Innholdsfortegnelse for 21-Apr-2018 i Amateur Gardening

ONE of the most exciting things about spring is that it’s the prime time to get more plants for free. As the garden surges back into growth, you can trim your plants and use the off-cuts to create new ones. Between now and early summer, when plant shoots are fresh and tender, you can take softwood and basal cuttings. Like small children, they will soon put on a growth spurt and transform into mature plants that are ready to harden off and join their parents in the garden. Semi-ripe and hardwood cuttings are taken in late summer and autumn when the plant material has matured and is hard at the base, with soft tips. Softwood cuttings are an easy way of propagating hardy and tender perennials such as roses, pelargoniums,…

Cuttings root best in fresh seed and cuttings compost mixed with a little perlite to make a lighter growing medium and allow air and water to circulate around developing roots. Use fresh compost and new or well-washed pots. Clay pots can be better than plastic as they are slightly porous, which reduces the risk of waterlogging and lets the cuttings breathe. Rooting powder or gel helps strong roots develop. It can soon get sappy, so buy new each year.…

Last summer I sowed some Dahlia ‘Mignon’, which are favoured by bees and other pollinators. They put on a wonderful show into early autumn and by the time they finished had developed healthy tubers. I lifted and overwintered them and hope they will flower again this year. The seeds should be sown thinly onto damp compost, covered and kept somewhere light and warm until germination. Prick out the seedlings when large enough and grow them on. Plant them out in borders or tubs when the threat of frost has passed.…

AT the end of last summer I took a number of Helianthemum (rock rose) cuttings. It was part of our ‘rockery rehabilitation’ programme and I was hoping to plant them out this summer to fill any remaining gaps between the stones. The cuttings took well in a large pot and spent the winter in a cold frame. Alpines are relatively easy to grow from cuttings as the mix of seed and cuttings compost and perlite used to start them off is similar to the thin, free-draining soils they favour. The next stage for the cuttings is to be moved on into individual containers of richer compost where they can continue to grow and develop strong roots and healthy top growth. I used John Innes No 2, but they would do…

“A small gap will be a good insulator” THE steady increase in sales, year on year, of potting composts is clear evidence that more of us are growing in containers than out of the soil. There is also a move to colour and style of pot coordination, if displays in garden centres are a guide. When buying pots there are a number of things to remember. First and foremost is the weight, because when, for example, terracotta and reconstituted stone are full of wet compost, they become heavy – especially in the larger sizes. Check too that the opening at the top is straight and wider than the shoulders and side, so the rootball can be easily removed when you need to pot on to a larger container. If you…

• Spring bedding planted up in autumn should still be flowering well. • Keep it at its best by deadheading, so the plants put energy into new buds rather than ripening seeds. • Keep an eye out for pests. • Pansies and violas are prone to the fungal disease leaf spot. Remove and destroy infected plants – don’t compost them. • You can reduce the risk of fungal problems by weeding around plants and keeping them well ventilated.…

“Once the seedlings appear, the sooner we thin the better” DO you have enough space right now for all your plants? Most of us have limited space under cover and limited space in the ground – and we are simply not ruthless enough. You know what I mean – we sow far more seeds of each variety than is necessary, pot up more seedlings than we need and then spend time and effort looking after far more wee plants than we can ever find space for. Each and every seedling has to be kept and have a chance of survival. Our hearts rule our heads and we cannot find it in ourselves to throw out those surplus ones, or rather surplus dozens. Thus, we end up filling our limited spaces…

YOU walk down to your veg plot, morning dew still on the grass. You pluck a pea pod fresh from the plant, enjoy the satisfying ‘pop’ as you press the end down with your thumb, then run your finger along its entirety to reveal perfect little green peas inside. All that remains now is to throw the contents into your mouth, chew – and enjoy! Freshly shelled peas are an utter delight. Plump sugar snaps and the more slender mangetouts also cry out to be home-grown, so how do you achieve such utopia? Let me share my secrets. First, encourage a strong root system. Do you recall me telling you to sow some early peas in a warm greenhouse in February? This gives the peas a head start before summer…

