Innholdsfortegnelse for 24-Aug-2019 i Amateur Gardening

“After an hour of tedious watering the other morning, I sat on a bench at the side of the garden and looked about me. At first I just saw flowers and grass, but then I zoned in on what was happening around me: seven or eight bees dipping in and out of the pinkish wild geraniums; a butterfiy fluttering around orange daylilies; and blue tits and black birds diving into the rowan tree to harvest its yummy red berries. My garden is alive with nature. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”…

SUMMER is a boom time for pests and diseases, so get to know your enemy and you can keep them at bay. Vine weevils are a particular problem for containers. The adults bite notches out of the edge of leaves while the young cause even more devastation by eating the roots (a serious problem in severe infestations), which will kill the plant if action is not taken soon enough. Treatments include lifting plants, washing the roots thoroughly and then repotting in fresh compost – which may not guarantee an end to the problem – or using a chemical or nematode soil drench to kill the pests. If you have a vine weevil problem with contained edible plants, only use the nematodes, though the chemical is fine for ornamental use as…

1 Keep greenhouse glass clean to let in the maximum amount of light and warmth. Hang unripe tomatoes upside down so they redden faster. 2 Cut back flowered perennials before they brown and start to rot, and deadhead annuals to eke out the last few flowers. 3 Rake up early fallen leaves so they don’t sit on the grass. Turn and empty leafmould bins to make room for more. 4 Rake up lawn moss and thatch to improve airflow around grass roots and make aerating holes in areas prone to waterlogging. Top Tip Study your borders and decide what you want to plant in any gaps this autumn. Divided perennials and spring-flowering bulbs are all ideal space-fillers.…

OUR roses have done well this year, with fewer cases of black spot than normal and a wonderful show of flowers. One of the best has been an old rambling variety at the front of the house that this summer was swathed in pink buds that opened into creamy-white blooms – absolutely gorgeous! It has gone over now, so needs pruning. It is also time to deadhead our climbing rose, too, which will hopefully encourage the plant to throw out a few more flowers in the early autumn. Rambling and climbing roses look similar, but behave very differently. Climbing roses repeat-flower throughout summer and into autumn, whereas rambling roses have just one burst of colour and then produce hips. Once they have finished flowering, it is time to prune them.…

GARDENING and cultivating plants bring us two rewards. First, we have the pleasure and satisfaction of seeing plants flower, harvesting crops and eating grow-your-own fresh produce. Then, we get additional rewards by sharing our successes with others: who doesn’t smile when given a bunch of fresh cut flowers or a bag of fruits and vegetables? We can also share by opening plots for charity, joining garden clubs and exhibiting at their local flower shows. Sadly, the latter are in steady decline, and recruiting members who will serve on committees is proving very difficult. Several horticultural and garden societies in my locality have closed because people could not be persuaded to join the committee. They were not short of funds, just short of people. “Please give some thought to joining your…

WE are all so quick in spring to get our summer bedding out. We can’t wait to decorate our gardens, and although we know we really should not, we often put out tender plants far too soon. So why do we then fail to take as much care to continue their displays at this end of the year? Even if frosts come early, we could easily have lots of colour for another month, or even two, just by keeping that bedding going. “Keep them going longer with a little effort” Covering it at night with a sheet or blanket on sticks will keep a light frost at bay, and as long as the days stay warm, many plants will carry on flowering. Still, time is limited, and as the weather…

WE’RE all familiar with the summer strawberry, which gives rise to punnets of delicious red fruits in June and July – but are you aware of their relatives? If I said that they would help you extend that mouth-watering fresh berry harvest into August, September and beyond, surely you’d want to know more? Well, welcome to the world of perpetual strawberries! Prolonging your supply Also known as everbearers, perpetual strawberries are a godsend. While conventional summer-fruiting varieties are genetically geared up to flower and fruit in late spring, perpetual types are triggered (via changes in day length) to produce their main crop in autumn. So, by planting summer and everbearing varieties together, you’ll gain fresh fruits from June right through until October. Divide and conquer Perpetuals don’t produce as many…

