Innholdsfortegnelse for 3-Nov-2018 i Amateur Gardening

“Tulips from Amsterdam? There is a long, rich history at the root of many of our favourite plants, and whilst we will always associate tulips with Holland, they were in fact first cultivated in Persia in the 10th century. The word ‘tulip’ is derived from the Persian word for turban, for it was a symbolic flower in the old Ottoman Empire. For us, the tulip is one of the great joys of spring – a blast of vibrant, deep rich colour after the gloom of winter. Make sure you plant your bulbs soon to reap their beauty in spring.”…

THERE is no ‘wrong’ way of planting tulips – however and wherever you decide to grow them, they will shine out and look stunning. But first things first: which plants will you choose? Tulips are divided into 15 sub-sections, largely based on the shape and characteristics of their blooms. Some are like goblets and cups, others have fringed petals, and the ‘parrot’ tulips have irregular petals that resemble the feathers of exotic parakeets. Most flowers are single, but blowsy doubles are available. There are also species tulips, which are often smaller than bedding tulips and last much longer. It is also worth considering the timings of the flowers, as if planned well you can create a succession of colour that lasts right through spring. For example, for a pale display…

All leaves and conifer needles can be used to make leafmould, but they will break down at varying speed and produce different qualities of end product. The best foliage is oak, beech and hornbeam, which breaks down rapidly and with little assistance. Thicker leaves such as those of sycamore, sweet and horse chestnut may need shredding first. Evergreen leaves will bread down faster if you shred them and add them to the compost heap instead. Pine needles can take up to three years to decay and make a good conditioner for ericaceous soil and plants.…

THIS week’s free seeds will give you glorious colour and an intriguing petal design. Papaver somniferum ‘Victoria Cross’ carry fringed red petals with a distinctive stark white cross in their centre. I grew some this year and they made a stunning display sown together with some cornflowers and Nigella. Named after the highest military award bestowed by the British Honours system, these poppies bring months of colour in the garden and can be sowed successively through the summer. Alternatively, save them for sowing next spring, though these will probably give later flowers than those sown now. When sowing your ‘Victoria Cross’, scatter them informally or in curves and swirls to create a more attractive effect than sowing in straight lines or drills. The seeds are tiny, so you might find…

LET’S face it: whatever your garden looks like at present is pretty much how it’s going to look over the next few months. True, some winter shrubs will bloom and a few bulbs appear, and of course there may be some coatings of snow or ice. But basically, you could be seeing much the same picture for a long time. So now is the time for getting rid of any eyesore that’s blotting your scene! If you are able to determine that it isn’t living, get rid of it straight away before the weather worsens. Go on, do it – or you’ll be staring at it until spring. Likewise, do a scrupulous litter pick. I’ve invested in one of those walking stick-style ‘grab-it’ devices, not because my back hurts when…

IF you heat your greenhouse in winter, you might be tempted to grow a few overwintering crops in it. But if you’re staring at bare staging and beds, you should seize the chance to have a thorough clear up now. Tomatoes, melons, cucumbers and chilli peppers all thrive under glass, but they also suffer from pests and diseases such as red spider mite, whitefly and powdery mildew. These problems have the ability to fester, coming back year on year, unless you break the cycle now. These problems are at their most vulnerable now, either in the form of static eggs or spores, or slumbering adult insects. So step to it – you’ll be so glad you did come the spring! Next Week: Tackling mice and rodents in food store, fruit…

PYRACANTHA is a four-way shrub – it has four separate features that combine to make it one of the most valuable, not to mention easy-to-grow, shrubs we can plant. This four-in-one capacity is especially valuable in smaller gardens, where every inch counts. Feature number one is the dark evergreen foliage, which makes pyracanthas good background for summer flowers. Two is the creamy heads of white flowers that can cover the plant in May and June; these are followed by red, orange or yellow clusters of berries that, in the best varieties, drip from the plant like too much costume jewellery (feature three). There’s also another, less obvious, feature. The branch structure of a mature plant – trained on a wall – combined with that evergreen foliage cover and the fact…

