Innholdsfortegnelse for 10-Oct-2020 i Amateur Gardening

“I love garlic, but have never been satisfied with the crop when I’ve grown it. In the past, I’ve planted in my sunniest border in spring, along with onions, but this year I’m going to follow Bob Flowerdew’s advice and plant in autumn. And this year, I’m forsaking the border and planting it in a couple of old whiskey half-barrels (might help the flavour). Finally, on Toby’s advice, I’m getting my garlic sets from The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight. Surely, I’ve got to get a better crop this time? I’ll keep you posted.” Contact us:  Editorial: 0330 3903732 Email: amateurgardening@futurenet.com  Advertising: 07817 629935…

A SUMMER garden without sweet peas would be, as Blackadder so memorably said, ‘like a broken pencil’ – pointless. Beautiful to look at and with that heady scent, they are an essential part of British horticulture. They regularly top the UK’s ‘favourite summer flower’ polls, thanks to the variety of colours, depths of scent and their versatility. While most people are familiar with the sight of Lathyrus odoratus scrambling up cane wigwams and pergolas, you can also buy varieties that offer low-growing ground cover and that are even fit for hanging baskets. Sweet peas can be sown now, either in the ground or in pots, and then overwintered in a greenhouse or coldframe. The resulting plants will have stronger roots than those sown next spring and will flower earlier, too.…

WHAT a season this has proved to be and from my view point, across the gardening landscape, it is interesting to see how fleet of foot some of our suppliers have been to ensure we get the plants and supplies needed. Derek Bunker at Alton Garden Centre, Wickford, got his three sons together the day after lockdown; they agreed one would handle online business, one telephone orders for home delivery, and one click and collect. They delivered 8,000 bags of compost in four weeks, which must have been a godsend for gardeners unable to leave home at that time. Derek said, “After 49 years building the business, I’m not about to throw in the towel”. Or should that be trowel? “We are going to see some shortages in seed and…

SO what’s the best vegetable for anyone to start with? Is it, say, potatoes, beans or courgettes? An argument can be made for almost any crop – after all, we’ve learned to grow only those proving most reliable without specialised conditions. Only commercial horticulturists regularly produce blanched heads of celery (and only on certain soils); the rest of us will likely desist after early attempts. Workload is also important; potatoes are seldom light work for a decent yield. Runner beans need a framework constructing, and you may find courgettes become an embarrassment. So when you add value into the equation there’s only one contender left, and that’s garlic, – which is incredibly expensive per kilo. “Garlic is just about the simplest crop to grow” What’s more, garlic is just about…

FIERY foliage, bright berries and vibrant flowers – it’s a powerful trio that sets borders ablaze, helping to make autumn arguably the most visually spectacular season in the garden. But if your plot is shady this might seem difficult to achieve. It needn’t be. In fact, if you have dark corners or north-facing boundaries, all the more reason to incorporate colour into your planting displays – and there are a surprising number of plants that will help you do just that. Many plants available from nurseries now will give your shady space a lift – whether it’s shrubs covered in glossy berries or trees that turn a spectrum of hot oranges, yellows and reds as the temperature drops. Choose wisely and you’ll be rewarded with an eye-catching show year after…

Acer palmatum Feted for their fiery autumnal colouring, Japanese maples are a good choice for shade (given a sheltered position). In fact, part shade is preferable for variegated and green varieties (like ‘Orange Dream, above) as sun can scorch their leaves. H: varies. Anemanthele lessoniana AGM Perfect for adding wow factor to borders as summer comes to a close, pheasant tail grass grows even in dry shade, producing arching bronze foliage that turns to orange, yellow and red as autumn progresses. HxS: 3x4ft (90cmx1.2m). Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ AGM Good for a container, this Japanese variegated woodland grass has bright green-and yellow-striped leaves that can take on a red tint in the autumn. It forms neat clumps and makes a good edging plant for borders. HxS: 14x16in (35x40cm). Chinese virginia creeper…

WHILE autumn is one of the key seasons for feeding and treating our lawns, winter is the time when we let it rest. Minimal growth, saturated soil and freezing conditions make grass vulnerable to damage and unable to repair itself. Walking over it or using the lawn as a venue to play football or exercise your pets when the ground is wet or frozen will quickly ensure it is churned up into a muddy mess. Once grass blades are damaged they won’t regenerate until next spring, and the space they leave will be colonised by weeds and moss. Never try to feed your grass now in the hope things will improve, as any new growth encouraged by fertiliser will be too weak and tender to withstand winter. The presence of…

