Innholdsfortegnelse for 7-Nov-2020 i Amateur Gardening

“I’ve recently made friends with a robin. Well, I say ‘robin’ (singular), but I’m not sure it’s always the same one – although I’d like to think so. As I’m shovelling my home-made compost, my red-breasted pal appears on a nearby branch to see if I’ve unearthed anything tasty. I make bird-like whistling noises in an attempt to communicate. The robin’s head darts from side to side in a quizzical fashion as if it can’t quite fathom what I’m saying. I carry on whistling, and for a moment I am communing with nature. Isn’t gardening wonderful?” Contact us: Editorial: 0330 3903732 Email: amateurgardening@futurenet.com Advertising: 07817 629935…

MOST hedgehogs will now be hibernating or stocking up on foods to fuel them through their winter sleeps. While they are grateful for manmade hedgehog homes, they will also make their own snug nests. It pays to leave an area of your garden to go wild, or pile it up with logs and twigs and moss raked from the lawn; anything that can be used to make a safe and weatherproof winter home. Reduce the amount of hedgehog food you leave out over the next few weeks, and remember never to give them mealworms or bread and milk. Instead, give them meat-based wet cat and dog food, kitten and cat biscuits and proprietary hedgehog foods such as Brambles or one from a reputable supplier such as C J Wildlife (birdfood.co.uk,…

1 Reduce feeding your fish as they get sluggish and eat less when temperatures drop. Any uneaten food will pollute the water. Deter herons with netting or a decoy plastic bird. 2 Cut back plants so dead and dying material doesn’t rot in the water. Marginals should be cut back to just above the water level; if cut below they will waterlog and die. 3 Melt ice with a pan of hot water or float a ball in the pond to stop it freezing in the first place. Never try to break ice as it can shock fish to death. 4 Kep your pump going to move the water, help prevent ice and boost oxygen levels. Oxygenating plants (Hornwort, etc.) help keep water fresh.…

THE world’s largest garden wildlife survey, the Big Garden Birdwatch, returns in January. The UK’s largest ‘citizen science’ event, involving hundreds of thousands of keen-eyed bird spotters, the Birdwatch will run from Friday to Sunday, 29-31 January 2021. Running for four decades, the Big Bird Watch has helped chart the fluctuations in population numbers of our garden birds. All you have to do is spend an hour looking for birds in their garden or local park, totting up the numbers of individuals of each species. Last year, almost 500,000 people took part and counted almost eight million birds. The house sparrow took the number one spot, followed by the starling and blue tit. However, the number of individuals spotted showed that numbers of birds are actually falling. Nature is important…

▪ Work out how much band you need to circle the trunk and add an extra 3in (8cm) to make sure there is a generous overlap. ▪ Fold out the band and attach it to the tree so the tacky side is facing outwards. The overlapping lengths help hold it in place. ▪ Tie the band top and bottom with the supplied (or your own) twine. This anchors the band securely and stops moths crawling underneath.…

I AM sure you have noticed how light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are superseding older sorts of lights almost everywhere. First appearing in torches and car lights, they are now made to fit in place of ordinary household lightbulbs, saving electricity as with other high-efficiency options but lasting longer. More importantly, suitable LEDs are also made with houseplant-friendly light. Much better than other sorts of indoor light, these give off the right mix of wavelengths, so plants grow more naturally and can easily be kept in dimmer places than ever before. LEDs also widen the range of houseplants you can now look after, and they even introduce the possibility of year-round indoor ‘farming’. “Plants grow strongly and can resist diseases” Of course, some of us have long helped our plants in our…

THANKS to global warming and our milder winters, certain species of migratory birds have taken to residing in our gardens all year, instead of heading south for warmer climes in autumn. One such bird is the blackcap, a warbler that used to grace these shores in summer only, but that can now be seen and heard all year round, with many coming here from Europe. Blackcaps are small grey birds that get their name from the male’s distinctive black headfeathers (females wear a chestnut cap). They prefer woody habitats but will thrive in parks and gardens with plenty of trees and are especially welcome in gardens as they eat caterpillars and other insect pests in summer, moving to bird food and berries in winter. They lay four-five eggs in cup-shaped…

