Innholdsfortegnelse for 9-Jun-2018 i Amateur Gardening

AFTER the early flush of spring, borders sometimes go through a fallow period until their summer blooms flower. So if your borders are looking rather bare, don’t worry, it’s a natural occurrence and one that is easy to remedy. Installing new plants is the first obvious solution. You can hardly walk through a garden centre at this time of year without sending a palette of bedding plants flying, so make the most of any offers and stock up. The usual advice is to go for plants with plenty of buds rather than flowers, but if you want an instant splash of colour buy them in bloom and deadhead them regularly for a continual show. The same applies to perennials. As you are buying plants that may be in your garden…

Finally, water well and make sure the plant isn’t allowed to dry out as it gets established. 1 Stand plants in water. This frees any roots sticking to the pot so you can remove the plant without tearing them. 2 The ideal planting hole is roughly the same depth as the rootball and twice as wide. 3 The roots of potted plants sometimes circle the rootball. Carefully tease them out before planting. 4 Infill around the plant, then firm down the soil to remove air pockets and give more support.…

PESTS are having a field day now and, if allowed, will be tucking into lots of fresh young greenery. I use wool pellets to deter slugs from vulnerable crops and ornamentals. There’s also something very satisfying about squishing colonies of aphids between your fingers – especially if you’re having a bad day! You don’t always need chemicals for pests. Harvest the powers of their natural predators – birds, hedgehogs, amphibians, wasps, lacewings, hoverflies and ladybirds – and create a healthy garden full of natural interest.…

WE are lucky enough to have a twin compost bin – one section breaks down while the other one piles up on an almost daily basis. Two or three times a year the ‘add’ pile gets so high it threatens to topple over, so we know it’s time to use or bag the stuff that’s ready. As each bin can hold around a tonne of well-rotted organic matter, it’s no mean feat digging it out. But the hard work is worth it because the finished compost is dense, rich and crumbly, and saves us a king’s ransom each year. Well-rotted organic matter, be it compost or manure, is perfect for the garden. Layer it on borders and let decomposition, weather and worms break it down and take it into the…

Heavy mulching with organic matter, such as garden compost, is the ideal treatment for both heavy and light, dry soils. Weed control in dense plantings can be achieved by applying diluted systemic weed killer via a sponge held with gloved hands. Dabbing it on a few leaves on each weed is all it takes. Make the most of space by growing plants in containers above soil full of tree roots. Busy Lizzies in grow bags, for example, will take some shade and become ground coverers if kept well watered. Early in the day is the perfect time to visit the Beth Chatto Gardens in Essex on hot summer days.…

Hardy annuals sown directly into borders should have germinated into robust seedlings now and will probably need thinning out. Check their seed packets for the correct distances between each plant. We need to thin out seedlings to give the remaining plants enough room to grow as they should. Plants crammed too close together compete for light, air, water and nutrients, which may stunt their health and growth. Close-growing also makes them more susceptible to pests and diseases and less able to survive them.…

IT’S commonly advised to lay mulch after the heavy rains of winter in order to retain moisture and suppress weeds. However, late spring is also an excellent time to apply loose mulch under and between most crops, as the growing plants are in need of extra nutrients. Of course it’s still best to do so after heavy rain, or after heavy watering, as it gives you the best chance of retaining some of that essential moisture. More than that, though, mulch stops the top layer of soil drying out, thus effectively increasing the volume available to roots throughout summer droughts. Established weeds should be eradicated before you mulch. Once a thick layer has been applied it will prevent new weeds germinating, reducing time spent weeding. Mulch also seals the soil,…

SITTING under a pergola draped in vines, glass of sauvignon blanc in your hand, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’re living the dream – and the good news is that gardeners don’t need to wake up! Growing grapes is a cinch (OK, so perhaps wine-making is more challenging) so what exactly is involved? At this time of year the objective is to keep the vigorous growth of grapevines in check and maximise bunch production. Those of you with indoor grapes may be tacking these tasks already, and outdoor vine growers won’t be far behind. Let’s look at what to do, step by step (see right). Boost sweet and chilli pepper crops SWEET or chilli, mild or scorching – most of us grow a pot or two of sun-loving…

