Innholdsfortegnelse for 16-Mar-2019 i Amateur Gardening

1 Honey fungus is the name for several species of Armillaria fungi that attack and kill the roots of woody and perennial plants. Symptoms include white growth between bark and wood and clusters of honey-coloured toadstools in autumn. There is no control – all you can do is remove the tree, stump and root, so there is no plant tissue left to feed the fungi. 2 Aphids are small sap-sucking bugs that weaken, stunt and distort plants and exude sticky honeydew, causing sooty mould to form. Rub them off with your fingers, encourage predatory insects such as ladybirds, or control larger colonies with a natural pyrethrum insecticide. 3 Moles are active in spring and will disfigure lawns and borders, and disrupt and hinder plant growth by leaving roots dangling in…

1 Cut away healthy 3in (7cm) shoots with a small sliver of dahlia tuber still attached. 2 Dip the cut end of the shoot in hormone rooting gel or powder. This will promote the development of strong root systems. 3 Insert two-three cuttings around the edge of a 4in (10cm) pot filled with dampened seed and cuttings compost mixed with perlite. 4 Inflate a clear plastic bag over the pot to create a mini greenhouse and stand it somewhere light and warm until roots form.…

THERE are two basic things you need to know when winter-pruning trees. First, the harder you cut a healthy tree, the stronger it is likely to grow. This means that if your tree is too large for the space available, pruning back is not likely to help. Second, when pruning apples and pears, you need to be able to distinguish been fruiting and growth buds. Our aim is to get the right balance between the two, if we are to get the best harvest each year. “Think twice before you cut once, and if in doubt – don’t” It is both a science and an art. The science comes in understanding what makes the tree grow, flower, set and produce fruit. The art is in achieving a tree that and…

1 Reduce the runner to 2-3in (5-8cm) long, using clean sharp secateurs to cut down to a healthy bud. 2 Dip the roots in hormone rooting powder or gel, or carefully smear some on, to help strong root development. 3 Pot up the cutting in dampened seeds and cuttings compost. It should soon take and start to grow. 4 Seal the cutting in a plastic bag and leave somewhere frost-free until it roots. Then open the bag and pot on later in the summer.…

MY father did National Service: he reckoned it taught him a few things, one of which was that any fool can be uncomfortable – it takes no talent at all. I love gardening yet hate getting cold, being damp or having soil under my fingernails. It’s been said that there’s no such thing as bad weather… only bad clothes, which may be going too far, but then most gardening isn’t done on a balmy summer’s evening! You can’t work well when you’re uncomfortable; it makes you rush the job and then mistakes get made. Now, we are more fortunate than gardeners used to be not so long ago. Clothing made from modern materials is more effective, less expensive and more easily washable than that ubiquitous woollen jacket of the past.…

LOW-PEAT, loam-based, seed and potting, John Innes, ericaceous… when selecting which compost to buy, newcomers could be forgiven for balking at this terminology minefield. So let me help you to buy this horticultural essential with confidence! Experience has taught me that seeds need good-quality compost, and that ericaceous (acid-loving) crops such as blueberries struggle in a non-ericaceous blend. Many other crops (veg in containers, windowboxes and hanging baskets) are happy in multi-purpose compost. Fruit trees, canes and bushes prefer something with a bit more structure, namely a loam-based formula. In my potting shed, I have multi-purpose, ericaceous, seed and loam-based composts. I also have a small bag of grit, slow-release fertiliser, water-retaining granules and vermiculite. If, like me, you’re happy to mix your own blends, that’s all you need. What…

WE’RE all guilty of sowing far more veg seed than we need. That tray of 36 ‘Little Gem’ lettuce you’ve pricked out will all mature at once: do you really like lettuce that much? Swapping seedlings with fellow green-fingered folk isn’t just fun – it also makes sense. By exchanging a few of these for half a dozen of that, you can grow a range of different varieties that will bear their crop at different times – no gluts! Equally, you might stumble across something new that performs better than your benchmark variety (‘Sweet Aperitif’ tomato has replaced ‘Gardener’s Delight’ for me). And who can resist the multiple colours many veg now come in? Purple peppers, orange Swiss chard, yellow beetroots – your plot will become a rainbow. Start a…