1 Traditional: I grow ‘Nero di Toscana’ and ‘Green Curled’ every year as stalwarts. They sit in a brassica cage alongside the cauliflowers, Brussels sprout and so on. Lower leaves are picked, in batches, from August right through until late March. 2 Colourful: Fans of potagers or ‘exotic’-looking crops can grow certain eye-catching kale varieties as dot plants in their flower borders. ‘Redbor’ (pictured above), ‘Red Russian’, ‘Midnight Sun’ and ‘Emerald Ice’ are all vibrant additions to the ornamental plot. 3 Seedling: Grow as a microleaf and cut-and-come-again crop. Sow any variety now, under heated glass or on a windowsill, thickly into a tray of multi-purpose compost. Harvest ‘baby’ plants as and when necessary using scissors.…

SOME autumn jobs needn’t be rushed, but this should be completed imminently. By organic mulches, I mean those made from plant- or animal-based materials, such as leafmould, garden compost or well-rotted farmyard manure. These mulches are invaluable for insulating roots, keeping down weeds, retaining moisture and adding nutrients. They’re useful for laying around borderline hardy crops such as globe artichokes, or placing over bare beds to keep weeds at bay. Speed is needed: if they are laid down on chilled or frozen soils, their insulating properties ensure that the soil remains cold. Place them down now, before penetrating harsh frosts have had a chance to strike, and they’ll do their job perfectly. Add a layer at least 1.in (4cm) thick – don’t skimp. Keep them away from any tree trunks…

THE bird population of our semirural garden in East Devon may not include any rarities but it is impressive in both number and variety. I see it as my job to provide our feathered friends with suitable habitat and a rich, natural larder, while in return they supply song, colour, antics and pest control. Sharing my garden with wild birds means a lot to me and I find them as attractive and fascinating as a border full of flowers. Late autumn is a good time to look at your garden from their perspective and ask whether it delivers enough habitat and natural food to help them through winter. Most birds have a varied diet; for instance, song thrushes famous for tapping snails from their shells will eat insects, worms and…

Amaranthus caudatus ‘Pony Tails’ Known as love-lies-bleeding or tassel flower, this spring-sown Andean annual makes drooping tails of small red, yellow or green flowers in summer. You can use the seeds to make flour, but hungry birds will appreciate them even more. HxS: 3x2ft (90x60cm). Lavandula angustifolia ‘Miss Katherine’ AGM This English lavender will form a dense bush of grey-green leaves and relatively short spikes of pale pink flowers. The abundant seeds are easily accessible and are very popular with goldfinches, in particular. HxS: 21⁄2x3ft (75x90cm). Oenothera biennis The common biennial evening primrose that seeds itself into and around gardens is a great asset for wildlife and gardeners alike. I love the glowing primrose flowers, while birds adore the oil-rich seeds – they last well into winter. HxS: 4x2ft (1.2mx60cm).…

FOR healthier growth and better flowering, simply give perennials an annual mulch with well-rotted compost or manure. Apply it at any time, but late autumn or early winter is ideal as it offers a degree of protection for roots during the colder months. Be aware, though, that evergreen perennials are a lot more tricky to mulch than types that are cut back to ground level each autumn – the stems and foliage can get in the way. In these cases, mulch between the plants as best you can; but never walk on very wet soil, as this will compact it and harm the structure.…

Windowsill wonder Brighten your outlook and boost your mood by filling a window-box with a cheerful combination of tall red tulips (you can’t go wrong with the classic ‘Red Impression’), golden yellow wallflowers and orange primulas. Purple perfection Given a sheltered spot in partial shade, port wine-coloured hellebores are ideal companions for tulips in shades of purple and mauve. Opt for early tulips and hellebores with a long flowering period such as the Ashwood Garden Hybrids. Hot and cold Blue works so well when teamed with oranges and reds. Try a mix of shorter tulips in blazing shades – here ‘Prinses Irene’, frilly deep red ‘Rococo’ and fully double ‘Orange Princess’ – and muscari in a weathered metal container.…

