Innholdsfortegnelse for 5-Oct-2019 i Amateur Gardening

“The difference between homegrown fruit and veg and shop-bought was brought home to me recently, when my friend Chris came to stay for a couple of days. He couldn’t stop talking about our tomatoes, which were “not bland and actually have flavour”. Our potatoes? “Really rich in taste, and not just stodge.” And as for our blackberry and apple jelly, he finished off half a jar on buttered crumpets! By the time he left, he was determined to grow his own next year. It’s not difficult to convert your friends once they get a chance to taste the difference. You don’t need an allotment: you can grow a lot in containers, and it’s good for the environment. Perhaps this is a mission for AG readers to spread the word?”…

Mirabilis jalapa is an amazing, fragrant plant also known as the four o’clock plant because of its late-afternoon flowering habit. Its tubers are not hardy so they need lifting for winter. This usually happens once the foliage has died back, but I needed the pot where ours was growing. Simply free it from the container and repot it in multipurpose compost, water sparingly and store in a greenhouse. The foliage will die back naturally with no water, and feed the tubers. Keep the compost dry over winter and dampen in late spring when new shoots should start to appear.…

1 Watch out for the small, translucent yellow or white blobs of slug or snail eggs at the bottom of pots and in old compost. Add them to the bird table or squish them. They break easily, unlike fertiliser balls that are blue, white or bright yellow and tough. 2 Lining pots with bubblewrap before planting bedding for autumn and spring adds a layer of insulation that can stop compost freezing, which can kill the plants, and pots cracking. Make sure drainage holes aren’t blocked.…

1 Next year will be the 30th anniversary for Petunia ‘Surfinia’, so watch out for four new colours that will be introduced. 2 Cuttings can be rooted from BeautiCals, heliotrope and verbena to overwinter on windowsills, ready to plant out next summer. 3 Pots of tender perennials such as Impatiens ‘SunPatiens’ can be taken into frost-free conservatories so they can continue flowering well into winter. 4 When re-using compost, keep a sharp eye out for vine weevil larvae; infected compost will be cleaned if left out in a shallow tray for robins to clear.…

Create year-round colour and interest in dry shade with a variety of plants of varying heights and sizes and at different flowering times. Shrubs such as Skimmia japonica and fatsia add volume and height, while the mauve flowers and brilliant-orange berries of stinking iris brighten summer and the winter months. Low-growing clumping plants including Astrantia major (masterwort) and the ever-reliable hardy geranium will thrive, as will sweetly scented lily of the valley. Don’t forget spring bulbs, either – dwarf daffodils and chionodoxa will shine like stars from the gloom in early spring.…

DON’T make a clean sweep and bundle all dead and dying plants from the vegetable plot into the compost without first saving back some seed for next year. It’s so simple to save most seeds – they just need collecting and storing in a safe place until needed next spring. But is it worth the effort? After all, packets of fresh seed aren’t expensive and they give pretty certain results, and maybe your own seed may be less reliable? “With a little care, you can save cash” True, if badly stored, they may be eaten or rot. However, with a little care, you can save cash and be rewarded by growing your own instead. (A tin box stops rodents getting at them – although, ideally, you should have a dry,…

GRANDMOTHER of five and retired nurse Mary Johnson has always led an active life. She is a keen rambler, regularly attends art classes and is generally a very busy person! However, rather unexpectedly, she was diagnosed with urinary in - continence and in just a few months it took away all her confidence and free dom, it was ruining her life! “When I retired from nursing I was looking forward to doing all the things I loved. I joined a local walking group, took up a fine art course and I loved picking up the grand children from school and looking after them, but then everything changed”, she explained. She described her first embarrassing moment caused by incontinence. “I was about to leave my art class when one of the…

1 Excavate your border soil to a depth of 12in (30cm). Wheelbarrow or bucket it out in batches. Locate a patch of ‘good’ garden earth – in other words, weed-free and not harbouring any pests or diseases. 2 Mix this new soil with multi-purpose compost and then work in some granular general-purpose fertiliser (if you can’t locate ‘good’ soil, buy in some sterilised loam instead). Take this mix to your greenhouse. 3 Gradually fill in the border with your new mix of soil. If you want to plant/sow into it this autumn (see my checklist above), allow it to settle for two weeks, or gently firm it in stages with your heel.…