EATING dahlia tubers is nothing new – they’ve been eaten in the Central Americas for thousands of years! The tubers contain inulin, so just treat them as you would Jerusalem artichokes by introducing them into your diet gradually. The taste is reminiscent of kohlrabi or celeriac, depending on the variety (peel the tubers well before eating them, as the skins can have an intense flavour). A few notable varieties taste better and are less fibrous than others (i.e. Lubera’s DeliDahlias), so stick to these for guaranteed eating qualities. The tubers can be started off in pots now, in a frost-free greenhouse. Plant out in full sun in May, and then you can lift and eat the tubers from November onwards.…

There are a number of pests and diseases that attack potatoes, and by far the most effective way of dealing with them is to choose varieties that have in-built resistance. Blight is probably the most serious disease – it attacks tomatoes, too – and ‘Carolus’ and ‘Sarpo Mira’ are particularly well known for their good resistance to it. Various viral diseases can also be troublesome; again, the answer is to plant varieties that show some resistance, such as ‘Carolus’, ‘Desiree’, ‘Picasso’, ‘Rooster’ and ‘Sharpo Mira’. Also, be sure to control aphids, which spread the viruses. There are two types of eelworm and very few varieties are resistant to both; AGM winners that are include ‘Maxine’ and ‘Maris Piper’. There are also varieties that are resistant to slug damage, and to…

Get a head start and plant dahlia tubers in pots filled with multipurpose compost, in the greenhouse or conservatory, in late March. Water lightly and protect from frost. Harden off in mid-May and plant out late May/early June. Dig plenty of compost, plus a handful of chicken manure pellets, into the planting holes. Put stakes in place for taller varieties when planting out, and tie in stems as they grow. Protect from slugs. Feed with comfrey or tomato feed once the first flush of flowers appear.…

‘Rouletta’ Trailing to 16in (40cm), stems bear eye-catching flowers with white petals edged in carmine red. The blooms stand out well against the foliage. ‘Crocodile’ Bred in Australia, this compact ivy-leaf is highly decorative, its single cerise flowers contrasting with cream-meshed leaves. ‘Pink Sybil’ The double pink blooms of this Cascading Rosebud type make a basket-hugging show to 18in (45cm) long. Also available in white, pillarbox red and mauve. ‘Surcouf’ Dating to 1872, this old variety is still worth growing for the deep, cherry pink of its flowers on trailing stems to 16in (40cm).…

1 Weigh up the weather and the job you’re doing – is it warm or cold, wet or dry; will you be using heavy tools or just secateurs? 2 Choose footwear to suit the conditions and the job. If it’s cold put on thick socks, if it’s wet wear wellies – but you shouldn’t be digging when it’s wet. 3 When lacing up boots, don’t over-tighten them. They should feel secure, but not so tight that they constrict blood flow. 4 Clean clinging mud off boots regularly while working, and at the end of the session. Lever out pebbles or mud between tread, and wax leather.…

How do I nurture potted trees? Q How can I bring my potted conifers and olive tree back to good health? They have browning needles and yellow leaves. Can you suggest some fail-safe ways to care for potted outdoor plants? Eileen Pitt, Stockport, Greater Mancs A The gardens of newly built houses tend to be on the small side of tiny, and the very name ‘starter home’ implies ‘moving on soon’. It’s no wonder that containerised trees and shrubs are popular, as they are effectively ‘bonsai-d’ and are easy to transport. In larger gardens, mature plants in containers are useful for decorating bare terraces and driveways. Most stay in good shape for the first two-three years, but then need help to stay healthy. If your plants have suffered drought and…

Creating an indoor garden oasis is set to be a big trend for 2019 and to ensure your houseplants continue to flourish, Miracle-Gro is giving six lucky readers the chance to win a bottle of Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Concentrate. Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Concentrate guarantees beautiful, healthy and strong plants, plus its high nitrogen formula will also result in greener leaves. The plant food can be used to feed all indoor plants including cactus, citrus and bonsai plants. We have six bottles of Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Concentrate to give away, each worth £5.99. 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 Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Concentrate Draw (16 March), Amateur…

Camellia oil, pressed from the seeds of C. japonica, is commonly used to clean and protect the blades of cutting instruments. In Japan it has also been traditionally used for hair care. C. reticulata (pictured), many thousands of which are grown commercially for horticulture (and oil production), is actually so rare in its natural habitat that it is considered a threatened species. Fossils show that camellias were growing 40-56 million years ago in what is now Japan, and 23-40 million years ago in what is now Bulgaria and Washington State, USA.…

