Innholdsfortegnelse for 26-Oct-2019 i Amateur Gardening

JUST as we feel exhausted after a period of intense activity and stress, so the garden needs to rejuvenate after the growing season. A spring and summer of flowering plants and burgeoning crops leaves soil emptied of nutrients, littered with plant debris, and matted and compacted with old roots. Put things right in autumn, as much of the garden will be lying fallow. This is where the saying ‘feed the soil, not your plants’ comes into play, because plants won’t give you the results you want if they don’t have anything good to sink their roots in to. If you feed your beds, raised beds and borders with a generous layer of organic mulch now, you can either dig it in or leave it on the surface to be broken…

One of the easiest ways to garden is using the no-dig method, when manure and compost are piled into a bed (this is especially useful for raised beds and narrow borders). Worms and beneficial soil microbes help break the manure and compost down into a rich and healthy mix, and because nothing is dug the structure of the soil isn’t damaged or compacted. Weeds are controlled by hoeing, weeding or mulching. Fewer weeds will germinate because the seeds are not brought to the surface by digging, thus also removing cover for pests. After each harvest the plants are lifted and more layers of organic matter added, ready for the next cycle of crops.…

LEADING Irish gardening brand Bord na Móna have launched a new peat-free range of composts that will be available in garden centres from January 2020. The production of Happy Compost comes after the company announced plans to move away from peat harvesting towards ‘greener, more environmentally friendly alternatives’. Not only is the range peat-free, it comes in fully recyclable packaging made with 30% recycled plastic. The Happy brand include all-purpose for seed sowing, flowers, organic compost for fruit and veg, and a variety formulated for trees and shrubs. There is also an organic soil improver and, for the summer months, a tomato or vegetable planter. Steve Harper, head of commercial & marketing for Bord na Móna UK, said: “We are very excited about the initial success of Happy Compost. “As…

WHILE most of us enjoy colourful gardens, garden designers increasingly appear to be afraid of bright flowers. It is not just designers: at the Royal Horticultural Society Wisley Garden, the very popular formal bedding that lined the pathway leading up from the old entrance has been dropped and replaced by a wisteria walk. The wisteria will no doubt look attractive for a few weeks in early summer, but what about the rest of the year? The Dutch Keukenhof Garden, which is full of very colourful spring flowering bulbs, gets 100,000 visitors a week for the eight weeks it is open, while Wisley attracted 2,600 per week on average last year. “Seasonal bedding is the way to get more colour” When I ask why more seasonal bedding – the traditional way…

1 Water plants well. This loosens long roots stuck to the sides of the pot so they won’t tear on extraction. 2 Fill 3in (7cm) pots with John Innes No2 or mix it with multi-purpose compost and make a deep hole in each. 3 Use a spoon to scoop up the seedling, keeping compost around the roots for protection. 4 Holding the plant by its leaves, pop it into the dibbed hole so all the roots are comfortably contained. 5 Firm the new compost around the plant and check that it is healthy, removing dead or damaged leaves. 6 Water the seedlings again and place them in a greenhouse or cool room with good ventilation.…

28: 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 31: Wisley After Dark: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley November 1: Free Advice Day for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr 1-3: RHS Late Fruit and Vegetable Competition: RHS Wisley 4: Free Advice Day for RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr 5-20: The Digital Garden by Andy Maitland (exhibition): RHS Wisley 6: Glorious Evergreen Foliage for Garden Structure: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 8: The Business of Photography: RHS Harlow Carr 8: How to Make and Use Compost: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. ✆ 0203 176…

LAST week (AG, 19 October) I wrote about a lady called Pauline who was overrun with earwigs. Well, I’m having my own ‘invasion’ problem at Spring Cottage at the moment. I have bank voles (Myodes glareolus) popping up all over the place. They’re digging up my spring bulbs, presumably looking for their favourite snack of crocus corms. The bank voles have spent the summer nibbling my courgettes, carrots and beetroot, and they’ve grazed off some pink plants and goodness only knows what else. It’s got so bad that I can’t sit outside and have a cup of tea without seeing a sudden movement out the corner of my eye. Bank voles are like small wheelie bins on legs, with squarer bodies than mice. They have shorter tails, less prominent ears,…

