Innholdsfortegnelse for 7-Sep-2019 i Amateur Gardening

“The tomatoes are red and abundant, the sweetcorn is milky and ripe, the onion harvest is enormous and all my first early potatoes have been harvested, with ‘Kestrel’ providing the best crop. Sadly, the garlic was disappointing. It’s funny that after all the waiting and nurturing it feels like there is a rush to make sure this bounty is used in its prime, particularly the sweetcorn, which will adorn the plate when I get home tonight. Don’t you love to grow your own?”…

IT is time to tidy up your roses and prepare the ground for new or transplanted ones. The tools you will need are a sharp, clean pair of secateurs, a garden fork and a generous supply of well-rotted garden compost or farmyard manure. Deadhead existing roses unless you want to leave some colourful hips for autumn colour and to entice garden birds. If you have multi-flowered plants, carefully snip off each flower as it fades, making room for opening buds. Once the entire flowerhead is spent, remove the whole lot. Single flowers should be cut away along with around 6in (15cm) of stem. Also remove any buds that haven’t opened properly, have turned brown and rotten or ‘balled’. The latter is occurs when buds are soaked with rain, then dried…

1 Snails are increasingly active in autumn. Pick them off during torchlight night patrols or drown them in beer traps. 2 Honey fungus becomes more visible in autumn when its mushrooms appear. If it is present, remove and burn the tree, roots and all. 3 Keep greenhouses ventilated and make sure there’s space in between plants to avoid fungal problems. 4 Clear hard surfaces of fallen leaves and other debris before they get slippery and block drains and drainage channels. Scat cat: We love our cats, but they make a right mess of the seedbeds. Deter cats by stringing black cotton across the soil (this also works for birds) or using a chemical deterrent.…

1 Make sure you know which side to add the diverter tap, then draw around it clearly with a marker pen. 2 Carefully drill holes just inside the marked outline, keeping them as close together as possible. 3 Using a Stanley knife or jigsaw cut very carefully between the holes, joining them up. 4 Once the plastic is removed and the hole is large enough (but not too large), screw in the diverter key. 5 Link the water butt to the drainpipe using the diverter hose, making sure both ends fit snugly.…

1 Old fruited stems on raspberries and other cane fruits should be cut right out to give space, air and light to new growth. 2 Summer pruning apples, pears, cordon gooseberries and redcurrants shortens side growth to give stronger fruit-bearing spurs. 3 The sooner strawberries are planted, the better. Every week delayed from mid- August means an ounce less fruit from each plant next summer. 4 Pick off and clear up any tree fruits with brown rot, as infected mummified fruits are the source of infection for next year.…

1 Lift any remaining potato crops, as any increase in crop from now on will likely be cancelled by increasing pest damage. 2 Stretch nets over garden pools, ponds and water features to catch the falling leaves, then make them into leafmould. 3 Citrus can stay outdoors only if covered on frosty nights, and turn their pots on their sides before heavy rain. 4 Keep deadheading, feeding and watering repeating roses, as with luck there’s a dozen weeks more of flowering left in them!…

Shape: What shape do you want your tree? Some may be already part-trained, but often these are more expensive. Type: Is this apple a tip- or spur-bearing variety? And can I eat them off the tree, or do they prefer storage first? Organic: Is this apple especially good for organic growers, in that it has naturally high disease resistance? Climate: Is this tree going to suit my local climate? Some require long, hot summers and/or perform poorly in wet areas. Flowering: Does this apple flower early in the year? If so, its blooms may be more vulnerable to frost damage. Taste: Can I taste one!? Remember taste is hugely subjective, and eating quality can vary from year to year.…

MY smallholder parents (now retired) used to grow 1½ acres of runner beans each year, so goodness knows how many pods I’ve picked in my life! One thing I know for certain is that productivity of these vigorous climbers can grind to a halt if pods are allowed to become ‘beany’ on the plants. By beany, I mean old, when the immature beans within the pods begin to swell, becoming clearly visible as bulges in the skin. This seed swell and maturity demands a lot of energy from the plant, and consequently immature pod set is directly affected. The result? No more beans! To exacerbate this further, seed production signals to the plant that its life cycle is complete so, again, new pod production halts. How do you cure this?…