MANY AG readers have, I’m sure, been nurturing pots of pelargoniums to decorate their patio or driveway. Did you know that, as well as these ornamental, free-flowering forms, there are many others that can be used in the kitchen? Termed ‘scented-leaf’ pelargoniums, each has unique characteristics. ‘Attar of Roses’, ‘Ardwick Cinnamon’, ‘Coconut’, ‘Apple Betty’ and ‘Chocolate Peppermint’ all hint at their flavours, while lemon is offered by ‘Crispum Variegatum’. Leaves can be layered in a jar of sugar for a few days. The essential oils impart their scent into the sugar, which can then be used to make sponges, sorbets and biscuits. Placing individual leaves into jars of jellies, or lining the bottom of a sponge tin with them, offers yet further ways to infuse your cooking (the flowers are…

1 Slide your fork prongs underneath individual onion bulbs to part-lift them out of the soil. This aids drying out, allowing you to store them later this month. 2 Stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, plums and gages) benefit from regular pruning. Do now, as soon as harvests are complete. 3 Early season orchard fruits, such as Apple ‘Discovery’ and P ear ‘Beth’ are starting to ripen. Pick and eat the fruits quickly as they don ’t store for long. 4 Begin reducing the amount of water that you give to tomatoes, peppers, chillies and aubergines. This gentle stress will help to ripen up the last fruits. 5 It’s time to harvest your maincrop spuds. Gently ease them out of the earth, rub off any excess soil, and store those…

Strawberry ‘Florence’ This late-season berry has good disease resistance and is ideal for pots or beds. Popular thanks to its generous crop of tasty berries in July. Freezes well. Raspberry ‘Autumn Bliss’ An autumn-fruiting raspberry often grown in small gardens and containers. Freezes well and remains top for taste. Fruits from August until the first frosts. Blueberry ‘Pink Lemonade’ Small white flowers appear in spring followed by pink fruits. Height 4ft (1.3m). Self-fertile but plant in a pair for a larger crop. Needs a sunny spot and acid soil. Raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’ “Perfect for containers, you can start picking raspberries from these thornless plants from June,” says T&M. “Great for those who like ‘low-maintenance’ plants!” Blackberry ‘Black Cascade’ Perfect for hanging baskets and produces 2 1/2lb (1.1kg) of large, sweet…

In general, grow chillies as you would tomatoes – although they appreciate a little extra warmth. Keep plants well watered, and feed regularly; a tomato feed is ideal. Support taller varieties with stout canes, tying them in as they develop. Pinching out is not normally necessary as the plants branch naturally after the first fruit is picked. Look out for whitefly, red spider mite and aphids. Use your chosen treatment: biological control works under cover. Cool and overcast weather can slow growth and delay maturity of outdoor-grown plants.…

Fragrant Cloud This reliable Hybrid Tea is a cheering mass of richly scented coral-red blooms during summer and into autumn. A popular choice, it was voted the World’s Favourite Rose in 1981. Great in pots in full sun. H: 2-3ft (60-90cm). ‘Climbing Cécile Brünner’ AGM A Dwarf Polyantha that delights with its tiny buds, small Hybrid Tea-shaped pale pink flowers, wiry stems and sparse foliage. Ideal for the front of the border, as well as for containers. Full sun. H: 3ft (90cm). Munstead Wood AGM Velvety maroon-crimson flowers with a strong fruit fragrance make Munstead Wood a decadent choice for a container. Named after Gertrude Jekyll’s garden, it likes full sun. H: 39in (1m). ‘Mrs Oakley Fisher’ Lovely Hybrid Tea with chocolate brown stems, dark green foliage and single apricot-yellow…

How do I solve this galling problem? Q My fuchsias are suffering from what I think is gall mite. Can I save them or do they have to go? Simon Turnbull, Doncaster, S. Yorks A Unfortunately, the advice of the RHS is to destroy affected plants as there is little or no chance of controlling this pest. However, I’m all for having a go if it means keeping plants that you have been growing for several years. The first thing to do is to cut off all the affected shoots and destroy them, ideally by burning. Don’t compost or put into any green waste collection. This will get rid of a lot of mites, but it is unlikely to remove them all, although we are coming to the end of…

