Innholdsfortegnelse for 1-Feb-2020 i Amateur Gardening

THERE are two main reasons why we prune trees and shrubs; to keep them healthy and in good shape; and, in the case of varieties that produce fruits, to keep them cropping well. The dormant weeks of winter are the main pruning times (see page 5 for exceptions) and as spring is hopefully advancing towards us with welcome haste, time is running out to get any necessary cutting back done and dusted. If cutting back is left until buds start to swell and leaves unfurl, the pruning wounds will bleed more sap, which can weaken the tree and present entry points for pests and diseases. The thought of pruning can be daunting, but it needn’t be as the ‘rules’ are pretty straightforward and the results can be spectacular. My one…

When trees and shrubs are left to grow unchecked, they can become an unruly tangle of branches and weak stems. This not only looks unsightly, but can also cause a reduction in flowering and fruiting. Bring it back to life with some hard, or renovation, pruning. In the first year, take out dead, damaged, diseased and congested growth to ground level and remove half the shrub. Trim remaining stems by one half. The following year thin out excessive new growth and shorted remaining branches. In the third year, remove any remaining older stems before returning to a normal annual pruning regime. Feed and mulch well after each pruning. There may be no flowers for a season or two after renovation pruning, but the eventual result should be a stronger plant…

As many native wildflowers vanish from the wild, our gardens are becoming havens for insects and the animals that feed on them. We can do our bit for wildlife by growing a range of plants that provide food and shelter for insects and larger creatures all year round. Early flowering plants such as snowdrops, crocuses and winter heathers provide the year’s first nectar for insects such as queen bumblebees emerging from hibernation. A large clump of heather also provides shelter for overwintering insects and even hibernating mammals if it’s large enough. When sowing and planting, remember that single-petalled plants are more useful than hybrids, as the pollen and nectar are often more accessible. Try marigolds, sunflowers, daisies, borage, an assortment of herbs and knapweed, and don’t forget the aptly named…

COMPLETING two jobs in the time you’ve allocated for one is one of the most satisfying things about gardening. Our problematic rockery, overrun with weeds and rampant campanula, needs a complete overhaul and is one of the major projects earmarked for 2020. We also have a large clump of red bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis) that is stunning when in full flower, but which has grown tatty and uncontained. In winter it resembles a tangled brown mat, but in summer it transforms into a mass of emerald leaves topped with attractive pink flower spikes that turn a glorious red as they ripen. The bistort’s spreading habit means it is excellent for suppressing weeds – and unregulated campanula! – so I decided to split it and plant the divisions in other areas of…

WHEN I view recently planted (the last five-seven years) apple and pear trees, all too often I am filled with despair. Lovely young, one-to-two-year old trees at the outset were planted with enthusiasm and just left. Pruning bush, half-standard and full-standard trees – to establish a good branch framework in these early years – is essential. A good general rule is to prune back, by one-half to two-thirds, all the strong lead shoots made the previous summer. “I am filled with despair when I see young trees left” The effect of this is to stimulate two or three strong new shoots behind each cut, so after several years a semi-globe of stout branches will develop. Each of these branches develop spurs and short laterals to carry fruit. Left unpruned, new…

Verbena bonariensis is the commonly occurring statuesque model of the vervain family. A common sight in many gardens where it self-seeds freely, it hails from South America and is also known as Argentinian vervain and purple top. It is a versatile planet that looks amazing in a wide range of gardens, from cottage-style plantings to prairies, gravel gardens and sophisticated city gardens. They are very low-maintenance, too. Simply deadhead in autumn, then cut back to new shoots in spring. You can collect seeds if you wish, but chances are you will find little seedlings popping up around mature plants, which can be lifted and moved to wherever you want them to grow.…

1 Dig or cover green manures now, so that they are really well rotted down by the time you want to sow and plant. 2 Inspect chitting potatoes; look carefully at their shoots for aphids as these often appear, and kill them with a soft soap spray. 3 Sow onion and leek seed in trays under cover and, likewise, start off your onion sets in wee pots or cells. 4 Sow indoor small-fruited, all-female cucumbers in a warm, light place: I’ll wager you have your first cucumber for Easter!…