1 Quality-control your harvest and make sure you only keep those that are undamaged. Use this storage method for beetroot, celeriac, carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, swedes, turnips – anything fleshy! 2 Line sturdy boxes with polythene (such as old compost bags), then add a 2in (5cm) base layer of sand. Sharp sand is generally bought already washed – builder’s sand may contain discolouring clay, so wash it through. 3 Place a layer of your crop in the box; space them apart so that if one rots, it doesn’t spread to the others. Add more sand, and more crop layers, until it’s full. Store in a shed or garage, ready to excavate and use as needed.…

‘Angélique’ (AGM) A late flowerer from 1959, whose double flowers are a mixture of dark and light-pink shades. Carried on 18in (45cm) stems, the flowers are delicately scented. ‘Estella Rijnveld’ White and rich-red flowers with green flecks appear on 20in (50cm) stems. The cup-shaped flowers have wavy petals that are irregularly cut around the edges. ‘Orange Princess’ (AGM) A double-flowered form of ‘Princess Irene’ with the same orange flowers. Resembling peonies, the petals perch on stout 14in (35cm) stems in April. ‘Queen of Night’ The best-known dark tulip, with rounded purple flowers on 10in (25cm) stems that have a velvety texture. It’s one of the most reliable to leave in the ground. ‘Spring Green’ (AGM) Elegant ivory flowers are marked with subtle green stripes. The cup-shaped 3in (7½cm)-wide flowers rise…

‘Matrix Sangria’ The Matrix series has many colours and mixes, including ‘Sangria’. With its large claret-coloured petals, yellow splotched and featuring a deeper purple inner circle, all encircling a yellow centre, it’s a must for jewel-toned pots. H: 8in (20cm). ‘Freefall Golden Yellow’ A beautiful trailing variety in a cheerful shade. Tailor-made for hanging baskets or containers, where it will provide a vibrant display during the winter months. Position close to the house for a hit of non-stop sunshine. H: 6in (15cm). ‘Mystique Blue Halo’ Lavender-coloured with a white face and delicate veining, this pansy is the perfect antidote to a dull winter’s day. The bright blooms are large and will continue to be produced right through to spring. H: 6in (15cm). ‘Coolwave Raspberry’ A real winner due to its…

For best performance, plant in as sunny a spot as possible – pansies are more partial to sunshine than violas, but both will tolerate some shade. If planting in borders, do so while the soil is still warm. This will help plants to establish well and flower through winter. To prevent waterlogging in winter, both pansies and violas need soil that is moist but well-drained. Flowers will turn to the light, so position them in a spot where you can appreciate the blooms – look at them with the sun behind you. Deadhead regularly to keep the flowers coming.…

Rosa Lancashire AGM A lovely repeat-flowering shrub rose, with large trusses of cherry-red, double flowers. The stems arch over, giving a mounded shape. If planting more than one, space them at least 39in (1m) apart so they ‘knit’ together. Flowers: Jun-Sep. HxS: 2x4ft (60x120cm) Bergenia ‘Silberlicht’ AGM Elephant’s ears are among the earliest hardy perennials to flower, the buds forming in late winter. ‘Silberlicht’ has mid-green, leathery leaves with serrated margins, and clusters of white flowers that age to light pink. Flowers: Mar-May. HxS: 1x2ft (30x60cm). Cotoneaster x suecicus ‘Coral Beauty’ AGM This evergreen mound-forming cotoneaster needs a sunny spot. Tiny white flowers smother the branches in summer; these are followed by bright-orange autumn berries. Flowers: Jun-Aug. HxS: 3x6ft (90x180cm).…

Periwinkles ( Vinca ) grow anywhere. Plant them in full sun, however, and they will reward you with far more flowers than if planted in dappled or heavy shade. Viburnum davidii is a fine evergreen ground-covering viburnum. If you want its metallic-blue berries, you must grow male and female plants in the same vicinity. Odd weeds may creep through ground-cover roses, so it’s really important to dig out the roots of perennial weeds before you plant.…