RHS director general Sue Biggs has celebrated a decade at the helm of the world’s leading gardening charity. To mark the occasion, she planted a stone pine at the RHS’s flagship garden Wisley and was joined by garden curator Matthew Pottage, staff and students. Sue has held the position of RHS director general longer than any other incumbent, and was awarded a CBE for her services to gardening in 2017. She said: “It is such an honour and a privilege to lead this amazing charity, and I am so proud of what our talented and hardworking teams have been able to achieve for horticulture over these 10 years. “I’m equally excited about the future, because never have we valued the importance of gardening so much, for so many different reasons.…

THIS year we grew Mr Fothergill’s ‘Giant Imperial Mix’ larkspur seeds and they were a glorious success, filling the centre of our borders with statuesque pillars of blooms ranging from the sweetest mauve to the deepest, almost iridescent indigo. So I am very excited to be sowing this week’s seeds, which are for a less imposing variety of larkspur, a traditional cottage favourite that is the perfect filler fort he front of borders. Mr Fothergill’s Larkspur ‘Hyacinth Dwarf’ grow to just 20in (50cm) tall and will provide a beautiful raft of pinks, purples and blues at the front of borders. These diminutive darlings are beloved of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, and are also good for cutting, thanks to their sturdy stems and longevity in a vase. You can sow…

IT’S always swings and roundabouts when you’re growing vegetables, because some things fail to thrive. This year the beetroot didn’t plump up, due to the extreme early heat, and I lost most of the sweetcorn to a savage late frost because I didn’t wait until the first week of June before planting it out. Lesson learnt! It’s been too windy up here for the runner beans, so we have picked only a few pounds so far. Other things have done well, though. We have harvested countless lettuces, more than 30 cucumbers, 42lb (19kg) of tomatoes, 22lb (10kg) of courgettes, 16lb (7kg) of peas, 32lb (14kg) of new potatoes and almost 20lb (9kg) of broad beans from the 8x4ft (2.4x1.2m) plots in our garden. The trouble is that summer produces a…

Liriope muscari AGM A real toughie that can tolerate a range of conditions – including dry and full shade – big blue lilyturf produces spikes of purple flowers from August until November. Its diminutive height makes it a good choice for edging borders. HxS: 1x11/2ft (30x45cm). Japanese anemones Anemone x hybrida are fantastic, long-flowering plants, ideal for lighting up the back of a border in autumn. ‘Honorine Jobert’ has white flowers on tall stems but there are also pretty pink options such as ‘September Charm’ or ‘Hadspen Abundance’ (above). H&S: 4ft (1.2m). Actaea simplex ‘Atropurpurea Group’ Appearing from September to October, the fragrant spikes of small pink to white flowers look like the slenderest of bottle brushes and contrast beautifully with the deep purple foliage. Plants will flourish in damp…

WHEN sweet peas open, filling vases with colour and scent, I know that summer has truly arrived. We grow several wigwams of plants every year and, with care, they bloom into September. These lovely flowers are easy to grow as long as you follow a few simple rules. Autumn-sown plants outperform those started in February or March because they develop a better root system (if you must plant in March, they’ll need good, deep soil containing plenty of well-rotted garden compost). Provide support and then it’s simply a question of watering when the soil is dry, feeding occasionally and regular picking. They’ve been grown here since 1699, when seeds of the Italian wild sweet pea (Lathryrus odoratus) were sent from Sicily to a number of enthusiasts. Early breeding produced the…

‘Bristol’ AGM A classic Spencer variety, the large, frilly, pale violet-blue flowers of this vigorous sweet pea deliver their promise of intensely sweet perfume. A big hit with exhibition growers, the strong stems make ‘Bristol’ well suited to cutting, too. HxS: 51/2x1ft (1.7mx30cm). ‘Mrs Bernard Jones’ AGM For anyone in love with large, frilly sweet peas that have a strong scent, this Spencer variety will definitely be a match made in heaven. Grow for the display of white flowers heavily flushed with a clear, strong sugar pink. H: 7x1ft (2.2mx30cm). ‘Pink Nines’ A Multiflora whose impressive display of large, wavy, pink flowers gets going early. Well-grown plants can produce up to nine blooms on a single stem, each of them opening candy pink and fading to paler shades while emitting…

