Innholdsfortegnelse for 23-Nov-2019 i Amateur Gardening

IT’S time to clean and sharpen your secateurs, loppers and saws, because if deciduous pruning needs to be carried out around the garden the dormant days of autumn and winter is the time to do it. This is because the sap has retreated down into the very core of the trunk, so most trees and shrubs that have lost their leaves will bleed less than in spring and summer when they are in full growth. These open wounds can potentially become entry points for pests and diseases, so the sooner they heal the better. The idea of pruning is to keep the tree or shrub healthy, productive and in good shape; an open ‘goblet’ is the ideal, as it looks attractive and allows air to flow through the branches. When…

You can prune most deciduous trees and shrubs in winter – with some exceptions. Early flowering plants such as forsythia should be left until they have bloomed otherwise you will remove blossom-bearing growth. Members of the plum family should be pruned in high summer, otherwise they are vulnerable to the fungal disease silver leaf, which is active between September and May. Some other trees and shrubs will bleed lots of sap if they are pruned now, which can weaken them and leave them vulnerable. These include grape vines (prune between now and mid-December, no later, otherwise they will bleed, and Japanese maples between now and January for the same reason), magnolia (summer), laburnum (midsummer to early winter) and poplar (late summer or early autumn. Evergreens should also be left alone…

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IT is fair to say that most of the older cultivars of roses with strong fragrance are susceptible to fungal infections. The genes for a heady perfume appear to be linked to black spot, mildew and rust diseases. Certainly, the deep crimsons, including either Bush Rose ‘Crimson Glory’ or Climbing Rose ‘Guinée’ and pinks such as R. ‘Prima Ballerina’ have a soft leaf surface, and protective sprays are essential if bushes are to retain leaves through the summer. “They are disease-resistant, flowering June into November” Roses improved dramatically when breeders stopped spraying seedlings and selected plants that showed the most resistance to disease. The result is very healthy introductions with excellent disease resistance, including the Carpet Series now in 11 different colours, which are very free-flowering, but come with a…

Goring-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, a first-time finalist, won the hotly contested Small Town category. The riverside community has given green makeovers to the railway station, car park and telephone exchange. Haddington, East Lothian, showcased sustainable planting and the ‘right plant in the right place’ in the Town category. The Large Town prize was won by Biddulph, Staffordshire, where volunteers planted 2,500 trees. Derry in Northern Ireland won the Small City prize with a move towards pollinator-friendly planting, the expansion of traffic-free ‘greenways’ to link parks and other green spaces, and the introduction of a Climate Adaptation Plan. The City of Westminster won the City category with its exotic bedding in Victoria Embankment Gardens that is warmed by the tube trains running underneath and a floating ‘pocket park’ on Paddington Basin.…

THE ash tree near my house is in distress and has been for a few years. It’s due to ash dieback caused by (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), a fungus that originated in Asia. Our native ash (Fraxinus excelsior) has no natural resistance to this foreign invader, and the disease has spread more quickly than predicted. It arrived in 2012, but a 2019 survey found infections had been confirmed across 80% of Wales, 68% of England, 32% of Northern Ireland and 20% of Scotland. Lots of trees are being felled near roads and railway lines, and the Woodland Trust predicts that 95% of ash trees will be killed by the fungus. The Woodland Trust’s website states: ‘The fungus overwinters in leaf litter on the ground, particularly on ash leaf stalks. It produces small…

1 Whole greenhouse: If you plan to keep growing throughout the winter (and you have deep pockets), insulate the whole greenhouse. Buy special clips to hang the insulation material of your choice on to aluminium-frame glasshouses. 2 Section of the greenhouse: It can be far more cost-effective to insulate just one section of your greenhouse. The centre of the building will receive the least chills. Stand plants on a table or bench, so they’re elevated well off the cold floor. 3 Pot: You may want to simply lag your plants’ roots in the hope that they will re-sprout come the spring. As light penetration isn’t important, you can tie environmentally friendly products such as Hessian sacking around the pots.…