Pyracanthas suffer from two diseases. Fireblight, which also attacks a number of other plants in the rose family, causes the leaves to turn black and brittle in spring and cankers to develop on the stems. Prune out and burn all affected parts – and don’t forget to sterilise the secateurs before using them again. You can get resistant varieties and these include ‘Firelight’, ‘Golden Charmer’, ‘Navaho’, Saphyr Rouge (‘Cadrou’) and ‘Teton’. Scab causes brown scabby patches on the berries and the leaves, as well as fruit drop. Prune away and burn infected branches, and clear and burn fallen foliage. The Saphyr varieties ‘Golden Charmer’, ‘Orange Charmer’, ‘Shawnee’ and ‘Teton’ all show resistance. In recent years, leaf-mining moth has also become common, making slender tunnels in the foliage. The good news…

Look for large, firm bulbs. Plan your colour scheme before you buy. Ask yourself: which colours suit your personality? Always buy more tulips than you think you need – after all, they are great value for money. If you don’t want to replant every year, consider species tulips such as Tulipa whittallii. They might be smaller, but after time they will naturalise and put on an ever-growing display. Plant two layers of tulips in pots to extend the show. For the best results, plant in November and into December.…

Drama queens With two or three flowers to a stem for a longer-than-usual display, sultry deep-purple ‘Havran’ tulips and wine red, seed-raised ‘Vulcan’ wallflowers make a sumptuous pairing that works well in borders and containers. Flowers: Apr-May. Red and gold Shading to yellow at the edges, the mahogany-red flowers of ‘Abu Hassan’ tulips will shine amid the slender foliage of Carex comans, with its tones of honey and straw. Harmony of colouring yet contrast in form – lovely. Flowers: Apr-May. Wild fire Fiery-red tulips look good in naturalistic planting combinations. Their block colour can be softened by the foliage and flowers of the black cow parsley ‘Ravenswing’, self-sowing happily, as well as the opening blooms of alliums. Flowers: May. Highs and lows When planning your partnerships, it’s crucial to think…

October to March is a good time to plant shrubs, but avoid planting while the ground is frozen or very wet. First, dig over the soil and fork in some compost. Then dig a hole as deep as the root ball and around three times as wide. Plant with the top of the rootball at the level of the soil, and backfill, firming the soil around the plant. Water well. Some shrubs only produce berries on a female plant, which will need a male plant nearby. Hollies, for example, are usually either male or female, although there are a few self-fertile varieties available. Ask at your nursery or garden centre to ensure you get a shrub that will produce berries.…

Variable Power 1-2kW Electric Greenhouse Heater £52 plus £4.99 delivery 0118 903 5210 primrose.co.uk Features Floor-standing mains electric-powered 1-2kW fan heater with fan-only plus two heat settings, and adjustable thermostatic control. Fitted with 58in (146cm) power cable and three-pin plug, carry handle. Dimensions 10 3/4x8x8 1/4in (27x20x21cm). Water resistant (IPX4 rated). Performance Set-up is simple. Position the heater, plug in, set the thermostat dial to max and switch on either 1kW or 2kW setting. When the greenhouse reaches the required temperature – check with a thermometer – turn the thermostat dial back slowly until you hear the heater click. The fan runs constantly but heating will stop until temperature drops. In the summer use fan-only to improve air circulation. Value A powerful 2kW fan heater that is easy…

‘Boom Boom Yellow’ With its fabulous lemon cheesecake shade, this ball type bears structural flowers 3-4in (7-10cm) wide on plants 36in (90cm) tall. ‘Chat Noir’ Medium-sized cactus-type flowers that bear tapering petals of a rich, deep maroon-red, contrasting with light green foliage. Plants reach 4ft (1.2m). ‘Café au Lait’ This is a pale but beautiful large-flowered dahlia, with chiffon-like blooms of creamy peach. Reaches 39in (100cm). ‘Waltzing Mathilda’ The warm coral and amber tones of this semi-double dahlia glimmer against dark foliage. Blooms are 2in (5cm) across on plants 18in (45cm). Great for containers.…

I ALWAYS think of tulips as the dahlias of spring. Both species are blessed with velvety petals in bold, vibrant colours that sing out from borders or containers, both happily share space with other plants, and both can be bought in assorted heights and with several shapes of flower. If anything, tulips are even more versatile than dahlias because as bulbs, they can also be naturalised in lawns and rockeries, where dwarf species such as ‘Little Beauty’ and ‘Honky Tonk’ can be naturalised alongside fritillaries, snowdrops, narcissus and other spring delights. Tulips give their best when planted in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. Like all bulbs, they dislike heavy soil that sits wet as it encourages rotting, so if yours fits this description then either lighten…