GRAPES will grow anywhere in the UK – if they’re in a greenhouse. However, for success with vines outdoors you’ll really need to live south of the Midlands. And you’ll need to wait: a vine’s peak of production will be after 20-25 years. In addition, regular training is needed to achieve decent bunches and, sadly, whichever system of pruning you choose, it is intricate! As you can see, therefore, grapes are for the enthusiast, rather than the casual gardener. But there are many interesting facts and stories relating to grapevines. All grapes come from the vitis genus, and they are available in many colours, including green, red, purple, black, yellow and pale pink. ‘White’ wine generally comes from green grapes. Hamburg or Hamburgh? BRITAIN’S favourite black indoor grape is ‘Black…

HOUSEPLANTS fall roughly into three categories: flowering plants such as phalaenopsis orchids, clivias, African violets (saintpaulia) and cyclamen; succulents like Christmas cactus (schlumbergera), the money plant (Crassula ovata) and echeverias; and foliage plants like shiny leaved Ficus benjamina, pattern-leaved dieffenbachia, scented-leaf pelargoniums, or the statuesque mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata). If you are not a seasoned houseplant grower, start with reliable types such as those mentioned above. As with garden plants, there are some real fusspots with particular growing needs, so it pays to learn the basics with reliable plants before spending money on drama queens. It’s also worth noting that the pollen of clivia flowers (and others, including lilies) is poisonous to cats, so if you are feline-friendly, choose carefully! Getting the light right Many houseplants will not thrive in…

Write to us: Letters, Amateur Gardening magazine, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hants GU14 7BF (please include your address). Email us: amateurgardening@futurenet.com Let’s hear it for heucheras LIVING in East Lothian where the weather can change from moment to moment, I have found that choosing a favourite plant is narrowed right down. Although I have a few to choose from, the one that gives most variety and hardiness is the heuchera in all its many cheery shades throughout the year. I love the flower stems, which look delicate even when over, and the ease with which one can propagate more plants appeals to my Aberdonian nature! Of course, the downside to these lovely plants is their susceptibility to vine weevil, but I keep a watch eye for…

1 Casts are heaps of wet soil excreted by worms, and if left or trodden on they are a breeding ground for weeds. Let them dry and then disperse them with a broom or the back of a rake. 2 Toadstools in the lawn are unsightly, so pick them off before they ripen and spread their spores. Red thread is a problem in wet grass, so aerate with a fork to improve drainage. 3 Improve lawn health by aerating (driving a garden fork into the soil) to boost ventilation around the roots and ease waterlogging. Edging makes the garden look tidier. 4 Moles are a pest but can be easily deterred by sprinkling their hills with Defenders’ natural deterrent. Remove the soil and add it to your beds, reseeding the…

TAKING hardwood cuttings is one of the most reliable ways of propagating deciduous trees and shrubs, including soft-fruit bushes and roses. Taken now and either potted up or grown in the ground, they will take up to a year to develop roots but then will grow into robust young plants. Last autumn I took several hardwood cuttings from a blackcurrant bush and now they are ready to move on into larger pots. I could plant them straight into the ground, but they should do better if they spend the winter in pots of compost in a protected environment, such as the coldframe. They will be planted out into their final positions next spring, when the frosts have passed. Hardwood cuttings are taken in autumn, when plants are dormant and their…

FEW birds have had more of a roller-coaster ride in the popularity stakes than the red kite (Milvus milvus). In the Middle Ages these majestic birds, easily identified by their forked tails, were valued as scavengers, helping keep city streets clean of carrion. They were so important to public hygiene that killing one was a capital offence, even though they stole washing to line their nests! As Shakespeare wrote in The Winter’s ‘When the kite builds, look to lesser linen’. But times changed, they were persecuted as vermin (blamed for carrying off small domestic pets) and numbers fell so sharply that by the time they became a protected species in 1903 there were only a few breeding pairs left, secure in the fastnesses of central Wales. Thanks to conservation work, kites…