As part of AG’s anniversary year celebrations, we’re re-printing a few letters by readers from issues past – here’s one we published in the 12 August 1955 edition: ‘SIR, Your warning about the use of chemicals by amateurs is to be commended. Some time ago, in a Scottish village, two ladies on their way to church had their nylons ruined. ‘They noticed potato haulms were being sprayed on a roadside field just before they entered church. Shortly after they sat down, they felt their nylons shrinking and shrivelling on their legs, so they quickly slipped out to find their delicate hose ruined by the spray (presumably sulphuric acid). ‘If the spray had this effect on nylon tissue, what of its effect on their lungs and skin? It is hardly likely…

GUESS what? I lost my wedding ring throwing windfall apples into our compost heap! Well, I say ‘throwing’… actually, I was practising my bowling ahead of a charity cricket match and the ring, always a little loose on my third finger, went for a six off a particularly pacey googly. I looked high and low, and I even borrowed a metal detector. Sadly, unsure whether it fell during a woefully inaccurate delivery or on the long walk back to the pavilion (aka the kitchen), the precious platinum hoop was never seen again. I mention this, because ‘lost and found’ stories are a regular theme on my radio show and, naturally, hearing the ‘found’ part fills me with hope… “The most commonly lost gardening items are secateurs” There have been all…

LOSING tools is one thing, but losing seedlings is quite another! Always water trays and pots before sowing seeds – otherwise, the kernels will be washed to the sides of the containers. If the compost dries before seedlings sprout, use a handheld sprayer to gently mist and moisten the surface, and check for any disturbance on the surface of the compost as this is a sure sign that mice are feasting on the seeds. Once up, keep seedlings in a warm, bright place. Prick out individually into pots when they’re large enough to handle.…

DAHLIAS and big blowsy begonias, which take centre stage in many summer gardens, come from humble beginnings. Both shoot from tubers, though dahlias can be left in the soil in milder areas while begonias need lifting, drying and storing somewhere frost-free. Early spring is when healthy stored tubers will start sprouting again, and newly bought ones can be started off. The bulbous ‘fingers’ of dahlia tubers should be potted up in general-purpose compost, and the rounded begonia tubers are set hollow side up on pots of dampened compost. Both tubers should soon shoot and you can use these to make more plants for free. In the column, right, I show how to propagate dahlias using this spring’s new shoots erupting from the tubers. Below, I start off this year’s tuberous…

EARLY spring is the perfect time to renovate your rockery, add new stone, give the plants some love and replace any that didn’t survive the winter. Check that the stones are securely set in the soil and firm in those that have worked loose, replenishing the gravel in between. If you are adding more stones, use locally sourced ones in keeping with the surroundings, and buy reclaimed or salvaged natural pieces of differing sizes, so your rockery looks as naturally created as possible. Alpines are sturdy little plants suited to hostile, high-altitude environments. They are not, however, typically happy in our mild, damp winters. These low-growing beauties can be swiftly swamped by weeds that grow all year round, and sitting on cold, constantly wet soil can cause their foliage to…

1 Vigour of fruit tree growth is dependant on the root stock. The weaker growth of such dwarfing stocks as M9 will need staking for all of their fruiting lives. 2 Newly planted trees will establish better if the soil is cultivated to keep it free of grass and other plants competing for moisture. 3 Where fruit trees crop alternate years (known as biennial bearing), remove all fruitlets from one branch during the ‘on’ year to help get things back into balance. 4 Trim the edge of a wound where a branch has been sawn off with a knife, to give a clean finish and quicker callus-over.…

PUNNETS of blueberries are usually ridiculously expensive and generally involve lots of air miles, so why not cut out the middleman and grow your own? They are easy to cultivate as long as you grow them in acid soil or ericaceous compost that is kept moist but not over-watered. Use rainwater rather than tap water, which will raise the pH of the surroundings, making it less acidic. Keep your plants well watered but not saturated. Stand their containers in a saucer in summer but replace them with feet in winter for better drainage and the reduced risk of freezing. As well as being generous fruit-bearers, blueberries are an attractive addition to any garden or patio, with their white flowers, voluptuous purple berries and foliage that turns a distinct russet before…

