Innholdsfortegnelse for 30-Nov-2019 i Amateur Gardening

1 Your greenhouse will be filling up with overwintering plants, bulbs and corms. Clean the glass and workstations and light a garlic candle to kill pests. 2 Check the health of hardy herbaceous perennials, and if any are struggling, lift and pot them up and nurse them through winter somewhere sheltered. 3 This is your last chance to lift tender perennials before the cold kills them off. Take cuttings at the same time as an insurance policy for next summer. 4 Keep the garden tidy. Get rid of weeds and rake up most of the last leaves, leaving some to break down on the soil or be used in nests by hedgehogs during hibernation. 5 Pick off medium-sized undeveloped fruits from your fig tree as they won’t ripen next year.…

Our container begonias flowered magnificently this year and earlier this month I went to lift and store their tubers. Imagine my horror when I discovered that vine weevils had beaten me to it and the compost was dotted with small, creamy, C-shaped grubs with chunky bodies and brown heads. Vine weevils have been a problem this year, despite our efforts with nematodes and chemicals. Container plants are especially vulnerable to vine weevils. The dirty brown adults chew notches in leaves and their larvae eat roots, which does more damage and can kill plants. The begonia tubers had been eaten, so I binned the compost and put the grubs on the bird table where the birds will take advantage of a free meal!…

1 Fork up weeds, making sure you get their roots, too, and remove stones and debris. 2 Cut the weed-blocking membrane larger than needed and anchor the excess (this is under a leafmould bin) so it stays put. 3 Spread gravel (I used 20mm stones, though other sizes are available) a couple of inches deep to block out the weeds. 4 The area looks better, though you may need to scuff the stones back into place and deal with determined weeds sporadically.…

OUR local horticultural society hosted an evening meeting last month for Charles Dowding, a leading authority on ‘no-dig’ gardening. He could well be called the pied piper of no-dig and organic gardening, attracting a large and enthusiastic audience, some of whom had travelled great distances to see and hear him. His excellent pictures, including a number shot by drone, were impressive – and if seeing is believing, there must be converts from his presentation. The key points from my point of view were the impressive application of 4in (10cm) of compost in the winter, plus the time given to cultivation and harvesting. “Wet clay soils are slower to warm than dark soils” Many moons ago, I had a large load of spent mushroom compost tipped onto our drive, and took…

1 Spread garden lime, roughly a handful per square yard/metre on the veg plot where legumes or brassicas will be: don’t breathe this dust. 2 Have a cull of your houseplants – only the very best will do, and this will make space for more and better new ones. 3 Check all your stores: throw out rotters before they spread, and set mousetraps sensibly so pets and kids can’t be caught. 4 Wash, bleach and scrub your bird tables, bird baths and feeders, so that these do not inadvertently spread diseases or parasites.…

Give your raspberries ample water, but don’t let them get waterlogged – lots of added compost is the key to both. Efficient, timely pruning (especially for summer types) and thinning will help improve airflow, which limits disease. Buy certified virus-free stock when planting new beds. This guarantees vigour and ensures yields are high. Keep raspberries slightly acidic by adding ericaceous compost and sulphur chips. This limits iron deficiency. Raspberry beetle (presently the main UK pest) can be thwarted by hanging up pheromone traps during early summer. Pick over your raspberry canes frequently, choosing dry weather when possible, in order to gain the best-quality fruits.…

1 With light evenings now a distant memory , find yourself a comfy chair and order your favourite seed catalogues or browse online. 2 It’s not too late to plant garlic – just avoid waterlogged soils by sinking the fat cloves into deep pots or modules instead. 3 Don’t compost your blemished stored fruits – put these out for the birds to provide a much-needed winter sugar hit. 4 Rather than discarding white plastic labels in disgust, remove ink or pencil marks with a kitchen scourer for years of future use. 5 Facing a sea of half-empty 2019-season seed packets? You’ll do local school garden clubs a huge favour by donating them.…