WE’RE used to thinking of fungi negatively in gardening – but that really must stop! There are good and bad fungi, separated by a mighty chasm. Yes, mildew, blight and scab are unwelcome, but how about plonking some homegrown chestnut, button, oyster or shiitake mushrooms on your kitchen chopping board? That will impress the domestic god/goddess in your household! Autumn is the natural time to think about growing mushrooms – moist soil and chillier temperatures stimulating their production. But home-growing comes in kit form today, allowing us to force mushrooms into growth at any time. To get scientific for a moment, while nuisance fungi are parasitic (in other words, they feed on living material), the mushrooms we are discussing here are saprophytic, so they feed on dead material and won’t…

Symphyotrichum Michaelmas daisies deliver a hit of colour in autumn and can be grown in pots or used to fill gaps in the border. The daisy-like blooms come in purple, pink and white. Perennial. Flowers: Aug-Oct. HxS: 3x11/2ft (90x45cm). Rudbeckias Varieties such as R. fulgida ‘Goldsturm’ are still flowering well in October. Buy them in bloom at the garden centre to cheer up fading borders. And team with golden grasses for a classic, autumnal feel. Flowers: Aug-Oct. HxS: 2ftx16in (60x40cm). Dahlias Keep picking and deadheading dahlias and you’ll have masses of flowers into late October or November. ‘Bishop of Auckland’ (above) has single scarlet blooms; ‘Rip City’ offers pure glamour. Flowers: Jul-Nov. HxS: 43x39in (1.1x1m). Cosmos One to remember for next year. Inexpensive to grow from seed or plug plants,…

Pretty pastels ‘Anniversary’ A top notch Spencer type, the large, intensely fragrant picotee white blooms of which are blushed pink at the edges and held on long stems. Why not grow some to fill a vase for an anniversary present? HxS: 6-8x1ft (1.8-2.4mx30cm). ‘Kate Cumberpatch’ The soft, almost billowing lavender flowers of this Spencer variety carry a strong, sweet fragrance. They blend well with some of the darker shades, such as ‘Richard and Judy’ – either on a wigwam or in a vase. H: 7x1ft (2.2mx30cm). ‘Valerie Harrod’ AGM Dainty soft coral to salmon pink and cream blooms carry a sweet scent of moderate intensity, and will really light up a summer bouquet with their warm colour. A vigorous Spencer type. HxS: 7x1ft (2.2mx30cm). Dark drama ‘Almost Black’ A Modern…

What’s the best way to store tubers? Q This year I grew begonia tubers in hanging baskets and containers for the first time in a very long while. Could you please tell me how to overwinter these as I have never been very successful in the past? Do I let them dry out in the container and leave them in the soil or do I have to remove them? Linda Griffin, via email A The best way to overwinter tuberous begonias is to wait for the first light frost to discolour and kill the blooms. Then remove plants from hanging baskets, patio pots and other containers, and from borders, and tease soil or potting compost from the roots. Consign plants to seed trays or other containers and move them into…

Q I’ve stocked my garden with a variety of herbs – mainly for cooking. My daughter is moving away in a month’s time and would like to take some with her, to grow in pots at first. Is it too late to take some cuttings, or could I lift some sections of them? Andrea Garbut, South Witham, Lincolnshire A I imagine we’re talking mainly about herbs used for cooking and tea making. Many – including mints, lemon balm, marjoram, fennel and chives – are herbaceous perennials and now, when they are going dormant and dying back, is actually a good time to shear foliage, lift, divide and replant. You can rejuvenate older plants and, at the same time, pot a few sections for your daughter. To ease transport, use small…

GETTING straight to the nub of a story is at the heart of the newshound’s art. That’s why, when I interviewed Natasha Edwards from The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight, I dived straight in with the big question on everyone’s breath: “Does garlic really keep vampires at bay?” With Hallowe’en around the corner, you’ll be relieved to know that Natasha thought it did – and she shared lots more surprising facts about this pungent plant. Garlic has been on the menu for a very long time. The Ancient Egyptians ate it, and even used the bulbs as money, while the Greeks and Romans rated the cloves as a medicinal cure-all. I once read that Roman soldiers put garlic cloves between their be-sandled toes to ward off fungal infections…