Do I replace a fence with a hedge? Q Like many gardeners, I want to do my bit for wildlife, and I plan to replace fences and walls with hedges in my modest suburban garden. What are some good hedging plants, and when and how should I plant and care for them? Connie Delaney, Chester A Many gardeners are putting wildlife first, so that the (roughly) one sixtieth of UK land covered by our plots is making a significant nature reserve. Hedgehog populations declined by an estimated 66% over 20 years from 1995, but in urban gardens there are signs of recovery. Hogs can travel 2-3km a night in search of food and mates, so access from one garden to the next helps them to stay off roads. I would…

Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Gold’ This Mexican orange is an evergreen with aromatic leaves divided into three-five elegant leaflets. Gold when young, they mature to a rich green. Clusters of scented white blossoms open during late spring, and again in late summer. Reaches 3-4ft (1-1.2m) high. Euphorbia epithymoides ‘Midas’ The flower bracts of this cushion spurge make a mound of frothy golden-green in spring. Spreading plants reach 20in (50cm) tall, and they fade neatly when over. Do be wary of the potentially irritant sap of all euphorbias and wear gloves near them. Pulmonaria Opal This lungwort combines silver leaf markings and pale blue flowers, opening from pale pink buds to create an overwhelmingly light, shimmering backdrop for dark flowers. Leafs…

ON this day, Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram was born into the society classes of the late Victorian period. After serving in the First World War, he ‘discovered’ gardening and created the renowned garden at The Grange in Benenden, Kent. He collected plants from across the world, but particularly Japan, and became a world authority on Japanese cherries. While on one visit to Japan he was shown a painting of a white cherry, then thought to be extinct. He recognised it as one he had seen in a Sussex garden (an early introduction from Japan), and from which he had taken cuttings. He was able, therefore, to reintroduce it to Japan, and it was named ‘Taihaku’ (translated as ‘Great White Cherry’). His book Ornamental Cherries (1948) is the standard work on the…

1 Grow tender plants in large pots that can be plunged in the garden bed in summer, and brought under cover in winter. 2 Lift plants in their pots before frosts arrive, and protect them in a heated greenhouse or a bright house porch. 3 Frost-tender plants grown in the garden bed should be wrapped with fleece and hessian, or covered with a cloche. 4 Small plants can be cut back and overwintered in their pots in a cold frame. Ventilate on warm days, cover cold frame on very cold nights.…

THIS autumn, we have enjoyed lots of little friends visiting my tithonias, buddleja and perennial sweet peas. As well as many different kinds of bee, we’ve spotted butterflies including tortoiseshell, brimstone (pictured) and red admiral. Jane Stredder, Harlington, Beds I WOULD like to share my photo of wasps dining on a fallen apple. At least they are staying away from us, and hopefully they are earning their keep by keeping some of the other garden pests at bay. It’s a win-win situation as far as I can see. It’s not very often said, but hooray for wasps! Kathie Fitzgerald, Fareham, Hants I CAPTURED this lovely red admiral butterfly basking in the sun on a clematis flower. Since planting a buddleja, we have also seen painted ladies and large copper butterflies…

IF you grow veg, check the pH levels of your plot with a soil-testing kit. They cost just a few pounds but are worth every penny, as brassica such as kale are fussy about soil pH. They require neutral-alkaline conditions to thrive, as they can’t extract the nutrients they need from acid soil. Rain and friendly micro-organisms breaking down compost can make borders too acidic for brassicas so, if necessary, top up lime levels now by applying a dusting of garden lime, or mulching with green-waste compost or spent mushroom compost, both alkaline in nature.…

1 When working your borders in winter and wet weather, stand on a plank or board to avoid compacting and damaging the soil. 2 Incorporate smaller weeds as you fork over soil to break it up. As long as they aren’t carrying ripe seeds they will rot down for further enrichment. 3 Cardboard or empty growbags pegged to the soil help keep weeds at bay and warm the soil for early sowing and planting. 4 Once weeds are removed, layer your organic matter 2in (5cm) deep on beds to break down through winter.…