BY late November, most deciduous plants have shed their foliage. Orchard trees, bush and cane fruits then become easier to prune, but what of the leaves? Hopefully, most have been put aside for leafmould, but clearing your greenhouse guttering will ensure that any presently blocking these up won’t hinder your attempts at winter rainfall harvesting. The job is not glamorous – a ladder, bucket and rubber gloves are usual companions (for downpipe blockages, a metal rod is also called for). So, why not look at ways to reduce the problem? Rigid mesh can be installed over gutters to stop leaves falling in (you can cut your own wire mesh lengths) and marginally more costly gutter ‘hedgehogs’ can be laid into gullies. Balloon leaf guards can sit at the top of…

CACTI and succulents are on-trend this year and are set to remain a favourite with gardeners. They’re leaping off the shelves at garden centres thanks to their designer looks. Growing succulents as houseplants is one thing, but are there any that will happily live outside in the winter? In my garden, the hardy border perennial Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ (now called Hylotelephium) thrives whatever the weather, but the other succulents I grow, such as agaves and aeoniums, spend the winter safely under glass. The thought of having a more varied selection of succulents in the garden throughout all the seasons is very appealing. To find out more I spoke to passionate grower and chairman of the British Cactus and Succulent Society, Ian Thwaites. Ian has been growing succulents since he was a…

Clipping Taxus baccata ‘Standishii AGM Yew makes a beautiful boundary hedge and is easily clipped into shape each summer. It can be maintained at 5-6ft (1½-2m) once established. ‘Standishii’ is perfect for smaller gardens, reaching just 5ft (1½m) in 10 years. Dwarf box Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ is your best bet for box edging around borders, and for small, simple topiary shapes, as it won’t get any larger than 20in (50cm). Always buy from a reputable supplier to reduce the chance of box blight. Box-leaved holly Fast becoming a popular alternative to Buxus – especially among those wary of box blight – Ilex crenata has small green leaves similar to box, and is easy to clip and shape. If space is an issue, choose Luxus, which only reaches 2ft…

For best results, evergreens should be planted in spring, when they start actively growing again. Check that the evergreen you want is right for your soil and site. Dig a hole twice the width of the base of the plant, and incorporate some soil improver, mixing it with the soil from the hole. Loosen the base of the hole with a fork – this will boost drainage. Dust some Rootgrow on the roots of your evergreen prior to planting.…

Bold colour Potentilla fruticosa ‘Jackman’s Variety’ AGM A shrubby cinquefoil to plant in full sun or part shade for large flowers in a deep golden yellow – all summer long. Upright in growth, the deciduous leaves are small and grey-green. Flowers: Jun-Sep. H&S: 4ft (1.2x1.2m). Hibiscus syriacus ‘Oiseau Bleu’ AGM Known also as Rose of Sharon, this late flowerer comes into its own when other shrubs are slightly past it! Blooms are large – 3in (8cm) across – trumpet-shaped and purply blue with red centres. There is attractive foliage, too. Flowers: Aug-Oct. HxS: 8x6ft (2.4x1.8m). Berberis darwinii AGM An evergreen berberis with bunches of nodding orange-yellow flowers held on red stems in spring. The small leaves are dark green and prickly. Blue-purple autumn berries (often alongside…

How can I use my greenhouse in winter? Q I have a new unheated greenhouse. Can I use it for overwintering anything? Jack Broughton, Hay-on-Wye, Powys A Unless you plan to add heating to your greenhouse it will be regarded as ‘cold’ in any description you read about greenhouse gardening. However, it can still keep overnight temperatures as much as 5°C warmer than outside, which will keep plants frost-free in all but the worst of winters. It will also ensure that plants stay dry, which greatly aids survival as a dry plant is much less likely to freeze than a damp one. However, I would always keep some horticultural fleece to hand to drape over plants on the coldest nights. There are lots of plants that will appreciate the cover…

ON my order list for 2020: Courgette ‘Alfresco’ for flavoursome, creamy-coloured fruits; fast-maturing Calabrese ‘Kabuki’; Lettuce ‘Black Seeded Simpson’; and pretty Pea ‘Blauwschokker’. I also want to grow Chilli Pepper ‘Padron’ as when fried most are mild but the odd one is a scorcher. For flowers, there’s Sweet Pea ‘Spanish Dancer’ for pink and mauve colouring, and Anchusa azurea for tall plants of blue flowers.…