1 For summer types such as ‘Glen Ample’, prune out all this year’s fruited canes to the base (they will be yellow-brown so easily distinguishable from new, greener canes). 2 New canes produced this summer can be thinned out to one every 6in (15cm) of row. Finally, tie these new canes into your support wires, ready for next year’s crop. 3 Autumn-fruiting types (like ‘Polka’) still yield berries in mild weather. Encourage this by cloaking rows in a double layer of horticultural fleece, propped off the foliage with canes.…

GIVEN the current concern about waste, it’s little wonder, perhaps, that dried flowers are gaining in popularity. After all, what could have a lower carbon footprint than a bunch of blooms, cut from your own garden and dried so that they last for months rather than just a few days? The art of drying flowers dates back thousands of years. The Egyptians used dried flowers to make fragrances and to decorate tombs, while in medieval Europe preserved flowers were used as medicine. In 16th century Japan, dried flowers formed the basis of Oshibana , an art form that is still practised today, and the Victorians incorporated them into jewellery designs and pictures. Keep it simple When it comes to arrangements, if you want to keep it contemporary, less is definitely…

Narcissus ‘Bantam’ In April, this large-cupped narcissus bears rich yellow blooms with flattened red cups, gold at the centre, on stems 10in (25cm) high. N. ‘Precocious’ A large-cupped narcissus; its white, 4in (10cm)-wide perianth is decorated by a frilly orange-pink corona. Flowers open from March to April at 18in (45cm). N. ‘Cassata’ A split-corona daffodil with a lemon cup that flares out across the greenish-white perianth. Blooms during April at 15in (38cm). N. ‘White Lion’ A double daffodil with large, creamy-white blooms and a centre of double white and yellow petals. Reaches 15in (38cm) high in April.…

I have heavy soil with poor drainage? Add a little grit to the hole before popping the bulb in. My bulbs keep coming up blind? All foliage and no flowers is usually a sign that they need feeding or dividing. Do this in spring, after flowering. Squirrels eat my crocus bulbs? Cover pots with chicken wire. In borders, coat bulbs in chilli sauce before planting! Slugs are munching my daffs? Sprinkle a few slug pellets around the bulbs just as the flowers open.…

With alliums, the key to success is good drainage. Choose a sunny spot, and if you have heavy soil you’ll need to add extra grit when planting, or plant in a pot. Plant twice as deep as the size of the bulb and one bulb’s width apart. Never grow ornamental alliums near your best edible shallots as doing so will promote the spread of common problems such as rust, a fungal disease that can affect all members of the onion family. Foliage tends to look tatty; if you can’t disguise it, trim it back after flowering.…

Find a good sunny position where the rose plant won’t be crowded by nearby trees and shrubs. Enrich the soil with some well-rotted garden compost. If roots are dry, soak thoroughly by immersing the pot in a bucket of water for 15 minutes. Let the water drain, tap the plant out of its pot, inspect the root system and gently tease winding roots. Dig a generous hole, settle the rootball at the correct depth and sprinkle the roots with a product containing mycorrhizal fungi before filling, firming and watering in.…

NEXT week (7-13 October) is National Curry Week, so it’s a good time to look at some of the spices we can grow – and buy – that are used in curries and other exotic dishes. Whether you are a once-a-year korma consumer, or you devour a vindaloo every week, there are some fascinating stories regarding the spices that you’re enjoying. What is the difference between a herb and a spice? Well, a herb generally refers to a plant whose green parts can be used for flavouring, treatment or cosmetics, whereas a spice is the same but from a plant’s pungent seeds, roots, fruits or bark. Seed spice to grow here MOST traditional curry spices are exotic, coming from the hot parts of Asia, so are not suitable for growing…

ROBIN Lane Fox (pictured) was born on this day. An Oxford academic and expert in the classics, he is also an acclaimed if outspoken gardening author. In 2006, during a BBC Radio 4 debate about the Chelsea Flower Show, he garnered controversy by labelling garden designers as “fairies”. He was talking about the RHS ban on garden gnomes and fairies at Chelsea, and quipped: “If you ban fairies, you have to ban half the garden designers.” There were complaints! The RHS, which runs Chelsea, states in its rules that gnomes or any “brightly coloured creatures” are not allowed. The official explanation is that they may “distract” from the gardens, but critics reckon the real reason is that gnomes are deemed tacky: Lane Fox himself says they are “hideous” and did…