We wait until the weather gets colder to plant tulips to lessen the risk of the disease tulip fire. The problem is caused by the fungus Botrytis tulipae, and symptoms include distorted and twisted leaves that develop brown spots of dead tissue which spreads until they look burned. A covering of grey mould may be seen on damp soil where tulips are growing – the flowers may develop spots and rot. There are no chemical controls available, but risks can be minimised by discarding bulbs that show signs of rot on their outer scales. Infected bulbs should be removed immediately and tulips should be planted elsewhere for at least three years afterwards.…

Geranium ‘Sunrise Smokey Eye’ White: A new variety with an abundance of flowers with a ‘smokey’ edge and hot pink central flash. A ‘tidy’ plant for pots. Begonia ‘Shooting Star’: This new begonia has white petals with tufted yellow centres. It is a perfect addition to hanging baskets as it flowers prolifically. Verbena ‘Showboat Mango Orange’: A striking new variety with lasting, vivid coral flowers. Early-flowering with good powdery mildew resistance. Delphinium F1 Aurora Blue: A fantastic addition to borders and the cutting garden. This sturdy-stemmed variety has dense blue flowers and smaller leaves. Dahlia ‘Gardenetta Fireball’: The name says it all. A stunning new variety with scarlet petals surrounding an eruption of smaller yellow petals in the centre. Alstroemeria ‘Inticancha Passion’: A truly eye-catching plant with blooms of mauve,…

Charles Dowding’s Veg Journal Expert no-dig advice, month by month Frances Lincoln, £9.99 CHARLES Dowding has been an advocate of no-dig organic growing since 1983, and he states that this book is distilled from his experience of ‘30 bountiful years’. Charles’s month-by-month guide to growing vegetables is fairly comprehensive, providing details of how to grow more than 35 vegetables and herbs. There are also tips on dealing with weeds, using green manures, making compost, taking on an allotment and saving seeds. Each month Charles chooses a task and/or a selection of vegetables to grow and concludes with a list of ‘jobs for the month’. There are also blank pages where you can make your own notes to keep a record of what you have sown, varieties chosen and gardening methods…

PRETTY well all tree fruits are budded or grafted onto specific rootstocks to control size – and in the case of MM rootstocks for apples, to control pests. We have family fruit trees with several cultivars grafted onto the one trunk, a good way to get cross-pollination where there is only room for one tree. “Sunbelievable can produce over 1,000 flowers on one plant” Aubergines, peppers and tomatoes are now grafted onto vigorous and disease-resistant roots. Digging out a grafted tomato recently, I was interested to see the roots stretched out over a metre to indicate this vigour. Roses are budded onto seedling stocks, and grapes are grafted onto disease-resistant roots. This summer, I have been trying out grafting different cultivars of sunflower onto strong-stemmed, seed-raised garden sunflowers. I had…

SALES of Mr Fothergill’s ‘Victoria Cross’ poppy seeds have so far raised £73,000 for the Royal Chelsea Hospital. They are available from garden centres and online. Mr Fothergill’s commercial director Tim Jeffries said: “We are proud to be supporting the Royal Hospital Chelsea and pleased to see so many gardeners joining with us to do that. “Our close links with the RHC will see us supporting their important work for many years to come.” The Royal Chelsea Hospital, which is home to the red-coated ‘Chelsea Pensioner’ war veterans, was established in 1682 by Charles II for former soldiers ‘broken by age or war’.…

1 Grab ashes from clean bonfires once cool – keep dry until needed, or spread around gooseberries and old cooking apple trees. 2 Search for any discounted Halloween goods, such as fake spiders and snakes, as they will make great bird scarers for next year. 3 Under cover, groom plants – remove every dead stem, twig, leaf and flower, as it’s on these that mould most often starts. 4 Cut the top off Brussels sprout plants, as this will make the sprouts swell more quickly and bigger by stopping more forming.…