IF it’s colour you’re after, pure and simple, then look no further than marigolds – French marigolds, in particular. The intensity of their brilliance is unbeatable, and with the flowers packed so tightly on neat little plants, the effect can be dazzling. Despite its name, this is not actually a French plant (any more than the African marigold is African). Originally from the mountains of Guatemala and Mexico, seed was brought back to France in the 16th century. From there, the plant spread through Europe, where it was widely grown for its colourful yellow or orange flowers and its essential oils, which are still used by perfume houses today. In the wild, flowering starts in late summer and continues until it is cut short by the first frosts, the flowers…

In the late 19th century a tall, single-flowered variety of French marigold with bicoloured chestnut and yellow blooms was so popular that different seed companies sold it by different names: ‘Harlequin’, ‘Legion of Honour’ and ‘Old Scotch Prize’. Eventually, the variety almost completely disappeared as more and more dwarf types were developed and introduced. Then, some 30 years ago, these tall, bicoloured types started to reappear in seed catalogues, often with new names such as ‘Jolly Jester’ and ‘Striped Marvel’. And now there are new varieties in the same style, including the yellow and orange ‘La Bamba’, and a mixture called ‘Jesters’. None have been given AGMs, they often need support and do not have the colourful punch of dwarf types. However, they will fit more naturally into mixed borders…

Sunflower ‘Sunbelievable Brown Eyed Girl’ – a new and exclusive plant bred by T&M that’s taken eight years to come to market. Flowers from June to November with approximately 1000 flowers produced in the season. Height and spread 60cm. Sold as potted plants. Begonia ‘Funky Pink’ – a new introduction set to give Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Apricot Shades Improved’ a run for its money. A trailing habit with double flowers from June to September. Ideal for sun or semi shade. Height and spread 50cm. Sold as plug plants. Poppy ‘Supreme’ - bred by T&M and launched in January this year. Spotted by the head of the plant breeding team Charles Valin 6 years ago. Fully double flower much larger than other similar Papaver rhoeas varieties. Sow direct into flower borders.…

Verbena bonariensis Held on top of tall, wafty stems, the tiny purple flowers of this borderline hardy perennial are a magnet for butterflies and, if you’re lucky, hummingbird hawk moths. Plants will self-seed where happy. H: 7ft (2m). Buddleja A shrubby plant with sweetly fragrant flowers, also known as the ‘butterfly bush’. Choose from compact cultivars suitable for patio pots (like the Buzz series; above) or taller ones that are perfect for borders. H: 2-10ft (60cm-3m). Oregano ‘Herrenhausen’ Lovely ornamental herb with dark green, purple-tinged stems and leaves, and clusters of bright mauve/pink, nectar-rich blooms. A perennial, it thrives in sunny, well-drained spots. H: 2ft (60cm). Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ Bees love the lavender blue flowers of catmint, a cottage garden classic that is especially useful because of its long…

‘Bishop of Llandaff’ (AGM) The classic, with its winning combo of jaggedly toothed, almost-black foliage topped by yellow-eyed, scarlet, 2in (5-6cm) semi-double flowers. Good with crocosmias and lime green Helichrysum ‘Limelight’. H: 4ft (1.2m). ‘David Howard’ (AGM) Perhaps the most popular of older dark-leaved varieties after the Bishop, with lovely soft orange, fully double flowers featuring a touch of peach, set against bold purple-bronze foliage. H: 32in (80cm). ‘Ellen Huston’ (AGM) Fully double, 4in (10cm) burnt orange flowers shine against their backdrop of bronze foliage, often with a little green showing through for a slightly softer effect. May occasionally throw a single flower. H: 2ft (60cm). ‘Fascination’ (AGM) Dark bronze foliage makes an effective contrast for the 4in (10cm), semi-double flowers in cerise pink – paler at the edges of…

Q Several times I’ve introduced lupins to our cottage-style garden, but they struggle, sometimes wilt and are often attacked by masses of giant greenfly. The last survivor is down to one small side shoot. What can I do? John Beckwith, Cardiff A Spires of colourful lupins make a strong show in early summer, but these seemingly easy-going cottage-garden plants are often short-lived. Growth dies back for winter, but unlike other herbaceous perennials, mature plants are difficult to divide and rejuvenate. They eventually form a chunky, solid base prone to rotting in wet winters. As you’ve described, they dwindle to a cluster of shoots but the good news is, these make great cuttings. Back in the 1800s, blue or pink North American Lupinus polyphyllus was the popular garden lupin, but in…