MY partner, Stuart, treated me to a yearly subscription to your fantastic magazine, and each week I have been planting seeds. I’m so happy with the results. It was the best present ever! Lisa Tayleure, Northants I WAS delighted with the annual phlox seeds given away free. As you can see, they have a pretty white eye and are still flowering well after deadheading. These little plants were perfectly sized to edge my borders by the lawn. I will be saving some of the seeds for next year! Janice Cooper, Burton on Trent, Staffs MY grandchildren love learning about the plants and the wildlife occupying my garden. I thought I would send you this photograph of my two-year-old grandson planting some of the AG free seeds. This was a first…

IF someone says that your curtains, carpets or kitchen worktops are ‘unusual’, what they’re really saying is that they find them unspeakably tasteless. I know this because, as a teenager, my mum used the same word about my fashion sense. What’s ‘unusual’ about dressing like a dandy highwayman? Imagine my irritation, then, when a ‘so-called’ friend used the same word about my dahlias. Sure, the iridescent pink pom-poms of cactus flowered ‘Orfeo’ are extraordinary, but the only thing that’s odd is how late they’ve come into flower. This year, all my tall dahlias have been like buses and kept me waiting, only to arrive all at once – and I’m not alone… My Twitter feed is filled with descriptions of shy ‘Arabian Night’ and ‘Chat Noir’, both tall back-of-the-border varieties…

I’M all for making gardening as easy as possible, and if you can achieve this with great results and without burning a hole in your pocket, then so much the better. Planting spring bulbs is an excellent case in point. It’s an absolute cinch to do, it can be done on a reasonable budget and the results far outweigh the effort taken. These bulbs are some of the most versatile flower-providers around and can be sited in borders, containers and even in your lawn. There are tall varieties, short varieties and some in the middle. There are bulbs for shade, sunlight and a mix of the two. As bulbs mature they grow and divide, thus increasing their flowering potential. And when things go wrong they are generally pretty easy to…

Naturalising bulbs in your lawn is a deceptively easy way of bringing spring colour to the garden. Crocuses, fritillaries and dwarf varieties of narcissi and tulips are ideal for lawn planting. Snowdrops look wonderful under trees. Scatter the bulbs on the grass and use a bulb planter to plant them where they have fallen. Plant at the recommended depth and backfill the holes with soil, topping them with the removed circles of turf. Alternatively, use a half-moon lawn edger to cut around an area of lawn, lift it, dig and plant the bulbs, then replace the turf. Water and protect from squirrels and mice.…

Step by step 1 Remove a 4in (10cm) length of this year’s robust growth, cutting just above a pair of healthy leaves. 2 Strip away the largest leaves so just smaller ones remain. These won’t divert energy from growing roots. 3 Dip the cut ends of the stems in rooting compound to help promote strong, healthy roots. 4 Gently push the cuttings into a pot of dampened cuttings compost mixed with perlite or horticultural grit. 5 Seal the pot and cuttings in a clear plastic bag somewhere light and warm out of direct sun. The cuttings will soon root and grow.…

1 Cut back shrub roses by a third to reduce the risk of wind rock, but leave some climbing and rambling varieties laden with hips for birdlife. Mulch with manure for insulation. 2 Group hardy container plants together somewhere sheltered and have fleece handy to wrap tender plants undercover, such as lemons and olives, when a hard freeze is forecast. 3 Check that tree ties and supports are secure, but not chafing the bark, especially with younger plants. Winter is a key pruning time, so make sure your saws, secateurs and loppers are sharp and clean. 4 Clear fallen leaves off the lawn to let sun onto the grass and reduce pests and disease. Mow some of them to chop them into mulch to feed the soil. Aerate compacted, overused…