BUYING an apple, cherry, plum or pear tree is an exciting prospect and now, as plants begin to enter dormancy, is the ideal time to do it. Hopefully, this tree will be a part of your garden for decades, so it’s not a decision to rush. Before buying, you need to give some thought to rootstocks. When you buy a fruit tree, you’re buying a plant with two components: the variety (this produces the fruit you want to eat, such as ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’) and the rootstock (this governs tree size). Rootstocks are useful for home gardeners, as they allow you to grow trees in small spaces; there are also rootstocks that grow huge, orchard-style trees if you have room! Each crop has its own series of rootstocks (cherries have…

EASIER to grow than seed-raised crops, producing bigger yields than spring plantings… there’s a lot to be said for planting onion sets now. This is a great space-filler for beds cleared of crops just a few weeks earlier. Onion sets are tiny bulbs that have been grown on, and then brought into dormancy. As soon as they’re planted they burst into life again, growing in size until harvested in July or August. It’s important to choose varieties listed as ‘overwintering’ (such as ‘Electric’ and ‘Senshyu Yellow’) as they’re hardy and also less likely to bolt (flower) than other types planted now. Using a trowel, plant them 0.8-1.2in (2-3cm) deep and 6in (15cm) apart in an open, sunny spot, keeping beds weed-free with regular…

Plant at any time between now and spring, just as long as the soil is not waterlogged or frozen. Stimulate new root growth by watering your new pyracantha with Maxicrop or Seasol a day before planting. Prepare an area much larger than the rootball, by working in well-rotted, weed-free organic matter; this will ensure that new roots grow into good soil. Thoroughly weed the planting area, removing all perennial weeds, especially bindweed, before planting. Larger plants will need support. Use a stake, or tie to a fence or wall – this will prevent wind rock.…

THE tulip mania of the 17th century might be over, but tulips still command a tremendous amount of attention today. At planting time in November, gardeners flock to garden centres to take their pick of the tulips. With so much on offer the choice can be confusing. To make the selection process a little easier, I’ve been looking at which tulips the experts admire. Sarah Raven has a very tempting autumn catalogue for mail-order shoppers. If you want to put on a show of more than one tulip, turn to her collections for help. Each year she groups together a stunning selection of tulips that will sparkle in any garden. I asked Sarah what her favourite tulips are, and she picked out three. “Tulip ‘La Belle Époque’ for its crazy…

■ Always check flowering times to be certain that your planting partners will flower together (or successionally); remember that tulips can flower in March, April or May. ■ Tulip flowering heights can vary from 6in-2ft (15-60cm), so make sure you match the heights of your tulips and their partners carefully. ■ Consider variegated tulips (such as orange and purple ‘Princess Irene’ and the mixed bicolours of ‘Rembrandt’). Colourful from the moment the leaves peep through, they’ll flower well, too.…

Berberis darwinii AGM With its small, glossy leaves, this evergreen is ideal for use as a flowering hedge. The warm-orange flowers appear in spring and are followed later by berries in an attractive blue-purple shade. H&S: 10ft (3m). Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’ AGM Truly striking; berries are an almost luminous purple, set against leaves that take on golden-purple shades in autumn. Long-lasting, fruits stick around after the leaves have fallen. HxS: 10x8ft (3x2 ½ m). Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesii AGM Tough and hardy. The highly scented, white summer flowers are a bonus, but the real stars are the turquoise-to-navy berries that follow, framed by their crimson calyces. H&S: 13ft (4m). Viburnum davidii AGM…

How do I overwinter fuchsias? Q Our fuchsias have given us a terrific display during the past year. How can we overwinter these plants so they will grow again next year and produce an even better display? Lorna Allard, Wiltshire A Many fuchsias are hardier than we give them credit for, but this depends on what the weather does and what the prevailing conditions in your garden are. If your garden is quite sheltered and not subject to prolonged periods of cold and frosty weather, they should do well next spring. If we have a cold winter, or your garden is vulnerable to frost, it is likely that the top growth will die. But so long as the roots are OK then the plants will regrow, although they may only…

Mint condition Mint is arguably the best known of the culinary herbs. It has upright, square-shaped stems and toothed, often variegated or tinted leaves, and in summer it carries pinkish-lilac or white flowers (which are attractive to butterflies). Amazingly, there are 600 or more different types of mint, and they have a multitude of uses. Many of these woody herbs are now starting to die back for their winter rest, so let’s look at some of the stories and fables surrounding them. Mints grow from ‘stolons’ – wide-spreading stems growing above or underground – and they can be quick and vigorous growers. For this reason many people consider them invasive, so it is a good idea to grow them in pots or other containers where they can be kept under…