1 Want a really green lawn? Just pee in the watering can, dilute well, and apply often… and don’t tell anyone! 2 Start planting out your potato sets once the soil is friable, preferably under cloches, a clear plastic sheet or through some black plastic. 3 For better germination, pour boiling water along seed drills shortly, but not immediately, before sowing peas, parsley, parsnips and carrots. 4 Check any remaining stores of apples, spuds, onions, garlic, carrots and so on, and process any that look dubious before they are totally wasted.…

1 Multi-purpose: Ideal for filling pots which will contain annual veg crops. It’s too chunky for germinating fine seeds like celeriac and rocket, but larger-seeded peas and beans will easily emerge in it. It’s also great for potting up veg seedlings. 2 Loam-based: Loam is essentially graded and sterilised soil, to which sand, peat, grit and fertiliser have been added; the main brand is John Innes. I use it for potted fruit canes, bushes and trees, which appreciate its superior long-term structure. 3 Seed and cuttings: This compost is finely milled to remove any lumps, and therefore smaller veg seeds will germinate really well in it. It’s low in nutrients, because excessive fertiliser can scorch off the delicate new roots of seedlings and cuttings.…

Raised beds are fantastic propagation spaces if you cover them with an insulating, light-penetrating dome. This project shows you how: 1 Source some wooden dowels (at least 1in/ 2½cm in diameter). Cut into 1ft/30cm lengths, screwing each vertically to the inside corners of your raised bed. 2 Source some rigid hosepipe (alkathene is ideal because of its rigidity). Push one end over the dowel, then cut to form a series of hoops spanning your bed. 3 Add more dowel and hoops to create a sturdy tunnel, then cloak the whole structure in clear polythene. Sow with your chosen veg, then peg down the sides.…

NOT so long ago I bought some big baking spuds at our local weekly market. I should have asked what the variety was because when I cooked them and took my first bite, the flavour was almost nonexistent. It was such a disappointment. Not that there’s any guarantee that the variety they were sold as would have been the correct one. While the law stipulates that all potatoes on sale in supermarkets and markets must carry the variety name, research a while back showed that a third of all those on sale were wrongly named! Even if they are correctly named, it might not help that much. When it comes to our taste in potatoes we can be divided into two groups: you either like floury or waxy – but…

Can we plant a hydrangea now? Q We bought a hydrangea in pot last summer and never got round to planting it. It needs more space now – is this the right time to plant it? Jeremy Alliston, Pevensey, East Sussex A This is a good time as the soil is damp but should be starting to warm up. I suggest that you plant your potted hydrangea somewhere in the garden when the soil is crumbly. If possible, choose a sunny or lightly shaded spot where the soil stays moist for much of the summer. Stand the plant in water to soak the roots, then, after sliding the root ball gently from its pot, tease out matted and encircling roots and set the plant in a generous hole at least…

Top line: The top edge of the boot or shoe around the ankle. Arch: The centre of the sole of your foot between heel and toe. Tread: A pattern of built-in depressions on the sole of the boot or shoe. Wellies: Wellington boots, waterproof working boots coming high up the calf, which are made from rubberised fabric. Slip-on clogs: Rubber or plastic slippers with a low-cut top line so they’re easy to slip on. Dubbin: A soft wax product that’s rubbed into leather to waterproof, soften and condition.…

1 Remove weeds, moss and loose old compost from the top. Apply a slow-release feed and top up with new potting compost. 2 Repot into a larger container by easing the rootball out, teasing roots away from the old rootball, and settling in at the same depth. Water in. 3 Root-prune by shaving away approximately 2in (5cm) around the outsides and the base of the rootball. This may seem brutal but, when potted back in, new roots can grow into the fresh compost. 4 Prune the tops of plants such as olives, citrus or camellias to encourage new, more compact growth with healthy leaves.…

There are two quite unusual Japanese camellias: The rare ‘Unryu Tsubaki’ features stems that turn at a 45° angle at every leaf node, resulting in a mass of twisted, contorted branches. It also has a nearly columnar shape, which isn’t typical for camellias. ‘Kingyo Tsubaki’ (pictured) is known as the fishtail camellia. Its reddish-pink single blooms appear in spring (usually March), and look spectacular against its deep-green, glossy leaves. Why fishtail? Well, the leaves have split or dissected ends that curl up and resemble fish tails.…