AREAS of empty soil where summer annuals or edibles once grew can be easily replenished with a scattering of green manure seeds. These rampant seeds are legumes (members of the pea family) that grow fast and fix valuable nutrients back into the soil as they do so. All you need to do is sow them and then watch them grow. As well as feeding the earth, the roots of green manures prevent valuable nutrients being washed away in heavy rain, and the top growth prevents weeds coming through (though they may provide shelter for the occasional snail). Let the green manures grow and, later in the winter or a month before you plan to sow or plant, dig them in and leave them to rot down. If their top growth…

AS a nation of tea drinkers, the news that one bag of tea leaves steeping in hot water can release billions of microplastics into every cup came as something of a shock. It also did little to raise the spirits of gardeners hoping to add teabags to their compost heap because many tea brands, even organic ones, use a small amount of the plastic polypropylene to seal and tie their bags. This even makes it unwise to add paper tea bags, which would otherwise be excellent composting material; this is because the polypropylene resists the composting process in a domestic heap and tiny particles will remain even after commercial composting at higher temperatures. Research into microplastics in teabags was carried out by a team at McGill University in Canada. They…

GARDENING can be described as an ‘inexact science’ in that we know what we have to do, we do it to the best of our ability, but there is absolutely no guarantee how the results will turn out. This was forcefully brought home this year by the abject failure of our onions. I know, the AG team is here to steer you gently through the gardening year and (hopefully) keep you off the horticultural rocks, but sometimes we get it wrong too! This year, it was the onions’ turn to let us down, which was a first for our veg patch because they usually steal the show and supply us with months of pungent, eye-watering globes. Over the autumn and early spring we planted our garlic cloves, shallot and onion…

1 When planting out and potting on chrysanthemums, soak the rootball in water until bubbles stop rising to ensure compost is wet right through before planting. 2 Silver-leaved plants including Senecio ‘Angels Wings’ and white flowers will shine out on dark evenings. 3 Hot for containers at this time is Coleus ‘Campfire’, but it is going to need some protection from frost, as will the latest Elatiortype begonias (see below). 4 The latest Elatior-type begonias, as in FleuroStar 2019 winner B. e. Dreams Garden MacaRouge – taken indoors now, they flower pretty well year round.…

Sweet pea seedlings sown in autumn will have grown well, but need pinching down to size. We do this when they have two or more sets of leaves to promote more robust, bushy growth. Pinching out the growing tips prompts the plant to send growth hormones to side shoots, which will lead to bushier plants and more flowers next summer. Also make sure there is good airflow around the seedlings, as the soft new growth can be vulnerable to rots and grey moulds. Keep the compost damp, watch out for pests and keep pinching out the tips every so often through winter if they start to look straggly.…

DO you like mushrooms and, if so, have you ever tried a box kit? I’ll admit these are an expensive way of getting them, but they are great fun (especially for kids) and so educational. It used to be that there were only the ordinary white-capped mushrooms, but then the tastier brown-capped variety became available. Now, we have a plethora of other sorts too, such as oyster mushrooms and the delicious Asian shiitake. Most of these are sold as ready made-up boxes, impregnated logs and similar kits where basically you just add water and stand back. Others are sold as inoculated pieces that you push into holes in logs of wood, bags of sawdust, rotted manure and (honestly!) wetted paperback books. “They need a dark, really humid place to grow”…

DO you find that growing fruit in containers is a bit hit or miss? Are yields disappointing, or do plants struggle? Well, no more! With a few key issues addressed, a mini potted orchard is within anyone’s reach, so let me tell you my tips on how to keep on top of it at this time of year. The right place, the right space… Any plant with its roots contained within a pot is reliant on you, far more so than if you grew it in the ground – so be nice! Ensure your plant is in an appropriate position and pot, then keep it well fed and watered throughout any period of active growth. If you can get that right, you’re on to a winner. “A mini potted orchard…

1 Hardy crops: All orchard, bush and cane fruits (unless acid-loving) will be happy in this mixture – three parts John Innes No3, three parts multi-purpose compost, and two parts horticultural sand or grit. This provides nutritional, long-term stability. 2 Acid lovers: Blueberries, lingonberries and cranberries are the main acid-loving fruiting crops sold to gardeners. These require an ericaceous compost. Either buy John Innes Ericaceous or add 20% sand if buying standard ericaceous. 3 Less hardy fruits: These range from olive trees (which need an incredibly gritty soil) to pineapple guava and citrus, which require a very nutritious compost (see above), rich in organic matter. Essentially, do your research before buying.…