John will reply personally to all your gardening questions every week How can I safely overwinter fuchsias? Q This year we started growing fuchsia but are now worried about them surviving winter. What should we do? Mick Drew, Brigg, Leics. A Many fuchsias are actually tougher than we give them credit for, though their survival through winter does depend on the weather and the prevailing conditions in your garden. If your garden is quite sheltered and not subject to prolonged periods of cold and frosty weather, they should survive. If we have a cold winter, or your garden is vulnerable to frost, the top growth may die, but as long as the roots are OK then the plants will re-grow, though they may only reach the size that they achieved…

Gardening and grief I LOST my dad last October; he reached a good age of 90, but I was heartbroken. Having moved in with my mum, I wanted to keep the garden going. This is what dad used to do – he loved pottering around in the garden. During lockdown, I started buying AG weekly and have learnt so much. I cleaned the greenhouse out and started bringing plants on. Here is a picture of dad’s old ladder, newly painted and added to the garden. The garden has given me a new meaning in life and has been very therapeutic. I even grew veg this year and have planted all your lovely seeds. I wish to share this with other AG readers who may be in a similar position. Karen…

BUCKLAND Castle has oft been the scene of ghoulish goingson. There was the time I faceplanted into the sharp end of an apple tree – it snuck up on me while I gathered mistletoe. And who can forget when that icicle fell from the gutter down the back of my jacket? Spine chilling! But these horrors are as nothing compared to the screech of terror that just last night punctured the air right outside our back door. As soon as I heard the squeal, I fearlessly rushed towards the hullabaloo, which must have been loud as, by the time I’d laced my boots and looked for a scarf (upstairs radiator, if you’re wondering), my teenage son had pipped me to the door. As the portal creaked open, we were greeted…

WE have had some marvellous encounters with garden wildlife this year, including hours watching hedgehogs trundling around the beds, and seeing a badger and a fox on our garden webcam. I also found a just-fledged sparrow on the patio (I heard the telltale thud on a window as I was working on AG upstairs) that I thought was dead, so I picked it up to bury it with all the other glazing fatalities under the greengage tree at the bottom of the garden (it always fruits well!) At this point it miraculously resurrected, opened its eyes, hopped to the ends of my fingers and after a few stunned minutes, flew away. All this, without even starting on the wealth of insect life that’s come our way; hornets feasting on windfalls,…

I WAS lucky enough to grow up with a dad who had a no-nonsense approach to house spiders that had wandered into the house. He would simply scoop them up, either in his hand or in a handkerchief, and pop them back outside. This attitude rubbed off on me and I can’t for the life of me see why people go to pieces over spiders. However, I don’t pop them outside, I just move them to the shed, garage or a less-used room in the house (outside is too cold and cruel) to go about their business. House spiders are large but friendly. They come into the house in autumn looking for love and while they are here they happily work their way through any insect pests they find. Other…

AS temperatures plummet, plants aren’t the only things in the garden at risk from freezing conditions. A fractured pipe leading to an exterior tap will cause major problems indoors as well as out, but is easily avoided. Insulation is key, so use proper lagging to protect pipes, and wrap taps in bubble wrap or cloth, to stop them freezing. Proprietary tap protectors are also widely available from DIY shops and online. Where possible, isolate outside taps from the mains. You should also drain fountains and water features to prevent them freezing and cracking. Isolate the electrical supply and spray it with water-resistant lubricant to deter rust and corrosion, remembering to wash it off in spring to avoid contaminating the water. Finally, make sure everyone in the household knows the location…

ONE of the main joys of planting fruit trees, apart from a wealth of frothy springtime blossom, is that they afford you the luxury of picking delicious sun-ripened apples, pears or plums when you fancy. So it is incredibly dispiriting when the leaves on your trees are laced with tiny holes, the blossom is negligible and fruits refuse to form and grow. The culprits are the caterpillars of winter moths, which attack apple, plum, pear and cherry trees. Their voracious attacks on leaves, blossom and fruits can severely damage and weaken a tree, affecting cropping. The umbrella name ‘winter moths’ covers a range of species that emerge from pupae in the soil and lay eggs on the trees between November and May. The wingless females crawl up the trunks to…