THE glyphosate discussion reaches the pages of AG once again (2 February) but so far, no-one has put forward a balanced argument on the subject. In the garden, there are many ways of controlling our wild plants in the wrong place (weeds) without the use of chemicals, but farmers do face a problem if glyphosate is banned. Being a scientist and diet and nutrition advisor, I do agree with Dr Hadlington that glyphosate poses only a minimal risk to human health when it is used according to the manufacturer’s instructions – however, its impact on the environment has not yet been accessed without bias. At present, more research is needed to establish how long this chemical remains attached to soil particles before breaking down into inert substances, and how much…

Tuberous begonias are the stars of the summer’s baskets and containers. Their tender tubers should be dried and overwintered somewhere frost-free and then started back into growth the following spring. Simply fill pots with dampened multi-purpose compost and nestle the tubers into the top, their hollow sides facing upwards. Place them somewhere light and warm – a windowsill is ideal – and keep the compost damp. Leaf shoots will soon start to appear and the tubers can be planted up.…

16: Orchid Days with Ian Parsons of the British Orchid Council: Brimsmore Garden Centre, Tintinhull Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 3NU. ✆ 01935 411000, thegardeneronline.co.uk 16: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Carsington Water, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.planthuntersfairs.co.uk. 16-17: Sweet Pea Workshop: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 17: Rare Plant Fair: The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD. ✆ 01278 661352, rareplantfair.co.uk 17: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Alderford Lake, Whitchurch, Shrops SY13 3JQ.planthuntersfairs.co.uk. 19: Photography Talk and Slide Show, Ruislip Central Hort Soc, St Lawrence Church Hall, Bridle Road, Pinner, HA5 2SJ. (7pm for 7.30pm, £5 plus concs) 19: Grafting for Beginners: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 19: Plant Pests and Diseases: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge…

WINTER-FLOWERING climbing shrubs such as winter jasmine ( Jasminum nudiflorum ) and Clematis cirrhosa bring wonderful colour and cheer to the shortest dark days. They are easy to care for, but once they have flowered, need cutting back to set them up for next year’s blooms. Jasmine, which sends forth a proliferation of cheery yellow, star-shaped blooms, needs pruning in early spring once it has finished flowering. New flowers are formed on the previous year’s growth, so the longer it has to produce and mature new stems, the more colour you get. It can often grow at irregular angles, so thin out untidy, crowded, crossing and weak stems, and cut back flowered stems to a strong side shoot lower down. Both summer- and winter-flowering jasmines tolerate hard pruning, so plants…

Verbena rigida ‘Intensity’ will give you a profusion of blue flowers above elegant spear-shaped foliage. Sow thinly onto dampened compost, cover with a little more compost and germinate on a warm, light windowsill. Germination takes place in two-four weeks, but if it is slow, place the seed tray in a fridge for one-two weeks, then return to the warmth. Pot on the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and harden them off before planting out.…

IDON’T usually have time to read books because there’s too much to do in the garden, but I do get the opportunity in January and February mornings because I still wake up before 6am and, regrettably, it’s too dark to garden. This winter I read Wilding by Isabella Tree. It’s a fascinating book about Knepp Castle, a 3,500-acre estate on heavy clay soil in the Sussex Weald. Knepp has been in the Burrell family since 1747 and Isabella is married to Charlie Burrell. Although this beautifully written book is about a vast estate that most gardeners can only dream of, there’s a great deal to please gardeners who are interested in wildlife. The story begins with a failing farm that just keeps adding more and more to the family’s giant…

APPLES, strawberries, blueberries, melons, cherries, peaches, pumpkins – all these (and many more) rely on insect pollination to set a good crop. More than three quarters of the world’s food crops rely in some way on pollination by insects or other animals, so doesn’t it make sense to place a big sign on your plot that says ‘pollinators welcome here’? You can do this by establishing a nectar border – an area packed with nectar- and pollen-rich plants to attract bees, flies, butterflies and beetles that will pollinate your crops. Simply buy a packet of pollinator-attracting seeds, often labelled ‘bee and butterfly’ mix. Dig over an area 1m2/3ft2 (or sow into a big pot or two) in a sunny, sheltered spot. Scatter the seeds, rake them gently over and water…