Zippo HeatBank 3 rechargeable hand warmer £24.95 (delivery £1.80) ✆ 0208 964 0666 zippo.co.uk Features Rechargeable electric hand warmer. On/off switch. Two heat settings (Max 45ºC) with high/low indicator. Lasts up to three hours. Power-level indicator. USB port for charging mobile phones (cable not supplied). Supplied with USB charging cable. Weight: 2¾oz (79g). Dimensions: 3½x1½x½in (9x4x1.2cm). Performance Easy to charge (90 minutes) using USB cable and phone charger (not supplied). Slim design feels nice. Switch on by holding button for five seconds. Starts on low setting taking about 15 seconds to reach a good warmth on both sides. One click boosts power to high, taking about 20 seconds to reach a stronger warmth. Another click takes power back to low, and a five-second press for ‘off’. Phone charger works. Warmth…

GERTRUDE Jekyll (which should be pronounced like the word ‘treacle’, apparently) was born on this day, in Grafton Street, in London’s Mayfair. A gardener, designer, craftswoman, photographer, writer and artist, she is remembered for the 400 or so gardens she designed, and particularly those with the new 19th century phenomenon – the ‘hardy flower border’. She teamed up with English architect Edwin Lutyens; he designed the buildings and she did the landscapes around them, and together they were one of the most influential and historical partnerships of the Arts and Crafts movement. Gertrude died in 1932. The name Jekyll may be familiar for something else! Gertrude’s younger brother, Walter, was a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, who borrowed the family name for his novel Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.…

Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ Heart-shaped leaves with silver between the veins, joined in spring by blue, forget-me-not like flowers. An evergreen perennial reaching 18in (45cm) high and 24in (60cm) wide. Galanthus elwesii ‘Epiphany’ The greater or Elwes’s snowdrop, originally from Turkey, opens white, honey-scented flowers, each bearing two green markings. These appear in February, at 5-9in (13-23cm) high. Eranthis hyemalis Growing from knobbly tubers, winter aconites push through the soil during late winter and early spring, opening cheerful yellow flowers at 2-3in (5-8cm) high, each perched on a collar of green leaves. Polystichum setiferum Soft shield ferns are versatile evergreens with many forms, some with finely divided fronds. New spring growth makes a fresh unfurling between hellebores and they cope well with a variety of soils…

I WAS very interested in Bob Flowerdew’s article ( AG , 9 Nov) in which he described his method of growing stray canes from the garden in pots. Bob’s method involves rubbing off the fat buds on the roots (which form next year’s canes) and any new shoots. He then enjoys a massive crop from “one-year-only canes” which are then discarded. I will certainly give this a go next year, but I’ve enjoyed reasonable success with growing raspberries year after year in pots. I treat them the same way as canes in the open ground – cutting off the old canes after fruiting and allowing the new canes to grow on for next year. However, this year I decided to change the compost in the pots after my summer crop…

SLICE into the soil around the drip-line of the plant with a spade blade angled slightly towards the trunk. Dig a circular trench around the outside of the slit, piling the soil well back from the edge so that it doesn’t get in the way for the next step: chopping underneath the roots. Use the spade, working around the plant until it starts to rock. Then prop one side of the root-plate up with a garden fork to make severing the last of the roots easier. If weather prevents immediate replanting, cover over exposed roots with earth until you can.…

PLANTING up a seasonal container is one of the quickest and easiest ways (and one of the most economical) to give instant oomph to your garden. Even in winter you won’t be stuck for choice, with autumn and spring bedding plants, shrubs such as skimmia and winter cherry, grasses and alpines. You can also extend a container’s life by dotting spring bulbs around the plants to fill gaps when other plants have finished flowering or are lying dormant in winter’s chill. Plants that are flowering or berrying now are generally hardy, so once they have finished their stint in a container and you need it for summer plants, for example, they can be moved into the garden for a second life. Pansies and little violas can also be propagated by…

