves. Pick off and squash them.…

SPRING bulbs are a versatile way of welcoming the new season. If you have grown a bulb display in a container, and now want to use it for summer bulbs or bedding, now is the time to transplant your bulbs. We have a container of crocuses, Iris reticulata and dwarf tulips that has flowered beautifully and reliably for the past couple of springs. They are dying down, and I want to use the pot for a summer patio display, so I transplanted the bulbs into a border. It was an easy task, and hopefully the bulbs will thrive in their new home. I carried the pot to the tree, but if you can’t do this, remove the plants from their container with soil attached, and wrap the bulbs and roots…

MOST gardens have a neglected patch where out of sight is most definitely out of mind. Ours lies behind the shed, by the leaf mould bins and the compost heap, and is euphemistically known as ‘the wildlife area’. It becomes impassable and overgrown with weeds during the summer months. This is a good time to sort it once and for all, before the weeds return to their summer growth and get a stranglehold. Blasting the whole area with weedkiller would only be a short-term solution, so I covered the area with weed-suppressing membrane, topped with a layer of gravel. Membrane is available to buy by the metre from most DIY stores or farming outlets, and pre-packed gravel can be bought cheaply from builders’ merchants. You may need more gravel than…

“To grow strongly seeds need to be spaced out evenly” THE thrill of seeing sown seeds shoot into life is never lost – this simple experience as a child can fire an enthusiasm to grow things for the rest of your life. And the excitement lasts, with every sowing bringing the same thrill of anticipation, regardless of age. Countless seed packets will be opened and sown both indoors and out this month, and to ensure every seedling has light and air to grow strongly seeds need to be spaced out evenly. To be certain of this I use one of two methods when sowing larger seeds out in the garden. The first involves tipping some seeds into the palm of my right hand (I am right-handed) and rolling them out…

1 Place a layer of crocks at the base of the container to improve drainage, and start filling it with compost. 2 Plant trees at the depth of their rootball. Add and remove compost until you reach the correct depth. 3 Slide the tree from its pot and tease out its roots, especially any that are starting to wrap around the rootball. 4 Infill with compost, firming it down as you go. Stop filling at around 1in (2.5cm) from the pot rim, for watering.…

“Asparagus is such a different treat when eaten really fresh” YOU might think you don’t have space for a proper asparagus bed, but don’t let that stop you from growing it. You see, you can grow asparagus plants almost anywhere. Granted, they may not perform quite as well as they would in their own bed, but they will still grow and crop. It’s getting a tad late, but it’s not too late to put in bare-rooted plants. And if you water well, pot-grown ones can go out at almost any time of year. You might save money and have even better plants growing your own from seed in pots, then putting those plants out this autumn. Either way, you will have to wait a couple of years before the crowns…

1 Fill small pots or cells with potting (not seed) compost. Water then leave somewhere warm overnight (min. 16°C) to avoid shock. 2 Water your seedlings (so roots untangle easily). Use a kitchen fork to tease out each seedling with its roots. Hold them by a leaf. 3 Lift each seedling from its tray and move it to its pot/cell. Dib a hole in the centre to take the roots, and firm each one in. Water lightly. 4 Position the pots/cell tray in a bright, warm greenhouse or similar to grow on till seedlings are bigger. Harden off before planting out.…

1 Only propagate from healthy plants. Cut off the soft growing point of stems, 1 to 2in (2.5-5cm) long, using a sharp knife. Strip lower leaves. 2 Fill modules with seed compost, make a hole in the centre of each and water well. Firm the base of the cutting into the hole, pressing compost around it. 3 Water the cuttings in lightly, then place them in a heated propagator (18°C or so) in a well-lit spot. Cuttings should root in seven to 14 days.…

A NEW rosemary set to be available at garden centres this season will raise funds for Perennial, the charity that helps horticulturists in need. Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Whitewater Silver’ is a sport of Rosmarinus officinalis Prostratus. It’s said to form a bushy, arching clump which “shows off its silvery-leaf undersides to dramatic effect in winter”. Large blue flowers are borne in spring, while the culinary variety is good for trailing over walls and edges – as well as for growing in containers. For each plant sold, 10 pence will be donated to Perennial. An initial batch of 2,500 plants has already been sold, raising £250 for the charity. The rosemary was discovered by wholesale nursery Hortus Loci. RRPs will be up to retailers, and readers are advised to check availability with…

IF you’re looking for something a bit different when it comes to a fruiting plant then cucamelon is worth investigating Native to Mexico and Central America it produces long, slender stems happy to scramble over the ground or climb up supports. Pretty yellow flowers are followed by countless tiny fruit from mid-July into September. The fruit are similar in size to a grape, with firm, dark green skin marked by lighter coloured stripes. Inside, the juicy flesh is similar to cucumber with a tangy kick. This vegetable is easily grown from seeds started indoors in April or May. Seeds will germinate within two to three weeks in a warm, light place. When they are large enough to transplant, move seedlings into 3in (7.5cm) pots filled with seed compost. Young plants…

MOST gardeners and nurseries use the term ‘summer bulbs’ very loosely. Along with true bulbs, it is applied to both hardy and tender plants, as well as what are technically rhizomes, corms, tubers and even perennials with fleshy roots. But although it is occasionally useful to know precisely what that dry lump in your hand is botanically – it doesn’t usually matter. More important is to understand what to do with it, and when. One key distinction is hardy or not hardy. If you plant dahlia tubers in the garden this week, the chances are that not only will the soil be too cold for them to struggle into growth, but when they do finally emerge the frost will get them. Yes, you can plant them outside in April in…

• Dead-head daffodils that are not required for seed collection, but don’t cut off the stalk until it has dried or died back naturally. • Not everyone lifts garden tulips. Plant 6in (15cm) deep and lime soil if it’s acid or neutral. They may flower for up to three years before deteriorating. • I store lifted bulbs in old egg boxes. Keep them apart to prevent disease spreading among the bulbs – which can happen if they’re touching.…

For scrambling over a fence or an old tree stump or climbing a very stout wigwam or obelisk, L. latifolius is ideal and will give you months of colour and cut flowers. It’s also good billowing down a sunny bank. L. latifolius is too vigorous to train into old roses. For example, even a mature shrub rose will be overwhelmed. The more restrained L. rotundifolius, however, is ideal to train into roses or other shrubs. During its relatively short, but dramatic, season L. grandiflorus makes a superb show on a stout wigwam of canes or brushwood. Plant all three species in good soil that’s neither parched nor waterlogged and in full sun. And be sure that supports are in place right from the start.…

ENJOY the sweet, golden-skinned fruit from this dwarf Apple ‘Golden Delicious’ that’s been specially bred to produce large, dessert apples on stems reaching only 3’ 3” (1m) tall when fully grown. Perfect for the patio! Supplied in a 3½” (9cm) pot at 12-16” (30-40cm) in height. Illustrated pot available for purchase. See coupon for details. Other special offers: OFFER 1 Patio Fruit Tree Collection THESE miniature fruit trees are specially bred dwarf varieties producing fruits on stems reaching only 3’ 3” (1m) tall fully grown. Supplied in a 3½” (9cm) pot; at 12-16” (30-40cm) tall. Included in your collection will be one each of: Apple ‘Gala’ Cherry ‘Sylvia’ Pear ‘Doyenne Du Commice’ Plum ‘Black Amber’ • Buy 4 (1 of each) for £29.99 (RRP £59.96) – SAVE £29.97 OFFER 2…