IF you’ve had success growing winter squashes and pumpkins, why not take the leap from Cucurbita pepo to C. ficifolia, otherwise known as the fig-leaf gourd or sharkfin melon? Like its trailing squash cousins, this rampant vine needs space to grow, but given a sunny spot and generous amounts of water, each plant will yield three or four rugby ball-sized specked fruits. The flavour of the fig-leaf gourd is somewhat melon, somewhat cucumber. Harvested in autumn, the way these squashes are eaten solves the puzzle as to this plant’s common name. De-rinded, cubed and boiled the flesh takes on a mildly gelatinous texture and separates into strands, much like shark meat does. This lends itself perfectly well to a fish-free version of the famous soup.…

SOME exotics are completely hardy, but others require our intervention to survive winter. In warmer parts of the country, ginger lilies, dahlias, canna lilies and other tender bulbs can be left in situ with just a layer of mulch for protection. Those in colder areas should lift the bulbs and store them in a frost-free place. Protect cordylines from frost and rain by gathering the leaves upwards so they cover the central growing point. Put a loop of twine around the stem of the plant, make a slipknot and then slide it up the plant before pulling tight. Extra long-term protection can be given by wrapping them up with hessian or fleece. Although the roots of bananas are completely hardy, their trunks will die back if temperatures fall below -10°C.…

Opt for a sunny site in well-drained soil that never gets waterlogged. Work grit or sharp sand into very heavy soil. Before planting, consider flowering time and make sure the crocuses won’t be overwhelmed by spring vegetation in the site you choose. Plant the corms about 4in (10cm) deep and 3in (7-8cm) apart, scattering them so they look natural and not too formal. If squirrels dig up the corms, plant in clumps and lay some fine-mesh chicken wire immediately over them before covering with soil. In containers, plant almost touching for a more concentrated display.…

Plant in sun and any well-drained soil. Rock gardens and containers are ideal. If you intend to mulch the bed with shingle, plant slightly ‘proud’ of the soil, so that when the shingle is added, stems won’t be buried. In containers, mix 50:50 John Innes No2 and soilless multi-purpose compost with 20% added grit. Decorate the top with some shingle and larger stones. While plants are growing to full size, make sure they are not invaded by weeds or larger plants.…

DIRECT Some hardy annuals – such as cornflower, bishop’s flower and pot marigold – can be sown direct into the border. Remove stones and weeds, and rake soil to a fine consistency; space seeds according to instructions on the packet, or roughly 2in (4cm) apart. UNDER COVER Follow the advice on the seed packet; otherwise sow into trays of seed compost, spacing seeds roughly 2in (4cm) apart and covering with a thin veil of compost. Place in a cold frame or greenhouse, or on a cool windowsill.…

Bloomingdale Series Tightly packed double flowers in rich-pink or pure-white open on short, self-supporting stems. Sold as seed; sow in pots of well-drained compost in early autumn and germination will take place in spring. H: 1ft (30cm). Magic Series Naturally compact, densely double-flowered and in a mix of seven vibrant colours. Look for plants in bud in good garden centres in February and March – they’ll give your containers some serious spring sparkle. H: 6in (15cm). ‘Friandine Rose Picotee’ Exquisitely patterned, mostly fully double flowers are a deep reddish-purple in bud, opening to white with a pink picotee edge and a sunny apricot glow at the base of the young petals. Lovely in a slender vase. H: 14in (35cm). Rococo Series Superb new British-bred, semi-double series for perennial borders and…

How should I nurture a white forsythia? QI have been given a white forsythia (Abeliophyllum distichum) but have no idea how to grow it! We garden on lime soil, facing south in a windy spot. Mrs E Green, Hastings, East Sussex A Abeliophyllum distichum is a wonderfully scented shrub flowering in late winter before the leaves emerge. It is best grown against a sunny and sheltered wall for protection, as this will help wood ripen for good flowering each year. It will be fine on your chalky soil, but wind maybe a problem. If you can provide any protection at all, even if it is another shrub to break up the wind slightly, it will be beneficial. The other issue is that the flowers are affected by frost, so some…