THE fierce storm that blew through the south of England at the start of this month was a stark reminder that winter is not to be underestimated. Luckily, our garden was relatively unscathed, apart from a few twigs on the lawn and a dislodged connector between the greenhouse gutter and a water butt. But as anyone who lost trees or sustained damage knows, it can be costly to put right. While no one can plan for every eventuality, it is worth taking steps to minimise any potential problems. Move vulnerable container plants somewhere sheltered and raise them on feet to prevent waterlogging. Check that tree stakes and ties are secure and store garden furniture safely undercover. One side of our greenhouse is exposed to southwest prevailing winds, so we have…

1 Charles Dowding places thick cardboard on the ground to smother perennial weeds on virgin soil before applying the four inches of well-rotted compost in winter. 2 A mix of lush green and drier brown waste plant material is the key to swift rotting down in compost heaps. Too wet, and it remains airless and poorly decayed. 3 I like to start off a new compost heap with a box or two of lawn mowings. They heat up rapidly and fire up the rest of the plant debris heaped on top, to have the lot steaming in days. 4 Heaps which are slow to rot can usually be activated by forking the waste around and shaking up to let in air and then refilling.…

AT this time of year I find myself looking back to the summer and I score my summers according to how many hummingbird hawk moths I’ve seen on my valerian. Sad to say, I’ve only seen a couple this year because most of June was wet and cool, and then we had spells of wet, windy weather with some hot periods in between. However, I can look back to a glorious July day when I did some butterfly recording for the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey. I have a chequered history when it comes to recording butterflies, and I went on a course this summer to learn how to do it. There was a long and involved talk, but the hard part came after lunch. I was given a pen, a…

1 Summer: These have biennial stems (floricanes) that produce canes one year, then flowers and fruit the next. RHS Award of Garden Merit varieties are: ‘Glen Ample’ (pictured), ‘Glen Magna’, ‘Leo’, ‘Malling Admiral’, ‘Malling Jewel’ and ‘Tulameen’. 2 Autumn: These varieties fruit later than summer types – from August up until the first frosts. They bear fruits on annual (primocane) rather than biennial stems. RHS Award of Garden Merit varieties are: ‘All Gold’ (pictured), ‘Autumn Bliss’, ‘Joan J’ and ‘Polka’. 3 Patio: Compact varieties, ideal for containers, have been recently introduced. The first to be sold was ‘Ruby Beauty’ (with thornless stems; above). You can now also find Little Sweet Sister®, Little Red Princess® and yellow-fruited Goodasgold®.…

KNOWN botanically as Alliaria petiolata, and colloquially as garlic mustard or Jack-by-the-hedge, chances are you’ve walked past this biennial edible when rambling down a country lane. Indeed, it’s not worth cultivating on your plot because of its widespread distribution and reputation for vigorous self-seeding. So save room at home for less thuggish plants, but do seek out this easily identifiable herb. In its first year, it produces a hummock of mid-green leaves which, especially when young, will make an excellent garlicky addition to salads. In the second year, the juvenile flower scapes lend themselves well to stir-frying, while the starry white flowers – as well as being a valuable nectar source for butterflies – offer a dainty savoury garnish.…

Echinocereus A large genus of cold-hardy cacti. These clump-formers are prolific flowerers and are known as the hedgehog cactus as they are very prickly! Maihueniopsis darwinii This cactus makes the perfect specimen for an unheated greenhouse, but try it in the garden. It can cope with temperatures as low as -25°C. Sempervivums These low-growing succulents are perfect for a green roof and are often sold as a mixed tray with different varieties and colours. Aloe striatula These are ideal for a sheltered coastal garden. Prickly evergreen foliage is joined by spires of yellow flowers in summer. Height: 4ft (1.2m) after five years. Echeveria elegans Some have success with this outside in winter if plants are kept dry. Tight rosettes of silver-green leaves have yellow-tipped pink flowers in summer. Sedum spurium…