What’s not to like about the garden in summer? Biting or stinging insects, and sunburn! It’s easy to forget when you’re at home, rather than on some scorching beach on the Costa Brava, that too much sun can burn unprotected skin – or worse. If you don’t usually spend much time outdoors, sudden exposure of face, neck and hands to strong sunshine can easily burn your skin after a couple of hours. Quality sun lotion is important Seasoned gardeners often think they’re used to the sun, so they’re immune, but the temptation to wear short trousers and short-sleeved or open-necked shirts exposes sensitive skin. So it makes sense for everyone who is going to be working outdoors for a couple of hours or more to slosh a good-quality, high-factor sun-tan…

SOMETIMES we think of buddlejas as a bit like weeds. These plants self-seed between cracks in aged brick walls, or in deep shingle alongside railway tracks, and even in plastic guttering that hasn’t been cleaned out in a while! They do a brilliant job of growing in such inhospitable situations, yet they still flower in abundance. So is nurturing (feeding, watering and pruning them) worth it? Oh yes – there is a world of difference between cultivated buddlejas and cunning ones. As buddlejas are in flower now, and brightening gardens everywhere for the rest of summer, let’s look at some of the facts surrounding them… The attraction? BUDDLEJAS originate mainly from China, and most of the types we grow in our gardens are types of Buddleja davidii, although some of…

THE genus name buddleja was given in honour of the Rev Adam Buddle (1662-1715), a botanist and rector from Essex. Latin rules for naming a plant after a person mean that the name should be ‘buddleia’ with an ‘i’ and not a ‘j’, and this was how we spelt it until 2006. But Carl Linneaus (pictured) who, in the 18th century, devised the system for naming plants, spelt his ‘i’s with a long tail, making them look like a ‘j’. In 2006 the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature decreed that the ‘j’ look should be used – even though it is technically still an ‘i’. Therefore, plants should still be pronounced bud-lee-a, not bud-ul-ja! Adam Buddle never knew how famous he would become: the first plants to become known as…

Price checks I WANTED some snips and saw your valued comparisons ( AG , 13 July). I bought two 15/15 snips, one for me and one for my wife. They really are excellent. That said, I did check after purchase to see the cost from Amazon and the manufacturer, to find to my horror they were £3.68 cheaper than your mentioned stockist. In future, I shall take your advice, but will check on suppliers. I assumed you would advise the stockist who would give us the best deal, but this just isn’t the case. Trevor Land, via email Editor Garry says: We pride ourselves on the quality and honesty of our product testing. Most products are cheaper on Amazon, but not all readers have internet access, so we give the…

WHILE beachcombing last year, I stumbled across a miracle. It was about the size of a bagel and roughly as thick, but as rare as a mermaid on a skateboard. There, amongst the flotsam and jetsam, was the glistening fleshy ellipse of an Opuntia leaf! My mind raced about where this vegetative refugee could have come from. As every botanist knows, Opuntia (aka the prickly pear) is a member of the cactus family and, like all the cacti clan, harks from the Americas. Our shores are washed with trade winds, weather and seawater from the Gulf of Mexico, so could this Opuntia have bobbed here from the Bahamas? Or even further – all the way from Tabasco? Without a luggage tag or plant label, it was impossible to say, but…

WE are in that twilight zone of summer when many plants are past their first flourish but can be brought back by some timely cutting back and feeding. Containers too may have peaked and can either be replaced or re-energised by some judicious plant replacement. If you are conscientious with your care you can keep them going well into autumn. Deadheading regularly, watering daily (twice in prolonged hot, dry conditions) and feeding weekly with a high-potassium tomato fertiliser will keep them going right up to the first frost. Don’t neglect your pest-control duties. either; snails, slugs and vine weevils can destroy a container arrangement in a trice if you aren’t vigilant. I have spent much of this week tidying containers and creating space in the areas of borders where crowded…

1 Stand plants in water for at least 30 minutes so their roots have a thorough soak. 2 If you are reusing a container, wash it out well to remove old compost, pest eggs and disease spores. 3 Put crocks at the bottom and fill with container compost. Add the central plant, loosening the roots first. 4 Add the other plants around the edge, teasing out their roots and infilling between with more compost. 5 Stand the pot on feet and water well. Keep compost damp, watering each day if necessary.…