Fan: Here, the stems are literally fanned out against a wall, a fence, or a system of posts and horizontal wires. Keep the left and right sides equally proportioned for the most aesthetically pleasing look. Cordon: A basic cordon consists of one vertical stem off which fruiting spurs arise. Two stems are called a double cordon, three a triple, and so on. Main stems tied in at an angle (instead of upright) are called oblique cordons. Espalier: This consists of a single vertical stem off which long permanent arms or ‘tiers’ are trained. To look their best, train the tiers in pairs, one to the left and one to the right of the main stem. You can train in multiple tiers.…

DO you have an ancient apple tree in your garden? Perhaps it’s one that holds sentimental value, or an unknown but delicious variety grown from a pip years ago. If you are worried that it’s starting to decline in health, or you have friends desperate for a plant themselves, why not look to a grafting service to help you? Many fruit specialists offer the service; brogdaleonline.co.uk, keepers-nursery.co.uk and orangepippintrees. co.uk to name a few. You simply send them off some cuttings, establish what rootstock you’d like them grafted on to, and wait for your fruit tree to arrive a few months later. Grafting itself is a specialist process (usually the whip and tongue graft is used in early spring) so it is far easier to allow expert nurseries to carry…

MANY of us grow one or two Elaeagnus in our gardens, either as hedging plants (like E. x ebbingei) or as ornamental shrubs (like E. angustifolia), but why not look to other species for inspiration in the kitchen? E. multiflora is a hardy deciduous scrambling shrub that’s happy on most soils – especially those that are light, sandy or stony. Small flowers will appear in late spring, with the deliciously honeyed scent that Elaeagnus are well-known for. In midsummer, cherry-sized fruits will ripen – just be sure that they are fully mature before eating them, to guarantee the sweetest flavour. They are red in colour and easily seen amongst the foliage. Pruning isn’t essential, but it will keep the plants tidy. Just shorten any wayward stems to a well-placed sideshoot…

Planting Choose a bright area in light shade or a spot that’s shaded for part of the day. Prepare a hole that’s bigger than you think you need, and add plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure – this will help retain moisture as hellebores don’t like dry soil. Feeding Sprinkle blood, fish and bone around plants after they’ve finished flowering in spring, and again in autumn – hellebores are hungry feeders. Division Allow plants to mature into large clumps; don’t split and replant as regularly as you might with other perennials. When dividing, do so in September. Cutting back Remove all the old foliage in November – this will prevent disease from overwintering. Deadhead after flowering if you don’t want seedlings popping up everywhere.…

Sow annual climbers this month. Plant out hardy climbers in April, but keep tender climbers frost-free until June. Fast-growing nasturtiums and runner and borlotti beans should be sown in early May under cover. Or you can sow direct in late May. Put supports in place when planting out, and tie in stems regularly, using soft twine to help prevent any bruising. Use John Innes No2 compost for container-grown climbers. Climbers in pots can dry out quickly – water frequently to prevent this. Feed every two weeks – a liquid tomato fertiliser is ideal.…

How do I tame large conifers? Q We have a stand of cypress-like conifers that we want to keep but they are too big. I’ve heard they don’t respond well to pruning, so how can we reduce size while enjoying privacy and their evergreen shape? Angela Clegg, Penrith, Cumbria A Large conifers suffer from bad press when they’ve been badly sited and neglected. They can tower over boundaries, shade out borders, block views and suck the ground dry in summer. However, well-managed, these fast-growing giants can be an asset in medium-to-large gardens. In ours, we maintain a small belt of existing conifers to screen nearby buildings and shelter the greenhouse from frost and northerly winds. Should you have an overgrown hedge or a group of Santolina chamaecyparissus, x Cupressocyparis leylandii…

Miracle-Gro is giving AG readers the chance to win one of two gardening bundles, each worth £16.57. This is the perfect bundle for gardeners looking for quick and easy solutions for any gardening style, as it includes new Miracle-Gro products designed to make caring for plants simple – indoors or out. The two winners will each receive a six-litre bag of Miracle-Gro Plant & Grow Compost, which is light in weight but not quality, that will feed plants for up to six months. Also included is a 200ml Miracle-Gro Pump & Feed – simply pump directly onto the soil to feed your plant for a week. Orchid-loving gardeners will also be excited to win both the three-pack Miracle-Gro Drip & Feed for orchids and the 300ml Miracle-Gro Spray & Spritz…