Hedera helix ‘Glacier’ AGM Planting an ivy is a shortcut to year-round textural interest and colour for fences and walls. ‘Glacier’ is a particularly attractive variety featuring small and neat green leaves that are veined in cream. H&S: 6½ft (2m). Lonicera ligustrina ‘Lemon Beauty’ This superb shrubby honeysuckle really should be more widely grown. The graceful sprays of tiny gold and green leaves add lightness and texture to any style of garden. It’s easy to maintain, too. H&S: 39in (1m).…

Q How can I stop tomato moth caterpillars in my greenhouse? Marc Ansell, Yeovil, Somerset A These caterpillars can decimate foliage and chew into tomato fruits. If they appear next year, pick them off or spray with Bug Clear Gun for Fruit & Veg. This contact insecticide based on pyrethrins also controls greenfly, blackfly, whitefly and red spider mite. Q Why has my ten-year-old pyracantha suddenly died? I can’t see signs of honey fungus. Mike Hilton, via email A Your pyracantha may have succumbed to root death (Phytophthora), a soil-based fungus. The disease causes the medulla, the spongy middle of the root, to turn brown. Check by cutting a few larger roots in half. Q Should I repot an overgrown houseplant now or wait until next spring? Muriel Atkins, Barnsley,…

1 Carrot and parsnip seed is short-lived and slow to germinate, so it could be three weeks before you realise old seed is dead. Do a germination test or use new seed. 2 Be sure to label any home-collected seed such as these beans with the parent plant and date, as it is very easy to forget. 3 A germination test under ideal conditions soon reveals viability. These few cleome seedlings were proof of old seed and the rest were discarded. 4 These beetroots sown early to modules germinated well, proving the rest of the old packet could be used later, for direct outdoor sowings.…

PANSIES and violas are two flower types that are closely related. They have a long and distinguished history, and have never been more popular than they are now. The pansy is a large-flowered hybrid, bred by crossing several species of the viola genus, especially heartsease (Viola tricolor), a wildflower of Europe, including Britain, and western Asia. Violas and/or pansies are pretty much year-round plants, but the hardy types are highly effective winter bedding. Let’s look at some of the stories surrounding them. Some of the pansy hybrids are referred to as either Viola x wittrockiana (an older name) or V. tricolor var. hortensis. Pansy by definition PANSIES are the large-flowered – often 2-3in (5-8cm) across – hybrids of many colours (see right). The flower has two slightly overlapping upper petals,…

1 Place a layer of crocks at the bottom to improve drainage and avoid waterlogging and freezing. 2 Plant in proprietary container compost as this is rich in nutrients and will drain well while retaining water. 3 I started my pot with a cordyline from an old container. The fresh compost will give it a welcome boost. 4 Once the main plant is in, add smaller and trailing ones around the edge to create colour and variety. 5 Stand the pot on feet and water well. Keep the compost damp but not waterlogged during the winter.…

The soil in raised beds has a finite source of goodness that can become depleted after a busy growing season. Keep the soil healthy and reduce the risk of pests and diseases in the soil by rotating the crops grown in each bed. A simple system is to grow potatoes in your bed one year, legumes (peas and beans), onions and root crops the second year and brassicas (sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and so on) in the third year. Feed the soil in autumn using well-rotted compost or manure, soil improver, imported topsoil or green manure. I have dug in the green manure I sowed in early autumn. It will rot down and feed the soil over winter, preparing it for planting and sowing next spring.…

Until 24 December: Stories with Santa: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/harlow-carr Until 28 December: Glow: RHS Harlow Carr Until 4 January 2020: Glow: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org. uk/gardens/rosemoor Until 31 January 2020: Sculpture Exhibition: RHS Garden Rosemoor 30 November-1 December: Children’s Magic of Christmas: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall December 1: Grow and Sow Microgreens: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 1: Festive Family Fun Pompom decorations: RHS Wisley 2: Make a Willow Christmas Tree: RHS Wisley 4: Make Kokedama (Living Baubles) for Your Christmas Tree: RHS Wisley 4: Little…