WITH harvests rolled in and thoughts of them still fresh in our minds, autumn is a great time to evaluate your growing year. Does your plot deliver all that you want? Are there niggles that could easily be remedied? Did yields surpass all your expectations? Any energy that is spent critiquing and adjusting now will help to validate this brilliant hobby. My sandy soil needs feeding – a lot of feeding! That’s my major lesson learnt this year. But what were yours? Have you now fallen over your hosepipe enough times to justify a retractable one? Did you spy an ingenious space-saving method at an open garden event, or a cunning cloche scheme on your neighbour’s allotment? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – so steal these ideas (or…

IN order to enjoy a cracking spring display, start with bulbs in peak condition. Visually inspect them when buying, rejecting any that are mouldy, bruised, shrivelled or that have lost their papery outer tunic. Healthy bulbs should be plump, firm and unblemished. If they feel soft, they are likely to be rotting and won’t grow. The general rule of thumb when planting bulbs is to dig holes two to three times their depth. However, ignore the perceived wisdom when planting tulips in the ground. Aim to plant bulbs 6-8in (15-20cm) deep, measuring from the bottom of the bulb – planting deeply will help to protect them against tulip fire disease. Either excavate individual holes or dig out a trench if planting a large group, spacing bulbs 2-4in (5-10cm) apart. Tulips…

The ‘Panola’ is the result of crossing a viola and a pansy – they flourish in winter, with the abundance of blooms you expect from violas plus the large size of flower you get in a pansy. This useful hybrid was developed by Waller Genetics in California The common name ‘pansy’ comes from the French word ‘pensee’, which translates as ‘thought’. Pansy and viola flowers are edible ( just the petals) – add to salads, or crystallize and use to decorate cakes.…

When can I divide my overgrown plants? Q When can I divide hydrangeas, and also my sedums that are spreading too much? Sylvia Ridley, Rochdale, Lancs A Most hydrangea plants have a single stem, so it would be impractical to divide them. Occasionally, if a thicket of shoots forms, the bush can be dug up and split into well-rooted clumps. If yours are like this, go ahead and divide the bushes when leaves fall, in late October or November. Then shorten the stems to 18in (45cm) of the base. Replant the divisions in holes two or three times the diameter of the rootball. Work in lots of compost or manure and set plants at the same depth as before. Water them well to ensure the roots are in close contact…

1 Beech (Fagus sylvatica) makes a tall hedge with russet leaves that persist through winter – this is excellent for harbouring insect life, perching sparrows, roosting and nesting. Clip in late August. 2 A mixed native hedge offers an abundance of natural food. Here, field maple and dogwood show vibrant autumn tints. 3 For density, plant hedges in a double row. Hawthorn, sloe, hazel and common wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) are examples. Pruning helps them to bush out. 4 Firethorn (pyracantha) makes a dense and secure flowering and fruiting hedge. Trim in late winter and autumn, removing stems beyond fruits – this ‘Saphyr Yellow’ has been effectively trained against a wall.…

Plant bulbs in a bright position where they will have sun for at least part of the day, in well-drained soil. Set them informally in groups or between existing low-growing plants towards the front of a border. In pots, use 50:50 John Innes No2 and soilless compost with a little added grit. When the hyacinths flower, sit containers on bricks or pot feet where blooms will be best appreciated. Ensure that bulbs are covered by twice their depth, especially in colder areas.…

From AG 11 September 1915 Feeding plants in autumn THE question of late feeding and late repotting of plants is an important one to amateur cultivators. When the right course is taken the plants undoubtedly benefit and the cultivator generally gets more satisfaction and does less work. If we take zonal pelargoniums, for instance, we find that those plants well rooted in medium-sized pots will pass through the winter better than others repotted or fed late in the year. The new growth made is less, it is true, but that is an advantage. The strong unripe shoots get badly checked in frosty weather, and in damp they decay. Thus in springtime, the plants fed or replanted later present a worse appearance than they did six months earlier. The well-rooted plants…