The onion is distantly related to the snowdrop, daffodil and amaryllis. A natural remedy for bee and wasp stings is to cut an onion in half and apply it to the sting. After some slightly sharper stinging, the pain soon diminishes and the sting heals quicker. “I will not move my army without onions” – so wrote General Ulysses S. Grant during the American Civil War. The next day he received three carriages full of onions. They were needed to feed the men, of course, but also because they helped to relieve the pain of powder burns to the skin.…

Do ✓ Take soil from several locations in samples a flowerbed, and mix them together so you get an average across the whole bed. ✓ Follow instructions the tests very carefully – are not difficult to do but the correct sequence must be followed. Don’t ✗ Use a test kit more than one old as year the chemicals can degrade and give false readings. ✗ Use dirty kit. W ash and the trowel and soil- dry collecting bowl before use , and wash and dry the test kit between tests.…

IT was a wise man who said that when life isn’t coming up roses, you need to look to the weeds for beauty instead. Just don’t look too long… even during this cold corner of the year, they’re quite literally growing under your feet! I often muse on what makes a weed a weed, and when not bent double clawing at the stubborn root of a dock, I like the sentimental thought that they’re simply wildflowers growing in the wrong place. But many have another distinguishing feature; they wake from dormancy at lower temperatures than the flowers we have grown, sown, swapped and paid for. Chickweed, ground elder, nettle and willowherb are already green and spreading, and if not making hay, they are certainly making roots that will ensure they…

1 Cut away dead and diseased wood to healthy growth and remember to sterilise your blades afterwards. 2 Remove spindly shoots and any that are growing inwards, cluttering up the centre of the tree or shrub. 3 Prune out extra shoots growing from the base of the trunk so they don’t crowd the main growth, and steal water and nutrients. 4 Remove broken and splintered wood cleanly before it can admit pests or infections or, in the case of larger branches, become dangerous to people and buildings.…

ALTHOUGH most trees and shrubs can be pruned now, especially those that lose their leaves in autumn, there are some that should be left alone. Most obviously, these include early flowering varieties such as forsythia, camellia and philadelphus that flower on the previous year’s growth. Cut them back now and they won’t produce blossom, so leave them alone until they have flowered. The sooner you cut them back after their blooms have faded, the longer they will have to produce flowering stems for next year’s colour. You should also leave evergreens alone as they are generally less hardy than deciduous varieties and sub-zero temperatures may damage or kill off cut stems. Wait until the weather has warmed up in late spring. Spores of the fungal disease silver leaf (Chondrostereum purpureum)…

Perennials can be divided in winter and early spring as long as the soil isn’t waterlogged or frozen. Lift the parent plant, keeping as much soil around its roots as possible, then cut into divisions using a spade or two garden forks held back-to-back and levered apart. Make sure each new plant has healthy roots and top growth before you plant it, making sure it goes in the ground at the same depth as the parent plant. Water and keep weed-free. If there is a delay between dividing and planting, wrap the roots in damp paper and store somewhere cool for up to 24 hours.…

1 Apple trees on dwarfing rootstock M9 and even more dwarfing M27 will need secure staking for all their cropping lives. 2 Young fruit trees will grow better without the competition of grass around the base, so keep a metre-wide clean circle around each trunk. 3 Encourage flower bud formation and then fruit clusters on strong, lateral side growth by tying over in a half circle with soft twine. 4 Prunings from last summer’s healthy growth (pencil thickness) make good grafting scion wood. Push the cut base into the soil to keep fresh until needed in spring.…

1 Fill a clean tray with fresh seed compost, tamp it down and give it a good drenching with fresh tap water. 2 Scatter the seeds as thinly as possible over the surface of the compost, either from the packet or by sprinkling them from between your finger and thumb. 3 Cover the seeds with a thin topping of more compost or the mineral vermiculite, which aids air and water circulation. 4 Label the seeds, cover with a lid and then place on a light windowsill. Remember to remove the lid after germination.…

THIS winter I have noticed slightly different activity on the bird table compared to previous years. Birds like the nuthatch, which are usually only seen in November, have visited the feeders on a daily basis for months. Like Spitfire pilots, these birds zoom in on mainly the peanuts, and then they’re gone in a second. We’ve also had a flock of about 20 long-tailed tits for months on end. They make fluttering notes as they sweep through the garden on their way to raid the fat balls, looking almost like musical notes on a stave. And their song is surprisingly loud, considering their size. “Long-tailed tit numbers seem to be increasing” Long-tailed tits are tiny, gregarious birds that have hardly any body fat and on average weigh only 7-10g (about…