EVERY autumn I make the journey to Spalding in Lincolnshire to visit the major international seed companies’ salads and vegetables trials. The first port of call is always Elsoms Seeds, an independent family business founded in 1844, but my goodness they know how to keep up with the times. Our tastes change, such as the dark-leaved, almost black kale made popular by chef Jamie Oliver, yet it can take 10-15 years, sometimes more, for breeders to reach qualities they forecast will be in demand when their prodigy is fit to go on sale. The dark-leaved kale ‘Sunbor’ is a good introduction. It has better eating qualities, is easy to grow and so decorative that it can be grown in flower borders as well as in containers. “Kale ‘Sunbor’ can be…

1 Gather up all available ashes from clean bonfires to store in the dry before the rain can wash out their value. 2 If stood in the damp, garden canes rot at the bottoms – stored in the dry, they’ll be same length next year! 3 It’s getting late to plant garlic and autumn onion sets unless you have a warm, sheltered garden, so it’s much better to plant in tubs under cover. 4 Look for discounted Hallowe’en goods for fake spiders and cobwebs, as these make the best bird-scarers next spring.…

I THINK most gardeners realise that our climate is changing, and the statistics back this up. Weather records show that 2019’s average temperature was 1.1°C above the long-term averages recorded between 1961 and 1990. The UK summer of 2018 (June, July and August), was the joint hottest on record since 1884. The 1990s was the warmest decade in Central England since records began in the 1660s. The climate has changed in my lifetime. When I was a child in the 1950s, living in suburban London, we always had frosts in September. Autumn would be a season of chilly mornings, so you needed a coat and long socks. More urban buildings have increased temperatures, and now frost, if it happens at all in London, is more of a rarity. This means…

✓ Compact varieties, such as ‘Dwarf Green Curled’ and ‘Raven’ can be grown to maturity in large containers; place three plants per half-barrel. ✓ Modern breeders have developed varieties with higher sugar levels to recruit kale converts, such as ‘Candy Floss’ and ‘Midnight Sun’. ✓ Though plants will flower as spring progresses, snapping these spikes off prolongs the production of foliage. ✓ Kale’s ‘superfood’ status is well known – one serving contains an astounding 680% RDA vitamin K and 200% RDA vitamin A. ✓ Enthusiasts should try ‘Daubenton’ kale, a non-flowering perennial that forms mounds of grey-green leaves. ✓ Kales are incredibly hardy, yet you may find some of the more coloured, ornamental forms less resilient to severe frosts.…

1 Pots indoors: Those with small, pot-grown trees can move your plant into a well-lit, frost-free spot for winter. A frost-free greenhouse or conservatory is ideal. Keep plants dry, but not bone dry. 2 Pots outside: If you’ve no undercover space for potted plants, move to a sunny, sheltered spot in your garden. Pea-sized fig embryos are hardy, so should get through winter here relatively unscathed. 3 Trees in situ: Many of us grow figs as trees against walls or fences, so we can’t move them! In mild areas, leave well alone. In any more exposed sites, insulate with straw held in place using pea netting.…

Euonymus planipes There are many fiery-fruited spindles. This species from China and Japan makes an upright shrub, bearing elegantly dangling stems of red fruits with orange arils. Leaves turn a brilliant scarlet before falling. H&S: 10ft (3m). Pyracantha Saphyr Orange (‘Cadange’) AGM While bees love the white, nectar-rich May blossom, blackbirds will perform gymnastics to feast on the bright orange berries. Evergreen; takes kindly to pruning and shaping. H&S: 6ft (1.8m). Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Robin Hill’ AGM The North American snowy mespilus or shadbush adds new coppery foliage, white spring blossom, purple fruits and autumn tints. Control size by thinning while dormant. HxS: 25x15ft (8x5m). Malus x zumi ‘Golden Hornet’ A popular crab apple; bees adore the mass of spring blossom and will pollinate your apples. Produced prolifically, the yellow…

