Innholdsfortegnelse for 17-Nov-2018 i Amateur Gardening

“I have a confession: I’ve still not planted my spring bulbs! However, this weekend will see lots of activity in the garden, as I plan to plant big this year. There is nothing more energising and delightful than to see the first daffodils and then tulips appear, and for me the more varieties the better. My plan for daffodils is a large batch of ‘Tête-à-tête’ at the front of the border and several varieties of Division 1 daffs behind to create a chaos of yellow. Oh yes, I await March with much anticipation!”…

DUE to this year’s crazy weather there has been shortage of spring bulbs. However, if you are still able to buy some at your local garden centre, get them in now while the soil is still in good condition. Bulbs are extremely versatile and very easy to grow; all you need to do is plant them and mark their place so you don’t dig them up accidentally, and they will do the rest. Get them in the ground or a container at twice their own depth, one bulb’s width apart and with their pointed end facing upwards. They will grow happily in borders, rockeries – dwarf varieties are perfect for this –containers and even in lawns. Planting bulbs in lawns is called ‘naturalising’ and varieties that excel in this situation…

THE people have spoken and informed the Royal Horticultural Society of their favourite new plant of the year. Voted number one in the RHS People’s Choice Awards is Begonia ‘Sweet Spice Bounty Coral’, chosen for its pink-frilled petals and lemony scent. The second choice was the vibrant-red Begonia ‘Fortune Scarlet’, while Lantana camara ‘Lucky Sunrise Rose’, with its contrasting pink and orange petals, comes in third. The choices were made by visitors to RHS Wisley during this summer, when 84 new varieties of plants were trialled. RHS trials manager Sabatino Urzo said: “The People’s Choice Awards are an opportunity for visitors to tell us their plant preferences and the results hint at what we might see growing in gardens over the coming years.” He added: “That begonias have beguiled with…

WITH bare-root planting time at its peak, the Woodland Trust is urging gardeners to buy British, to support national growers and limit the number of pests and diseases introduced into the UK via foreign-bought plants. To protect British species and keep them healthy, the conservation charity has created the UK and Irish Sourced and Grown accreditation scheme, highlighting national stock. The Trust has also been exclusively planting UK trees for the past six years. From 1970-2013, 267 introduced pathogens became established in Britain, and more recently the pest zigzag elm sawfly has been spotted, probably brought in on imported tree stock. Woodland Trust projects manager Lee Dudley said: “We want to create a consumer movement geared towards planting trees of UK provenance. Together we can protect our countryside land against…

POTENTILLAS thrive in our relatively thin chalky soil, which I am delighted about as they are one of my favourite shrubs. We have several and they flower in white, bright yellow, butter yellow and pale pink. They grow at a tremendous rate and will soon start to crowd out other plants and shrubs. So in autumn, after the blooms have faded but before their leaves fall, I give them a trim with shears to bring them back into shape. There’s no need to take much off, just go around the shrub neatening it up until you have created a compact shape that sits well within its allotted space. Chunkier branches, and those growing from the base of the plant, can be removed with secateurs. Don’t be afraid to take drastic…

1 Cauliflower ‘Aviron’ F1 and C. ‘All the Year Round’, sown in May, are ready September/October. 2 Radish ‘Breakfast Mixed’, sown mid-September, was ready to start harvesting from 11th October. 3 Salad leaves sown in the autumn are better with some protection to prevent soil splashing up onto the foliage when it rains. 4 Autumn fruiting raspberries including ‘Autumn Treasure’ and ‘Polka’ are useful to crop in June/July, and again in September/October.…

IT MAY be getting late in the year to be planting bulbs, but as long as your soil is not sodden or frozen then you’ll find that most tougher bulbs – and especially daffs and tulips – will do just fine. The garden centres and mail order companies are getting ready for the Christmas push, and the remaining autumnal stock is likely to be getting sold off cheap. Bags of bulbs are often proportionally less expensive than a wee net containing half a dozen – and when they want to just get rid of them, prices get slashed. So keep your eyes out for a bargain. You might find it’s worth ringing up to see if they have any ‘remainders’ they’ll do a deal on. Little compares to the value…