1 Begin with a multi-stemmed tree or bush (here, gooseberry ‘Invicta’). Make sure your support wires are sufficiently strong and taut, and then tie two, four or six equally spaced bamboo canes to them using twine. 2 The idea with a fan is to splay pairs of long branches against your wall or fence. From your plant, select the best-placed, longest stems and tie these onto the canes – again, using twine (not wire). 3 Once your chosen pairs of stems are tied in, here comes the harsh bit: any stems that are surplus to requirements must be pruned out completely. Be brave: this removal will give you the perfect fan framework.…

1 While a light dusting can be tolerated, steady snowfall can soon build up to create quite a strain. Carefully brush this off a glasshouse roof, fruit cages, coldframes and cloches so they don’t buckle under the weight. 2 A layer of snow can be quite insulating if a prolonged chill is forecast. Crops underneath won’t suffer, especially because those outside now will be fully hardy. If the crop can take the weight of snow, leave it be. 3 The case for removing snow from your crops can be argued if the weight will damage them. Lofty, rosette-forming brassicas like kale may be vulnerable to snapping, whereas narrow leeks (pictured) will be unharmed.…

Phaseolus coccineus ‘Painted Lady’ Worth growing for the pretty bi-coloured red and white pea-like flowers, this heritage runner bean produces tasty, medium-sized pods from mid summer. Needs a deep, fertile soil, so dig in plenty of organic matter. HxS: 10x11/2ft (3mx45cm). Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Borlotti’ Long, dangling pods, in an eye-catching combination of pale green with deep pink markings, will add a splash of colour to your vegetable patch. The beans themselves are a popular addition to Italian cookery. HxS: 8x11/2ft (2½mx45cm).…

Cobaea scandens AGM Starting off greenish-white and maturing to purple, the large, bell-shaped blooms are a dramatic sight. A tender climber, it takes a while to get going, but once it does it will happily keep on blooming until the first frost. HxS: 16ftx28in (5mx70cm). Lathyrus odoratus ‘Cupani’ The pretty bi-coloured magenta and purple blooms are held on shorter stems than other sweet peas, so you’ll need small vases if picking. However the knockout scent easily makes up for this – it’s the best of all the sweet peas! HxS: 8ftx16in (2½mx40cm).…

1 For sawing through thicker stems, we rely on an extending pole saw with hooks to help bring down the branches after cutting. 2 Saw through the targeted stem, leaving only green healthy material behind. An assistant is useful here to catch the branches. 3 Once the larger stems have been reduced, thin out those of a smaller diameter by using a pair of long-reach loppers. 4 Although shears can reduce width, a clipped look doesn’t sit well where a stand of conifers is meant to look natural. I prefer to thin the sides gently using secateurs.…

BACK in the 1970s, I spent a year working in the garden at Buckingham Palace. It was eyeopening to see how such prestigious gardens were maintained, with neat edges and perfectly weeded borders a priority for the gardeners. I have many fond memories (including several conversations with the Queen). On a few occasions during winter, at dusk, and no doubt when Her Majesty was sipping tea in the warmth of the Palace, I remember having to get into a little rowing boat, paddle out to the middle of the large lake, and effectively ‘shoo’ the royal flamingos out of the water and on to an island in the middle. This was so that, if the lake froze overnight, the birds would not get stuck in the ice, standing on one…

IF you want plants to grow you have to give them the right food, and the right conditions for them to make use of it. The acidity or alkalinity (pH) of garden soil affects the way food can be taken out of the soil by plants, but the essential nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) – must be there in the first place. So it’s important to know not just the pH, but also what’s missing so you can add more, and what’s already there so you don’t provide too much! Simple testing kits that just determine soil pH are widely available. You can also buy more elaborate kits from garden centres and online to determine NPK, but for both types the starting point is a good soil sample.…