Bergenia ‘Autumn Magic’ Generally, bergenias flower in late winter and spring; but true to its name, ‘Autumn Magic’ blooms from spring into autumn. The generous, glossy green leaves (the reason it’s called ‘elephant’s ears’) are accompanied by bright pink flowers. Good for shade. H: 1ft (30cm). Stachys byzantina ‘Silver carpet’ Lamb’s ear is grown for its soft, fluffy, silver leaves. Evergreen, they remain over winter, just starting to fade as a fresh crop replaces the old one in spring. ‘Silver Carpet’ rarely flowers, which is just fine, as the felt-like foliage is the real story of this plant. H: 4-18in (10-45cm). Pachysandra terminalis ‘Variegata’ AGM Vibrant and splashed with cream, the leaves of this variegated Japanese spurge form an evergreen carpet that is topped with white flower spikes in early…

DO plant tulip bulbs in mid to late autumn (November is ideal). Getting them in the ground any earlier increases the risk of tulip fire disease. DON’T skimp on space. Plant at a depth of two or three times the bulb’s height, and at least twice its width apart. For ease, it’s worth investing in a bulb planter. DO arrange tulips in clumps of four to 10 bulbs when combining with other plants in the border – this will create a more attractive finished display.…

This week it’s: Bonfires galore… Remember, remember the 5th of November! AUTUMN is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness – and bonfires! And never more so than around 5 November, when we celebrate the burning of a terrorist! Mmm… Anyway, for whatever reason, people all round the UK are lighting bonfires at this time, as well as setting off fireworks and eating toffee apples by the million. Of course, the bonfire itself is a great opportunity for the gardener to get rid of garden waste. However, Covid-19 notwithstanding, is it really sensible to light a fire, both from the point of view of the law, and the environmental impact (including possibly annoying the neighbours)? Also, what are some of the garden and plant associations with fire? Let’s find out.…

Servicing garden tools Tim Rumball offers some simple maintenance tips to keep tools working efficiently BLUNT blades of secateurs can crush plant stems, dull saw blades run off line and loose handles can be a danger to the user. In essence, tools that don’t work correctly make gardening jobs more difficult. However, a bit of regular maintenance helps avoid such problems and the autumn is a good time to do this. Hand tools Hand tools, including forks, spades, hand forks, hand trowels, hoes, rakes and similar all benefit from a thorough clean. Warm soapy water and a plastic-bristled brush (I use a cheap dishwashing brush) will clean general muck from tool handles and heads. Forged carbon-steel blades can rust, and this should be removed with a stiff wire brush (available…

I ALWAYS enjoy the packets of free seeds given away with AG. There is always that gap in the border that needs filling. However, I find there are always far too many seeds for my needs. Not to be wasteful, I grow them on in 3in (8cm) pots and give them away on this purpose-made stand behind our hedge. This, I hope, encourages others in these crazy times into gardening. I ask for no money, but if folk would like to make a donation to the RNLI (saving lives at sea), that’s a bonus! So far the seeds, AG and I have raised ?23. As they say, every little helps! Stephen F High, Garvestone, Norfolk Wendy says: Well done, Stephen! I HAD the idea during the summer of 2019 to…

1 Stop birds stunning and killing themselves on your windows by decorating them with stickers and silhouettes of birds of prey. 2 If you have a cat, make sure their collars have a bell and keep them inside or away from bird feeders in the early mornings and dusk when birds usually feed. 3 Make your own fatballs to hang in trees. Fat, cheese, seeds and dried fruit make a protein-packed snack when the weather is cold. 4 Keep bird baths and feeding stations clean to prevent the spread of disease. Also melt their water after an overnight freeze.…

▪ If you have an open compost heap that needs turning during the winter, be careful with your fork. ▪ Compost generates heat as it decomposes and this makes the heap a welcoming, comfortable haven for all sorts of animals seeking to hibernate in winter. ▪ Slow worms, frogs, toads and hedgehogs (all gardeners’ allies) may all take up residence when the temperature drops, so take care and, if possible, use a spade to turn compost over. ▪ Bats also hibernate, often in churches and old buildings. They may even roost in the eaves of your house so take care when getting the Christmas decorations down from the loft, or planning any renovations.…