1 Lay a circle of chicken wire, a layer of sand and then a bed of straw on your plot. This will create a rodent-free insulated base for storing winter root veg such as beetroot, carrots, swedes and turnips. 2 Lift your crops, brush any soil off the roots and remove the foliage. Check over the harvest and remove any split, bruised or damaged roots and use them up, rather than storing them. 3 Position a layer of roots on the bed of straw, then place more straw on top, then another layer of roots. Repeat to create a cone, then cover with a 2-3in (5-8cm) layer of sand. Your clamp is complete!…

IF you’ve got a small garden, you’ll need to prune your mahonia. They are fairly slow growers, but after a few years will begin to expand. Cut back in spring once flowering has finished. The modern look is to keep M . x media in a tall, narrow column – you can create this by removing the old flower shoots and then cutting back from the sides. If you want your shrub to be round and plump, prune more at the top as this will stimulate the plant to branch from the base.…

Modern shrub roses Ely Cathedral Dark stems carry deep wine-red buds that open to ruffled, bright-red flowers all summer. Makes an impressive border specimen; alternatively, the stems are soft enough to be trained on a pillar as a climber. H: 4-5ft (1.2-1½m). Liverpool Hope An attractive combination of elegant orange, hybrid tea-shaped buds, opening to a more old-fashioned form that’s pale apricot in the outer petals, shading almost to orange in the centre. Healthy foliage and a strong scent. H: 3ft-39in (90cm-1m). Esperanza Like a hedgerow rose on steroids. Large, lightly scented single flowers are bright rose-pink, with darker edges and eye-catching golden centres. Not to be confused with the cut flower variety of the same name. H: 2½ft-34in (75-85cm). Modern traditionals Flanders Rose Neat little buds open to rather…

Warmth: Buy frost-proof containers to prevent cracking, and choose dense materials (such as stone, terracotta or wood) to keep plants insulated. Grouping pots together creates a microclimate of warmth. Space: The fact that plants don’t grow much in winter means you can space them closer together than you would in a container of summer bedding. Drainage: Prevent rotting by placing ‘crocks’ (broken pieces of pot) in the bottom of your container, and using pot feet to raise it off the ground.…

Protecting bananas in winter Q During the summer, I bought and planted a hardy banana. Is it really going to be hardy, and how do I make sure it stays alive for another year? Gina Anderson, Truro, Cornwall A The Japanese banana (Musa basjoo) is the hardiest banana option for UK gardens, but don’t expect a crop, because when fruits do set they are only 2-3in (5-8cm) long and inedible. Still, for bringing drama and leafiness to an exotic border, this is just the job. In well-draining soil and with a protective mulch, established plants in our garden can withstand temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C). Severe frost will kill the top growth of these bananas, but as they are insulated by soil the crown and roots remain alive, ready…

MAKING compost from garden and kitchen waste, and returning the compost to the soil, is a cornerstone of good gardening. If you take goodness out of the soil by growing plants, you must put it back at some point, otherwise the soil will eventually die. That’s where garden composting comes in and it’s quite easy. If you make a pile of any organic material, from old ornamental plants to tree prunings and food waste, it will eventually rot down into beneficial humus-rich material that will improve the soil. A compost bin tidies up the process as everything is contained, and it keeps heat in to speed up decomposition. Standard plastic bins The plastic Dalek compost bins offered by garden centres and many local councils are excellent for a small to…

1 Buy a compost bin with a lid, stand it on bare soil, and add all types of garden waste and food scraps, cut up small or crushed if they’re big or woody. 2 Don’t add lots of one thing like grass cuttings all at once. Instead, mix things up. Water if the contents look dry. Add compost activator, or pee, if you’re so inclined. 3 When the bin is full, tip it out and shovel it back in to aerate it, or shovel it into a second bin placed alongside, or use a compost aerator, plunged in and pulled up. 4 Put the lid on and leave it for six months, checking occasionally. Speed up the process by aerating it again. It’s ready when it’s dark, crumbly and smells…