This acorn peperomia (Peperomia tetraphylla) is planted straight into a white cachepot, but it will need careful watering. A mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii) in a classic clay pot is grouped with the peperomia and a Phalaenopsis orchid with their pots hidden by a white sleeve. A rooted echeveria cutting will colonise this decorative glass bowl. Macramé hangers are back in fashion – and here, home to Ruellia makoyana. Both plastic pot and saucer are concealed by the basket.…

Screwfix Pop-up garden bag £7.99 ✆ 03330 112 112 screwfix.com Features Nylon pop-up bag with carry handles at top, emptying handles at base. Toggles to hold sprung bag in flat folded position. Dimensions: 27x22½in (69x57cm). Performance Undo side toggles to let bag pop up. A good capacity, and it stands firm and open so it’s easy to chuck in waste material. Water drains through seams very slowly, so collecting wet material could be messy. Pack the bag full and it still empties quite easily using base handles to shake out, though long, stiff stems can catch and make emptying tricky. Feels strong, stores flat, cleans easily with a hose. Value Pop-up collection bags are really handy as they store flat, stand open for filling and have a good capacity.…

TO be an organic gardener you should attract insects to your plot – many species will eat the pests, and you’ll achieve better flower pollination. They will bring in more bird life as well. Here are some fascinating insect stories: Insects make up 72% of all animals on the planet, but only 2% of endangered species. There are more species of ladybirds (pictured) than there are mammal species. Insects are often attracted to solar panels, which they mistake for water. In 2008, a new species of insect was discovered in the garden of the Natural History Museum in London – by a five-year-old boy! Mosquitoes on the London Underground’s Bakerloo Line are genetically different from those on the Piccadilly Line.…

EVERYBODY knows that there’s a crock of gold at the end of a rainbow, but few realise the fortunes that are waiting to be found inside a hedge. All manner of bullion has been stashed in hedgerows, often by forgetful villains who squirrel away their ill-gotten gains – only to forget, like a squirrel, where their hoard is concealed. Some finds have been astonishing: £10million of gold was unearthed in Jersey, while in Surrey an E-Type Jag left to the brambles in 1969 was cut from the thicket and sold for the thick end of £68K! And just the other day, the Brexit Party’s double-decker was found abandoned in a hedge. ‘Leave means Leave’ pertains to Brussels and to buses! Who knew? Anyway, I’m hedge-cutting here at Buckland Towers and,…

AS one door closes another opens, and as summer rides off into the horizon it’s time to bring a new pop of colour into the garden for autumn and winter. Get your autumn and spring bedding plants in now, while there is still a massive choice in garden centres and online. Plant them up and they will build robust root systems, grow and flower through autumn, then go dormant during the coldest months. As soon as the mercury starts to rise again next year they will return to growth and provide a blanket of brilliance throughout spring. Autumn and winter bedding is the same as spring bedding – an umbrella term used for plants that can go in the ground or containers between now and November. Their numbers include pansies,…

1 I am starting my display with a chrysanthemum and a few violas, after feeding the soil. 2 Slide the largest plant from its pot (it’s good to see more recyclable taupe containers) and tease out the roots. 3 Plant at the rootball’s depth. Firm the soil, knocking out air pockets and supporting the plants. 4 Add the lower-growing varieties, such as violas, in front of the taller plants to create a carpet of colour. 5 Water everything well and don’t let the soil dry out while plants get established. War of words: In next week’s AG (in the shops 10 September) we publish your reaction to the trend of celebrities taking the spotlight at garden shows, complete with the BBC’s response.…

November to March is the best time to plant bare-root and container roses, so start getting your borders ready. Dig in plenty of well-rotted compost or manure alongside a general fertiliser. If you are replacing old roses with new roses you will need to take care they don’t succumb to replant disease, thought to be caused by an accumulation of soil pests and pathogens that prevents new plants from thriving. Avoid this by replacing all the soil with fresh and applying a high-nitrogen fertiliser such as sulphate of ammonia or hoof and horn. Some gardeners use a cardboard box with its bottom removed to line the planting hole. By the time the box rots away, the rose has become established.…