WE all want to help our bee population, and the National Botanic Garden of Wales has made it easier by highlighting some of the best plants for early spring pollinators. The list includes early-flowering varieties that are so important, as they provide the year’s first foods for queen bees and other insects as they emerge from hibernation. The Botanic Garden’s PhD researcher, Abigail Lowe, said: “As pollinating insects emerge on warm days in late winter and early spring, they seek their first meals of the season. “After hibernating over winter, bumblebee queens need to find nest sites to form new colonies – an energy-demanding task. “Most hoverflies and solitary bees overwinter as larvae, beginning their adulthood ‘on the wing’ during spring. And while honeybees stay active during warm days throughout…

BOX tree moths and caterpillars were first spotted in the UK in 2007 and have become a widespread menace. The moths lay eggs between April and October and the caterpillars devastate large areas of the shrub, protecting themselves under dense silken webbing. Treating the caterpillars with a chemical is possible but is tough work as it is hard to penetrate their webs. Pesticides you can try include organic varieties such as Bug Clear Gun for Fruit & Veg or Ecofective Bug Killer, and synthetic systemic sprays including Provanto Ultimate Fruit & Vegetable Bug Killer. If you don’t fancy hand-picking caterpillars or going down the chemical route, pheromone traps that catch the males so they can’t start the next generation are a good control. There are several available versions made by…

1 There are now such dramatic lettuce colours that they can be cropped in flower borders and look really decorative in containers. 2 Farmers have a five-to-seven-year rotation for carrots and parsnips, to avoid the build up of pests and diseases. It makes our four-year rotation look dated. 3 The latest spring greens do not heart as such, but they produce masses of succulent leaves that be used in salads, stir fries and for steaming. 4 As well as tasty roots, golden beetroot ‘Boldor’ has leaves to pick, cook and eat like spinach.…

BASKETS and containers are so easy to create and such a wonderful way of bringing colour and fun to the garden, but they are more vulnerable to winter problems than almost any other area of the garden. They can become waterlogged in prolonged rain, battered and damaged by gales, and freezing conditions can crack pots and freeze compost, causing plants to die. Luckily, all these potential problems are generally easy to sidestep with a bit of forethought and a few precautions. Avoid waterlogged pots by raising them up on feet or bricks to allow excess water to flow away and reduce the risk of frozen compost. The latter can also be safeguarded against by swaddling pots in fleece or bubble wrap, making sure the top and bottom are left open,…

FROM ancient varieties that will withstand the harshest of winters to new, colourful, eye-catching introductions, there’s a kale out there to suit everyone’s needs. I wouldn’t be without kale, and every year grow vast swathes of it. Although I predominantly grow it the traditional way, as mature plants, don’t overlook that this crop is versatile. Even with no dedicated veg plot (or even garden), you can grow your own (see panel). Kale isn’t just a winter crop. The sowings I make in April allows me to harvest leaves from July onwards. These summer harvests are a softer, more buttery affair than winter leaves hardened by a chill. Yet the cold-season crop is incredibly valuable. By now, flavours become more robust (an ideal partner for winter casseroles) and leaves can be…

MY grandparents were famed for their sloe gin – it inspired my cousins and I to have friendly competitions as adults, to see who could make the best batch. We even served it up with the toasts on our wedding day! So it’s a ritual to scour the hedgerows in late autumn. I wait for the first frosts before I pick my sloes. These tart little berries (Prunus spinosa) get physically broken down by a frost, allowing flavours to intensify and steep easily into the gin. Add equal volumes of sloes to gin (grandad used to add the same volume of sugar, too, but it’s too sweet for me so I add mine at the end to taste). You can add flavours such as a few cloves, or a few…

WELL, it might look a bit like a banana, but it certainly doesn’t taste like one! This vigorous perennial (Sicana odorifera) is, in fact, more closely related to a melon; indeed, this is what it smells and tastes like once it is fully ripe. Give it plenty of room in a warm spot, because this self-clinging tender vine is often allowed to scramble up trees in its native Brazil. Treat it culturally like an annual cucumber or melon, offering plants ample water and high-potash feed throughout summer. The fruits can reach 12in (30cm) in length, and turn rusty brown once ripe. They’ll stay firm and sound for weeks, if not months, offering an alternative to our conventional, quick-to-mature melons. Next week: Focus on greenhouse winter crops, harvest sweet potatoes, protect…