WINTER is tightening its grip and, as the days shorten further, growth almost stops. We often say the plants have become dormant, but this is not wholly true for all of them. Depending on the temperature many plants will continue to grow, if but slowly. “Put down layers of mulch over any bare soil” Indeed, many weeds are amazing for their ability to not only grow but to flower and set seed during any milder spells. This is why it makes sense to put down layers of mulch over any bare soil: it will stop weeds getting hold and it will protect the soil from the worst effects of winter weather. The mulch stops the rain, winds and frost from damaging the soil texture and washing out the goodness, and…

THEIR long cropping season, generous yields and kitchen versatility have earned raspberries a permanent place on many plots country wide. If you’re one of the few gardeners who doesn’t yet grow them, now is the time to redeem this oversight: winter is the perfect season for planting! So what are the key pieces of information you need to succeed? Keep it cool All raspberries have certain growing requirements (see checklist, right). They thrive in cooler summers with adequate rainfall. While traits of American and other species have been bred into modern varieties, the raspberry is still predominantly European in origin – no wonder it likes things cool and wet! A chilling period is important, too – approximately six weeks of cold is needed to synchronise bud burst and flowering in…

1 Hosepipes: Coil them up or fully retract them back into the reel, ensuring they’re fully drained of water. A severe, prolonged chill can crack them so if you’re inland and exposed, move them into a shed. 2 Taps: Outdoor taps can be lagged and kept dry to stop freezing damage causing leaks. You can buy kits, or make your own using foam pipe covers, bubblewrap, bags and duct tape. 3 Automated irrigation: Costly kit such as timer units should be moved to a shed or garage for winter. Lengthy irrigation tubes are best drained of water, coiled up and stored somewhere frost-free to avoid splitting.…

LONG-gone are the winters of seeing stick-like kale plants hanging on by a thread on allotment plots, topped with a miserly tuft of leathery foliage. These days, superfood-style plants brim with vibrant, tender foliage. You could be cultivating cut-and-come-again (CCA) baby-leaf kales like ‘Red Russian’ in your cold greenhouse border, designer-style scarlet-leaved kales such as ‘Redbor’ that punctuate flower borders, vitamin-packed ‘Nero di Toscana’ with its inky-green crumpled foliage, or superbly sweet-tasting recent introductions like ‘Midnight Sun’ – that’s quite a selection! CCA kales can be trimmed whenever there’s a sufficient foliage flush (don’t slice off the growing point). Loftier plants mustn’t be stripped as they’ll run out of steam – retain the central rosette at a decent size, along with the upper foliage, removing lower leaves once fully expanded…

Coppicing Suitable for the more vigorous types, this technique involves cutting down all the stems to two-three buds. It is suitable for Salix irrorata, S. daphnoides, Rosa sericea and all the dogwoods except Cornus sanguinea and the variegated C. alba. These last two are better coppiced every two years, as are the other willows and ornamental brambles (Rubus). Renewal pruning A compromise solution that involves removing a portion of the plant stems each year. It allows a mix of wood at different ages within a single plant and means shrubs can flower – something annually coppiced plants seldom manage. This method can be applied to all species suitable for coppicing and is also ideal for kerria and leycesteria.…

Picea glauca var. albertiana ‘Conica’ Looking for an alternative to the ubiquitous Goldcrest lemon cypress? This classy dwarf spruce is a real step up. Ideal for container growing; or plant a few in a border to create a ‘mini forest’. H&S: 4x20in (1.2mx 50cm) in 10 years. Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’ AGM Use this well-behaved climber to clothe fences and pergolas. It teams fragrant summer flowers with glossy evergreen leaves; blotched with cream, they turn pink in winter. HxS: 8x5ft (2½x1½m). Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ A versatile and reliable grass that looks good all year round. For a colourful winter display, partner with Pinus mugo ‘Carsten’s Wintergold’ and a red-stemmed dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’). H&S: 1ft (30cm). Fargesia murielae…

■ Don’t forget that foliage can hide flowers growing in the hedge, so you should thin out some of the flowered growth each year. By leaving at least two thirds of the branches intact, you’ll avoid depleting the density of the hedge by too much. ■ Remember: any hedge that overlooks someone else’s property must be kept to a height of just 2m (6½ft). If you let it get taller than this and your Local Authority receives a complaint, you can be forced to cut it down to size.…