As autumn progresses, lawns can become peppered with little piles of slimy strings of soil. These are the casts excreted by several species of earthworm, and although the worms are essential for soil health these deposits aren’t. If trodden on or mowed they become a breeding ground for moss and lawn weeds. The best treatment is to wait until they dry, then flick them away with an old-fashioned broom or the back of a garden rake. Also, keep the lawn edges neat as overgrown grass is a perfect hiding place for pests, eggs and grubs.…

Place the water butt on its stand and make sure the diverter hose is long enough to reach the drainpipe. Mark where you want the diverter to sit on the drainpipe using the label supplied, making sure it is higher than the tap on the butt. Cut either side of the marker with a saw, making sure you cut absolutely straight. Remove the length of drainpipe and replace it with the diverter cuff. Attach one end of the connecting hose; the other will slot onto the water butt attachment (see below).…

OUTDOOR plants aren’t the only ones responding to the changing of the seasons – houseplants also need different care as the days grow cooler and shorter. Those plants that have been outside for summer should be brought back indoors before the first frosts. Check them over for pests and treat accordingly. Don’t neglect the compost as it may be harbouring slugs and vine weevil larvae. Cut away dead and damaged foliage, deadhead if necessary and stand in tepid water to thoroughly rehydrate the roots if they’re dry. Growth starts to slow in autumn, meaning plants won’t need as much water or food as they did in summer. Stop feeding in early October and reduce the amount of water you give, until you are watering them only when the compost is…

7: The Art of Garden Photography: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. ✆ 0845 265 8071, rhs. org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 7-8: People’s Dahlia Competition: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 8: Plant Hunters’ Fair, Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard, Shrops TF11 8LE. ✆ 01952 852100 8: Rare Plant Fair, Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD. 9: RHS Members Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/harlow-carr 10: Spring Bulbs for Pots: Brimsmore Garden Centre, Tintinhull Road, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 3NU. ✆ 01935 411000, 10: Glorious Grasses: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org. uk/gardens/rosemoor 10: Garden Tours: RHS Harlow Carr 11: Spring Bulbs for…

IS it me, or are vegetables getting harder to grow now that we have drier, hotter summers? The picture above is of my garden vegetable beds taken in 2009 and there’s barely a crop failure anywhere. Carrots, beetroot, borlotti beans, peas, strawberries, parsnips and asparagus were all looking tickety-boo. I’m not doing anything different, but in recent years germination of root crops has been patchy, to say the least, and most of my crops seem to be less successful all round. Even my potatoes have suffered and this is the easiest crop of all to grow – or it used to be. I only grow early potatoes in the garden, because they’re usually out of the ground before blight strikes in August. However, this year my ‘Lady Christl’ showed signs…

1 ‘Kidd’s Orange Red’: This sweet-tasting apple is a benchmark variety, with a rich flavour, juicy crunch and aromatic perfume. It doesn’t crop especially heavily, though, so it’s a case of quality and not quantity. 2 ‘Pixie’: A good alternative to ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’. With Cox in its parentage, this naturally compact tree has better disease resistance and stores into the New Year. Thin the fruits to ensure good size. 3 ‘Winter Gem’: Kept in the right conditions, this richly flavoured apple will last into March, extending the fresh eating season significantly. Trees spur freely and crop reliably. The flesh is crisp and juicy.…

IF you haven’t already done it, now’s a great time to lift maincrop potatoes such as ‘Rooster’ and ‘King Edward’. Destined for mash, jackets, chips or roasts, these bulky tubers are the backbone of winter kitchens. The likes of slug and wireworm damage, plus penetrating harsh frosts, will increasingly damage the tubers, so lift them now while their condition is good to maximise their storage life. To reduce the likelihood of stabbing tubers, slide your fork prongs vertically alongside each ridge, then gently lever the potatoes out of the earth. Dig down well, especially on light soils – you’ll be amazed how deep the tubers can be! To help the skins set fully, lift on a dry day and let the tubers dry on the soil surface for a couple…