‘Ballerina’ AGM: A polyantha rose liberally smothered in clusters of single blooms in white and shades of pink; these are followed by dainty, long-lasting rose hips. Thinning out an older stem now and again will keep it looking its best. H&S: 4ft (1.2m). Rosa glauca AGM: Smaller and less vigorous than the native dog rose (R. canina). Nearly thornless, with purple-grey leaves, single rich pink and white blooms and rounded red hips. HxS: 6x5ft (1.8mx1.m). R. moyesii ‘Geranium’ AGM: Attractive pinnate leaves make an excellent backdrop to single red flowers lit by yellow stamens. Hips are large, red and flask-shaped. HxS: 8x7ft (2.x2.1m).…

Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ AGM This perennial wallflower makes a neat, tidy plant that’s covered in purple-mauve flowers from late winter to summer – often until the first frosts of late autumn. The blooms are set above attractive silvery-grey-green mounds of evergreen foliage. H: 21⁄2ft (75cm). Libertia ixioides ‘Taupo Sunset’ A winner thanks to the variegated yellow-, orange-, red- and green-striped, grass-like leaves. Best grown in full sun, it gives a pop of colour in darker areas, too. Needs shelter; mulch well in winter for added protection. H: 2ft (60cm). Kniphofia uvaria Thick and spiky, the evergreen leaves of this red hot poker feed the fiery red buds in summer. The latter open to reveal tubular orange flowers that gradually fade to bright yellow. Easy to establish in a sunny spot,…

Euphorbia x martini ‘Rudolph’ Forming a mound of dark-green foliage, this striking evergreen spurge is topped with chartreuse flowers in spring. ‘Rudolph’ refers to the bright red shoot tips that develop as winter takes hold. H: 2ft (60cm). Senecio candidans ‘Angel Wings’ Grown as a foliage plant – and with tactile, evergreen, soft and velvety silver leaves it’s not hard to see why. Great for a hot, sunny border, rockery or sensory garden. Yellow flowers are produced in summer. H: 16in (40cm).…

Biennials Forget-me-nots Myosotis are easy to grow and will spread like wildfire. Flowering from mid spring to mid summer, the five-lobed flowers of perennial M. sylvatica look great with pink tulips such as ‘Foxtrot’ rising out of their sea of blue. Perfoliate alexander There’s nothing like a pop of acid yellow-green to shake things up. Foliage plant Smyrnium perfoliatum will complement the colours of ‘Spring Green’ tulips. Or plant with darkly dramatic ‘Black Hero’ for contrast. Wallflowers Combinations don’t get more classic than that of tulips and wallflowers. For a fiery display partner Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ with Erysimum cheiri ‘Golden Bedder’. Both will appreciate a sunny spot in well-drained soil. Perennials Solomon’s seal The green-tipped ivory blooms and verdant foliage of Polygonatum x hybridum will be flattered by a planting of…

WHEN choosing planting companions for tulips bear in mind the following: ▪ Tulips like sun and free-draining soil so anything you plant with them will need to favour the same conditions. ▪ While having everything in flower at once will make a wonderful display, it will leave a gap once the flowers have gone over. Research flowering times and aim for a staggered approach with some overlap. ▪ Foliage plants can look just as lovely alongside tulips as flowering ones as they will contrast rather than compete. Consider the likes of heucheras, bronze fennel and Alchemilla mollis. Where to buy* Avon Bulbs avonbulbs.co.uk 01460 242177 De Jager dejager.co.uk 01622 840229 Farmer Gracy farmergracy.co.uk 0330 808 7304 YouTulip youtulip.co.uk 0031 70 711 0321 *Many nurseries are currently unable to send out…

Q I grew sweet and chilli peppers for the first time this summer, but the plants produced few fruits that didn’t reach full size. They also had small holes in them. What caused this, and how can I grow them better next year? Chris Nightingale, Hartlepool, County Durham A This sounds like the work of tomato moth caterpillars, which (despite the name) seem to find both sweet and chilli peppers tastier. Eggs are laid on leaf undersides and feeding caterpillars cause white papery patches. The growing larvae disperse and often make holes to enter and feed inside developing or ripe fruits. When fully grown, they pupate just below the soil surface or in other debris. Watch for early leaf damage and young caterpillars to squish before they do more harm.…