Simple rules for growing hostas CATCHING up on my reading on a wet, soggy day here in Sheffield. I really enjoyed Anne Swithinbank’s article on hostas (AG, 23 November). I have a solution to the slug and snail problem. Having been given some rooted pieces from an old gardener chap many years ago, I planted them in two builder’stype black buckets, making drainage holes in the bottom beforehand. I put one on top of a black, cast-iron pot stand and the other hanging from a strong tree branch. Both have come up every year and flowered well without being attacked by slugs or snails. I lift them down every few years, and split and give the spares to others. I think the answer is ‘hang them high’, but still be…

Plants arriving by mail order are best planted immediately. If not, pot them up or heel them in by laying plants so that their roots sit in a trench and are covered by soil as protection from drying out and frost. Always plant roses in good, well-cultivated soil and in an open position, where they will not be troubled by nearby trees, shrubs or hedges. Dig a generous hole, place the rose in and make sure the roots fit properly with no bending or folding. If necessary, prune over-long or damaged roots. A bulge low down on the main stem marks where the variety was budded onto a rootstock and should sit at soil level. Scatter a product containing mycorrhizal fungi on the roots and fill in around them with…

1 Cut to a healthy outward-facing bud to avoid congesting the centre of the tree or shrub. Regular annual pruning also promotes blossom and fruiting. 2 When pruning high or difficult branches, stand on a balanced platform or ladder and use long-handled loppers for easier cutting. 3 Clear weeds and grass so they can’t compete for food and water. Don’t forget to feed and mulch trees and shrubs after pruning. 4 Waste not, want not. Chop up small prunings for the compost heap and gather up longer ones to use as pea sticks and plant supports this summer. In love with planting: In next week’s AG, I start getting ready for another year of gardening, including planting one of our favourite shrubs, the bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa).…

1 Hedgehogs hibernate until late March or April, so if you see one out it may be ill. Wearing gloves, wrap it in a blanket in a box and take it to a hedgehog sanctuary. Call the British Hedgehog Preservation Society 01584 890 801 to find your local one. 2 Ponds are an excellent source of drinking water for winter wildlife, so place a couple of balls in the water to prevent it freezing. Never hit ice to try to smash it as the reverberations can stun or kill fish or amphibians hiding in the water. 3 Keep feeding the birds with quality food, such as that provided by CJ Wildbird Foods, and provide them with clean water. Clean bird tables regularly with weak disinfectant and remove uneaten food that…

1-2: Heralding Spring: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HS 1-2: Snowdrop Weekend: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 1-29: Festival of Snowdrops: East Lambrook Manor Gardens, South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5HH. ✆ 01460 240 328, eastlambrook.com 3: RHS Members’ Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/harlow-carr 4: Winter Colour and Scent: RHS Garden Rosemoor 6: Rose Pruning: RHS Garden Rosemoor 7: Cultivating Willow: RHS Garden Harlow Carr 7: RHS Members’ Gardening Advice: RHS Harlow Carr 7: Designing with Plants: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall 8: British Iris Society Early Spring Show: RHS Wisley, Wisley…

1 Clear the planting area of stones, debris, unwanted plants and their roots. Break up compacted soil. 2 This soil is thin and undernourished, so I forked in lots of rich homemade compost and leafmould. 3 I checked the roots to make sure they were healthy, and untangled those that needed it. 4 When planting divisions, make sure they go in the ground at the same depth as they were before. Firm them in. 5 Finally, water your new plantings well to hydrate the roots and settle the soil.…

ONE of the plants that everyone knows and loves is Verbena bonariensis, it’s mauve pompom heads swaying delicately from the back of the border, held up by willowy ridged stems. But what about its more diminutive cousin, Verbena rigida? This is an equally charming but much shorter member of the family that works wonders when planted towards the front of borders or in containers. More stocky than the statuesque V. bonariensis, V. rigida produces a mass of deeper-coloured flowers in shades of mauve, purple and magenta and grows to just 1-2ft (30-60cm). This week’s free seeds are Verbena rigida ‘Intensity’, which produces an abundance of eye-catching lilac blooms. Sown between now and March, the plant is ideal for sunny tubs and baskets, border fronts and path edges. Thriving best in…

ADVICE is always worth listening to – but it should also be questioned in case it’s in error or no longer applicable. We’re quite rightly told we should plant only smaller onion sets (the tiny onion bulbs we use in place of sowing seed) as larger sets invariably bolt. We’re further told to pull up any that do bolt “to stop them encouraging others” (but just how, nobody has ever explained). “Pulling bolters may waste a big part of your crop” All well and good, if you want to grow perfect onions to sell or send up to the ‘Great House’, as bolters would flower, seed and wither, and not produce nice succulent bulbs. However, if you’re growing for home consumption, pulling bolters may waste a significant part of your…