DO you remember me encouraging you to sow sweetcorn back in mid-April, promising you superbly sweet cobs in return? Well, hopefully you heeded my advice and are now looking at pots or modules of regimental sweetcorn seedlings patiently waiting to be planted outside. It’s finally warm enough to do this ( just wait until night-time temperatures are reliably above 12˚C), so how do you go about it? Being wind-pollinated, it’s best to plant your corn in blocks using a minimum of nine plants. This isn’t essential, but you’ll find that you get better filled cobs if you do. Space seedlings 25cm (10in) apart each way, choosing a sunny site, and water them in well. Remember that mature plants cast large shadows, so ensure that your neighbouring crops are either on…

Feed with a general fertiliser in spring, and again after flowering. Cut away flowering stems when the last flowers are done. Do not mulch, as the rhizomes need to have continual exposure to sunlight. Keep clumps weed-free. Divide and replant every three or four years, otherwise flowering will decline. Lift the plant when flowering finishes, pull the rhizomes apart, discard any thin and damaged pieces, and choose fat, healthy ones – usually with a ‘flag’ of leaves at one end – for replanting.…

THERE’S so much to celebrate about footloose and fancy-free self-seeders. These plants are annuals, biennials or perennials that simply scatter copious amounts of seed. For this reason, they pop up everywhere and, once you’ve planted them, you find that you tend to have them forever. Most gardeners are grateful to self-seeders for their ease. They produce free plants, and they position themselves in inventive places that can lead to an unexpected display. However, they are like mischievous children who do whatever they choose and on occasion must be controlled. Control is the key to having success with these plants. It’s up to you to edit out those that overstep the mark. Many of these efficient plants have picked up a bad reputation for being invasive, but without them our gardens…

Cosmos atrosanguineus Some say this cosmos smells of chocolate; others think it smells of raw meat. If you are a fan of the aroma, the maroon flowers are a fantastic addition to the late-season show. Full sun. H: 2 1/2ft (75cm). Phlox paniculata ‘Mount Fuji’ Flowers during late summer and early autumn, when the panicles of pure-white blooms exude a heady scent. Dig in organic matter to ensure good water retention. Sun or semi-shade. H: 3ft (90cm). Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ (AGM) Great for pollinators, lavender-blue flowers adorn the aromatic foliage of this upright catmint from May to September. Sun or semi-shade. Excellent for planting beside a path. H: 2ft (60cm). Hedychium gardnerianum (AGM) Inject the garden with exotica via the dramatic foliage and…

For thornless fruit bushes like jostaberries, a covering of fleece with the edges secured by pegs will keep the birds off. Boysenberries are only sweet enough to eat raw when dark, juicy and fully ripe. They will never reach this stage if available to birds. Cover thorny ones with mesh. Gooseberries are ripe when sweet and translucent. Pigeons and blackbirds like to take the biggest and ripest fruits before you do. Many blackcurrant varieties are sweet enough to eat raw once fully ripe. Pick the best, remove covers and let the birds finish them off.…

Q Please can you identify this plant? Mrs E Golland, Newark, Notts A This is a common juniper (Juniperus communis), a British native colonising chalk scarps, open moors and Scottish pine woods. It makes a soft, grayish bush to around 26ft (8m) high and is good for wildlife. Birds like its soft fleshy berries. Q Can you tell me what the flower is in this photo? I have lost the label. S Smith, via email A The plant is clary sage (Salvia sclarea). This is a hardy biennial or short-lived perennial native to the northern Mediterranean region, but naturalised all over Europe. It is a lovely garden plant, pretty much taking care of itself and seeding quite happily. It is also the source of a much-valued essential oil that has…

Oranges and lemons Citrus fruits are among the most popular of both fruit and ornamental plants worldwide. It’s no wonder, due to the fact that they not only look good but also produce tasty – and vitamin-rich – fruits. Even better, you can grow and harvest your own oranges and lemons in your back garden! Citrus fruits, which belong to the rue family (Rutaceae), are among the most important fruiting plants in the world. The high juice content makes them crucial for the drinks industry, and the large citrus diversity, as well as the variety of things you can do with them in the kitchen, keeps their demand high. So, let’s look at some of the facts associated with them... Which came first? Rather like the age-old ‘chicken or egg?’…