St George’s Day Next Monday (23 April) is St George’s Day. As with the feast days of Saints Patrick, David and Andrew, it will be a day of national pride and commemoration. These three saints have the shamrock, the daffodil and the thistle as symbols, respectively. For St George’s Day it was customary to wear a red rose in one’s lapel, but this is no longer widely practised. Although St George is very much regarded as England’s saint, we do have to share him with many other countries of the world, from the Iberian Peninsula to Hungary, the Czech Republic and other Eastern Bloc countries, as well as the Middle East. • In Catalonia, Spain, St George is the patron saint of the former Crown of Aragon, and here, on…

‘Bright Eyes’ This is a modern pink whose double white blooms are lit by a burgundy eye. There’s delicious perfume and a flower height of 11in (28cm). ‘Eileen’ Dating from 1927, a large-flowered single whose crimson-eyed, white blooms have daintily ‘pinked’ petals and delicious clove scent. Reaches 12-14in (30-35cm). ‘Old Square Eyes’ Dating from 1980, large single white flowers are bathed with a warm peachy pink centre and faint peach edging. Highly scented and reaching 12-15in (30-38cm). ‘Widecombe Fair’ A modern cultivar with double champagne-pink flowers and rich sweet perfume over long periods at a flower height of 14in (35cm) . Great for cutting.…

Reply from Bob: What I said was: “Cats actually kill far more rodents than birds, and as with wolves they most often kill the sick, old and infirm thus keeping bird populations healthier.” I drew my opinion from exactly the same source as yourself when you claim cats kill hundreds of thousands if not millions of birds. No-one has any real statistics, how could they, all reports can only be estimates open to huge variation. As to killing more rodents than birds, a lifetime of studying natural history and having owned many cats has demonstrated this as most probable. Rodents are far easier prey, available in greater numbers and give the mousers a meal whereas birds are harder to catch and then seldom eaten. It seems that whenever a…

WHEN I read that the M5 Willow Man was in danger of disappearing, I got straight on the phone to his artist creator Serena de la Hey to hatch a plan to help. If you’re not familiar with this sculpture, Willow Man’s 40ft (12-metre) frame strides beside the motorway at Bridgwater in Somerset and in his short 18 years he’s come to represent far more than the sum of his steel frame and woven body. For visitors to the West Country he says the holidays have begun, while for commuters along the M5 he’s a sign that home is just around the corner. Serena tells me the years haven’t been kind to him, as the surrounding landscape is now home to an industrial distribution hub and huge new housing estate.…

1 Cut a length of this year’s healthy growth up to 12in (30cm) long from just above a leaf node. 2 Cut it into sections above each leaf node, so each piece is topped with a leaflet. Pinch out and discard the growing tip. 3 Dip the cut end of each section in hormone rooting gel or powder to boost the development of healthy roots. Tap off any excess. 4 Insert the cuttings into a mix of compost and perlite. They should root in 6-10 weeks and can then be potted on.…

1 Clear away some soil from the crown of the parent plant. Choose a strong shoot around 4in (10cm) long and cut it off from the base. 2 Prevent the cuttings from drying out by temporarily storing them in a plastic bag somewhere cool and shady while you prepare their pots. 3 Cut away the side leaves leaving just the main shoot. If left, the extra leaves would take energy needed for the rooting process. 4 Dip the cuttings in rooting compound and inset them around the edge of a clay pot of gritty cuttings compost. 5 Water them using a fine rose and then place the pot in a heated propagator or seal it in a plastic bag to keep humidity around the cuttings. 6 Place the cuttings somewhere…