EARLY spring is a time of optimism, so how better to encapsulate that than by planting a new fruit tree or bush? With many of us having limited space for full-sized trees, let’s look at the options for small-space growers… Joy in the small things “Training gives a chance to extend the harvest season” Does growing fruit in a small space limit your enjoyment? Absolutely not! A mature fan, espalier or cordon (see page 18) is incredibly ornamental. Training trees in these ‘restrictive’ shapes allows us to grow many more varieties. This extends the fresh harvest season, brings diversity to our taste buds, and allows us to flex our horticultural skills. Tied in stems are easier to pick, especially if the stems are thorny. Plus, picking fruit from small trees…

1 Give greenhouse glass a thorough clean to ensure light levels reaching young seedlings are at a maximum at this gloomy time of year . 2 If you didn’t have time in autumn, lift and divide any congested clump-forming herbs such as oregano , mint and lemon balm now . 3 Be space-savvy with your heated propagator: sow veg and herbs into seed trays or small modules rather than large individual pots. 4 Potted gooseberries, currants and blueberries may be starting into life . Make sure they are not congested or dry, repotting now if necessary . 5 The soil in most regions will still be too cold and wet for direct sowings, but put cloches in place to speed soil warming and drying.…

WHILE it’s too chilly to start off peas outside, gardeners with a greenhouse, conservatory or spare windowsill can sow hardy varieties now, ready to transplant outside during March. I’ve always found peas do far better from early sowings. They like a cool, moist root run, and sowings made later in the year often don’t have sufficient time to develop extensive roots before summer heat strikes, leading to smaller plants and far fewer pods. A very early sowing made now, plus one outside in the first half of March and a final one not much later than mid-April in the south and late April in the north, will give you huge, robust plants with the potential to form masses of pods. ‘Hurst Green Shaft’ is my go-to variety. It gives long,…

P. fruticosa ‘Abbotswood’ AGM A bushy, deciduous shrub with small, dark green leaves covered in delicate, single, pure white flowers from June to September. The compact habit of this potentilla makes it a good choice for growing as a low, informal hedge. H&S: 39in (1m). P. fruticosa ‘Daydawn’ A shrub that’s neat enough for even the smallest of gardens to accommodate. From early summer to early autumn it’s studded with a mass of saucer-shaped flowers in a mix of pink, pale orange and golden yellow – like the colours of a sunset. H&S: 32in (80cm). P. fruticosa ‘Primrose Beauty’ AGM Exquisite wild rose-like flowers, in a delicate primrose yellow with darker centres, smother this potentilla from late spring to autumn. Like other shrubby types,…

Yellow with gold nectaries Large, rounded, outward-facing flowers – in primrose yellow with a ring of golden nectaries – are held on strong stems. H: 10-12in (25-30cm). Walberton’s Rosemary (‘Walhero’) AGM Impressively prolific and long-flowering, this hybrid between a lenten rose and a Christmas rose has star-shaped pink flowers. A breakthrough. H: 1ft (30cm). ‘White Lady Spotted’ The Lady Series is populated by single flowers in colours including white, yellow, dark red and metallic blue-black – some with petals spotted in red. H: 1ft (30cm). Washfield double-flowered Available in a wide range of colours, some veined and patterned, the Washford Doubles were developed by renowned breeder Elizabeth Strangman. H: 11/2ft (45cm). ‘Smokey blue’ Perfect for ramping up the drama thanks to nodding, saucer-shaped single flowers in the darkest shade of…

Lathyrus odoratus It’s difficult to trump sweet peas – they’re hardy, easy to grow and come in such a wide range of colours and combinations. They make great cut flowers, too. If not picking for the vase, you’ll need to deadhead regularly to keep the blooms coming. HxS: 8ftx16in (2.5mx40cm). Tropaeolum majus Jewel of Africa Group With round leaves (this variety has variegated foliage) and large, trumpet-shaped flowers in oranges, reds and yellows, climbing nasturtiums will reach heady heights in no time. Some make low-growing clumps, so look for the climbing varieties. HxS: 6x1½ft (1.8mx45cm). Rhodochiton atrosanguineus AGM Purple bell vine is a tender perennial from Mexico. It combines slender, twining leaf stalks (covered in a mass of heart-shaped leaves) with pendulous tubular blooms in deep…