AT this time of year most gardens are looking a little tired after their high-summer peak, but not those containing dramatic foliage plants, spiky specimens and vibrant flowering beauties from warmer climes. Exotic-style gardens really only start to get going in late summer and tend to hit their stride in mid-autumn, long after plants associated with traditional displays have thrown in the towel. These days, a tropical-style garden is a popular choice but it wasn’t always this way. Until the late 1980s few people grew exotics; that all changed with the publication of Exotic Gardening in Cool Climates, a book by London-based garden designer Myles Challis. It sparked an interest in tropical plants and led many to give their outdoor spaces a jungle makeover. The trend was given the ultimate…

THE cheerful little crocus is one of nature’s real charmers. Its dainty brightness lights up the spring garden, in sun or in dappled shade, and its sprightly sparkle is always welcome. There are three main groups. The Dutch hybrids are the larger-flowered, more brightly coloured ones; but although they’re certainly vibrant, most don’t have much staying power and don’t spread very well. In fact, they often fade away after a few years. This, coupled with the fact that they don’t self-sow, means that very few have AGMs. The AGMs have mostly gone to the species types, which, although they tend to have smaller flowers and are less dramatic, are much more satisfying. Granted, the blooms are a little less in your face, but there are up to five flowers per…

THERE are some beautiful crocuses that flower in the autumn. Smaller and more delicate-looking than colchicums (also known as ‘autumn crocuses’) but just as tough, they flower before the leaves emerge and give us a taste of spring while autumn is still in full swing. Crocus goulimyi has fragrant lilac flowers; C. speciosus is violet-blue and also has a lovely white form, ‘Albus’. Varieties that appreciate a dry summer, such as the pale-lilac C. kotschyanus, are especially suitable for naturalising in grass and under trees as the grass and tree roots suck any summer moisture out of the soil. Plant them in late summer.…

Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana Sicilian chamomile makes spreading hummocks of evergreen, filigree foliage, silver in summer and grey-green in winter. White daisies appear in May and June with a few later. Plants reach 12in (30cm) high and 3ft (90cm) across. Erigeron glaucus ‘Sea Breeze’ The evergreen perennial beach aster makes carpets of dense, greyish blue-green foliage joined in summer by lilac pink daisies. Reaches 18in (45cm) high and wide. Ceratostigma plumbaginoides The hardy plumbago is a deciduous shrubby plant that makes bright green mounds studded with intensely blue flowers in late summer. Leaves turn red in autumn. Reaches 18in (45cm) high with a spread of 12in (30cm) or more. Stachys byzantina Lamb’s ears are perfect for sunny, well-drained sites. Expect a dense, tactile mat…

Briza media Also known as doddering dillies, quaking grass produces flowerheads that dance and shimmer on the breeze. Use as a foliage plant in the vase, or dry it to decorate the house in winter. Direct sow now. H: 20in (50cm). Panicum miliaceum ‘Violaceum’ A stunning hardy annual grass with brown and green foliage, plus dark-claret flowerheads that provide food for birds such as goldfinches during the autumn months. Sow under cover in February. H: 39in (1m).…

Q Is it true you can’t eat rhubarb after July because the leaves become poisonous? Terry Masters, Ilfracombe, Devon A Absolutely not. Only the leaves, which contain high levels of oxalic acid, are toxic and should never be eaten. Q Could you please tell me the name of this perennial? Mavis Watling, Sittingbourne, Kent A This is probably the Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani). A variable clump-forming perennial, indigenous to prairies in Central USA and Southern Canada, it can, in its native habitat, grow to 10ft (3m). It can spread rapidly. Q What is this tree, please? Christine Grout-Smith, via email A The shrub in question appears to be the Japanese spindle (Euonymus japonicus). Evergreen and very hardy – it withstands the sea’s salty spray – it produces pinkish capsules that…

PLACE a layer of stones or crocks in the base to take up excess water. Next, lay a layer of moss over the crocks, just like Victorian gardeners used to do. Pot the plant into a mixture of three parts soilless multi-purpose compost, one part John Innes No2 and one part grit. Water carefully, visualising how easy it would be to float your plant.…

ARE you happy to use chemicals to eradicate a plant pest, disease or weed? Or are you an organic gardener, who finds using chemicals anathema, and wouldn’t give shed-room to a synthetic slug killer, greenfly spray or patio weed zapper? The refusal to use chemical pesticides is, of course, just one aspect to being ‘organic’: you should also aim to attract wildlife, to conserve water, to rotate crops, to recycle and to compost (in order to keep the soil nutritious, healthy and of good structure) and so on. Well, this month has been declared Organic September, so let’s look at some of the facts, figures and stories surrounding this vast and growing subject. The problem with peat MOST gardeners know that using peat, taken from natural reserves, is unsustainable: some…