Hip, hip, hooray! Most of us think of oranges as being the best fruits for getting our dose of vitamin C. They are good, containing some 49mg per 100g of pulp. However, if you want a real hit, go for the fruits or ‘hips’ of roses, particularly Rosa rugosa. These contain 2,275-6,977mg of vitamin C per 100g of pulp. That’s quite a difference! For hundreds of years – even before we knew about vitamins – rosehips were used for the prevention of scurvy. Wow! I didn’t know that… ■ The first ‘conservatory’ was built in 1562 at Burghley Court in Northamptonshire, by Queen Elizabeth I’s Chief Secretary of State, William Cecil. It housed Cecil’s collection of orange and lemon trees (as well as myrtles and pomegranates), and was known as…

‘Ballerina’ Frilly petalled flowers are tutu-like and the colour range is complex and interesting. The orange, pink and purple shading is especially satisfying. ‘Sorbet Morpho’ A small-flowered pansy with beautifully veined blue and yellow flowers. They tend more towards blue during cooler weather. Reach only 6in (15cm) high. ‘Frou Frou’ There is less shading and crisper colours in these large, scented, multicoloured flowers with beautiful wavy edging and darker veining. ‘Volante White’ Ideal for a lightly shaded spot, this spreading or trailing miniature delivers masses of white flowers with a touch of yellow. Ideal for baskets and troughs.…

Lawn applicators have a hopper to hold the feed and an adjustable slot at the base. As the wheels turn, a paddle inside pushes the feed towards the slot so it falls out evenly. They suit medium and large lawns, with smaller areas best fed by hand. Calculate the size of your lawn and weigh out the amount of fertiliser recommended to cover the same number of metres squared. Divide the feed into two batches and, wearing gloves, broadcast the first over the lawn, keeping the second batch back to top-up/catch-in missed areas.…

1 The stem from the Polemonium caeruleum had started to develop roots and it seemed a shame to waste it! 2 Dip the rooted end in hormone rooting powder or gel, which will speed up the development of robust and healthy roots. Tap off the excess. 3 Insert the rooting end in a pot of fresh seed and cuttings compost and water well. It may wilt at first, but should soon recover. Grow it somewhere warm and light, pot on when it is large enough, then harden it off and plant it out in late summer. Alternatively, overwinter it indoors and plant it out next year.…

IT isn’t always the big garden jobs that give the most satisfaction. Sometimes – often – it’s the accumulation of lots of little jobs, done well, that keep the garden looking good and being productive. Last week I spent a catch-up day doing several tasks that need doing now. I started by giving a final trim to our large winter-flowering heather. This is one if my favourite plants as it provides a burst of colour when there’s not much else around, gives sanctuary to hibernating invertebrates and provides essential nectar for early flying bumblebees and butterflies. A gentle trim is all it needs as heathers don’t like being cut back hard because the older, brown wood is unlikely to regenerate. Using shears (or secateurs on smaller plants) simply trim away…

Compost is easy to make and saves a lot of money. Good ingredients to add to your heap include green kitchen peelings and garden material (grass clippings, deadheaded plants) and brown material such as woody stems chopped small and ripped up bits of cardboard. Never add cooked food, meat, pet waste or teabags containing plastic as they either attract vermin or won’t break down. Turn your heap regularly with a fork to mix the ingredients and add water in dry weather. Covering it with old carpet helps it heat up and speeds decomposition.…

EVERGREEN azaleas, also known as Japanese azaleas, are smaller and slower growing than deciduous varieties and are ideal in patio containers. Our potted azalea took quite a battering over the winter and didn’t flower as well as in previous years, which I attribute to the heavy snow and slow spring. Although it didn’t need repotting it did need some care to get in back into shape. If you aren’t moving your azalea into a larger container, refresh its compost now. Simply scrape away the top layer down to the rootball and replace with new, always using ericaceous. If you garden on acid soil you are lucky to be able to grow azaleas and their larger cousins, rhododendrons, in the ground, but most gardeners need to pot them up in acid,…