Moving to a compostable brew! I READ Ruth Hayes’ ‘Plastic, not everyone’s cup of tea’, ( AG , 26 October). What an interesting article this was. Plastic is everywhere! I shall certainly be looking to buy the non-plastic, fully compostable bags. It may be a small action to take but every bit makes a difference. For years, I have wondered why I keep finding the webbing of the tea bags on the garden. I used to think that the bag took longer to compost than the contents. I note that at present it is the more expensive tea bag ranges that are compostable, but hopefully in time this will filter down to the mainstream, everyday ranges as well. Let’s hope that those manufacturers that say they are looking to change…

1 Create an attractive open shape by removing inward-growing branches and any that are rubbing or crossing. 2 More than one trunk growing from the base causes congestion, so cut it right back. 3 Trim the growing shoots back to a healthy outward-facing bud, which will help create and maintain the open shape. 4 Don’t waste your prunings, as they make great kindling and are ideal to use as next year’s natural-looking plant supports.…

BUYING gifts for the gardeners we love isn’t always easy. We all love compost, but it’s hardy the most exciting thing to unwrap under the Christmas tree. So here we have put together a selection of practical presents, both large and small, that we think any gardener would be delighted to receive. Fiskars Garden Action PowerGear X Pruner Fiskars’ PowerGear X pruner is designed for ease of use, ergonomic efficiency and comfort. With three times the cutting power of traditionally designed pruners, it offers impressive power for bigger, more efficient, effortless cuts. This is a light tool, perfect for gardeners looking to painlessly prune with maximum efficiency. Available from B&Q, Homebase and leading garden centres (£34.99). Spear & Jackson 3-in-1 rake The Spear & Jackson 3-in-1 plastic rake is an…

AUTUMN is an important time for roses, and if you give them the care they need now, after a long season, they will repay you with healthy growth and bountiful blooms next year. This is also a key time for getting to grips with black spot and other fungal diseases, though do remember to wash the tools and gloves you use afterwards that have come into contact with contaminated material. Remove faded, soggy blooms before they can start to rot and spread disease. Also, snip off unopened buds as they won’t flower now. If your roses are carrying hips, leave some of them on to add colour and food for wildlife. Cut back the stems of tall shrub roses or any plants in an exposed site by about a third…

1 I still grow some old kinds, including Rose ‘Double Delight’, also called the lipstick rose on account of the picotee colouring, and I spray young foliage with a protective fungicide in spring and after the first flush of flowers. 2 Clearing up all fallen leaves from diseased roses at this time, and mulching over the surface with well-rotted manure or garden compost, will help to prevent overwinter spores splashing up onto new growth next spring. 3 Uncle Tom’s Rose Tonic sprayed onto foliage improves the plant’s resistance to fungal diseases. 4 Hard-pruning in mid-March again helps to remove the carry-over of rose diseases.…

ONE of my favourite autumn routines is sieving garden compost. Most people make their compost and, when it’s ready, put it straight on the garden, broken up, but pretty much as it comes. I sieve every forkful to reduce it down to a uniform material and, more importantly, to get rid of any rubbish. Since I’ve had kids, I cannot believe what comes out of my compost bin! I pick out all the plastic, metal and glass – and the odd toy, pen, TV remote and coins – but I also pick out the half-composted bits of bark, wood, bone and so on. I put these part-composted items into the next compost bin to inoculate the material there. “I can’t believe what comes out of my compost bin” I’ve made…

OPINIONS are changing about how we should protect our plants during winter. Gardeners are now far more concerned about the environmental impact of their actions, so pumping harmful waste gasses into the atmosphere or buying yet more plastic-based items are frowned upon. Where does this leave the greener gardener? At the moment, in a quandary because technology is still catching up with desire. An idealist DIY pioneer could rig up a solar panel or wind turbine to power a battery that runs their electric heater. The rest of us must remain content with what is widely available and affordable. The conventional materials that gardeners use to conserve heat are also looking rather dated. Bubblewrap, horticultural fleece and thermal screens used by commercial growers are predominantly made from plastics that are…