1 Place a plastic or glass tunnel cloche over bare soil to warm it quickly, allowing you to mak e outdoor sowings even earlier 2 . Condensation in a propagator can lead to rotting seedlings and cuttings, so ventilate frequently to encourage good air movement. 3 Organic mulches are great for keeping weeds at bay – just delay laying them if the soil is frozen, as the mulch will preserve the cold 4 . The contents of your compost heap will have been transformed over winter into a brilliant soil-improver to fork into your plot, so get digging! 5 Prioritise which veg to sow when, by organising your seed pack ets into month-by-month sowing dates – a shoebo x makes ideal storage .…

A SMALL group of varieties, known as ‘early maincrops’, provide large baking-size potatoes earlier than other maincrops, but keep just as well. They take from about 100 days to mature. Of these, AGM winners include ‘Picasso’, which is white with red eyes, is ready in early September and has useful disease and eelworm resistance. Or try the red-skinned ‘Roseval’; adaptable in the kitchen, it does not need peeling when steamed or boiled.…

THE longer I’ve been a gardener, the fussier I’ve become about gardening footwear. When I started 30 years ago, I used a worn-out pair of lightweight casual shoes, and a cheap pair of wellies. The problem with the old shoes was that they offered little protection against piercing, dropping stuff and damp conditions, and quickly filled up with soil when working on the beds thanks to the low ‘top line’ or edge of the shoe around the ankle. Nowadays, I have a couple of pairs of Wellington boots, a stout pair of lace-up walking boots with strong soles and reinforced toecaps, a pair of stout shoes and a pair of rubber slip-on clogs. It really pays to think carefully before choosing footwear for a day’s gardening. Time of year, temperature,…

Do ✓ Have a selection of footwear ready to suit different conditions and jobs. ✓ Choose work or walking boots with toecap protection and a strong arch for digging. ✓ Pick wellies and boots of a size large enough to wear thick socks comfortably. ✓ Err on the cautious side when deciding what to wear for a day’s gardening. Don’t ✗ Choose gardening footwear with smooth soles. A textured sole or deep cleats will give grip in slippy conditions. ✗ Put style over substance when picking gardening footwear . Fashionable boots should also be strong and waterproof . ✗ Wear wellies for digging unless they have reinforced soles and toecaps. ✗ Leave footwear dirty after a session. Cleaning will mak them pleasant to put on next time, and they ll…

For a time during my early gardening life I lived in a park lodge in London’s Hyde Park. It was secluded from the public by a thick planting of evergreens, and it was here that I first fell in love with camellias. Since then I have always grown these acid-loving plants, regardless of the soil – I currently live in a chalk area, yet have some of the most lustrous camellias! They are flowering now, so let’s look at some of the stories surrounding them. The camellia is named in honour of Josef Kamel (1661-1706), a Moravian Jesuit plant collector. Coming to Europe Camellias are woodland plants from Asia, mainly India, China and Japan. When they were first introduced into England, in the 18th century, they were kept in hot…

Tea comes from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, making it one of the world’s most important commercial plants. This species is the result of many generations of selective breeding, in a search to find the best tasting tea. A few other camellias, including the Japanese C. sasanqua, are also used for brewing teas. In India, the two most important tea crops are: Darjeeling (from C. sinensis var. sinensis) from a cool and wet region tucked in the foothills of the Himalayas. Plantations here can reach 7,200ft (2,200m) above sea level. The tea is delicately flavoured. Assam (from C. sinensis var. assamica) from northeastern India, and where the first tea estate was established, in 1837. The tea is rich and full-bodied.…

Friend of foe? DEAR Bob Flowerdew, I always enjoy reading AG but was a bit surprised to hear that you class woodlice as pests. I have not found them to do any harm and have lots in the opening side of my compost bins. Monty Don doesn’t bother with them in his garden, either – surely we don’t want to eradicate all wildlife? What harm do you say they do? Freda Simpson, Lancaster Bob replies Oh Freda, you misunderstood me! I agree that, on the whole, woodlice are another intrinsic part of the web of life and are excellent processors of all sorts of wastes. I encourage them in the general garden – however, I wrote “in greenhouses and cold frames” where these are damnable pests! Go out with…