IN the children’s AA Milne poem The Dormouse and the Doctor, a little mouse was happy as pie living in a bed of ‘delphiniums blue and geraniums red’ – and I can quite see why. Delphiniums offer up one of the most spectacular sights of the summer, their tall pastel spires standing to attention in the border, and doing further duty as an excellent cut flower for indoors. They are loved for their longevity – remove early flowers after blooming and you will get a second flush later in summer. This week’s free seeds are for ‘Pacific Giants Mixed’ that flower from pure white to violet and will return year after year. Growing to 84in (210cm) they will be the stand-out celebrities of the garden and are relatively easy to…

1 It’s BBQ season, so bake any chicken bones on the dying embers before pounding them to bits and adding to your compost for a valuable mineral boost. 2 Pond weeds multiply rapidly all summer, so start removing these before they choke the water. Leave them by the side of the pond for a few hours after removing to allow any critters to safely escape. 3 Cover empty patches in your veg beds and borders with crops, mulch or green manure – anything looks better than patches of bare soil. 4 Fill aerosol caps/plastic cups with beer, juice or milk in order to lure and then drown unsuspecting slugs.…

I KNOW those of you with the luxury of a greenhouse may be well ahead of the rest of us – you’ve probably tucked into a bowl of buttery new potatoes a month ago. Luckily, outdoor-grown spuds will now be catching up, especially if you grew quick-to-mature first early varieties such as ‘Rocket’, ‘Foremost’ and ‘Swift’. Gardeners are meant to have patience, but the anticipation of those melt-in-the-mouth tubers tests many of us! People often ask me how you know when the potatoes are ready to harvest. Flowering can be an indicator that tubers are forming, but there’s variation between varieties so that method isn’t cut and dry. By far the best way to tell is to gently fork around the roots of one plant to see what you can…

DEFINITELY the plants to plump for if you want to guarantee a spectacle, tall bearded irises, otherwise known as flag irises, come in – literally – every colour of the rainbow. Plus black. Not only that, they are also available in combinations of two or even three of these sparkling colours. Spreading steadily from fat rhizomes that creep along at the soil’s surface, they are now at their peak, flowering away. So why feature them now? Because it’s time to get your orders in for new plants and, after flowering, time to divide existing ones. It’ll soon be planting time, too. Many specialists sell these irises as freshly dug rhizomes that will be sent out for planting in summer or early autumn. This may seem odd, but it fits right…

A dear, long-departed friend had a wonderful approach to growing irises. In a broad, sunny bed she grew clumps of tall bearded irises, intermingled with clumps of Oriental poppies (discreetly supported), with white-flowered sweet rocket self-seeding through the whole display. For a few summer weeks it was spectacular, as it was again in spring when the interplanted crocus flowered. Alas, to copy her approach, you need a garden with space for other displays at other seasons.…

Verbena bonariensis The perfect plant for the middle or back of a sunny border. It is more likely to set seed in a sandy soil than in heavy clay. Reaches 3ft 3in (1m) in height. Flowers June-October Verbascum olympicum A perennial that often dies after flowering and setting seed. Perfect for the back of the border, reaching 6ft 6in (2m) in height. Wonderful yellow flowers in summer Centranthus ruber Commonly known as red valerian, this attractive perennial can have crimson, white or pink flowers all summer. Thrives in poor soil and a sunny spot. Height 1ft 8in (50cm) Erigeron karvinskianus Easily mistaken as a rather healthy bunch of lawn daisies. Perfect for cracks in paving and flowers June-October. Fully hardy. Reaches a height and spread of…

Plant in full sun, in fertile soil that will not become waterlogged in winter. Support is vital. There are various methods: use bamboo canes for individual stems; or, for whole plants, rig up a horizontal mesh support. Sow seed of relevant varieties in summer, then plant out in the autumn for flowering the following year. Spring sowing produces smaller plants. Grow choice varieties from spring cuttings, or lift and divide plants just as they are starting to grow.…