ON this day Beverley Nichols (pictured) was born, near Bristol. A journalist, playwright, composer and public speaker, it is less known that he was also an avid gardener, and wrote a number of gardening books. The first, Down the Garden Path , was illustrated by war artist Rex Whistler. Nichols’ bestseller, which had 32 editions, was about Allways, his Tudor thatched cottage in Glatton, Cambridgeshire. Most of his books were written in a creative, poetic style, with much humour and irony. A book about his city garden, near London’s Hampstead Heath, introduced Arthur R. Gaskin, Nichols’ manservant, who also appeared in several succeeding books. Later books often featured his experienced but curt gardener ‘Oldfield’. Nichols died in 1983.…

A TRIP down memory lane for Graham Clarke (Gardener’s Miscellany, June) certainly brought my own memories flooding back. Visiting Bodnant Gardens was always a ritual when we were in Wales as my mother was Welsh and both my parents were gardening mad. I remember being in awe from a very early age, but the stalactites in the damp cave-like buildings, hanging from the roofs, fascinated me, so that is probably my first recollection. As I grew older, at round 10, the gardening bug really started to hit me, and I would love seeing the massive rhododendrons and laburnum walk, but the one thing that always sticks with me is the rain. There is really no more beautiful garden than Bodnant in the rain, which always gives such a true Welsh…

ALWAYS trim hedges further back into the sides and lower on the top than you require. This keeps the thicker, hard-to-prune ‘frame’ of branches back from the hedge line and allows the hedge to re-grow back to the height and width you want. Beech, yew, box, hornbeam and privet can all be pruned into older wood, but be careful with other conifers. Never cut a leylandii back to the branches, as chances are it won’t recover. After pruning, if the weather is dry, water the hedge to speed recovery – but don’t feed until spring.…

1 I reused two old modules that I washed, filled with a mix of John Innes No1 and 2 compost, watered and then dibbed a hole in each. 2 Lift the seedling from the compost using a plastic label or spoon, freeing the rootball and holding the plant by its leaves. 3 Carefully place the plant into its hole, making sure it is large enough to accommodate all the roots comfortably. 4 Firm the compost around the stem and then place in a light room, away from direct sun. Don’t let the compost dry out.…

Give your autumn bedding its best chance of putting on a glorious and long-lasting display by starting off with healthy plants. Check they are free from disease, specially pansies and violas that may have contracted a variety of the fungal disease leaf spot (symptoms include blemished leaves). Remove and destroy affected plants or combat with a fungicide such as Provanto Fungus Fighter. As an extra precaution, wait at least three years before planting spring pansies or violas in soil where leaf-spot-affected plants have been growing, as spores will infect the new plants. Check for pests, too, especially around the roots of new potted plants where slugs, snail eggs or vine weevil larvae may be lurking.…

IF there is one thing that the past two dry summers have taught us it’s that you can never have enough stored water. Until this week we have drawn on four water butts attached to the house, greenhouse and shed, but these weren’t enough for the driest days of summer. We have now installed a 210-litre butt where a 100-litre one was attached to a downpipe. The smaller one will now be joined to one of the other butts, boosting our storage capacity even further. As we run on a water meter, having this capacity to harvest the rain will be easy on our pockets, too. Water butts usually come in 100-litre and 200-litre sizes with an easy-to-assemble drainpipe diverter and instructions. You can also buy twin packs if you…

A QUESTION I often hear at this time of year is, “How do I control maggots in apples?” This often comes with the caveat, “We place grease bands on the trunks every autumn.” Grease bands catch wingless female moths climbing up trees and laying eggs, which hatch into leaf-eating caterpillars, but they have no effect on the codling moth. “Grease bands have no effect on the codling moth” At this time of year, it is worth gathering up any fallen fruits with frass (insect excreta) at the eye and other signs of maggot entry, plus picking off infected fruit within easy reach to prevent emerging maggots (caterpillars) spinning cocoons under loose bark to overwinter. Picking infected immature fruit will allow trees to put more energy into sound apples. However, this…