Black spot is a fungal disease that causes leaves to turn blotchy yellow, then purple and black before falling. It weakens the plant if left untreated. All affected foliage should be collected and binned or burned, but never composted. Fallen leaves with black spot should also be collected and binned/burned to remove contaminating spores from the soil. Chemical fungicides can be used, but success isn’t guaranteed as spores can easily blow into your garden from affected plants nearby.…

I ADORE rhubarb – I just got some out of the freezer for our morning porridge! There’s something so satisfying about picking the huge leaves and bright pink stems; they come away from the plant with a lovely ‘pop’. Clumps will happily yield for years, if not decades, when they are properly looked after. Congestion is the main issue: thin, weak stems and the production of flower spikes are two signs your plants are due for division. This allows you to slice off and replant the vigorous, outer (and younger) pieces and throw away the old middle part of the clump. Now, when the plants are dormant, is the ideal time for you to get to work, so here’s how it’s done… Next Week: Scrape the bark of indoor vines…

WE’RE all familiar with Lonicera periclymenum, the fragrant honeysuckle of the wild country hedgerow and the cottage garden. But you may not be aware that this is just one of a range of climbing honeysuckles. Some are evergreen, and the best bring us sultry scent like no other climber – like no other plant, even. Those familiar honeysuckles are lovely when allowed to ramble over arches, on stout fences, even on pillars. However, they can make a lot of growth, even when pruned regularly – a fact that makes them susceptible to heavy snowfall and strong winds. I should know, as last winter, heavy with snow, my honeysuckle-covered arch collapsed! To be honest, it had been a couple of years since I’d pruned it. The resulting tangle suited the birds,…

Our native honeysuckle grows in every county in the UK. A familiar sight on roadsides, this climber proves its resilience by growing back strongly after the brutal shock of the hedge-cutting flail. One of the best-known varieties, ‘Graham Thomas’, was discovered growing in a hedge in Warwickshire, but there are a number of other variants worth considering. ‘Belgica’ (the Early Dutch) and ‘Serotina’ (the Late Dutch) both have reddish-purple backs to their creamy flowers and are old favourites – although they have now been surpassed. In the creamy range (without red tones) ‘Scentsation’ (discovered in Herefordshire) and ‘Sweet Sue’ (found growing on a Swedish beach) should certainly figure on your list of possibles. Among the redder selections look for the less vigorous ‘Rhubarb and Custard’ and the neat and bushy…

TRACHYCARPUS palms are easy to keep in shape. As the plant matures some of the lower fronds start to turn brown and die, or look ragged due to weather damage. Cut them off with a sharp pair of secateurs, leaving a short stub close to the trunk. Apart from tidying up the plant, this will also encourage the palm to produce fresh fronds from the crown. Although it doesn’t improve the health of the plant, what some palm enthusiasts like to do is strip the hairy growth from the trunk to produce a smooth, creamy-yellow stem. Only attempt this after giving it much thought because once you start, or finish this process, there’s no going back – your palm will not regrow the fibrous hair. To strip the stem, start…

Hellebores thrive in partial (but not deep) shade. Make sure the soil is well drained and enriched with plenty of compost when planting. Don’t let the soil dry out, and if planting in a container, ensure it is quite deep. Most growers advise removing old leaves before the flowers appear, to show off the blooms and reduce the spread of hellebore leaf spot. If plants succumb, remove and burn any affected leaves. Feed in autumn with fish, blood and bone, and divide or move plants after flowering – between April and September.…

Can I still sow sweet peas? Q Is it too late to sow sweet peas for next year? Would they survive if I kept them in a spare bedroom or greenhouse over winter? Oliver Minchen, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire A If you start your sweet peas now and overwinter them, they should have developed into healthy seedlings by next spring. Sow the seeds in deep pots or Rootrainers because, like all members of the pea family, they develop long root systems. Drop the seeds into holes made in seed compost, about 1in (2.5cm) deep, cover them and water well. After sowing, these hardy seeds can be placed in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame to germinate. Stand them on a bed of gravel to keep slugs and snails away from the seedlings.…