Q I’m beginning to build a good collection of plants and would like to keep them from year to year (especially some lovely gazanias and calla lilies). Are plants like these hardy and, if not, how should I protect them during winter? Shona Parish, Reading, Berkshire A The exotic flowers and foliage of tender plants are hard to resist and add panache to the summer garden. Favourites are easy to keep from year to year but don’t tarry, as we are already well into autumn. Gazanias, lemon verbena and canna are good examples of ‘half-hardy’ plants which are able to withstand temperatures down to freezing but not much colder. In well-drained soils, they often come through a mild winter outdoors unscathed. Calla lilies (Zantedeschia hybrids), gloriosa, heliotrope, Senna corymbosa and pelargonium…

LARGE, fast-growing tender plants such as shrubby tibouchina (pictured here), brugmansia and some pelargoniums take up a lot of space. It is often best to take cuttings during summer or early autumn, overwinter the youngsters, and either prune hard or dispose of parent plants. Also, buy in fleece covers to provide insulation on the coldest nights; a few layers make a lot of difference. Finally, drier plants withstand cold snaps better than wet ones, so time winter-watering sessions for sunny mornings during mild spells, when vents are open.…

I LOVE my garden: hope you think it’s good enough to put in your magazine. I am very much an amateur! At the beginning of June I had a garden party for my (40+20) birthday and I left a donation tin for SUDEP ACTION (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), as my son died in 2015, aged 30. I had grown some seeds so friends and family had plants to show for their kind donations. I felt that this way, Alan was with me. One of his sayings was: “I thought about it – it is the thought that counts”. Alan, you are still making a difference. We were able to send off over £100 to the charity. Linda Wilton, Woodbridge, Suffolk Wendy says Your garden is lovely. Thanks for…

BRING tender sub-shrubs like citrus and exotic palms under cover before the first hard frost and either cut out plant food or switch to a high-potash fertiliser to help increase hardiness. However, allow potted dahlias and cannas to have their foliage wilted by the cold. This does no harm and means they can be cut back to stumps that are smaller and easier to store. There’s no rush to remove the roots/ tubers from the compost – let the containers dry naturally, then repot into fresh compost from late February.…

1 For a more natural effect, I scattered the bulbs of a mix of tulip varieties on the soil, which had already been enriched with well-rotted compost, and planted them where they landed. 2 As with all bulbs, these went in the ground at two-three times their own height. Put them in the soil with their pointed end facing upwards – although if you fail to do this, they always right themselves and will grow just as well. 3 Give the bulbs a good drenching after planting. If you plant bulbs in shaded soil, it is worth watering them occasionally through the winter as they may miss out on good soakings from the rain.…

1 Some varieties work well naturalised in a lawn. Throw the bulbs onto the grass and plant them where they land. 2 Plant a variety of colours and heights in a container for a vibrant pot of colour to brighten a patio or balcony. 3 Tulips look great with other spring bulbs including blue camassia, anemones and, of course, daffodils and narcissus. 4 Plant tulips in a ‘lasagna’ of different bulbs in complementary or contrasting colours with varied flowering times.…

IF everything had gone according to plan, this page would have been about how I excavated our leafmould bin, explained the uses of its wonderfully dark and crumbly contents and then re-filled it with this season’s fallen leaves. However, when I started to dig out the leafmould, I discovered a wasps’ nest in its depths and had to think again. I have a healthy respect for wasps, but in the autumn they are best left well alone. Most of the time wasps aren’t a problem, but after a few weeks spent guzzling fallen fermented fruit they are ripe for a fight. So I thought again, and decided to bag up the leaves instead. Storing leaves in black bin liners (or a ‘Dalek’ composter) makes excellent leafmould in a small space.…

1 While annual, multi-headed dwarf sunflowers can be grafted on the top of large, single-flowered kinds, ‘Sunbelievable’ is a short-lived perennial, and it will be interesting to see if this perennial quality is passed down to the annual roots. 2 Next spring sees the much awaited introduction of a seed-raised multi-flowering sunflower, Helianthus ‘Sunfinity’. 3 ‘Sunbelievable’ is propagated by cuttings, and if you still have green shoots on plants they can be rooted indoors to provide new stock for next spring. 4 ‘Sunbelievable’ does not set seeds, and this explains how this novelty can produce over 1,000 flowers on one plant. You will need traditional kinds to get sunflower seeds to feed the birds.…