WHAT is it about leafmould that stands it apart from garden compost? Well, the rotting process is different: quick-acting bacteria will dominate a compost heap, whereas fungi slowly get to work on autumn leaves. The different materials and decomposition methods result in garden compost being coarsely textured and nutrient-rich, while leafmould (which consists solely of foliage) is fine and crumbly with a low nutrient status. This makes it an ideal seed compost additive. You will need a cage of fine chicken wire set in a shady corner of your plot to which you can add any broad-leaved deciduous leaves (pine needles can also be collected to make ericaceous leafmould for blueberries). Some leaves, like oak and hornbeam, rot down better than others, but we generally don’t have the luxury of…

1 As lofty winter brassicas mature , their lower leaves yellow . Remove these periodically to k eep beds clean. 2 Can’t get on the ground as it’ s too wet? This is the perfect time to give your garden shed a clear-out – a tidy shed is a tidy mind! 3 The crinkled foliage of Savoy cabbages tastes beautiful when sweated down in seasoned butter . Keep harvesting the heads as they mature . 4 On exposed plots lift batches of leeks now , roots and all, before the soil freezes. ‘Plant’ them in buck ets of compost in the shed until needed. 5 On dank days, content yourself indoors. Finely chop evergreen herbs like thyme and sage , mixing them with butter and then freezing.…

Year-round appeal: Because mahonias are evergreen, they add structure to the garden throughout the seasons. To liven up a mahonia in the summer, try growing a clematis through it. Perfect partnerships: With their interesting leaf shapes, mahonias (especially varieties of M . x media ) look totally at home in subtropical schemes: plant alongside tree ferns, ginger lilies and eucomis. They also blend well with softer-looking perennials and grasses.…

Can you name these beautiful berries? Q Could you tell me what these berries are (inset picture above)? Does the plant also produce a flower? Mary Brighouse, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire A The plant is known as stinking iris (Iris foetidissima), and although it’s called this I have never known it to produce a particularly bad scent. I think the reason for the name is due to the aroma that arises when the leaves are crushed, but some people think this smells more like roast beef than anything else, so it’s not too bad! It is native to Britain (though it is rarely found further north than the Midlands) and parts of Europe. It is usually associated with woodlands, hedgebanks, scrubland and sea cliffs, particularly on chalky soils. It has tough evergreen…

I LEAVE cannas and dahlias in the ground under a mulch, but in colder regions it is wise to lift and store them somewhere frost-free. Pot cannas and keep them rather dry. Dry dahlia tubers and store in boxes of old, dry compost. Curcuma (turmeric) and ginger are best grown in pots and brought in for winter. Cordyline leaves can be made into tubes by tying them before wrapping up the plant.…

Dalek compost bin Conical plastic bin with removable lid and open base, often with a door on the side to access finished compost. Tumbler compost bin Compost bin often mounted on a frame, with a system to turn the whole bin over and over to add air to the compost inside. Insulated compost bin Bins with thick insulation on sides and top to keep heat in, which speeds up the action of bacteria breaking down the compost. Compost aerator Strong pole with a handle at one end and a point at the other with flip-out prongs. Bokashi bin Small plastic bin used with special bran additive to start the composting of kitchen waste indoors, producing a liquid plant food as a by-product. Kitchen waste caddy A small bin, usually plastic,…

WE all love flowers and, for most of us, the more of them we can get into our gardens, the merrier. But this week I’m looking at some of the most spectacular, odd and bizarre flowers you’ll ever see. There are currently around 230,000 known species of flowering plants in the world, and more than 60% of them grow in warm, wet, tropical rainforests, where a few of them can get enormous; they can also adopt amazing survival strategies. Most of them wouldn’t survive in our British gardens, but they would in a heated greenhouse or conservatory. I’m not including any orchids; as a group they probably have more unusual-looking flowers than you could fit, back-to-back, in the whole of Bedfordshire! Look out for our feature on unusual orchids in…