Beans – here and abroad Vicia faba is better known in Britain (and Australia and New Zealand) as the broad bean. In the US it is more commonly referred to as the fava or faba bean. Varieties with smaller, harder seeds are grown throughout the world purely to feed horses and other animals, and these are called horse, field or tic (or tick) beans. In Britain, November is a good month for planting certain hardy varieties – and these will then be ready for harvesting in about 25 weeks; spring-sown plants develop more quickly and will crop after about 15 weeks. So if you sow a few of each, you will be able to harvest beans from April through to September. Let’s look at some of the stories surrounding broad…

What’s best for winter colour? Q Every year, I’m tempted by winter-flowering pansies and plant them in beds, pots and hanging baskets, but they never do well and eventually rot away. What else can I use for winter colour? Karen Croucher, Ridlington, Midlands A Winter-flowering pansies (and summer types, too) are quite fussy about where they will grow. Whether planted or potted, those set in a gloomy, exposed or wet position tend to cling desperately to life, producing long stems of small, spotty leaves and few flowers. To thrive, they need well-drained soil or compost, sunshine and shelter. It would be a shame to give up on the rainbow flowers and whiskery patterns of dainty violas and larger-flowered pansies, so try them in windowboxes, wall pots or tubs, kept close…

LOOKING through the autumn batch of plant catalogues, I have noticed some unusual fruit on sale. In different catalogues, I have seen: a black raspberry, a pink blueberry, and a white blackberry! All I could think when I saw them was – why? I understand the reasoning for breeding a thornless blackberry or spike-free gooseberry, but is there any need to alter the colour? I think that some of the health benefits connected to the colourings will be lost, too. Marie Miles, Nottingham Wendy says You’re right, Marie. The light colour of the white blackberry ‘Polarberry’ would not have as much anthocyanin content, but the flavour is sweeter. Try the black raspberry, which is packed with health-giving chemicals.…

WITH winter closing in, there are certain jobs that need doing now before the ground is either too frozen or waterlogged to be worked without damaging it. This is your last chance to plant winter/spring bedding and spring bulbs in borders – though you could still plant them up in containers so long as you make sure they are properly insulated against frost. Although it feels like we are in the depths of winter, and any bedding planted now will appear to just sit in the cold ground, the roots will be maturing so the plants are ready to go again once the weather perks up in spring. The final days of autumn also offer the last opportunity to divide any overcrowded and straggling perennials. Leave it any later and…

While bulbs and bedding plants are settling in for the winter, don’t forget to keep your lawn, beds and containers tidy. Between now and the end of leaf-drop, collect leaves off the grass to make sure light and air can get to the lawn and give you lots of lovely leafmould. Keep up with the weeding too, as weeds will continue to come through in all but the most inhospitable conditions. Weeds are tougher and faster-growing than cultivated plants and can make a garden look messy very quickly. Some winters are extremely dry, so don’t forget to water tubs and baskets. They won’t need as much as in the summer, but the plants will thank you for it.…

1 ‘Sweet Spice Bounty Coral’ Perfect for baskets, it has a lemony scent and lush foliage. 2 ‘Fortune Scarlet’ A compact plant that produces a mass of deep-red flowers offset by deep-green foliage. 3 ‘Lucky Sunrise Rose’ Ideal for smaller gardens, it is stress-resistant and will attract many butterflies. 4 ‘Alumia Vanilla Cream’ A distinctive French marigold with a striking flower shape and unusual colour. 5 ‘Durango Bee’ A vibrant dwarf French marigold that grows on strong stems and creates a mass of abundant blooms. 6 ‘Pots of Gold’ A bush marigold that will shine in borders and produce masses of single flowers.…

Houseplant growth will be about to slow down and stop for winter, so their care package needs to change drastically from their summer routine. Any plants that went outside for the warm weather should be back indoors by now. Place them where they can get maximum natural light during the darker days of winter. However, keep them off windowsills, especially at night, when drawn curtains can trap the cold and create frost pockets. Indoor plants do best where they have a steady temperature and no draughts. Central heating can dry out the atmosphere, so make sure that plants are standing on a bed of pebbles or gravel that is kept damp in between watering, to boost humidity around the leaves. Only water when the compost is almost dry to the…