AREAS of dry shade are some of the toughest to crack in the garden, whether they are under trees or under the eaves of a house, or tucked away in the shadow of a wall or tall hedge (which has the added complication of sucking water from the ground). But with careful planting and patience you can bring these areas to life and create wonderful patches of interest and colour. We have a large weeping ornamental pear that blocks most of the rain and sun from the soil underneath. The ground is hard and poor, but that hasn’t stopped several varieties of plant from making a home there. Wild violets carpet the ground and previous plantings of cyclamen are also spreading, their gem-coloured petals brightening the shadows. Ferns also thrive,…

ONE of the easiest ways to do something positive for nature is growing plants that provide nectar for insects. Attract these to the garden and they, in turn, will bring the birds and other wildlife. This week’s free seeds are for a variety of scabious called ‘Tall Double Mixed’. They grow to 36in (90cm) tall and produce pincushion blooms in a variety of colours. Sow them now in full sun or light shade and nurture the seedlings through winter, fleecing or covering with a cloche during prolonged freezing spells. Alternatively, save the seeds and sow next spring. The best solution is to sow some now and some early next year to create a longer period of flowering. We have several wild scabious plants growing in our wildflower meadow. They have…

1 Plant garlic and sow some hardy broad beans and peas for earlier crops, in the hope that a mild winter lets them survive. 2 When digging or doing other strenuous work, warm up first – and remember: strip before you sweat, cover before you cool. 3 Before mowing, raise the cutting height towards the maximum setting to leave a longer, more resilient sward ready for winter. 4 Brush leaves onto the lawn and then, using a rotary mower, shred and collect them with clippings to turn into leafmould mulch.…

WHILE the growing season may be drawing to a close outside, your green fingers are probably still yearning for some horticultural flexing. This is where greenhouses and frames really come into their own. These protected environments provide a place to grow crops all winter long: what better bolthole could you ask for? “Provide a place to grow crops all winter long” While we’re all familiar with the summer crops that can be grown under glass, winter undercover vegetables tend to get neglected – that’s a major missed opportunity! Light levels will still be sufficient to grow leafy crops, and choosing hardy crops eliminates the need to supply heating (turn the page to see my crop checklist). Thanks to places such as Gumtree, Marketplace and other online classifieds ads sites, all…

GARLIC is firmly a modern-day essential, and while last week I was talking about how to store it, this week the focus has already shifted to planting it! The benefits of planting now are bigger heads at harvest time (due to a longer time in the soil, providing a bigger root system come bulb initiation in early summer). The only time I would suggest sticking to spring planting is if you gardened on heavy, winter-waterlogged clay; on such wet soils, autumn plantings would likely rot. Not all garlic types thrive from an autumn planting, so be sure to look for hardier varieties such as ‘Extra Early Wight’ (hardneck) and ‘Picardy Wight’ (softneck), which have the robustness to tolerate winter conditions. Gently break each head into individual cloves, planting these 4-6in…

Iris sibirica I always remember the cold February morning a few years ago when I ventured into the garden for the first time in weeks, to be greeted by a pot of stunning purple-blue winter iris I’d forgotten planting. I’ve grown them every year since. Anemone coronaria Garden anemones are easier to grow in containers as you can support the stems with small canes – you also get to see their beauty in close-up. ‘Bordeaux’ (left) is a deep wine red and it looks smashing with bright blue Scilla siberica or forget-me-nots. Hyacinths These very showy bulbs can overwhelm in the borders, but they’re great in windowboxes and pots, where you’ll be able to appreciate their scent. Lipstick pink ‘Jan Bos’ (left) or purple ‘Woodstock’ look great paired with double-flowered…

For spring-flowering bulbs, the general rule of thumb is: plant at a depth of two or three times the bulb’s height If you’re planting large quantities of bulbs in borders, use a long-handled bulb planter to save your back. It acts like a corer, removing a cylinder of soil so you can simply drop the bulb into the hole. When you cut the next hole, the core of soil still sitting in the planter will be pushed out, and can be used to cover the previous bulb.…