When ramblers become congested, their flowering can start to drop off and they become vulnerable to pests and diseases. To thin them out, remove all dead, diseased, crossing and weak shoots. Cut back some of the older stems right to the ground, keeping a maximum of six young, healthy stems that can be tied in. Saw away any dead stumps and shorten side shoots. Cut the tips by one third to one half, to encourage branching. The following spring, feed with a granular rose feed, water it in and mulch generously with well-rotted manure of compost.…

WITH each year that passes, our wildflower meadow becomes more prolific and attracts more insects and birds. We started off with yellow rattle, sown to weaken the grass roots and make it easier for wild species to push through. This has since been followed by devil’s-bit scabious, knapweed, ragwort, yarrow, ox-eye daisies and, in spring, speedwell, buttercups and self-heal. The place is alive with butterflies, moths and beetles, and we’ve seen many birds poking around the long grass looking for ants and other food insects. It is now time to give the meadow it’s late-summer cut. Traditionally, this is known as the ‘hay cut’ and is when the bulk of plant material is removed. The cut grass and flowers should be left lying for a few days to dry and…

1 Fill 3in (7cm) pots with seed and cuttings compost, dampen them and dib deep holes in their centres. 2 Using an old spoon or plant label, lift the seedlings (hollyhocks in this case) from the compost, holding them by their leaves 3 Drop a seedling into a dibbed hole so the entire rootball and a good section of the stem are contained. 4 Firm the compost. The covered area of stem will hopefully go on to develop roots, creating a more robust plant.…

1 This week is the only time to successfully sow Japanese onions with much hope for an early crop next summer. 2 Unless it’s damp, rainy weather, tie some paper bags over your ripening bunches of grapes to keep the flies, birds and wasps off. 3 Bury newly lifted potatoes and carrots in a box of sand kept in a shady spot; they will taste like new when you eat them. 4 Admit that you’ve left too many bunches on your grapevine, and remove a third now to give the rest a fighting chance.…

‘Malling Opal’: This tasty British-bred variety yields good-sized berries with a soft texture, making them more pleasant to eat than firmer varieties. Will crop well in containers, and has strong mildew resistance. ‘Temptation’: A British-bred perpetual that performs well in typical UK summers. The fruits are large, well-flavoured and presented on compact plants. Useful for hanging baskets or tubs in a sunny spot. ‘Flamenco’: This recent introduction is fast establishing itself as a benchmark variety, thanks to improved berry size, yield and disease resistance compared to other perpetuals on the market. Peak fruiting occurs in early September.…

HAVE you noticed how modern orchards are getting smaller? Commercial growers are cramming more trees into compact spaces and, in doing so, experimenting with training techniques. We can glean wisdom from their experience, and one useful method is known as festooning – where branches are carefully bent into horizontal or weeping positions. The benefits are numerous. Trees are kept compact, shading vertical shoots are eliminated and, most importantly, fruit numbers are increased. Festooning new shoots adjusts their carbohydrate storage and plant hormone flow – so buds that would normally develop into leafy shoots instead change into flower buds. By securing this year’s new shoots of cherries, apples, plums and pears into an arched or horizontal position now, you’ll gain far more fruit buds in spring. Any soft tie will do…

ALSO known as the asparagus bean, this impressive legume, Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis, almost lives up to its name! At maturity, pods can reach 30in (75cm) long, although it’s best to eat them before they get that long so you can ensure they are tender. If you’re used to growing climbing runner or French beans, treat these beans identically. Sow in heat under cover, and then transplant outside to a sunny, sheltered spot once the risk of frost has passed. The yardlong bean is an annual from tropical climes, so long, hot summers are preferred; once established, the plants are quite drought-tolerant. The pea-like lilac flowers open at night, so pollination is mainly by moths and other nocturnal winged insects. Pick the pods while young and tender, dicing and treating…

PEPPERS come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and all sorts of colours and flavours; however, they can be divided into two similar but significantly different groups: chilli peppers and sweet peppers. The dividing line is the presence in the fruits of a compound known as capsaicin. Capsaicin and related compounds are what give many peppers that unmistakable fiery flavour; those that include this compound in their fruits are the hot or ‘chilli’ peppers, while those that don’t are sweet or ‘bell’ peppers. This distinction is more important than which of the five wild species have given rise to individual varieties of pepper. Chilli peppers can be small and round or longish and slender; they vary in size from tiny to substantial and shapes cover anything from round to…