HELLEBORES are a winter delight. Their common name varies between ‘Christmas rose’ and ‘Lenten rose’, but you get the idea – they are early flowering plants that bring colour to the garden during the winter months. Hellebores are also easy-going, being happiest in some shade but not particularly fussy about the soil they grow in. They may do best in a slightly alkaline environment, but also thrive alongside ericaceous plants so long as the soil is free draining and fairly fertile. You can leave hellebores to their own devices most of the time, but in autumn you will need to carry out some maintenance to get them ready for flowering in the New Year. A key task is to remove old foliage to make room for new leaves. It tidies…

1 Cover the crowns of herbaceous plants and patches of bulbs with sharp sand to discourage slugs, or mulch to suppress weeds. 2 Cover the crowns of dormant, slightly tender subjects left in the ground with loose, dried bracken, airy fleece or chunky bark. 3 Go through your stored fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and remove any rotters, then keep an eye out for fresh pest damage. 4 Lime one quarter of a vegetable plot, one handful per square yard – best before brassicas or legumes and never just before potatoes.…

1 Dig a hole that will comfortably take all the roots and is deep enough so the graft (the knobbly bit of the stem) is at soil level. 2 Add some well-rotted compost or manure and mix it in with soil to give the roots extra nutrients. 3 Plant the rose and infill around it with soil and compost, firming it in to hold the plant steady and remove air pockets. 4 Water the rose well and cover the root area with a layer of mulch for insulation and nourishment. Don’t let the soil dry out while the plant gets established.…

WE’VE discussed the importance of rootstocks and pollination when buying fruit trees and bushes, but you’ll also need to consider the bewildering array of varieties available. The variety refers to the name given to a specific plant. If you buy a ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ you can be reassured that you’ll know exactly what that apple tastes like, along with other attributes such as what disease resistance it has, when it ripens, how long it stores for, and its pollination group. For fruit canes and bushes, you can also determine how large the plant grows. Raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’ grows 2ft (60cm) tall, so is ideal for pots, whereas raspberry ‘Tulameen’ can reach 6ft (1.8m). Blackcurrant ‘Ben Sarek’ grows 3ft (90cm) tall, while ‘Ben More’ can reach 5ft (1½m). Disease resistance is…

DON’T just reserve your parsnips for the Christmas table – now that the weather has chilled considerably, wouldn’t you really like to be tucking into a bowl of spiced parsnip and carrot soup after a morning on the plot? These sizeable roots can penetrate to a depth of a couple of feet, especially on open, sandy soils like mine. This can make harvesting them feel like a major extraction! Rather than consigning yourself to snapped, blunt roots, you need to take your time when lifting them. Using a garden fork, slide the prongs alongside each root and attempt to lever it out. If you feel any resistance at all, don’t tug – this is when snapping can occur. Instead, carefully dig away the top 4-6in (10-15cm) of the earth surrounding…

Loniceras are happy in any reasonable soil that is not parched or waterlogged. Climbing types tend to be vigorous. They need plenty of space, plus stout support for their twining branches. The roots of climbing types can be in the shade, but plants usually flower best with the top growth in the sun or, at least, without overhead shade. Shrubby types prefer full sun. They also benefit from generous soil preparation and regular feeding. Plant two different varieties of the shrubby deciduous types to ensure the best possible crop of summer berries.…

ASK a child to draw a tropical island and they’re likely to produce a picture that has a dark-blue sea broken by a roundish hump of yellow sand with a solitary palm tree plonked right on top. Overlooking the idyllic scene will be a huge sun encircled by stylised rays. My kids produced plenty of pictures like this when they were younger, probably inspired by children’s picture books. This association of palm trees with exotic climes is firmly established in many by adulthood, largely thanks to works of classic literature such as Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe. Yet not all palms are tender so-and-sos that will turn up their toes as soon as temperatures start to drop, or require mollycoddling to help them survive winter. There are plenty that are…