Eccremocarpus scaber Chilean glory flower is a slender climber that is smothered in pinky-orange, tubular flowers from June to the first frosts. In a sheltered spot in a mild garden it may be perennial; otherwise treat as an annual. HxS: 8x2ft (2½mx60cm). Lablab purpureus The hyacinth bean offers a double whammy of attractions: the small, pale purple flowers are followed by gleaming purple pods. There’s purple-green foliage, too. Can be grown up a teepee, or in a suitably large container. HxS: 16ftx20in (5mx50cm).…

How can I keep hellebores looking good? Q I have lots of beautiful Helleborus niger in my garden. How can I keep them healthy and help them flower? Angie Bayliss, Penrith, Cumbria A Hellebores will thrive in organically rich, limey soil. If you can’t get mushroom compost, which contains chalk, I suggest you mulch plants with 3in (7cm) of composted manure. You can either buy a proprietary brand from a garden centre, or see if a local farm is selling sacks of selling well-rotted manure. Provided you augment your compost with a sprinkling of 30oz (84g) per square metre of garden lime, and a spring, mid and late-summer application of Vitax Q4, your plants will thrive. Additionally, remove half the older leaves in autumn, and the remainder in spring, just…

FEW vegetables have more uses in the kitchen than the onion – the main edible group of the allium genus. There is a year-round demand for white and red onions, and they are available from supermarkets and grocers throughout, with no concern over them going ‘out of season’. Of course, you can enhance your onion experience by growing your own, to get the taste, variety and size you want. And, by including some of the modern overwintering varieties in your onion repertoire, with just a few carefully timed sowings (or plantings of sets) you can obtain onions fresh from the garden or out of store for practically 12 months. Let’s look at a few of the many facts and stories concerning bulb onions. Kelsae isn’t easy THE ‘Kelsae’ is often…

1 Place the required measure of dry soil in a tube and add the required measure of barium sulphate (I made the stand for the tube out of an old plastic milk bottle). 2 Add distilled water to the level indicated, put on the cap, shake and then leave it to settle. Draw off a measure of the liquid in the top layer using the pipette supplied. 3 Squirt the sample into the small tube supplied, add two drops of the pH reagent, then close the cap securely and give it a good shake. The colour will change. 4 Compare the colour of the liquid to the pH colour chart supplied. Mine is deep green, so pH7 – spot-on neutral. A red reading would be acid, while blue would be…

WOULD you tell me where I can obtain the shrubs recently mentioned, referring to two articles: hollies by Toby Buckland (21/28 Dec) and plants to create shelter in Ask Anne (4 Jan)? My interest has been aroused, because we are starting to construct a car park at my church and we need to plant trees/shrubs around the site, acting as a barrier and wind-break. We also need a few trees on the north boundary of our graveyard. Holly, in particular, would prove useful for our flower arrangers at the appropriate time of the year. I have been reading your magazine for a number of years, but this the first time I have written in – a bit late in starting, as I’m in my nineties! Ken Journeaux, Hampshire Wendy says:…

‘Flaming Star’ Perfect flowers for a vibrant, colourful border. A succession of large flame-coloured blooms of gold and cherry emit a mild fruity scent. A healthy rose. ‘Thinking of You’ Throughout summer, neat bushes will produce elegant buds unfurling to moderately fragrant, deep crimson blooms, held on long, sturdy stems. ‘Chandos Beauty’ Large, shapely, apricot-gold and cream, pink-flushed blooms are richly scented on strong plants with healthy foliage. ‘Freedom’ Vigorous but neat bushy plants that are covered in deep yellow flowers with a light fragrance. Repeat-flowers freely.…

RATHER than dig up large areas of established weeds, mulch with a weed-suppressing plastic membrane that excludes all light and kills them. Lift any plants you want to keep with a spade, and tease out the weed roots from the clumps. As a rule, ornamental plant roots are dark, while the weed roots (being younger and in growth) are pale. If necessary, wash the clumps under a tap, as with the soil removed the weeds will be easier to see. Once the clumps are clean, replant them in a weed-free spot elsewhere, and mulch the weedy spot and leave in place for 12 months.…