12 2 AMATEUR -4: Late GARDENING Fruit and1 Vegetable SEPTEMBER 2018 Competition: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. 0845 6121 253, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 2-4: Autumn Woodfest: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. 0845 265 8071, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hydehall 7: Little Acorns: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. 0845 265 8071, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hydehall 9: An Afternoon with Adam Frost: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830; rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 16: Glorious Evergreen Foliage for Garden Structure: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830; rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 16-17: See How our Garden Glows opening weekend: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830; rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor • Send details and images of your…

IT’S been a topsy-turvy year at Spring Cottage. My winter-flowering clematis ‘Freckles’, which usually flowers in November, was out at the beginning of September. The asters I rely on for September colour didn’t begin until October because the ground was bone dry. The equinoctial rainstorms finally soaked the ground and prompted some flower. Insect life has been equally topsy-turvy and our butterfly numbers have been right down, despite the glorious summer. When the buddleia came out, four weeks earlier than usual, barely a butterfly landed on the flowers. Most years they’re alive with small tortoiseshells, peacocks and red admirals. I was interested to see if the results of this year’s Big Butterfly Count recorded the same decline. More than 100,000 people took part and Butterfly Conservation has said that 2018…

1 If you do have any pot-grown plants overwintering in your glasshouse, temporarily move them elsewhere like a spare room, garage or conservatory. Brush away dust, cobwebs and old compost from staging, glazing and eaves, and remove all plant debris. 2 Mix up a solution of Jeyes Fluid, following the dilution rates given on the packaging, into your garden sprayer. Wearing gloves, goggles, coat and thick trousers, spray all glasshouse surfaces thoroughly. Take regular breaks, and open doors and vents. 3 Allow the glasshouse to dry thoroughly and only put potted plants back into it after 24 hours, because the fumes can be quite strong. As you transfer them all, check the plants over for pests and diseases to ensure that you don’t re-introduce them.…

CAULIFLOWERS always seem to be the first of the winter brassicas to yield for me. My favourite way to cook them is with a ham hock and lashings of cheese sauce, but I’ve also spied a recipe for stuffing them, which intrigues me, I must say! However you like to eat this essential veg, there are a few secrets to their success. First, choose an F1 hybrid variety such as ‘Amsterdam’ or, if your plot suffers from clubroot, the resistant ‘Clapton’. F1 hybrids are naturally more vigorous and so are more likely to produce larger curds (a glut is excellent for freezing). Second, don’t let your plants dry out – continual watering is key (this is why summer cauliflowers are notoriously tricky to grow). Add compost to light soils and…

Maturing pyracanthas make ideal supports for annual climbers: sweet peas, canary creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum), annual convolvulus (‘Grandpa Otts’ in cooler situations or ‘Heavenly Blue’ in warmer spots). Avoid climbing nasturtiums, however, as they produce so much dense growth that a pyracantha may be overwhelmed and lose foliage. The other group that works well is the winter-flowering clematis C. cirrhosa and its varieties, which have speckled creamy blooms through the winter. Although evergreen, they don’t make dense growth. The more vigorous, deciduous, blue-flowered C. alpina is another option, and can be pruned hard after flowering.…

Tulipa ‘Slawa’ The weather-resistant purple, orange and pink flowers can be matched with dark tulips such as ‘Queen of Night’ or ‘Orange Princess’. Height 14in (35cm). Tulipa ‘La Belle Époque’ The double flowers, which are a dusky pale-pink/delicate coffee colour, last well and have a romantic, old-fashioned appeal. Height 16in (40cm). Tulipa ‘Spring Green’ A reliable perennial tulip that has a subtle beauty and charm. The white and green blooms are a favourite with cottage gardeners. Height 18in (45cm). Tulipa ‘Barcelona’ Long-lasting flowers on sturdy stems. If this pink is just too much look to Tulipa ‘Menton’ for a subtle display or mix and match them together. Height 21in (53cm). Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ This lily-flowered tulip has flowers that resemble a…