Galanthus nivalis Snowdrops make the perfect companion as they come into flower at the peak of the hellebore season. For a natural look plant plenty of snowdrops, in drifts, in and around groups of three or five hellebores. Grasses Either in a border or a container, the lime greens of grasses like Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ (right) or Milium effusum ‘Aureum’ will look especially vibrant alongside dark-leaved hellebores of any flower colour. Hardy cyclamen Combine hellebores with hardy cyclamen in a large container near a doorway. Or underplant for a woodland feel. Opt for a pink and white scheme, or try white cyclamen and white hellebores for a sparkling winter display. Ferns The fronds of evergreen ferns are a great foil, providing textural contrast to the flowers and foliage of hellebores.…

COMPOSTING plant and kitchen waste is a natural extension of gardening, returning goodness to the soil while saving money and reducing landfill. It’s quite easy and very satisfying, but it has its drawbacks. Composting can be a smelly business, attracting flies and other pests if it’s not managed well. Essential ingredients include mixed waste that has been well chopped up, air and moisture. A good composting bin will help, as it will contain the material, shut in smells and shut out pests, while maintaining the right temperature to convert waste quickly into compost. Traditional bins work best when filled with mixed materials, turned, then left to rot down. However, some bins allow you to put waste in at the top and harvest compost from the base. Choose a bin that…

14 November 1840 French Impressionist painter Claude Monet was born. He spent as much time gardening as he did painting, and he created the garden at Giverny, famous for its waterlilies, bridge and lake, which he painted many times. 14 November 1904 Rev. Andrew Foster-Melliar died. As a rose expert he took a dislike to a new strain of roses, saying they were ‘unsatisfactory’, and ‘did not fall into any particular rose class’. They were hybrid teas! 15 November 1938 A famous theatre and film actress died on this day, at the age of 54. Although she is not known as a gardener, her name certainly had horticultural connotations – it was Viola Tree! 18 November 1960 Pop singer Kim Wilde was born in Chiswick, then in Middlesex. In 1998…

Give flowering Reiger (Elatior) begonias good but indirect light and careful watering, allowing the surface to dry out in between. Remove the spent flowers regularly. Normal temperatures suit, with a minimum of 60 ° F (15 ° C). Give a high-potash fertiliser at half strength fortnightly. After flowering, allow the compost to dry more than usual and then prune the plant back by a good two-thirds using secateurs. Give the compost a soak and provide good light so new shoots form. Thin these by taking a few cuttings and allow the rest to grow. Feed with a well-balanced fertiliser. These begonias don’t respond well to normal repotting but by re-growing – remove the old plant from its pot, ‘pot’ this into a very slightly bigger one, remove it and then…

1 Don’t give up on pansies, but plant them into well-drained compost and place in a sunny, sheltered position. This terracotta wall-hanger is ideal. Water and dead-head regularly. 2 Using a 50:50 John Innes and multipurpose compost with 10% added grit and a little composted bark or leafmould, arrange some coronilla to the correct height. 3 Add a seedling pine for a Mediterranean look. Adjust the compost so the rootballs aren’t buried deeply or set too high. 4 Finally, a young lavender plant lifted carefully from the garden will help to ensure that this container is colourful and fragrant all year round.…

I GET the magazine every week, and always go to Ruth Hayes’ pages first. The recent wallflower item was interesting, but I always grow my own from seed each year. I also grow a lot the same way for several customers, who always come back year after year. I agree the wallflowers are very versatile plants, giving a beautiful show of colour and loads of fragrance as well. No matter what the winter throws at them weather wise, come spring they are there – no problems at all. One great tip that I always give my customers is to pinch the centre growth out to encourage the plant to get bushy, producing more flowers. I always pot mine up, as I think they root better and quicker without too much…

1 Stand your plants in water to saturate the rootballs. Then place them on the soil in pots until you have the right arrangement. 2 Slide the plants from their pots and carefully tease out any roots that are constricted or circling the rootball. 3 Plant your bedding as deep as the rootballs, firming in the soil around each plant for support and to remove air pockets. 4 Water the plants well once they are in the ground and keep them free from weeds and pests. Keep them watered during dry spells.…