A. caeruleum A small species allium that blooms in June, this is the only one with flowerheads that are true blue. Not too tall at 1½ft (45cm), it looks particularly lovely when planted in gravel among low-growing alpines and sedums. A. obliquum This Siberian species is a good choice for heavier soils, and has decent year-round foliage. The zingy-green flowers appear in June and will happily set seed, making it excellent for naturalising. H: 2ft (60cm). A. moly It’s easy to see why A. moly is also know as golden-flowered garlic. Rich-yellow and long-lasting, the flowerheads are a hit with butterflies, and plants will cope with some shade. For slightly bigger blooms, look for ‘Jeannine’. H: 10in (25cm). A. karataviense ‘Ivory Queen’ This short-stemmed allium combines good, broad…

How can I help our young plum to fruit? Q Our one-year-old dwarf ‘Victoria’ plum tree had lots of blossom but only one fruit, and now it is starting to flower again! Is this normal and what can I do? I have been following the supplier’s feeding instructions. Mrs M Moss, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk A I wouldn’t worry about the lack of fruit this year as all fruit trees take a year or two to settle in and it’s best not to let them fruit at all during this period to help them get established. New leaves and flowers at this time of year are unusual, but probably related to the weather as the tree may have been fooled into thinking winter has been and gone. When the nights start…

NOW is the time to put out your bird feeders. The weather’s cooling and natural sources of food are diminishing. Putting one out now to get the birds used to it and replenishing it regularly will help birds to survive the winter and you’ll be able to enjoy watching them. There are a few things to watch out for with seed feeders. Are they easy to fill? Are they fairly waterproof and windproof to stop the seed inside getting soggy or spilling out? Can birds access the food easily (a good thing)? Can squirrels access the food easily (a bad thing)? Is the feeder easy to clean? I’ve never come across a ‘perfect’ feeder, as some are better than others, but you tend to get what you pay for. Dura…

WEEDS can creep into even the most well-maintained gardens and can be nuisances 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 two Roundup Total Weedkiller 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. 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 (5 October), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst…

1. Use your spice as fresh as possible, as aromatic oils evaporate quickly. Ideally, grow your own ‘spice herbs’, or buy spices whole, grinding them in small quantities when needed. 2. Herbs, in general, are best added towards the end of cooking (to give the best flavour and retain a fresh colour), but most spices – and the tougher herbs, like garlic, bay leaves and bouquet garni – should be added at the beginning, to let their flavours permeate. 3. Add spices to oils and vinegars for subtle flavours over a long period, and add mustard to flavour marinades, dressings and garnishes.…

IF your dahlias haven’t flowered well, increase their chances next year by planting near a sunny wall or patio, where bricks and stone hold the nighttime heat they require. Avoid feeding them with nitrogenous fertilisers and manure, especially when plants are young, and instead add a dilute high-potash liquid tomato fertiliser. Its potash encourages flowers but also reduces cold sensitivity. Once plants are in flower, they need something stronger to encourage a balance of new flower-bearing growth. Manure, flower feed and Growmore all work well, with garden compost to lock moisture into the soil around the roots.…

Step by step 1 Enrich poor soil with a generous amount of well-rotted compost or manure. Adding organic matter and grit can also lighten heavy clay soils and reduce the likelihood of the bulbs rotting. 2 Most bulbs should be placed at two or three times their own depth and a bulb’s width apart, but check the planting instructions on each packet to make sure. 3 After planting, firm the soil gently with a trowel or the back of a rake, water well and mark the spot to help you avoid disturbing the bulbs. Protect against marauding squirrels and badgers with some pegged-down wire mesh.…

THIS is your last chance to take semi-ripe cuttings before the cold weather arrives with the potential to damage the newly pruned tips of branches. In northern and exposed areas it may already be too late, but it should be safe in most of the UK. Semi-ripe cuttings are taken from this year’s growth that is starting to harden at its base. The cuttings are then overwintered undercover in a sealed plastic bag somewhere frost-free, such as a greenhouse, porch or cool room. Late next spring or early next summer, the plantlets should have developed enough root growth to be separated and potted on individually. They will then grow on until they can be hardened off and moved outside into larger pots or borders. We have a large Cistus ladanifer…

THERE can be no doubt that planting spring-flowering bedding in good time, to get strong root establishment before winter, will give the best flowering next year. We do have to harden our hearts, however, to strip out summer bedding still providing lots of colour to make way for the new season’s plantings. A sharp night’s frost can make the decision for us, but this becomes less likely with mild autumn weather. There is the difficulty also that modern summer bedding plants will have much greater vigour and the potential to flower pretty well into December. “I re-use potting composts in patio pots, baskets, etc” Petchoa BeautiCal Series in five colours (the latest Calibrachoa x petunia introduction) not only have the vigour and flower sterility to keep flowering, but will withstand…