Tall ‘Dreamland’ AGM Subtle yet colourful, the petals are rich rosy-pink with white at their base, the white seeping up into the pink but retreating as the flower matures. Lovely with silver-leaved and blue-flowered brunneras. Flowers: May. H: 2ft (60cm). ‘Ballerina’ Elegantly waisted flowers in soft terracotta-orange are citrus-scented and held on sturdy stems. Bulbs re-flower better than most. Lovely with ‘Fire King’ wallflowers or purple-leaved fennel. Flowers: May. H: 22in (55cm). ‘Sorbet’ AGM Interesting and unique; pure white petals are gently striped on the outside with a few carmine-red flames, and tipped with green. Inside, the flowers are white. Grow through tall forget-me-nots. Flowers: May. H: 2ft (60cm). Medium ‘Estella Rijnveld’ Unusually large flowers, their petals prettily fringed, come in a bold mix of bright white and even brighter…

Choose a sunny site, with shelter for the taller tulip varieties. Plant your bulbs in November, or even December, as this will minimise disease problems. Set the bulbs pointed end up, planting at two to three times the depth of the bulb’s height. Spacing should be twice the width of the bulb, and closer in containers. In pots you can plant an early variety above a later one to create a succession of blooms – a popular technique known as ‘lasagne planting’.…

THE most effective way to heat a greenhouse is to use an electric heater with a suitable IP safety rating (see note at the end of this article for explanation). Mains power must be professionally installed. Electric fan heaters are the best as they distribute heat evenly and help to shift condensation, but they’re more expensive than non-fan types. If you do not have electricity in your greenhouse, paraffin heaters are the only practical option. They’re a bit messy and smelly, they need very regular attention and the fuel is expensive, but they can save half-hardy or even tender plants in cold weather. Take care positioning all types of heater – not directly under shelves carrying plants, or close to wet areas or inflammable material. Check temperature regularly with a…

30 October 1759 John Kennedy was born in Hammersmith, London, at the renowned plant nursery of Lee & Kennedy, started by his father Lewis and business partner James Lee. The Australian woody plant kennedia (pictured) is named after him. 30 October 1941 Former Scotland international football goalkeeper and broadcaster Bob Wilson was born. Why is he here? His middle name is Primrose! 31 October 1620 John Evelyn, naturalist and diarist, was born. He was known for his knowledge of trees and, in 1664, published the ground-breaking Sylva: A Discourse of Forest Trees. 31 October 1932 Wild Violets, a musical play with the score by Robert Stolz (pictured), was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. 1 November 1865 Joseph Hooker (pictured) was appointed Director of the Royal Botanic…

1 Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) grows from spreading rhizomes. Ours are kept in the frost-free porch. 2 Calla lilies (Zantedeschia hybrids) should be under cover in autumn to die back and spend winter dry and frost-free. Water to wake them up from February to April. 3 Succulents such as tree-like aeoniums need a cool, bright frost-free winter under glass, in a bright, insulated shed or cool room. 4 Cuttings of Begonia luxurians taken in September have rooted. As the weather grows colder, they will join their pruned and now sprouting parent in the cool office.…

Any rules on pavement pots? I NOTED in Peter Seabrook’s column ( AG , 22 Sept) that the photo shows a mass of containers on the pavement, therefore restricting pedestrian access. Is this deemed as ‘pavement furniture’ as commercial outlets have, and would you need to have some form of local planning authority permission to do such a thing? I ask, as the photo showed how effective such planting can be but would not want to do so myself and then find that I’d broken any by-laws. E M Allen, Rugby Wendy says The roadside cottage we used was displaying an excessive number of pots! Contact your local council – some are more lenient than others, but if pots are causing an obstruction to pushchairs and people, you’ll be…

STEPS and level changes make a garden feel much bigger – and I should know, as carrying the shopping up through our steep garden is like scaling the Eiger! Just like on the slopes of that perilous berg, any visitors who don’t know their way through the garden find themselves lost as they ascend to the summit or, as some like to call it, ‘the front door’. Wanting what you can’t have is a natural part of gardening, and while our space-creating terraces, views of the town and country, and steps lined with potted geraniums have been a labour of love, I still hanker for a garden on the flat. What most gardeners covet, though (myself, included) are those plants that get away from the run-of-the-mill… something a bit different.…