2 Divide the roots using a sharp spade or garden knife. Each piece should have healthy roots and shoots. 4 The divisions should go back into a generous hole at the same depth as their rootball. 5 Water the parent plant and divisions well, and don’t let them dry out while they get established. Add mulch to retain moisture.…

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have been excavating the grounds of Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire in the hope of unearthing a long-lost Tudor garden. A team from social archaeological firm DigVentures dug five exploratory pits next to Sudeley Castle and initial findings included post-medieval pottery, masonry and animal bones. These are consistent with garden archaeology. A mound in the middle of the field, thought to be a Tudor banqueting house, has been identified as a platform supporting a temporary structure. This is similar to other temporary features associated with Elizabeth I’s national celebrations of the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Sudeley Castle’s general manager Wendy Walton said: “The archaeologists believe they have found the remains of a long-lost Tudor garden, which we are all immensely excited about.” A larger dig is planned for May…

Spear & Jackson has released its Kew Gardens Collection range, which includes a kneeler and kneepads. The heavy-duty, hard-wearing kneeler has five layers of EVA and foam for user comfort. These are particularly useful when you need to kneel on hard surfaces. The kneepads have three layers of EVA and foam for flexibility and comfort, while Velcro straps ensure a secure fit. Both products are easy to clean and dry, and are available in light green and dark green. The kneeler and a set of kneepads cost £13.99 each. If you find kneeling painful, then using kneepads together with a kneeler could be the answer. Kneepads or a kneeler on their own should offer enough cushioning for those with healthy joints, but for those with knee problems, using the two…

PEOPLE believe gardening must get less demanding as we head towards winter, with leaf fall and slower rates of growth. Nothing could be further from the truth, and while done jobs tend to last longer (dug soil stands clean and tidy, ready for frost to break down the clods, until new growth next spring), there is still much to do. This is best illustrated by activities with school garden clubs, where their new year starts in September and ceases when summer holidays start. Marshall’s Autumn 2018 Catalogue has a page of ‘Sow Now and eat this Autumn’ which has proved ideal for schools and home gardeners – more so where they have the protection of a cold frame, or polytunnel, or greenhouse. “While jobs done tend to last longer, there…

15-17 Nov: See How our Garden Glows opening: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 20: George Lockwood – Climbing and Rambling Roses: Ruislip Central Horticultural Society, St Lawrence Church, Bridle Road, Pinner HA5 2SJ, ruisliphorticultural.org.uk 21-25: Christmas Craft Fair: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 23: Winter pruning: Crown Nursery, High Street, Ufford, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 6EL, crown-nursery.co.uk 23-25: Christmas Craft and Food Fair: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 24-25: Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair: 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS. 020 7352 5646, chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk 28: How to Maintain your Garden Machinery: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830,…

OUR bush roses flowered beautifully this summer and, for the first time in the six years we have had the garden, they were less susceptible to black spot. However, now the weather is turning, so it is time to prepare them for autumn. Cut back the stems of bush roses by around a half to reduce their movement in stormy weather, which can weaken the roots. If you have standard roses growing from one stem, thin out their lollipop heads so they are lighter, less dense and less likely to be snapped off in bad weather or if covered in snow. If you have climbing roses, prune flowered shoots by two-thirds and tie in new shoots. You can also cut out the oldest stem in old and congested plants. Rambling…

ONE of my daughters is a smoker and I strongly disapprove, because she hasn’t inherited my robust constitution. I nag, and once I asked her who had given her the first cigarette. The answer came as a shock: it was daughter no1, who doesn’t even smoke! I’ve never smoked and that’s down to my Yorkshire thriftiness. However, other people tell me it’s very hard to give up, because nicotine releases a surge of feel-good endorphins. Consequently, only about 6% of smokers give up successfully each year, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Nevertheless, it came as a huge shock to hear that bees suffer the same sort of addiction after visiting plants treated with neonicotinoid pesticides. Dr Richard Gill, from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College…