CITRUSES rarely do well if overwintered outside in this country, so my lemon spent the colder months in the greenhouse. Although it is unheated, it is light (which they like) and I wrapped it in fleece on very cold nights. Citrus trees grow little, if at all, in winter, but now the temperature is rising they will start to shoot again. It will soon be warm enough to move them back outside and most will be happy in a warm, sheltered spot between mid-June and late September. If your tree needs re-potting, do it now while it is still undercover. If it is staying in its current container, you can either lift it and lightly trim the roots or leave it as it is, and simply remove the top few…

Alpine plants wouldn’t have minded the snow that heralded the start of spring, but they won’t like the wet weather that followed it. Keep plants healthy by sitting them on a mulch of gravel. This raises the leaves off wet earth and makes it harder for slugs and snails to attack. Weed around them regularly. Many alpines are low growing and can easily be swamped by fast-growing, invasive weeds. There is no need to water as alpines need little moisture unless we experience prolonged drought.…

New terracotta pots and wooden half barrels are best soaked in water before use. Put a cork in the drainage holes and fill with water overnight Pots and hanging baskets with water reservoirs built into the base do not need watering quite so often and make irrigating easier. Wilko has a good one for tomatoes Stand plants in saucers through the summer, so if the compost gets very dry and water runs straight through it is caught in the saucer and drawn up again by capillarity Where you have a number of plants in containers, an automatic watering system will save work and give better growth…

SHRUBS that flower in winter and early spring need pruning as soon as they have finished blooming. They produce buds on the previous year’s growth, so the longer they have to grow, the better their blossom will be. Cutting back evergreen and deciduous varieties such as Viburnum tinus, flowering currant, witch hazel and forsythia doesn’t just remove the spent flowers, it also lets you re-shape the shrub and deal with pests and disease. My Viburnum tinus has fallen prey to viburnum beetles, which have eaten its leaves leaving them holed and discoloured. I cut away as many as I could and treated the rest of the plant with an organic pesticide, which will hopefully keep the larvae (active between late April and June) at bay. Always use sharp, clean tools…

1 Lever or dig out plantains (above) and thistles from your lawn and paths, and then brush some grass seed into each hole. 2 Leave one asparagus plant uncut to attract beetles to lay on it, then cut and burn it when you stop cropping the others. 3 Plant teasels, lupins and Alchemilla mollis (above), as these all have special hollows to catch rain and dew for birds and insects. 4 Almost everything is now in bud or leaf, so spray diluted seaweed solution everywhere on everything.…

YES, I know nobody wants to think about winter yet, but if you love leeks then sow some now to see you through from autumn until spring. I sow mine in a wide, shallow pot and then, once they’re the thickness of a drinking straw, separate them out and plant them in their final bed. That’s a long time off, though, so let’s just focus on the sowing for now! Sprinkle the seeds on the surface of some well-watered seed compost, cover with a 3mm layer of vermiculite and pop in a propagator at 16˚C or so. Early (such as ‘Sprintan’) and late (‘Northern Lights’) varieties help prolong the season, as does choosing a type that stands well through the winter, like ‘Autumn Giant 3 Albana’.…

■ Sow now on the windowsill, in the conservatory or in a propagator in a cold greenhouse. ■ Or sow in a cold greenhouse (minus the propagator) in May. ■ Sow two seeds in each 1in (2 or 3cm) cell of fresh seed compost, and cover lightly. ■ Germination is quickest at about 20ºC; slower at lower temperatures. ■ After germination, thin seedlings down to one per cell. ■ Grow in even light, frost-free, until mid May. ■ Harden off before planting outside after the last frost in your area. ■ Plant in any reasonable soil, in full sun, and in containers.…

WILLIAM Thompson was the son of a baker with an insatiable passion for plants. His enthusiasm for growing, quickly resulted in him moving to a nursery and later publishing a magazine called The English Flower Garden. He was highly regarded for growing rare plants from all over the world, and thanks to their shared interest he counted both Charles Darwin and Sir Joseph Hooker as his friends. He is one of the elite horticulturists to have been awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society. Thompson’s first seed catalogue was published in 1855. His business expanded quickly, and William realised he needed an astute business partner. He found this in John Morgan who helped him grow the business from strength to strength. Ten years after William’s death…