Choose a bed of good, moist yet well-drained soil, sheltered from wind. A lightly shaded bed is best, but plants will tolerate more sun as long as soil is moist. On poor, dry soils, shade will help plants survive. Hostas grown for their flowers and those with gold or yellow foliage will perform best in good light, but with respite from the harsh midday sun. Remember to water during droughts while establishing and mulch in spring. Lift large, congested clumps of hostas in early spring just as they show signs of growth, or in late summer/early autumn. Divide using a sharp spade or an old long-bladed kitchen knife and replant promptly.…

MY husband John had acquired an allotment, which already had a shed on it, but it was falling apart. As he is 6ft 2in tall, he found lot of shop-bought sheds can be quite low. Giving him the freedom of standing tall in his own shed came as a necessary. Coming home-empty handed from yet another garden centre, he said: “That’s it! I’m going to build my own shed – and I’m going to do it out of recycled materials.” The first ports of call were the many building companies in our area, where he picked up a multitude of wooden pallets, free of charge, which would otherwise have been thrown away. A weed barrier, costing £4 from the allotment shop, was placed on the soil, on top of which…

I HAVE a burning question. While sweeping the leaves I got to wondering, why do the oaks and maples of North America and the acers of Japan blaze with fiery autumn colour, while our native trees barely bother? When it comes to making a last stand for autumn, our birch, oaks, elder, hazel and ash are yellow-bellied, and if it weren’t for the coppery glow from rowans and beech, the countryside here would be a vision of mustard. While our native trees might not be the brightest, we’re lucky in Blighty that so many good autumn-colour trees from elsewhere thrive in our climate. Japanese cherries and acers require only a sheltered spot, while vivid North American red maple and sweet gum (aka Liquidambar styraciflua) are conspicuous as they tint brighter…

Jekka’s ‘Pocketful of Herbs’ Jekka McVicar’s new book A Pocketful of Herbs is now available from Johnsons. Jekka’s pocket guide has been hailed a ‘genius little book’ by Jamie Oliver. The A-Z listing comprises more than 300 varieties of herbs grown at Jekka’s Herb Farm in Bristol, with tips on cultivation and uses. Johnson’s Seeds, £12.99. Seedball seed mixes Seedballs are an ingenious way to sow seeds in your garden and help wildlife. The balls are little spheres of clay packed with 30-100 seeds of differing varieties, plus a little added chilli powder to keep pests away. Simply scatter and leave to grow. Collections include blue and white mixes, ‘bat’, ‘bird’ and ‘beetle’ mixes, herb and tea mixes and single-seed collections. Price £6 plus wedding favour packages from seedball.co.uk. Get…

1 Floribunda roses: Cut back the strongest shoots to within 10-12in (25-30cm), reducing the oldest stems close to the ground to encourage new grow. 2 Hybrid teas: Shorten robust stems to within 4-6in (10-15cm) of the base where last year’s growth started. Weaker shoots are cut back to 2-4in (5-10cm) from the soil. 3 Climbers: Remove failing shoots and cut some old woody growth right back, leaving six young stems that can be trained and will flourish. Shorten side stems by half to encourage new shoots. 4 Ramblers: Once established, remove one in three of the oldest stems completely and if space is tight, prune out flowered stems and tie in new ones. If the plant is overgrown, leave just six stems and shorten side shoots by half.…

THIS has been a fantastic year for community gardening, with all 68 RHS Britain in Bloom finalists scooping gold or silver-gilt medals. In the year that saw environmental and community efforts given greater weight in the judging, the groups’ dedication to urban greening and biodiversity all made deciding the winners even tougher for the panel. Here are the cities, towns and villages that walked away with titles in 2019. For more on how you can get involved in your local area, visit rhs.org.uk/get-involved/britain-in-bloom. A full list of RHS Britain in Bloom 2019 winners is also available at rhs.org.uk/ bloomawardsresults. The Village sector was won by first-time finalists Green Moor in South Yorkshire. This year’s smallest entry, with a population of just 90, it was praised for its top-notch horticulture and…