Step by step 1 Dig a planting hole that’s as deep as the plant’s rootball and slightly wider for the best results. 2 It’s worth placing your plant in its hole, still in the pot, to make sure you have the correct depth and height. 3 Soil under trees can be nutrient-poor, so add some fertiliser or manure to give your plant a boost. 4 Plant and infill around the roots with soil and compost, firming it down as you go. 5 Give the plant a good soaking so the water penetrates right down to its roots.…

5: What Now? Your Garden in October and November: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 5-6: Apple Festival: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830 rhs.org.uk/ gardens/rosemoor 5-6: Wood Fest: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/wisley 6: Cyclamen Society Late Autumn Show: RHS Wisley 7: Free Gardening Advice for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/harlow-carr 8: What Now? Your Garden in Autumn: RHS Garden Rosemoor 9: Grow Your Own – Preparing for Next Year: RHS Garden Hyde Hall 10: Make Your Own Natural Beauty Products: RHS Harlow Carr 10: Natural Beauty Products: RHS…

QUITE a few years ago I wrote a series of three books called The Ten-Minute Gardener on growing fruit, flowers and vegetables. When I went to see the editor, before the books were published, she was astonished that I’d written so much on watering and couldn’t quite understand why. Watering is one of the most important skills when growing plants. You have to look after your plants for them to thrive. You don’t just go in willy-nilly and dribble the hose over them. You look at the plants and try to judge whether they need water or not, with the fingertip test helping you to assess whether water is needed and how much. “A lot of plants are killed with kindness” A lot of plants are killed with kindness, because…

Hardy salad leaves: Sow drills of rocket, lettuce, landcress, spinach, common purslane, claytonia (winter purslane), corn salad, endive, chicory and so on. Carrots: Baby roots can be achieved by early spring. Choose very hardy types such as ‘Extremo’, sowing thin drills. Brassicas: If you stumble across any transplants of spring cabbage, calabrese or cauliflower, plant now for mini-heads come the spring. Orientals: Oriental veg such as pak choi, tatsoi, Chinese cabbage, komatsuna, choy sum, mizuna and tsoi-sim will quickly bulk up from seed. Peas and beans: Sown into large modules, hardy peas such as ‘Douce Provence’ and broad beans such as ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ will be able to avoid winter wet. Roots: Baby turnips, beetroot and radish sowings will produce a double-harvest: lush leafy tops followed by tender roots. Next week:…

THOSE of us lucky enough to own a greenhouse or sunny, sheltered wall might now be looking at bunch upon bunch of dessert grapes. More sizeable, sugary and delicious than their wine-making cousins, these harvests are decadence encapsulated. ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ (white) and ‘New York Muscat’ (black) are two benchmark dessert grapes, but look out also for other enticing varieties such as ‘Buckland Sweetwater’ (white) and ‘Chasselas Rose’ (pink). The supreme flavour is predominantly dependent on sugars, the levels of which gradually rise as fruits ripen. White varieties gradually turn pale amber (you can also see this colour change in pink varieties), while black grapes turn the deepest purple. Patience, with these nonpareil vines, is key: pick too early, and the flavour will be disappointing. The solution? Look for the…

IF you’re already growing this hardy little perennial, the chances are you’ll be unearthing dozens of tubers this month. Resembling strings of beads, creamy-white harvests of Stachys affinis are superbly crunchy and mildly nutty (resembling a water chestnut). They can be eaten raw or cooked, lending themselves well to stir-fries, quick pickles and sautéed dishes. Planted in late March or April in an open spot of moist yet well-drained soil, the plants soon push up a dome of nettle-like foliage (don’t worry, they don’t sting). With some regular watering through summer, autumn will deliver generous harvests. The tubers have thin skins, so are best left in the earth until needed (mulch with straw) or stored in a box of damp sand in a shed or garage.…