“There is a trend and demand for scented plants and plants suitable for patio gardens. With gardens getting ever smaller people are keen to grow compact plants in pots,” explains Peter Freeman. When it comes to veg, Colin Randel is full of enthusiasm for the future. “We have been working on combatting blight in tomatoes and potatoes and are having exciting results. Our breeding for the future will certainly focus on plants that are resistant to common pests and diseases. This will allow gardeners to greatly reduce their reliance on chemical controls,” he explains.…

HOSTAS THE PROBLEM: Hostas are great foliage plants for shade, but slugs find them particularly tasty and love to tuck in. THE SOLUTION: If you really can’t resist hostas, grow thick-leaved varieties like ‘Sum and Substance’, and use copper rings around the plant rather than slug pellets. PEST-FREE ALTERNATIVE: Ferns ROSES THE PROBLEM: Blackspot, mildew, rust, aphids… Roses do seem to suffer from more than their fair share of pests and diseases. THE SOLUTION: Choose cultivars that are disease-resistant, such as pretty pink ‘Olivia Rose Austin’ (above). Also consider wild/species roses – these tend to be more robust plants and are less likely to succumb. PEST-FREE ALTERNATIVE: Hydrangeas LILIES THE PROBLEM: Members of the lily family make beautiful additions to borders and containers, but the red lily beetle can reduce…

■ Collect rainwater in a butt. ■ Make your own organic compost and leaf mould. ■ If buying compost, look for peat-free. ■ Make your own liquid plant food from nettles and comfrey – it’s easy. ■ Choose wooden plant labels instead of plastic ones. ■ Use jute netting. Unlike that made from plastic, it is biodegradable. ■ Grow plants that attract beneficial insects such as ladybirds. That way, the hungry little critters will do your pest control for you.…

Canna Bold tropicals growing from stout rhizomes, the green, brightly striped or purple foliage showcases fiery flowers until the first heavy frosts. Try ‘Phasion’ (gold-striped leaves) and ‘Roi Humbert’ (scarlet flowers, purple leaves). H: 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m). Cosmos The bright green, feathery foliage of cosmos contrasts well with dahlias, as do the daisy-like flowers of white varieties (‘Apollo White’, ‘Hummingbird White’). Meanwhile, red-flowered types (‘Rubenza’, ‘Versailles Tetra’) are more harmonious. H: 2-4ft (60cm-1.2m). Eucalyptus With small, silvery leaves on slender stems, this fast-growing tree contrasts well with the form and colour of dark-leaved dahlias. Cut back plants hard each spring. Eucalyptus globulus (above) has the best colour; E. gunnii is hardier. H: 6 ½ ft (2m). Salvia Many sages come in blue, the one colour you don’t find in dahlias, and…

When can I move my wisteria? Q I have a small wisteria in my front garden that has grown as a runner off a larger one. I would like to try to transplant it into my back garden – how and when should I do this? Sue Langridge, via email A The best time to transplant your small wisteria is in autumn when the leaves are turning yellow. Lift it with as much soil as possible around the root system. If the ground is dry, water liberally to ensure that soil sticks to the roots. You did not say how large your plant is. If it is more than 6ft (1.2m) and has been established for some years, you will need to prepare it for transplanting. All you do, in…

18 April 1802 Erasmus Darwin, scientist, poet, naturalist and grandfather of Charles Darwin (below), died. 19 April 1882 Charles Robert Darwin, naturalist and biologist, died. 21 April 1637 The three-year tulip mania in Holland ends, with the collapse of the tulip market. At its height, a single tulip bulb was sold for more than the price of a house in Amsterdam. 21 April 1752 Humphry Repton, the last great English landscape designer of the 18th century and the successor to Capability Brown, was born. He died on 24 March, 1818. 22 April 1662 John Tradescant the Younger, botanist and gardener, died.…

ATV show recently reported that a small amount of plastic was used when making teabags. I use decaf teabags so I emailed the company to see if I could purchase loose decaf instead. Their reply was no, but as there was only a small amount of plastic used, it was safe to put them in the compost bin. I am not comfortable with this as when I sieve my compost, the teabag casings are still in there. Given the damage that plastic is doing to larger creatures, what does this do to the tiny ones in our compost bins? I still want the tea leaves in my compost so to overcome this I collect the bags by the sink, then split them so only the tea leaves go into the…