Do ✓ Protect before plants sub zero temperatures arrive. ✓ Heat your greenhouse if possible. An electric, thermostatically controlled heater is best. Use a paraffin greenhouse heater if no electricity. ✓ Peg down lightweight cloches securely to stop them blowing away , and add guy ropes in very windy conditions. Don’t ✗Water overwinter plants unless absolutely necessary. ✗ Be mean with protective wrapping. ✗ Trust to luck with an unheated greenhouse. Use a Maximum/minimum thermometer to track night-time temperatures. Give plants extra protection if temperatures drop sharply.…

CROP rotation is a growing system as old as cultivation itself, and benefits the soil and plants in three main ways: ■ Helps maintain and balance soil fertility as different crops require different nutrients from the soil. ■ Can help control weeds, as the spreading leaves of crops such as potatoes and squashes shade out unwanted plants. ■ Helps prevent a build-up of potential problems caused if soil is used for the same crops year after year. It isn’t difficult to set up a three or four-year cycle of rotation featuring the main crop groups: brassicas (cabbages, cauliflowers, sprouts, swedes, turnips); legumes (peas, beans); onions, shallots and garlic; the potato family (which includes tomatoes, peppers, aubergines); and root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, celery, celeriac, beetroot). Onions and roots can go in…

GARDEN centres have hit out at allegations that they are not as ‘green’ as consumers like to think, and are still widely stocking black plastic pots and peat-based compost. The row erupted as Defra’s 2020 voluntary phase-out of environmentally sensitive products looms ever nearer. Reports that garden centres are not meeting environmental targets were shown in the ITV current affairs programme Tonight and on an episode of BBC Breakfast. Reporting for Tonight, consumer editor Chris Choi said that peat is still being mined in Ireland on an ‘industrial’ scale, destroying a very fragile and invaluable eco-system. The report on BBC Breakfast stated that enough peat to fill 1,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools was used each year by the horticulture industry. Garden centre managers have stood their ground, saying they still sell…

Permaculture Publications (£16) PLEASE don’t be deterred by the academic tone of this book. Once you start reading, it will earn its place in your library. As the move away from chemical gardening gathers pace, Compost Teas takes the reader through the development of compost teas. It explains how the gardener needs to be familiar with the soil type and fertility of their own garden, and the natural cycles of plants and nature, to guarantee optimum use of any teas. There are chapters on the organisms and creatures found in soils and leaves, and how even plant-based teas can damage them when used incorrectly. The real meat is in the chapters devoted to making teas and showing the absolute value of the plants around us. There is a handy glossary…

GARLIC has become a kitchen mainstay and whether you have a garden, patio or even a windowbox it is easy to grow your own. Always buy bulbs from garden centres or online, as those sold in the supermarkets may carry disease or be unsuited to home cultivation. Garlic needs a period of cold weather to do well, so plant the bulbs between now and late winter. It prefers a sunny, sheltered, well-drained site and fertile soil. If space is an issue, grow in a large, deep container at least 8in (20cm) in diameter. Use multi-purpose compost with added fertiliser. Carefully break up the bulbs and plant the bulblets 2in (5cm) deep and around 4-6in (10-15cm) apart. Keep the compost damp but not sodden. Garlic plants throw no shade, leaving their…

EARLIER this summer I sowed some perennial seeds, which germinated well and were pricked out into larger modules. The survivors are now struggling with cramped conditions and low-nutrient compost, so it’s time to move them on into richer compost, so they can see out the winter in the greenhouse. Winter is a tough time for young plants, even hardy varieties. Seedlings outside can fall foul of the cold and wet, and their tender young shoots are a magnet for pests. Cloches and mulching will help, as will layers of fleece. Thin overcrowded seedlings so those that remain have space to grow and there is adequate room for good ventilation, which will help prevent the onset of moulds and rots. Undercover, keep fleece handy to throw over seedlings on frosty nights,…