THERE are varieties of chilli with purple leaves, and those with variegated leaves – both make particularly attractive plants as well as producing a good crop of fruits. ‘Tricolor Variegatum’, with green leaves splashed in cream and purple, plus masses of small purple fruits that mature to red, is the only AGMwinning option. Look out, too, for ‘Calico’, ‘Hot Rod’ and ‘Purple Tiger’ although these don’t have the award.…

Plant in good, well-cultivated, well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position away from competing shrubs and trees. Dig a generous planting hole, position the rootball to the correct height (pot or field) and drive in a stake. Fill in, firming gently and add a tree tie. Use a fruit tree fertiliser in spring. Alternatively, plant into a pot or half-barrel large enough to comfortably add compost (50:50 John Innes No2 and a multi-purpose) around the rootball. Mulch over the roots in autumn, or apply a topdressing of soil conditioner to pots. Water newly planted trees during droughts throughout the first year. Water potted plants as required, and give them a controlled-release fertiliser in spring. Prune apple trees during winter (cherries, plums and other stone fruits in summer) to create and…

‘Just Joey’ AGM A sublime border rose, with orange buds that open into sweetly scented peach flowers – they glow copper in the light of sunset. Hybrid Tea; can also be grown in containers in full sun. H: 32in (80cm). ‘Comte de Chambord’ AGM (syn. ‘Madame Knorr’, ‘Madame Boll’) Introduced in 1860, this gorgeous lilac-pink Damask Portland shrub rose combines a delicious scent with charming old-fashioned flowers. Full sun. H: 3ft (90cm). ‘Dainty Bess’ This compact Hybrid Tea dates back to the 1920s and has a continuous show of single pink flowers with maroon stamens. Great for attracting hoverflies and bees, it’s suitable for growing in pots. Full sun. H: 3ft (90cm). Rosa x odorata ‘Mutabilis’ AGM An adorable China rose that supplies all…

Anemanthele lessoniana AGM: Tinted bronze in late summer and autumn, New Zealand wind grass looks great with Rosa Munstead Wood. Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’ AGM: This late-flowering perennial has lavender daisies that attract butterflies and bees. A good partner for Rosa ‘Perle d’Or’. Salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ AGM: Purple-claret flowers are paired with aromatic leaves said to protect roses from sickness. Ideal alongside Rosa ‘De Resht’.…

E . x zabelii ‘Neptune’s Gold’ A colourful new cultivar with unusual silvery-blue bracts that fade to gold at the tips, and blue stems that contrast strikingly with the yellow foliage. Flowers are produced from July to August. HxS: 20x16in (50x40cm). E. bourgatii ‘Picos Amethyst’ Dark green and white marbled foliage and slender bracts with a hint of purple characterise this Mediterranean sea holly. The mass of blooms looks good planted with short grasses like Stipa tenuissima. HxS: 22x20in (55x50cm). ‘Pen Blue’ Very eye catching, with dramatic ruff-like collars of jagged spikes in vibrant violet-blue surrounding a cluster of tiny grey-blue blooms. Plant alongside flowers in pinks and yellows for a dynamic display. HxS: 2x1 1/2ft (60x45cm). E. agavifolium The green leaves of…

QI have been given a pineapple bulb, but I honestly haven’t got the first idea what to do with it or how to care for it. Please can you advise as to how I can keep it going from year to year? Alice Mapplethorpe, York, North Yorks. AEucomis is a genus of around 15 species and numerous cultivars of South African bulbs. One of these, Eucomis comosa, shares the specific epithet with the true pineapple (Ananas comosus), with ‘comosa’ meaning ‘tufted’. Both produce a tuft of bracts above their flowers or fruit. Bulbs planted into a sunny spot in spring will sprout a rosette of long leaves. By July, a stout stem rises, clothed with flower buds and topped with bracts. The stem elongates to around 30in (75cm). Buds open…

Do ✓ Cover your arms and legs if you’re working in flower or veg beds, near the pond or a compost heap where biting insects proliferate. ✓ Choose a good-quality sunscreen. Tests suggest that cheap sunscreens may not work as well as more expensive products. ✓ Plant trees and shrubs or put up a pergola to provide shade in a seating area, if you have room. Don’t ✗ Leave your head exposed in strong sunshine, especially if you’re hair is thinning on top. Wear a hat to protect your skin and shade your eyes. ✗ Stay in the sun if exposed skin starts to feel hot, sensitive or sore. Get under cover and apply after-sun lotion. ✗ Leave yourself unprotected in the evenings. Burn a citronella candle or use a…