1 My kalanchoe has started producing rootlets along the shoots. Time to take some cuttings! 2 Fill a 4in (10cm) clay pot with seed and cuttings compost mixed with vermiculite, and water it well. 3 Snip a healthy length of stem free just below its rootlets, then pinch out the lower leaflets. 4 Dip the cut end and the rootlets in hormone rooting compound, to promote healthier root development. 5 Insert the cuttings into the gritty damp compost, making sure they are not touching. Three should fit well. 6 Seal the pot in a plastic bag and leave it somewhere light and warm. The cuttings will soon grow.…

IUDGING readiness is child’s play with some crops. Courgettes are taken once finger-sized, and likewise carrots. Turnips, beets and most other roots can be picked as soon as convenient: that’s it. Many fruits such as tomatoes, peppers, berries and currants conveniently change colour to guide us as to when we can eat them. (Though originally to guide the birds, interestingly because we have different birds, native fruits in Europe mostly ripen to red whereas in North America they ripen to black.) “Some crops are notoriously hard to judge” Many crops such as garlic and onions are ready when their foliage withers back naturally. Pumpkins and winter squash are likewise best gathered once their foliage starts to wither (unless pests or weather threaten first). For good storage, cut these fruits off…

AN established, free-standing apple tree can easily live for 25 years and produce well over 50 fruits each autumn, so you’d better like it! Plus, with factors such as disease resistance, pruning and successful pollination to consider, you’ll want to get things right. Here’s how to choose your perfect long-term partner. Pollination particulars There are two types of apple: those that are self-fertile and set a crop on their own (so you only need one tree), and those that need a pollination partner. The vast majority need a pollination partner, and this should be a different variety that flowers at the same time as your chosen apple. To ensure the blooming period overlaps sufficiently, apple varieties are placed into flowering groups. An apple can be pollinated by another in the…

1 Sow quick -to-mature green manures (such as mustard) as soon as bare patches appear , in order to lock onto nutrients and prevent weeds from taking hold. 2 With onion and garlic bulbs safely harvested, now is the ideal time to plait them into ropes. Be sure to use undamaged ones for maximum shelf life. 3 Fancy getting a sweat on ? Turn over the contents of your compost heap to ensure all parts experience some time in the central, super-hot zone . 4 Sow small batches of spring cabbage like ‘Sennen’ into modular trays. Place them in a cold frame , ready to plant out under cloches in March. 5 As the sugar levels rise in grapes (especially dessert varieties), wasps will find them more alluring. Hang fake…

1 Firstly, look for figs that have grown to full size. Because of how fig trees crop, you can find a combination of tiny fruitlets, developing immature figs and more mature fruits at any time. 2 As the fully sized figs start to ripen, they will begin to hang downwards on the stem rather than sticking upright, due to the stalk softening slightly and the fruit’s weight increasing. 3 Finally, as sugar levels reach a maximum and skin softens fully, cracks appear lengthways along the fruit, and this is often accompanied by a small amount of clear liquid oozing from the fig’s basal ‘eye’.…

Dicksonia antarctica AGM A tree fern with a textured trunk that has huge fronds that unfurl in spring. As it is slow growing (just 1in/2.5cm a year), choose the length of trunk carefully Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Columbus’ This montbretia has 2ft (60cm)-tall stems with purple buds that open into flared, golden-yellow flowers. Sword-shaped leaves add architectural interest Hedychium gardenerianum This ginger lily boasts 5ft (1.5m)-tall stems clothed with long leaves, topped with spikes of sweetly scented yellow flowers with red stamens from August to October Musa basjoo AGM This hardy banana can reach 7ft (2.1m) in its first season and will eventually grow to 20ft (6m), forming a stout trunk topped by a canopy of 6ft (1.8m)-long leaves Trachycarpus fortunei…