1 Place mounds of sharp sand over any crowns of dying-down herbaceous plants (both ornamental and productive) in order to mark positions and exclude slugs. 2 Empty and bring under cover any plastic hoses, watering cans and everything holding water, before the hard frosts come and freeze them. 3 Empty out any old packets of flower seeds on those bare spots – if they grow, they’ll make a fine green manure; see the crimson clover above. 4 Stake a claim on wood ashes from nearby bonfires over the next fortnight; choose clean, woody types and not those with ‘nasties’.…

Stop feeding now and also reduce watering – waterlogged roots are more prone to chills and rots. Stand containers on bricks or pot ‘feet’ – this elevates them off the ground to eliminate waterlogging. If potting up now, you can line the insides of the pot with bubblewrap for root insulation (don’t line the base). Tent semi-hardy crops such as pomegranate and pineapple guava in heavy-duty fleece if leaving outside. Semi-hardy plants can additionally be grouped together outdoors in a sunny, sheltered spot to aid insulation. Alternatively, move delicate crops like citrus into a cool but frost-free, well-lit spot for the winter months.…

THESE curvaceous fruits have been steadily plumping themselves up all summer and now, with All Hallows’ Eve rapidly approaching, they get their moment in the spotlight. If you want to take a carving knife to your pumpkins, then enjoy those tricks and treats. However, if you fancy storing your fruits into 2020, this project is for you. Winter squashes and pumpkins will, if treated well, store for a surprising period; a friend gave me a 2018-harvested ‘Crown Prince’ in June of this year. The key is to set a hard skin (via exposure to sufficient sunshine) and then to carefully harvest and store only the undamaged fruits somewhere warm and dry, away from frosts – the centre of a polytunnel or glasshouse, or a winter-heated conservatory, is ideal. Harvest with…

THERE’S a real buzz about this Mediterranean plant, Salsola soda . It’s classed as an annual shrub. It’s also classed as a halophtye, which means it’s able to grow on salty coastal soils. The Italians love to cook it – and it seems we’re now catching on as well. An unusual member of the Amaranth family, agretti (also known as barilla plant, Russian thistle and saltwort) will, by late October, be looking more like a fern than a shrub. Buy seeds fresh each year (germination is erratic, and seeds don’t store well), sowing them into modular cells of seed compost in spring, then transplanting out into a sunny, well-drained spot in early summer. If you’re familiar with samphire, this plant looks and tastes similar, yet it has the ability to…

TULIPS are generally more expensive than other spring-flowering bulbs, but they’re well worth every extra penny because of their show-stopping flowers that appear in late spring. Yet the price of bulbs today is nothing compared to those that were offered for sale in the 17th century, during a period known as Tulipmania. Ludicrous sums were paid for varieties with striped or streaked flowers. For example, a single bulb of red and white ‘Semper Augustus’ sold for 10,000 guilders in the Netherlands. This was equivalent to the annual salary of a skilled craftsman and equal to the asking price for a canal-side house in Amsterdam. Fortunately, you don’t need such deep pockets to buy these bulbs today, whether you’re looking to add a splash of vibrant colour to beds and borders,…

Box ( Buxus ) Evergreen shrubs such as box provide much-needed structure in winter, but they will not add any colour. Underplanting them with pansies and violas will brighten your scheme throughout the colder months. H&S: Varies. Sarcococca confusa AGM This fragrant, winter-flowering shrub is a great addition to the border, and its white flowers and green leaves are easy to combine with more vibrant colours. Bedding is perfect for filling in gaps around evergreen shrubs. H: 6½ft (2m). Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’ AGM Plant these bulbs (or other miniature daffodils) in a layer underneath your pansies and violas to give your winter containers a boost in early spring. With their diminutive stature they are the perfect pot partners. H: 8in (20cm). Ivy There’s…

THE best way to keep down weeds is to mulch between plants. In spring, apply a 2-4in (5-10cm)-deep mulch of well-rotted garden compost, animal manure, leafmould or processed bark over a pre-weeded area. This will encourage dense leaf cover, which in turn suppresses weeds that germinate from wind or bird-carried seeds. Artificial mulches may also be used: start with a heavy-duty woven weed membrane, onto which you can lay stone chippings, gravel, slate, glass nuggets or natural-looking bark and wood chips.…