WEEDS can creep into even the most well-maintained gardens and can be a nuisance to remove. To help you reclaim your garden from pesky weeds, Roundup is giving AG readers the chance to win a Roundup Telescopic Wand, plus Total and Path gels. The Roundup Gel Wand extends up to 86cm, meaning you can get to weeds no matter where they are, leaving your garden beautifully weed-free. Total Gel is ideal for treating weeds in hard-to-reach areas, killing the root so weeds don’t come back. For weeds that grow on hard surfaces, such as paths, drives and patios, Path Gel weedkiller gets to the root of the problem. We have one bundle to give away, worth £32.50. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a…

IT’S hard to walk past a British railway line and not see buddleja. Network Rail says the plant often grows in walls where it can interfere with overhead power lines and obscure signals. While it does not cause ‘serious’ problems, like blocking train lines, it does pop up in ‘annoying places’, where removing it takes up valuable time and resources. The company cuts down large buddlejas before removing or killing the stumps. It sprays smaller plants with weedkiller, and even uses weed-killing trains to keep the network clear, while rail-company staff use portable sprayers at stations.…

SUMMER is a good time to pot on cacti, as the plants are in growth. Use a cacti compost, or make your own with a 1:5 ratio of horticultural grit and John Innes No2 compost. My cactus is a thorn-less variety – possibly O. engelmannii tardospina f. inerme – so protection when handling isn’t necessary, but if you have a spiky type, the newspaper trick works a treat. Roll a sheet into a 1in (2½cm) strip and wrap as a band around the plant. Pinched tight, the paper becomes a handle that allows you to lift and safely pot the cactus without handling the spiny stems.…

1 Cut off spent blossom heads from your shrub and remove any branches that look dead, damaged, diseased or feeble. 2 Check the health of underplantings, removing weeds, old blooms and tatty leaves. 3 Remove the top 2in (5cm) of compost and replace with fresh. Don’t do this after this month as it may provoke new growth that may be damaged by winter’s cold. 4 Plant new varieties around the base to provide lasting colour between now and the first frost.…

Jewel-bright indoor cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) are a delight in winter, and if you have stored yours through summer now is the time to restart them. When their leaves yellow and wither in spring, stop watering and store somewhere cool, dry and frost-free (they are not hardy). In late summer or early august they will throw out new shoots, so repot them and start to water again. If you water before new growth appears, hold off any more watering until you see signs of life. Place somewhere cool and light, water when needed and they should flower after Christmas.…

This week’s free seeds are for a wonderful new variety of poppy. ‘American Legion’ blooms have glorious scarlet petals with discreet white crosses in their centre. These hardy annuals can be sown direct now and the seedlings cloched during very cold weather. 1 Clear the sowing area of weeds and debris, rake to a fine, crumbly tilth and water generously. 2 Scatter the seeds thinly over the prepared soil. If they fall too close together you can thin seedlings later. 3 Carefully rake a little soil over the seeds and label them. Protect them from cats and hungry birds and rodents.…

1 This is the last chance to feed roses – do so later and the newest growth risks being damaged or killed if it doesn’t have time to harden and mature before winter. 2 Roses have shallow root systems that can be easily damaged if you use a hoe. Remove weeds with a hand fork instead. 3 Pull out rose suckers from below the ground. They emerge from the plant’s rootstock and will return more vigorously if cut off. 4 Container roses risk drying out, so water well every day during dry spells. Use an organic mulch to help retain moisture.…

24: Beekeeping Demonstration: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/harlow-carr 26: Really Wild Learning: RHS Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 26: RHS Members Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr 29: Falconry Display: RHS Rosemoor 30: RHS Members Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr 31: Beekeeping Demonstration: RHS Harlow Carr September 1: Rare Plant Fair: Adwell House, Thame, Oxon OX9 7DQ. ✆ 01278 661352, rareplantfair.co.uk 1: Plant heritage Autumn Plant Fair: RHS Harlow Carr 1: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Ness Botanic Gardens, Ness, Neston, South Wirral CH64 4AY. ✆ 0151 795 6300.planthuntersfairs.co.uk 2: RHS Members Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr 3: Garden Tours with the Friends of Harlow Carr: RHS Harlow Carr 3-8: RHS Wisley Flower Show…