Should I be worried about bees? Q Bees have burrowed into the ground under the base of my plastic compost bin. Should I be worried that they are making a nest/hive? At first I was not worried as I thought it was a mason bee, but now there are a small crowd buzzing in and out. Eileen Thurlow, via email A Although there are lots of native bee species, only honey bees and bumble bees live in colonies. It is most likely that the bees you have discovered are bumble bees. They live in fairly small colonies of just a few hundred workers, and most species breed in underground cavities. Because they live in small nests, bumble bees never swarm and they do not produce enough honey for commercial use,…

PLASTIC is an ideal material for work-a-day gardening plant pots. It’s waterproof, strong, long-lived, light, fairly cheap, and quick and easy to manufacture. Sadly, it’s also turned out to be environmentally disastrous. However, there are alternatives. Terracotta pots were pretty much the only things available until mass-produced plastic took over, but earthenware still has a place; it is classic, attractive and is environmentally better. We’ve also tracked down pots made from a range of biodegradeable materials and looked at how they perform in the garden for anything from sowing and growing on seedlings, to displaying your favourite pelargoniums over several seasons. Let’s all do our bit to try to use less plastic. Vitax Grow Pots £3.99 from garden centres 01530 510060 for stockists or visit vitax.co.uk Features Pack…

5 June 1846 George Loddiges, nurseryman and artist, died. He was a consummate plant collector, and devised an innovative way of heating glasshouses using steam. 6 June 2011 The first-ever National Gardening Exercise Day was held in the USA. It is now observed each year and is gaining interest in the UK. It encourages us to maximise the benefits we reap from gardening by adding some stretches and a few extra steps or squats! 8 June 1865 Joseph Paxton MP, gardener, architect and the designer of Crystal Palace, died. 8 June 1897 Brenda Colvin, landscape architect and founder of the Institute of Landscape Architects (now the Landscape Institute), was born. 10 June 1858 Robert Brown, botanist and an early proponent of the microscope to identify plant cells, died. 10 June…

Give us ‘real’ gardens HAVING read Peter Seabrook’s comments about Chelsea (AG, 19 May), I could not agree more! We should see a return to more ‘ordinary gardens’ which mean something to the ordinary gardener! Having seen the preview to this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, it would appear that we are to be treated to more lumps of concrete, strikingly similar to the Gold winner last year, which looked like a cemetery and of no horticultural interest at all. We want plants and flowers, with the camera remaining on them for more than a fleeting moment and a lot less talk. Who needs this psycho-babble and does every garden have to have some high-and-mighty meaning? Please tell them to come back down to earth. Melanie Beasley, email Battery mowers I…

1 If sowing in a container of used compost, spread it on the border first. Its nutritional value is slight, but it will improve the soil’s structure. 2 Refill with fresh multipurpose compost and sow the beetroot seeds thinly on top. Cover with a thin layer of compost. 3 Water well and label clearly. I’m using wooden labels in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic used in the garden. 4 Thin the seedlings when they are large enough. This gives each plant more room and helps the development of larger, healthier roots.…

1 Place a layer of crocks at the bottom of a clean container. They will improve drainage and help prevent pests crawling in. 2 Add some John Innes No3 compost mixed with grit and settle the tree at the same depth as its rootball. 3 Infill with the compost, making sure you leave a 2in (5cm) gap at the top of the pot for watering. 4 Firm down the compost to knock out any air pockets around the roots and help support the tree. 5 Water thoroughly after planting and don’t let the tree dry out while it gets established.…

THOSE of us fortunate enough to have spent time with Beth Chatto, and the millions who have enjoyed visiting her garden in person and through the medium of television, mourn her death aged 94 last month. What a remarkable lady, one of the founders of Colchester Flower Club, the second to be formed in England, and a true artist when it came to handling plants and flowers. When visiting the Beth Chatto Elmstead Market Garden in Essex, via the dry garden and looking down from beneath a great oak tree to the running stream, it is like entering a cathedral and has all the spiritual uplifting of such places. Those stately trees and the knowledge this garden was sculpted from a veritable wilderness makes every visit a memorable occasion. “Her…