What do I do with leftover seed? Q I’m thinking about what seeds to order for next year. We seem to have lots of leftovers and I’m not sure what to keep or throw away. Can you suggest some pointers? Michael Whittingham, Epping, Essex A We accumulate seeds from many sources (ordered, free samples, home-collected, seed swaps), and working out what to do with this mixture of half-used, in and out-of-date packets is tricky. On the one hand, throwing away potentially live seed is difficult and there’s a strong motive to save money by giving it a go. Still, valuable time can be lost by sowing dead seeds, and do you really want to fill your gardens with the contents of storage tins or freshly researched purchases? By winter, my…

YOU don’t have to shut yourself away in freezing weather, as a hand warmer can make gardening possible even in the depths of winter. I’ve tried six models powered in five different ways, and been impressed by all of them. The electronic models are wonderfully controllable, giving warmth when you need it at the touch of a button. They can also be used to recharge mobile phones, so no more excuses that your phone ran out of power while you were at the allotment! But they are expensive and could be affected by wet situations. The solid and liquid fuel models could also be affected in the wet (when lighting), they’re not controllable and are fiddly to get going, but they give good heat for a long time. The click-start…

ANYONE hearing the phrase ‘shrinking violet’ for the first time might be inclined to ask who Violet was? Actually, it is to do with the flower, not a person! As for the ‘shrinking’, it is less about ‘reduction in size’ and more of ‘recoiling modestly’. Indeed, violas are extroverts in the flower world, and are just the opposite of shy. However, ‘shrinking violet’ was coined in Britain long before hybridisation turned the plants into the colourful things they are today. The native English or wood violet (V. odorata) is an understated, reclusive flower.…

IN 1858, some 26 years before AG was launched, the man who was to be its first editor, Shirley Hibberd, wrote in a magazine that, in reality, the French custom of giving a bride a bouquet of pansies (‘thoughts’) actually symbolised the woes of domestic life, rather than marital bliss! This was a controversial suggestion at the time, and was to be the prelude to a series of comments and spats with gardening ‘authorities’ (most famously with top gardener of the day, William Robinson).…

The best garden position for your Lenten hellebores is between deciduous trees and shrubs, where plants are lightly shaded but not short of water. They are also happy in sun where soil is moist. Plant into well-drained soil conditioned with well-rotted garden compost and mulch annually in spring. Remove damaged or disfigured leaves in autumn and just before flowering to help avoid viral and fungal diseases. Propagate plants with favourite flowers or rejuvenate older clumps by lifting, dividing and replanting in September or October. Use a sharp knife to cut the dense clump into sections, each holding several leaves and new growths. Hellebores will flourish in containers of 50:50 John Innes No2 and soilless compost with 20% added grit and leafmould.…

HAVING moved from the UK to France at the beginning of 2019, I found Mother’s Day hard as I wasn’t going to spend it with my children. My son lives in South Korea, so I was used to not spending this special day with him, but this was the first year I wouldn’t see my daughter. I did, however, receive a lovely packet of seeds from her, and a note saying, “I am sorry I couldn’t get you any flowers this year, Mum, so I thought you could plant some and think of me!” Every day, I went to my windowbox and looked at my flowers. They certainly made me smile! Lisa Marie Strzeszewski, Tardes, France Wendy says: A long-lasting gift, indeed. Your letter reminded of the ‘Window Box Mix’…

BOX hedges are like icebergs: for every inch of greenery on the top, there’s a lot more below the surface, so it’s a Titanic struggle to dig up and move them. And I should know – my job this week is to relocate a venerable old box boundary that’s been overwhelmed by neighbours to the safety of a new sunny border. Although clipped to knee height, the hedge has been anchored in the same spot for decades, and while it hasn’t grown up ‘below decks’ its roots have become twice as beamy as the tops. Box have fibrous roots that cling to every crumb of soil like a mop does to mud, and while this makes them heavy, the fact that they take their maximum baggage allowance of soil means…