Although undercover plants are at less risk of environmental damage than those outside, they still need plenty of care. The still, warm conditions of a greenhouse offer perfect germination for many problems so you need to stay on your toes. Pests such as whitefly and glasshouse red spider mites thrive, but can be knocked back by chemicals or biological controls such as predatory wasps and mites. The bonus of these is that they won’t stray from the greenhouse and will die off once their food sources are demolished. Keep feeding and watering plants, make sure there is good airflow around the greenhouse and lower temperatures during heatwaves by damping the floor twice a day.…

“Early bumblebees are common in towns and cities” BUMBLEBEES are a delight to watch as they browse from flower to flower. They are the only bees capable of buzz pollinating and it’s a very satisfying noise to listen to. Most gardens will attract five or six species, but they’re not always easy to identify. I began trying to identify bumblebees in the 1980s, having listened to a radio programme about the decline of red-tailed bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius). It was suggested that listeners chase these bees to find out where they were nesting, but they were far too fast for me. The other problem was size. I looked them up and was expecting to see largish bumblebees. At the beginning of the year the emerging queens are very large. However, the…

1 Be weevil-wary: Keep an eager eye out for notched leaf edges, which is a sign of adult vine weevil damage. While adults don’t harm plants, their soil-dwelling grubs do, by eating the roots. Nematodes applied now will thwart them. 2 Get cloches ready: Your perpetual strawberries will crop through until the first frosts, especially if they are covered with protective cloches once night temperatures start to fall. Choose glass or rigid plastic cloches, which offer the best insulation. 3 Use straw to deter slugs: If autumn turns out to be mild and wet, slugs and snails may wish to dent your strawberry harvest. Laying straw underneath your plants’ foliage and fruits will help to keep them at bay.…

1 The tassels or ‘silks’ protruding from the top of each cob are a great indicator of maturity. As the cob matures, they turn from green to brown. Check for this daily. 2 As the first few tassels begin to turn brown, carefully peel back the outer layers of these cobs to see what colour the kernels are – young ones are white or a pale colour. 3 When they are ready for picking, they will be bright yellow (those that are orange-yellow and wrinkled are over-mature). As you get your eye in, you can rely on silk colour alone.…

WHAT would summer be like without the taste of strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries and blueberries? Pretty dreadful, I would imagine. A scattering of soft fruit on ice cream or in a smoothie is the perfect treat for a hot day, and they’re a very healthy addition to any diet. In my garden the soft-fruit season starts with strawberries, and for flavour I prefer ‘Cambridge Favourite’. This heritage berry was introduced just before the start of the Second World War and it’s stood the test of time as it’s reliable and grows in most conditions. These are followed by loganberries, summer raspberries, gooseberries and then autumn raspberries. My favourite autumn raspberry is ‘Autumn Bliss’. If you haven’t experienced the joy of popping out into the garden to pick a bowl of…

Chilli peppers are best grown in an unheated tunnel or greenhouse, but they will grow happily in growing bags or in pots. Grafted plants, in particular, do well in the border soil. If growing outside, choose a warm, sunny and sheltered situation. Order seed or young plants in winter, and treat them in the same way as you would tomatoes. Germinate seed at 21ºC (70ºF) and prick out into 3½in/9cm pots. Pot up plug plants and grow on before hardening off, for planting under cover in May, and outside in June.…

IN our changeable climate, chilli peppers usually crop most prolifically under cover. But you don’t need heat – an unheated greenhouse or tunnel is fine – and if you have no protection, you can still grow a good crop of chillies outside. Some enthusiasts grow theirs hydroponically or under lights. Choose the most vigorous varieties for outdoor growing – I find that grafted plants develop significantly better root systems than regular seedlings – and plant in a warm and sunny site. In front of a west- or south-facing fence or wall with rich but well-drained soil works best for me. Planting in a slight dip will help with watering; just be sure not to bury the graft union (the join) of grafted plants. A mulch of black-white polythene is also…