1 Make sure you are super-clean in both your greenhouse and coldframe, removing every dead leaf and petal – as it’s on these that mould will start. 2 Clean your greenhouse and coldframe glass inside and out, as dirt reduces light significantly. Also clean cloches and tunnels. 3 Dig up some of your carrots and parsnips now, and bury them under some insulation and a plastic sheet in case the ground freezes solid. 4 Winter festivities are only a month away, so buy some holly, skimmia and mahonia plants to use for live decorations in cool rooms.…

Gas: The most widely available gas is propane, which is cleaner and more efficient than other gas fuels. However, all gasses can emit harmful particulates, and there are environmental questions over the extraction of some forms. Paraffin: Paraffin heaters are inexpensive, but give off amounts of water vapour and harmful particulates. This means that ample ventilation is essential, resulting in heat loss. Electric: This is considered the cleanest way to heat your greenhouse, due to no water vapour or particulate emissions. Control of temperature is easy. However, prices can be prohibitive, and not all of us have an electric supply to our greenhouse.…

HORSERADISH is a pungent perennial that has roots packed with highly volatile oils called isothiocyanates, which only appear once the root is grated. It is from the same plant family as mustard, and now is the ideal time to plant it. Botanically known as Armoracia rusticana , the name ‘horseradish’ is thought to be an English adaptation of the German name ‘Meerrettich’, meaning ‘sea radish’. It is sold in the form of potted plants or bare roots. Horseradish prefers a sunny site in open, well-drained soil. However, sink it in a large pot as the roots penetrate deeply and can be persistent – and a pot will keep it in check. To tell which way is ‘up’ with bare-root plants, nestle them horizontally in a tray of moist compost. Place…

THE majority of us will have a few fuchsias among our shrub borders or bedding displays, but did you know that the flowers and fruits of this ornamental are edible? However, the eating quality of the fruits varies, so do some research first. Alternatively, rely on varieties that have been tried and tested by AG experts, one such person being Bob Flowerdew who recommends the California Dreamers Series; this includes ‘Bella Rosella’, ‘Peachy’, ‘Royal Mosaic’, ‘Eureka Red’, ‘Rocket Fire’ and ‘Snow Burner’. He also rates Fuchsia ‘Nancy Lou’ for its eating quality. Give them a sheltered position in full sun, and they will reward you with sizeable berries come late summer. Expect a grape-like eating experience – with added pepper!…

1 Despite being one of the most useful plants for shade, mahonias will grow in sun – the crucial thing is to ensure the ground is moist. 2 Don’t plant in a windy site, otherwise the leaves may bruise. M. oiwakensis subsp. lomariifolia , in particular, requires shelter – a well-lit spot under a tree is ideal. 3 Their spiky foliage can scratch, so don’t position your mahonia beside a path, and be careful when weeding close by. 4 Plants don’t require much attention: an occasional mulch will suffice. They can suffer rust and powdery mildew, but this is rare. 5 The red and gold autumn blushing of the leaves will be even more striking when planted in semi-shade or sun.…

Alaska Elegant pure-white pointed buds open to lightly scented white flowers in an old-fashioned form, their outer petals prettily tinted rose-pink. Strong growing, plants feature purple stems and rich-green, disease-free foliage. H: 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m). Sweet Syrie A harmonious blend of rose-pink, salmon-pink and apricot shades, brought together in large, beautifully formed hybrid tea-style flowers. Another extremely healthy rose, this has the added bonus of a sweet scent. H: 6½-10ft (2-3m). Kiss Me Kate Super-scented quartered flowers in rich rose-pink – held on stems long enough to cut – will cover the plant repeatedly all summer. Fast becoming known for its healthy foliage, this variety can be pruned to limit its size. H: 10-13ft (3-4m). Starlight Symphony Golden-eyed, semi-double flowers with a gently spiced scent open continuously from blushed buds –…