1 Remove any spent blooms and buds that failed to flower as this will encourage new growth. 2 Prune back the dead, damaged or diseased stems to healthy wood. Keep the shrub in good shape by removing weak and spindly twigs. 3 Feed with a slow-release ericaceous plant food and fork it in. Don’t feed after midsummer as new growth may fail in colder weather. 4 Water your azalea well throughout summer. They prefer rainwater, as it is less alkaline. If you only have tap, let it stand in a watering can for 24 hours so the chlorine evaporates.…

9: Peony Show: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk 9: The Productive Greenhouse in Summer: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 9: Introduction to Dry Stone Walling: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens 9-10: Rose Weekend: RHS Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens 9-10: All About Bonsai: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk 10: Flower Arranging Workshop: Cae Hir Gardens and Tea Room, Cribyn, Lampeter, Ceredigion SA48 7NG. 01570 471116, caehirgardens.com 13: Garden Wildlife Walk: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org 13: The Curator’s Summer Garden Walk:…

I ALWAYS associate dandelions with St George’s Day, on 23 April, because they’re almost always at their best at this time. In the past I’ve been quite strict about eradicating dandelions from my Spring Cottage garden, because the field just over the wall is usually full of them. It also contains sheep’s sorrel, common sorrel and bulbous buttercup. However, this year there were no dandelions at all at the end of April, just a carpet of rich-green grass. This has left me in a quandary because dandelions and bulbous buttercups are one of the best plants for wild bees. If you go out on a blustery day you’ll almost certainly see some tiny solitary bees sheltering from the wind in these flowers. Common and sheep’s sorrel are the principal food…

1 Grapes are rampant plants, so you’re likely looking at a tangle of leaves and stems come early summer. Make sense of them by tracing them back to see if they support a decent bunch of grapes – cut two leaves past the bunch of any that do. Weak shoots can be rubbed out. 2 Non-fruiting, strong shoots can be left in place if you have the room, otherwise these, too, can be cut out. If you’re training a young vine now is also the time to tie in any shoots that you want as a permanent framework. Foam-coated wire is ideal as it’s strong yet soft. 3 Your grape will now pump all its nutrients into the developing bunches. As they swell, thin them out to one per 61cm…

Plant bare-root rhizomes as soon as you receive them, usually from July to September. Plant with the tops of the rhizomes exposed at soil level, and with the roots spread out below. Choose a sunny site in well-drained soil; they need sun for at least two-thirds of the day but will grow in most soils that are not actually wet. Plant pot-grown irises at any time, but preferably in spring or mid-summer. They should be planted at the same level as that of the compost in the pot.…

In addition to the tall bearded (TB) irises, there are five other groups classified by height and flower size. Of these, perhaps the most interesting – for those of us with smaller gardens – are the April-flowering standard dwarf bearded (SDB) irises. Varieties in this group reach no more than 16in (40cm) tall, with flowers up to 3in (8cm) across. Tall bearded irises are of a height where we tend to look at them from the side, so tall standards and drooping falls give us the most colour. The somewhat shorter SDBs tend to be viewed from above. This means we get a blast of colour with falls that are held horizontally when we look down at them at the front of a sunny border. There are some lovely AGMwinning…

Research self-seeding plants before committing to them. Will they be easy to pull up and remove? If self-seeders are deep rooted and hard to remove from the garden, cut off the flowers before they have the chance to set seed. For those people who have steep banks and inaccessible areas of their garden where soil can’t be turned easily, self-seeders could be the answer. Some will grow in the most inhospitable places. Edit out self-seeders that are taking over – the ideal time to do this is in early spring. Learn to identify their seedlings so you can lift them when they’re small. Many self-seeders are vigorous in some gardens and not in others – ask a neighbour if they have trouble with a plant before growing it.…