Morus ‘Charlotte Russe’ This dwarf mulberry, which is derived from Morus rotundiloba , won Chelsea Flower Show’s Plant of the Year in 2017. This is ideal for patio pot work and fruits from a young age. Malus domestica ‘Red Sun’ A combination of dwarfing rootstock and naturally compact habit bring us a tree reaching 6ft (1.8m). Normal-sized red apples are crisp, juicy and ready to pick in early September. Malus domestica ‘Flamenco’ This Ballerina bears apples of rich, sharp flavour from October. Ballerina trees have a naturally vertical, columnar habit, and they produce apples on short side branches with hardly any need for pruning. Prunus persica ‘Bonanza’ Often sold as standards, these potted compact peaches are easy to move under glass at…

‘Phyllis Bide’ AGM Features clusters of small, semi-double pink and yellow blooms. Unusually for a rambler, it repeat flowers, while the fact that stems are almost thornless is an added bonus. Sun or semi-shade. H: 10ft (3m). ‘Golden Showers’ Semi-double flowers in a sunny yellow that fades to pale lemon are produced during summer and autumn. This reliable climber also has upright growth and dark, glossy foliage. Sun or semi-shade. H: 10-13ft (3-4m).…

Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’ A great partner for sea hollies, this deciduous shrub thrives in similar conditions (free-draining soil in full sun). The silvery-grey stems are covered in grey-green, aromatic leaves and masses of tiny lavender-blue flowers from August to September. HxS: 4ftx39in (1.2x1m). Echinacea pallida Native to the North American prairies, this species coneflower, with its reflexed, slender pink petals, has a more delicate feel than E. purpurea. The soft, subtle colour works well with the blue of eryngiums. HxS: 4ftx20in (1.2mx50cm). Echinops ritro The spherical flowers of the globe thistle add contrast in form when planted alongside sea holly’s spikes. It needs the same growing conditions and blooms in August, just as eryngiums also reach their peak. HxS: 3x1 1/2ft (90x45cm). Stipa tenuissima Bleached by the sun,…

Pot a bulb in spring, into a mix of 50:50 John Innes No2 and a soilless peat-free compost with a little added grit. In a border, pineapple lilies bloom alongside anise hyssop (Agastache) and Russian sage (Perovskia). With maroon-rimmed, creamy green flowers growing from a maroon-flecked stem, Eucomis bicolor looks particularly pineapple-like. The flowers of this species have a rather rank odour. A stand of several Eucomis pallidiflora, known as the giant pineapple flower, makes a fine statement against the backdrop of a hedge.…

1 Plant an area with trees or shrubs to provide shade in summer, or put up a parasol with a sturdy base. 2 Apply a high-factor sunscreen to all exposed skin if you’re working or sitting outdoors for an hour or more. 3 Use a separate insect repellent to keep biting and stinging bugs at bay. Always follow instructions on the product. 4 Avoid having standing water in the garden. Keep water butts tightly covered and stock ponds with fish to eat insect larvae.…

ON this day, Kelvin Archer (resident gardener at Rode Hall in Cheshire), exhibited the world’s biggest gooseberry – four years after losing the crown. The record berry weighed in at 2.27oz. (64.49g) – the size of a large egg (see above), and was the first gooseberry to weigh more than 40 pennyweights, an ancient system used to measure these fruits. The berry outweighed, by more than 2g, the previous record-breaking fruit, grown by Bryan Nellist from Whitby, North Yorkshire, in 2009. Bryan had previously beaten Kelvin after a row over weighing methods, which vary between regions. At that time, Guinness World Records ruled in Bryan’s favour. But in 2013, Kelvin reclaimed the crown. As we went to press, we heard that the world record was broken by Graeme Watson, of…

I COULD not agree more with Editor Garry Coward-Williams regarding the transformation of the Hampton Court Flower Show into a festival ( AG , 3 August). I agree that the rubble piles looked like fly-tipping and many of the other gardens looked like they needed weeding. I have been going every year for 20 years, but will not be going again; it’s too expensive and too faddy, following the new trend of save the planet, bees etc. What do they think we gardeners have been doing for a century or more? The RHS seems to have lost its way from what real gardeners look for in a garden show: plants, plants, and more plants, and maybe tea and cake when resting tired feet. But again, these were so expensive. It’s…