1 Remove any old or decaying leaves so that you can clearly see the size of the crown and where next year’s buds are. 2 Using a spade, slice along the edge of the clump and gently lever the plant out of the earth. Once the clump is out of the earth, begin dividing it into sections – this may have happened already if the clump broke up when you were trying to lift it. Using the spade, create divisions with at least three healthy dormant buds to them. 3 Each division can now be replanted. Improve the condition of the soil where these divisions are to live by adding some well-rotted farmyard manure or garden compost; rhubarb is a hungry feeder! Replant at least 1½ft (45cm) apart at the…

I REMEMBER when we first used garlic in the kitchen. I was eight, and my mum was so concerned at how strong it might be that only a quarter of a clove found its way into a spaghetti Bolognese for four! Luckily, times (and recipes) have changed, and now we’re far bolder – roasting whole heads, preserving jars of ‘lazy’ garlic and creating aioli for fish and chicken dishes. Now is an ideal time to plant garlic. The cloves need a sufficient chilling period to split and create ‘heads’, and planting in November ensures this. Autumn planting also often gives better yields. With its increasing popularity, there are now dozens of varieties to choose from. They are grouped into softnecks (such as ‘Germidour’) and hardnecks (such as ‘Red Sicilian’); the…

Forms of our native climbing honeysuckle (L. periclymenum) should be pruned right after flowering, cutting out the long shoots that have carried the flowering sideshoots. This can be tricky as they’re often intertwined with new growth that will carry next year’s flowers. Deciduous shrubby fragrant types (L. x purpusii, L. fragrantissima) are best pruned immediately after flowering. Cut back the shoots that have flowered to within 2-4in (5-10cm) of the older wood. Hedging types (L. ligustrina var. yunnanensis) need clipping two or three times during the season. If the hedge becomes overgrown and out of shape, it can be cut back hard (to 6in/15cm) in late spring, and watered well.…

Chamaerops humilis This dwarf fan palm is a slow-growing species that can reach 6ft (1.8m). It is fairly bushy while young, forming a distinct trunk as it matures. Chamaerops humilis var. cerifera A native of Morocco, this Mediterranean fan palm boasts stiff, fan-shaped, silvery blue leaves. It will eventually form a bushy 60x39in (1½x1m) specimen. Cordyline australis The Torbay palm is actually from New Zealand, and forms upright rosettes of spear-shaped leaves above stems that can reach 30ft (10m). Hardy to about -10°C. Trachycarpus fortunei x wagnerianus Capable of reaching 16ft (5m), this palm is more compact than the closely related Chusan palm and boasts smaller fans of leaves. Ideal for exposed positions. Butia capitata Originating from Brazil and Uruguay, the jelly…

Helleborus thibetanus An unusual species from China, with small whitish-pink flowers that appear from January to March and often feature darker pink veins. Best grown in cool, moist but well-drained conditions. Deciduous. H: 1ft (30cm). Helleborus foetidus AGM The pale-green flowers of our native hellebore are much smaller than many. Bell-shaped, they are coupled with dark green leaves that smell unpleasant when crushed – hence the name, stinking hellebore. H: 2 1/2ft (75cm). Helleborus x ericsmithii ‘Pirouette’ A cross between H. niger and H. x sternii, this is a good choice if you want a genuine Christmas rose. The single white flowers (eventually turning pinkish) appear from December to March. H: 1ft (30cm). Helleborus x hybridus…

• Enjoy the myriad variations of hellebores by saving your own seed. Or buy seeds from specialist breeders. • Sow in July or August, thinly, on a tray of compost (or in a pot), and cover with fine grit or perlite. • Leave outdoors, but keep moist and cover with netting or chicken wire to prevent mice eating the seeds. • Germination will take place in the winter. • In the new year, once two leaves have appeared and they are large enough to handle, prick out your seedlings into small pots. • Grow on in deep pots in a sheltered spot and plant out when large enough. • Flowers will not usually appear until two years after germination, so be patient! Reader offer Buy two or more packets of…