Eranthis hyemalis AGM The pretty buttercup-like flowers of winter aconites appear early, usually at the same time as snowdrops and crocus. To really lift the spirits in January, try a mix of all three, planted under deciduous shrubs or in the lawn. Soak the aconite tubers overnight before planting out. Narcissus It’s always nice to have this iconic spring flower for Easter vases, so choose April-blooming daffodil varieties such as ‘Dutch Master’, ‘Cheerfulness’ and ‘Actaea’ (above). To give borders added wow factor, plant clumps of the same variety all around the garden. Tulips With so many colours and shapes, you can really go to town. When combining, check flowering times on packs (early, mid or late like T. sprengeri; above). Or choose pre-mixed combinations. For picture-perfect borders, add…

Tulipa acuminata A heritage tulip that combines an arresting elongated flower shape with fiery shades of molten gold and scarlet. Best planted en masse or in clumps in borders, where the blooms look like leaping flames. Also good in containers. Camassia leichtlinii ‘Sacajawea’ A camassia with variegated foliage that adds interest even before the starry white flowers open. The straplike green leaves are edged in creamy gold while the blooms are held in racemes on upright stems. An ideal candidate for naturalising in grass.…

Plant a grid of taller, large-flowering alliums in formal beds edged with low box hedges for a sculptural effect. Weave drifts of smaller-headed alliums such as A. sphaeocephalon through mixed prairie-style borders, with grasses and perennials. Use medium-height bulbs in containers and windowboxes, letting them grow up and through smaller-flowering plants that spill over the sides. Plant shade-tolerant alliums alongside ferns and other foliage plants.…

How do I get better hips? Q We have several rose bushes in the garden, but never see any rose hips. How can I be sure of having some to decorate the garden, cut for autumn flower arrangements, feed birds, and maybe even make some rosehip syrup? Andy Binckley, Leicester A Rose hips, haws or heps brighten the autumn garden, but you are right – simply growing roses is no guarantee they will set. Some don’t readily produce them, and during droughts they will often shrivel instead of ripening. Repeat-flowering roses are routinely deadheaded to encourage more blooms, leaving few to make hips. For pure ornament, ‘Geranium’ is a Rosa moyesii hybrid producing single scarlet flowers followed by long, flask-shaped hips on tall shrubs. R. roxburghii lives up to the…

Ring Pull Pro 4-Port Seed Feeder £24.95 (plus £2.95 delivery) Features Clear plastic seed tube, four feeding ports with metal surrounds and peg perches. Metal twist-off base for clearing debris, Metal slide-off cap for filling. Threaded base for mounting on pole, or hang by top loop. Simple ring-pull system separates all parts for cleaning. Lifetime guarantee. Dimensions: 14x5½in (36x14cm). Performance Excellent access for birds but metal fittings make it tough for squirrels. Fair to good wet-weather protection keeps seed dry. Great twist-off base for clearing debris, and easy to fill though a little care needed to avoid it tipping over. Amazing quick access for thorough cleaning. Wide range of accessories available including pole, tray to catch seed spill and perch rings to aid bird access. Value It’s fairly pricey…

BY 1180 in Britain, the Guild of Pepperers was in existence. It then became the Company of Grossers, Pepperers and Apothecaries, later the Guild of Grocers, and finally the Worshipful Company of Grocers. From the 14th century it acted as a watchbody, controlling the quality of spices; they were easily adulterated with spent or low-grade material, or even water. In 1875, Britain passed the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, which rendered much of the Worshipful Company’s work less vital. The term ‘peppercorn-rent’ comes from the occasional 15th century practice of paying landlords their rent in peppercorns rather than unstable coinage – suggesting problems with inflation even in those days!…

Join the club… I WAS very interested in Peter Seabrook’s ‘join them, or lose them’ article about local gardening clubs ( AG , 24 August). About a year ago, I moved to a lovely village at the edge of the South Downs. A former colleague of mine lives in this village, and had told me that there was a gardening club. I joined this January and I am definitely one of the younger people (most are my parents’ age), but when you’re with like-minded people, age doesn’t matter. Today, we had our annual horticultural show. I had no idea what to expect, and could only enter the members-only fuchsia cutting as none of my crops was ready. I baked some cakes for the sale, too, as we need to make…