Willow is available via mail order from specialist suppliers, but you can also use cornus (aka dogwood) such as the bright C. alba varieties (below left) and the acid-yellow C. flaviramea (below right), which add a vibrant splash of colour. Hazel may be available from local woodland trusts or thatchers, as they often manage/coppice woodlands when not fixing roofs. This wood is also bendy and strong, especially when freshly cut. When making seats, bowers or an arch, hammer uprights into the soil and then plait pairs of wands around them, rather than just weaving individually in and out, as this makes for a tightly bound and strong structure.…

MANY indoor plants can be propagated using their leaves. This is a simple process, best done in late spring or summer when the plants are in full growing mode. Select a healthy-looking, medium sized leaf and cut it from the plant using sharp, clean scissors or a knife. You can either slice away the central spine of the leaf, or cut the leaf across into three or four broad sections. These are inserted into trays of dampened compost that has been mixed with a little sharp sand or perlite. African violets can be propagated by removing entire leaves and inserting their stems into the compost mix. Seal the cuttings tray in a plastic bag and place it somewhere light and warm. New leaflets should start to appear at the base…

THINGS are moving forward for certain plants in the world of tender corms and tubers, while others are still sitting tight and waiting for the frosts to finish. Gladioli corms that were lifted last autumn are best kept in storage until after the last frosts have passed. Mine have overwintered under the greenhouse staging in stacked trays of dry sandy compost. I check them over every couple of weeks to make sure they are still firm and healthy, and haven’t been attacked by rots or mould. The dahlia tubers I potted up several weeks ago have started to shoot, but I will keep them undercover for a few more weeks before I gradually harden them off and plant them in the borders. Again, I will wait for the frosts to…

1 Citrus are hungry plants and like free-draining compost, so I used John Innes No3 with multi-purpose compost and grit. 2 Water the tree well so it’s easy to remove from its pot. If roots are circling, tease them open and lightly trim the ends. 3 Plant it so the top of the rootball is 1in (2.5cm) below the rim of the pot and in-fill with more of the compost and grit mix. Firm it down. 4 Water the plant well. Stand the container on a tray of gravel so water can collect underneath and keep the atmosphere humid.…

Put each one on a 4in (10cm) pot and infill with John Innes No 2 compost with a little sharp sand. Water and place in a cold frame. 1 The cuttings I took developed healthy root systems and put on growth. They are ready to pot up individually. 2 Stand their pot in water until the rootball is saturated. This makes it easier to slide out intact. 3 Using your thumbs, carefully tease each cutting apart, taking care to separate the roots without tearing them. 4 They should each have grown robust root systems and put on good growth. Check them for pests.…

MUCH of this season’s spring bedding is still flowering well, so it seems ridiculously premature to start thinking about next year’s plants. But if you want to save money and have the satisfaction of raising some of yours from scratch, get sowing this week’s free seeds. Mr Fothergill’s ‘Early Mixed F1’ pansies can either be sown indoors now, or outside between May and July where you want them to flower. These pansies are large and showy, blooming in a riot of bold colours, some solid and some with ‘blotched’ centres. They grow to a height of 6in (15cm) and will look delightful clustered around trees and in containers. They should also flower well as part of indoor arrangements. They are easy to sow and if started off now should be…

April 21: Alpine Garden Society Midlands Show, Arden School, Station Road, Knowle, West Midlands B93 0PT. 01386 554790, alpinegardensociety.net 21: Auriculas Are Not Difficult: Hillview Hardy Plants, Worfield, Nr Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV15 5NT 01746 716454, hillviewhardyplants.com 21: The Annual Garden: Godinton House, Godinton Lane, Ashford, Kent TN23 3BP. 01233 643854, godintonhouse.co.uk 21-22: Wild Food Wander, Kedleston National Trust hall, near Quarndon, Derby, DE22 5JH. 01332 842191 21-22: RHS National Rhododendron Competition: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830; rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 21-22: Tregothnan Annual Charity Opening, Tregothnan, Tresillian, Truro, Cornwall TR2 4AN 01872 520000 tregothnan.co.uk 21-22: Spring Plant Fair: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 21: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Battlefield 1403, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 3DB.planthuntersfairs.co.uk. 22: Plant…