Q When should I cut back salvias and penstemon? Margaret Allen, via email A These woody, often slightly tender, perennials benefit from a light trim, leaving their top growth to help protect the crowns from cold weather. Apply a thick mulch layer now. Trim in late April as far as the strongest shoots to encourage compact, bushy growth. Q Should I clean out our water butts before winter? Bob Jones, Kings Lynn, Norfolk A There is no need to clean them if they are lidded and not exposed to sunlight, which would cause algae to contaminate the water. The best way to ensure that rain water remains clean and wholesome is to add a few drops off Citrox, a cleanser stocked by most garden centres. Q Could you recommend a…

1 Add a dry mulch (here I’m using some partially rotted wood chips) over the crown as insulation. 2 In chilly gardens, bringing a potted spare under glass is a good precaution. Even this may need wrapping with fleece. 3 To preserve taller growth, trim back to remove leaves and make a chicken wire frame or fleece tube around the plant. 4 Pack with some dry straw as insulation, cap with polythene in order to keep the rain out and – if temperatures plummet – add an extra wrap of Hessian.…

Do ✓ Follow : mix good composting practice waste , keep it moist and dig out or use an aerator at least once in the composting cycle . ✓ Buy composting products, lik e a kitchen caddy that make the process of recycling easy and effective , ✓ Recycle as much green waste as possible within your . garden, and put the rest in your green-waste recycling bin. Don’t ✗ Take all your green waste to the tip , then buy soil improvers to dig into your flowerbeds. Home-made compost ✗ on is free . Spend money composting systems or additives unless you’re confident they will improve the process. ✗ Give if doesn up your composting technique ’t seem to be producing the right results. W ait long enough and…

CHARLES Darwin published his most famous work, On the Origin of Species, on 24 November 1859. Considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology, it introduced the theory that life evolves over generations through natural selection. He drew on evidence gathered in the 1830s on the Beagle expedition (a journey around the world, where major biological discoveries were made). In the mid-19th century, no book was ever simple, and the full title for this work was On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. In it, Darwin emphasises that the phrase ‘struggle for life’ was used in “a large and metaphorical sense, including dependence of one being on another”. He gives examples ranging from plants struggling against…

‘El Nino’ This handsome hosta has rich, blue-green, heart-shaped leaves that are decorated with bold white edges. Pale purple flowers have darker stripes. Reaches 20in (51cm) high. ‘Halcyon’ Distinctive blue-grey leaves that are tougher than certain others, and less vulnerable to slug and snail damage. Bears pale lavender flowers and reaches 16in (41cm) high. ‘June Spirit’ Another stout-leaved hosta less attractive to molluscs. The bright, citrusy foliage is irregularly marked with green towards the edges and reaches 16in (41cm). ‘Lakeside Cha Cha’ A fabulous name for a hosta, reaching 2ft (60cm) tall. Chartreuse leaves with narrow, wavy white margins turn gold in good light. Pale lavender flowers.…

To make about 1lb (454g) of jam, you’ll need 8oz (225g) of cranberries, the rind and juice of one lemon, and 10oz (284g) granulated sugar. Make up the lemon juice to 2½ fl oz (70ml) with water. Simmer the cranberries with the lemon rind in this liquid until the skins are soft. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Boil rapidly for about five minutes, until the jam reaches setting point (when a spoonful on a cool saucer wrinkles when pushed). Pour the jam into sterilised jars and seal in the normal way. Decorate and give spare pots away as gifts.…

THE best tool for raking leaves off wet paths is a rubber rake. This is T-shaped, like a normal garden rake, but instead of steel it has soft rubbery tines that collect the leaves glued by rain to paving. On a lawn, a springbok rake is the tool of choice, as the fan of wired tines can scrape leaves from the sward and double as a scoop to collect them up. Once gathered together, mix larger and smaller leaves in a bin or bag to make leafmould. Putting different sizes together prevents those with flat faces sticking into wads that take ages to break down.…