Water by soaking the compost completely, then wait until it is bone dry before watering again. In spring and summer, feed every month using a liquid houseplant feed or specialist cacti feed. Repot in spring if plants become pot-bound – use a specialist cacti compost or create a mixture of 70% John Innes No2 and 30% fine grit. Allow plants to have a dormant phase over winter. Keep them somewhere cool but frost-free and reduce watering to a minimum. Dust can build up on leaves, so remove it using a soft artist’s or make-up brush.…

Hotbin Compost Bin £195 free delivery 0808 168 8499 hotbincomposting.com Features Insulated, expanded polypropylene compost bin with hinged top lid and front-access hatch. Built-in thermometers, bio-filter to reduce odours, raking stick, straps to seal lower door. Kick-start hot water bottle and bulking agent included. Capacity 200 litres. Dimensions 45x24x22in (112x60x55cm). Performance Position on hard surface. Fill with any biodegradable garden and kitchen waste, including cooked food, meat and fish. Mix in some shredded paper and bulking agent. The insulated bin reaches and maintains temperatures of 40 to 60˚C (which should kill weed seeds) to produce compost in 30-90 days, accessible from the lower door. Works with continuous addition of waste. Extensive support online, by phone and chat forum with other users. Value No smell, no flies or pests,…

With a combination of high-energy seeds and grains, Peckish Winter Warmer Seed mix will provide a variety of garden birds with the energy they need when they need it most. Complete with ready-to-use seed mix feeder, all you have to do is unscrew the base, remove the seal and hang it on a tree or feeding station. There’s no mess and no fuss. We have three Peckish Winter Warmer seed mix feeders to give away, each worth £4.99. 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 Peckish Winter Warmer Draw (17 November), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF. Or you can email your details to ag_giveaway@ti-media.com, heading the…

B. ‘Fireworks’ A classic rhizomatous rex begonia, grown for large leaves decorated by purple, red and pale silvery green hues. B. x hiemalis The many varieties of these begonias are designed to be discarded after flowering, but it is possible to keep them growing. B. listada A distinctive shrubby begonia with shield-shaped deep green leaves decorated by a pale stripe and red undersides. Pink-tinged white flowers open here and there. Reaches 12in (30cm). B. ‘Silver Jewel’ A neat rhizomatous begonia, reaching a dome-shaped 9-12in (23-30cm) with a silvery appearance. The dark leaves are heavily overlaid with thick veinings of silvery green.…

Mischief in my favour REGARDING the reader’s letter ‘Pot Luck’ ( AG , 7 Oct), earlier this year I purchased three begonia corms from the local garden centre. They were supposed to be an orange trailing variety, similar to some I had seen in AG . At the time, I thought the corms were on the large side but planted them into a hanging basket. The first signs of growth were stems as thick as a thumb followed by leaves as big as a man’s hand. It took some time before any flowers appeared. These were large, bright red and yellow – not the orange I had expected. Nevertheless, they were really beautiful. I mentioned this to my brother who said that he had seen children swapping the loose bulbs…

THE British Hedgehog Preservation Society does a sterling job of disseminating excellent hog guidance, as well as myth-busting any advice that’s well meant but ultimately hedgehog-harmful. One was the recent suggestion doing the rounds of picking up and taking in active hedgehogs spotted in gardens. In mild winters, hogs can be active long into December, or simply switching to a quieter spot to slumber. If you spot one that is out and about but healthy, then rather than donning kid gloves and kidnapping it, you should treat your new prickly pal to a protein-rich meal consisting of proprietary hedgehog food, or some meat-based cat biscuits or wet dog or cat food. Then leave it to find a sheltered leafy corner in your garden, or allow it to roam next door…

A HOG’S natural diet is a mix of worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, chafer grubs, seeds, earwigs and millipedes, but they also eat carrion and even scoff frogs. In winter, when these protein-rich meals become scarce, hedgehogs will hibernate – closing down all bodily functions to a minimum and using stored fat to see them through until spring. Ideal places for hibernation are in rabbit burrows, under hedges and beneath garden sheds. To keep out the cold, the hogs muster dry leaves and brush wood to create a protective blanket up to 20in (50cm) thick; this keeps them warm until they awake in March.…