THIS is one of my favourite weeks of the year, because any day now I hope to see swallows and martins swooping and wheeling in the sky above. Spring is well underway and I’m having regular cups of tea on the sun-soaked garden bench right up against the house wall. I’m butterfly watching every day and one of my favourites is the orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines). This is a member of the white family and, as gardeners know, some members decimate our brassica crops. Thankfully, the orange-tip feeds on daintier members of the brassica family and its favoured food plant is lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis). This April-flowering, silver-mauve wildflower is often found in damp, sunny ditches, and the Latin species name of the butterfly, cardamines, acknowledges the link between the two.…

1 Sweetcorn plants develop an extensive root system and resent root congestion, so – provided you’ve got room in your propagator – bide yourself a little time by using larger, 3.5in (9cm)-diameter pots. Fill these with good-quality multi-purpose compost and water well. 2 Sow one seed per pot, 1.5in (4cm) deep. Water in lightly and place in a heated propagator set at 18-20˚C. Depending on the variety you’ve sown, seedlings should appear in 5-10 days. Don’t overwater at this stage – keep the compost just moist. 3 Once germinated, remove from the propagator and grow your seedlings on at 15-18˚C. They should be ready for planting out in mid to late May. Choose a warm, sunny spot and plant in blocks rather than rows to ensure good pollination and well-filled…

IF you’ve got a bit of bed space, I severely hope you devoted some of it to potatoes. And if room is limited I’m crossing my fingers that you at least managed to squeeze in a few first early varieties for delicious ‘new’ tatties. Unlike jackets, chippers and roasts, which are easy to buy in the shops, new potatoes are best eaten minutes after harvest to maximise their sweet flavour. Consequently, back in March I planted a large bed of my favourite first early, ‘Lady Christl’. The foliage is just starting to push through the ground, which tells me it’s time to ‘earth them up’. The literal phrase describes the process of drawing soil up around the developing tubers (I use a rake to do this). It’s an important task…

■ Plants of some varieties can flower while still young; nip off the first bud to encourage bushiness. ■ Continue deadheading regularly, every day or two, to ensure that as little energy as possible goes into seed production. A snip with the kitchen scissors does the trick. ■ Ensure that taller plants do not fall forward and shade the marigolds at the front of the border. ■ The root secretions of French marigolds are thought to kill eelworms, while the oils in their foliage are believed to deter other pests. As a result, they are usually free of all pests and diseases, so sprays and treatments are unlikely to be necessary.…

Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Apricot Shades Improved’ F1 Hybrid – this trailing plant has been a best seller for over 20 years. Large double blooms from July to October. Height 30cm, spread 45cm. Sold as tubers. Petunia ‘Orchid Picotee Mixed’ F1 Hybrid – produces a constant supply of lavish double blooms from mid-May until October. The blooms have an attractive white edge. Compact plants with height and spread of 30cm. Sold as plug or garden ready plants. Tomato ‘Sungold’ – voted the sweetest tomato for the past 20 years. The cordon cherry tomato offers plentiful bite-sized orange fruits. Good resistance to tobacco mosaic virus and fusarium wilt. Height 2m. Available as seed or plants. Tomato ‘Sweet Aperitif’ – expect up to 500 tomatoes per plant. A rival to ‘Sungold’…

SOWING seeds can be a fiddly business. You’re either grovelling in the soil on your knees or tiny seeds are slipping from your fingers into compost-filled modules – too many, too few, never quite right! Those losing dexterity in their fingers will know what I mean. Accurate seed sowing with correct spacing saves money on seeds, and using special tools can help. Some are designed for sowing long rows of veg in open soil – best suited to allotment gardening or smallholdings where long rows of peas, brassicas are required. Small hand-held types are ideal for sowing in trays and modules. They can be used for sowing in open soil, but you’ll be on your knees and they’re slow-going. We tried six very different designs to see what worked best.…