‘Alice Artindale’ Unusual, fully double flowers like tight little rosebuds are sharp blue and lavender, sometimes with hints of green, and crowd the slender stems. Striking in the border and lovely as a cut flower – fresh or dried. H: 5ft (1.5m). ‘Fenella’ (AGM) This classic old variety is still going strong, a testament to its robust nature. The brilliant gentian-blue florets are smaller than many, but a full spike is still a highly impressive sight. H: 67in (1.7m). ‘Rosemary Brock’ (AGM) Has divided foliage and dramatic spikes of magenta-pink flowers, each with a tawny centre. Don’t be put off by the word ‘magenta’, though – the result is elegant, not brash. H: 5ft (1.5m). ‘Sungleam’ (AGM) The spikes may be a little shorter than those of many varieties, but…

Q What is attacking my Phalaenopsis and how can I get rid of it? Marion Smith, Saltford, Bristol A I suspect red spider mites have been busy. These microscopic insects suck sap from leaves and cause cells to die. If you look at the foliage through a microscope you should be able to see the mites scurrying around. The best way to treat the pest is to use an aerosol form of Provado Ultimate Bug Killer or Bugclear Ultra Gun. Both are contact and systemic pesticides and most garden centres stock them. Additionally, feed your plant with orchid fertiliser to improve its immunity to attack from these pests and boost its vigour.…

01282 706701 (Lancashire Bedding) ebay.co.uk Features Box of 84 pots with diameters of 2in, 4in and 6in (5cm, 10cm, 15cm) made from bamboo, rice husks and straw. Drainage holes in base. Lifespan one year outdoors, three years indoors. When planted in soil, will rot down in 3-4 months. Lightweight and waterproof. Performance Pots suitable for growing plants through a full season or more, indoors or out, without falling apart, but they’ll eventually break down if planted in the soil, or in landfill. The range of sizes is suitable for anything from potting up seedlings or sowing large seeds, to growing large potted plants. Strong, rigid, good looking and light. Easy to fill and plant into, supple enough to tease out roots when repotting. Value Fairly attractive, highly practical,…

Westland Big Tom Super Food is enriched with the essential nutrients for a tastier and bigger yield of tomatoes, plus improved root growth for plant stability. The feed is seaweed enriched with NPK levels of 6-3-9.5 to give your tomatoes the boost they need during growth. The 1.25-litre bottle makes up to 62 feeds, and can be used on beds, paths and patios. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding usage. We have three 1.25-litre bottles to give away, each worth around £5. See below for details of how to enter the prize draw. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Big Tom Super Food Draw (9 June), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7BF. Or you can email your details…

Provide moist but well-drained soil. Add organic matter to light and heavy soils. In wet areas, plant into slightly raised beds or use containers. Grow in full sun or partial shade. Sun encourages compact growth but where soil is dry and baked a little shade will help with moisture retention. Pansies are not long-lasting, so replace frequently using different sites or fresh compost. Raise from seed sown in spring for summer flowers, or summer for autumn-to-spring blooms. Fill, press lightly and water finely to sow onto a smooth, moist compost surface. Cover very lightly with compost and place in a cool spot to germinate. After germination, transplant singly to 3in (8cm) pots and from there, plant out. Avoid placing in beds exposed to continuous wet, windy weather. This seems to…

THIS amazing cake so expertly iced to create leaves and petals of succulents and roses on a log base was recently on display at a garden show in Devon. The stallholder didn’t mind when I asked to take a photo. I was struck by how it compares to this plant in my garden wall – pity the soil doesn’t taste like chocolate! Incidentally, it was at Toby’s Garden Festival – please tell him we had a fantastic day and can’t wait for his next show at Forde Abbey. Gemma Horton, Okehampton, Devon Wendy says Wow, this cake does look delicious, and almost too good to eat!…

MEASURE twice, cut once. If you want to do something well it pays to do it twice, whether you’re pruning – check twice before you cut – or planting (remember to dig a hole at least twice as wide as the roots). “It pays to apply fertiliser at half strength in two passes” The times-two rule also applies when cleaning paving slabs. They always come up clean on the second blast from the jet-washer, and as for deep cultivation nothing comes close to double digging. It might be heavy work and its efficacy debatable, but it’s kept cash-strapped chiropractors busy for years! ‘Double-doing’ makes the most difference, though, on the lawn. Mowing twice a week is the fastest way to achieve a thick and healthy sward, as cutting encourages the…