Q Will fruit grow on a peach tree grown from a stone? Michael Johnson, Arundel, West Sussex A It will flower and fruit in time, but don’t expect too much from the fruit. Those borne on seed-raised trees are often quite dry and pithy. Q What is this prickly shrub, please? Dave Richards, Swansea A This is a berberis, probably B. linearifolia ‘Orange King’. Spectacular in mid-spring when its rich-orange flowers dramatically enhance a border, it is stocked by larger garden centres. It is easy to care for and very hardy. If you purchase this plant, site it in full sun in fertile free-draining soil. Q Will my begonia corms grow again next year if I dry and store them carefully? Lynne Seymour, via email A Preserve the tubers through…

HYACINTHS originate from the Eastern Mediterranean and have enjoyed a long history of popularity. They were known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, and widely grown in gardens of the Ottoman Empire. Bulbs found their way to Italy and the Netherlands during the 1500s and became fashionable during the 1700s, when double varieties were all the rage. Hyacinths are available in a wide range of colours, including the intense hues of violet ‘Peter Stuyvesant’, purple-pink ‘Woodstock’ and now the unusual black ‘Midnight Mystic’. Black blooms have always held a certain Gothic allure, and a spring collection could include black-flowered hellebores, black sarana (Fritillaria camschatcensis), Viola ‘Bowles’ Black’ and Tulip ‘Queen of Night’. There are enough to fill a midnight border, but the skill lies in choosing complementary plants to show…

YOU’LL have had to be on a different planet not to have noticed that it’s coming up to Hallowe’en. All Hallows’ Eve is, of course, the proper name for it, and each year on 31 October people celebrate with spooky costumes, trick-or-treating and other ghostly goings-on. As far as gardening is concerned, you wouldn’t necessarily think the two are connected, but garden centres devote whole areas to Hallowe’en – pumpkins are synonymous with jack-o’-lanterns, and there are many plants with names associated with it. Let’s look at a few of these horticultural connections. All Hallow’s Eve begins the annual three-day observance of Allhallowtide, a time dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows) and martyrs. This is why ghosts figure prominently. The jack-o’-lantern story TRADITIONALLY, people hollowed out turnips or…

A FEW weeks ago I popped in to visit Q&A expert John Negus. The conversation turned to plants we’ve always had a burning ambition to grow – exotics like the bestial-flowered Beschonaria yuccoides, towering Echium pininana, and the sensationally scented flowers and delicious fruits of the lemon tree, Citrus x limon. The one thing these plants all have in common is that they’re tender, some more than others. If you’ve spent between £20 and £50 on a coveted plant, it’s heartbreaking to watch them shrivel and die when temperatures plunge. But there are ways to avoid it happening. If you live in an area that gets very cold in winter and you want to grow subtropical plants, you have a couple of options. The first is to build a conservatory…

Why not a perfect round? MY favourite tree is the horse chestnut (conker). I love all trees but this is my favourite, maybe because I grew up during the war years in a little cottage beside a church yard that contained five enormous conker trees. in the spring, in bloom, they were breathtaking, and in autumn the shiny conkers were prolific. Growing up, toys were scarce for us, so conker time was a few weeks of collecting and fun, at least for us boys. I live near Crewe, and I pass a conker tree regularly, it’s not very big, and has normal flowers but the conkers are very large, very spiny and distinctly pear-shaped. My tree (that’s how I think of it) has a huge crop in a lovely pale…

SET the dial on your Tardis to the inaugural Olympic Games, and you’ll discover the air on Mount Olympus had an oniony odour. That’s because the bronzed athletes believed garlic bulbs boosted strength and stamina, so they ate the cloves for sport. Fast-forward 2,795 years and we’ve a whole collection of wonder-foods. It’s not just garlic but Guinness that’s good for you – along with going ‘to work on an egg’. The latest superfood is kale, thanks in part – and I’m not making this up – to pop goddess Beyoncé wearing a T-shirt with ‘Kale’ emblazoned across the front of it. Since her brassica branding, every American TV chef and dietician worth their salt-alternative has blitzed the inky leaves into breakfast smoothies. “This is the most forgiving brassica to…