CROCUSES are great for naturalising in grass or in borders. Their sparkling colours are one of the joys of spring and they need little special care. Naturalised crocuses spread by seed and by multiplication of the corms, popping up among other plants and even in cracks in paving. Plant them almost randomly – the old garden writers used to recommend throwing the corms backwards over your shoulder and planting them where they fell! When planting in grass, a bulb planter can be a big help – simply take out a fat plug of soil, drop in two or three corms and replace the plug. My top choice for naturalising is Crocus tommasinianus. With its dark-tipped blue-violet flowers, ‘Whitewell Purple’ is lovely, and although it doesn’t have an AGM I’d go…

Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’ This honeywort features grey-green leaves and purple flowers that bees love. Sow direct now in mild areas; in colder areas you can sow now, but under cover. Plants will also self-sow freely around the garden. H: 2ft (60cm). Ridolfia segetum Reminiscent of fennel and dill, this Mediterranean annual combines fine, feathery foliage with nectar-rich Chartreuse-yellow flowers that attract bees. Wonderful in a vase with berry-toned cosmos. Sow under cover now. H: 39in (1m). Bupleurum rotundifolium ‘Griffithii’ Hare’s ear is a fabulously versatile cutting plant, producing golden flowers and lime-green flower bracts. It used to be a cornfield weed, but is now rarely seen in the wild. Direct sow now. H: 1-3ft (30-90cm). Daucus carota ‘Dara’ A favourite with garden designers, who…

Plant the claws 3-4in (8-10cm) deep and 6in (15cm) apart in September or October. Closer and shallower planting is often recommended, but please take my advice and go a bit deeper. Choose a bright and sunny position in well-drained soil. Taller varieties may need discreet support from split canes. Feed with tomato food two or three times from when the flowers start to fade. Leave the claws in the ground for two or three years before lifting and replanting.…

Q Do you have any tips on how to display houseplants well? There are so many wonderful pictures on Instagram, but then I wonder how practical or easy they are long term. Sheila Braithwaite, Newton Abbot, Devon A Shots of loft-like apartments colonised by tree-like dracaenas, syngonium scaling walls and ceropegias cascading from hanging baskets can leave us feeling green with envy instead of green-fingered. Yet their owners must climb stepladders to tend their collection. My advice is to set up a workstation, sort through your plants and have some fun. Plants do love being grouped and arranged together, so they can create a humid microclimate. Large fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata), Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) and devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum) can stand on the floor, but medium-sized spathiphyllum, maranta…

ONE thing you can be sure to find in an autumn garden is a great deal of rubbish! Spent annuals, the top growth of perennials, cropped veg plants, more lawn clippings… and that’s even before the autumn leaves have started to fall. Picking it all up is one of those annual garden chores, but a good collecting tub or bag can make it a great deal easier. Ideally, you want one of a manageable size with a generous capacity, that’s light and easy to move around and stands up with its top open, without assistance. To help you, I’ve tried six very different designs to reveal their attributes and failings, so you can choose the right one to suit your garden and your pocket. Toolstation Bin Bag Hoop 355mm…

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 (34in), meaning you can get to weeds no matter where they are, leaving your garden beautifully weed-free. Using just one hand, and at the click of a button, you can release the precise amount of gel needed to target the weeds without risk to other nearby plants. We have one bundle to give away, worth £32.50. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Roundup Draw (7 September), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2,…

I ONCE met Lawrence Hills. A writer and journalist, he was obsessive about promoting organic gardening at a time when little was known about it. In 1954 he rented an Essex smallholding to test using comfrey as a natural fertiliser. Four years later he created a membership organisation to support his research, naming it the Henry Doubleday Research Association (after the 19th century Quaker who first brought comfrey to Britain). Now called Garden Organic, it is a charity with 40,000 supporters, and shares the benefits of organic growing with more than 3 million people worldwide. Lawrence died in 1990. Visit gardenorganic.org.uk for more details.…

HERE’S a photo of my work colleague Christine’s cake to celebrate her 50th birthday. I wanted to do something special as she is a valued member of the team. We support people with challenging problems and disabilities here at Newfields Gardening CIC, in Southampton. Christine is a keen gardener and she loved the cake made with Belgian chocolate! It was delicious and there was plenty to go around. I would like to thank the cake lady of Southampton for making the cake – a one-off special that was amazing. Patrick Prior, Southampton, Hants…