Innholdsfortegnelse for 27-Mar-2021 i Amateur Gardening

“For many of us, the challenge we face every year is how to make the most of our garden space. We can’t plant everything we want to — if only! And that will mean difficult decisions. Every year, I have to take stock and consider which plants I want continue with, and what I want to grow anew. A few weeks ago, an old woody buddleja and a failing rhododendron were regretfully uprooted and disposed of, but it opened up a lot of space – and in their place will go nerines, agapanthus and hollyhocks. I’ve decided to plant cosmos again as they looked amazing, and flowered for ages. And clary gets a recall, too, as their purple blue flowers were a delight. What tough decisions have you made this…

THE garden is getting going now and so, sadly are the problems that go with it. Warmer weather means pests are coming out in force, and while diseases may still be thin on the ground, there are some to keep an eye out for. The greenhouse is a flashpoint because of the combination of a sheltered environment and lots of tender young leaves. Snails may have overwintered inside and aphids will seek out the first new growth to feed on. Both are easy to deal with; pick off and remove snails and squish small colonies of greenfly off plants before they become serious infestations. Watch out for moulds and rots too, especially if your greenhouse hasn’t been well ventilated. Botrytis grey mould is a common problem, so ensure your greenhouse…

LIQUID feeds are soluble fertilisers – mixtures of nutrients that we add to the water we are giving our plants, which then help to feed them. Such feeding is most valuable for plants growing rapidly while confined in pots and containers. In the open ground, plant roots can grow unrestrained, so need feeding far less. Even so, really hungry crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, sweetcorn and squashes benefit from liquid feeding. Indeed, if you wish to show exhibits of almost anything, you have to feed, and heavily. Theoretically, each plant needs different amounts of many different nutrients, but in practice we use generalpurpose rather than specific feeds. Thus, it’s sensible to use several in rotation to cover any over- or under-supply. Also, it’s far safer to add a little and…

Incredible value for money and ideal for getting ahead of the game, these trays of small plants will give you dozens of plants when grown on, for ultimate 'flower power' in your garden! Grow them on in pots in a frost-free location, for around 5 weeks, before planting out in their final location. Geranium Blooming Mix This stupendous mix of summer-flowering geraniums has been raised from the finest seed to guarantee you the very best results! Bursting into colour in late-spring, in a torrent of reds, whites and pinks, they will light up your beds, borders and hanging baskets. Geranium Cabaret Red 'Cabaret Red' is a classic Geranium that will simply burst with vibrant red colour all summer long! This garden winner forms an attractive, uniform habit with light and…

This week it’s: DISGUSTING or delicious? This week’s subject is celery – and it seems it’s a vegetable that divides opinion. Some people eat it almost daily (with a dip, or in a salad, or in stews). Others detest it. According to a YouGov poll carried out last summer, celery came forty-third out of 52 vegetables, sitting between courgette and avocado. Many of the research respondents claimed that celery was “disgusting”. Me? I can take it or leave it and, if pushed, would admit to preferring its flavour in casseroles or soups, rather than the crisp, raw stalk. Still, it does have its uses: it’s great for flavouring and for helping you to slim, and it’s easy to grow! Let’s look at some celery facts… Trench-grown celery THIS is rarely…

Steve Bradley MA MHort (RHS) has written (or co-written) more than 40 gardening books, including Propagation Basics, The Pruner’s Bible, The Ground Force Workbook and What’s Wrong With My Plant? He is resident expert on BBC Radio Kent, Sussex and Surrey, and he has built medal-winning gardens at both Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace. THERE was a time when the only place to see orchids was in a botanic collection because they were expensive treasures, brought back to this country from around the world by traders and collectors. Originally, wealthy merchants would use them to show off to their friends (and rivals) to prove just how rich they were, not just acquiring these exotic plants from all over the world, but also affording the conditions to keep them alive here.…

WHERE many plants drift in and out of fashion, there is one that seems to stay top of the pops: the rose. Whether they are shrubby, climbing, rambling or potted, their popularity never wanes. If you have roses in your garden, now is the time to start work to help them perform their best this summer. For despite their popularity, roses can be tricky plants to grow well, liking lots of nurturing while being prone to a range of pests and problems. However, with a strong start to the year and continued care throughout, they should stay healthy and put on a wonderful show all summer and well into the autumn. Plant health starts at ground level, with the soil. Rose roots run shallow, so take care when weeding to…

DAFFODIL season is coming to an end, soon to be joined by the tulips as they die back for another year. This means that for the next few weeks the areas where they are growing will look a bit tatty as leaves shrivel and die. Tempting though it is to tidy them up, leave them alone. Removing and knotting the leaves is false maintenance, as both will stop nourishment returning to the bulbs, potentially meaning next year’s display won’t be so good. Grit your teeth and let them turn yellow, watering and feeding with liquid tomato fertiliser fortnightly to help replenish the bulbs. If plants have emerged ‘blind’, without flowers, it may be worth lifting the bulbs to make sure they are still healthy and not infected with narcissus fly.…

LAST year was a great one for cosmos. I sowed the variety ‘Candy Stripe’, which came free with AG, and they flowered right through the summer and well into the autumn, finally flattened by heavy rains and high winds. Cosmos is one of my favourite summer annual varieties so I’m delighted to see we are giving more away this year. Cosmos ‘Polidor’ will bring a splash of sunshine to your borders with their citrussy blend of reds, oranges and yellows. The plants stand 30in (75cm) tall and will produce a mass of single and double flowers above elegant, frondy foliage. The open flowerheads have the added bonus of encouraging bees, butterflies and other pollinators to your garden. Perfect for filling gaps in borders and also happy when grown in pots…

I’VE just started to see butterflies again in my Gloucestershire garden – such bringers of joy. However, if I lived further south, I might see red admirals flying on winter days, because these butterflies are now resident in warmer parts of Britain due to a warming climate. I didn’t realise this until I saw a handsome red admiral feeding on a snowdrop in a Somerset garden in mid-February. That butterfly was able to fly and feed as and when, because red admirals do not enter a torpid state of dormancy or hibernation. Most of the red admirals I see in my own garden are migrants, not residents, and they often come in three waves. The first migration in April is thought to come from North Africa and southern Europe. In…

Macleaya microcarpa ‘Kelway’s Coral Plume’ AGM – This plume poppy has gorgeous scalloped blue-green leaves and hazy tapers of buff-pink flowers. Grow in well-drained soil in sheltered sun or semi-shade. H: 78in (2m). Rodgersia pinnata ‘Superba’ AGM The large, coarse-textured palmate leaves are bronze when young, then mature to green; topped with panicles of pink summer flowers. Grow in moist soil in semi-shade. H: 39in (1m). Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ AGM This Ethiopian banana has spectacular burgundy leaves that excuse the need to lift it to overwinter it indoors each year. Alternatively, grow in a pot. Sun or semishade. H: 38-118in (2-3m). Melianthus major AGM The honey flower is usually grown for its serrated glaucous leaves; but in mild areas, it’s an evergreen shrub that produces maroon flowers. Grow in sheltered…

While John sometimes advocates using chemicals against pests and diseases as the most effective means of control, organic options are sometimes available and we advise readers to go with their preferences Contact John Negus by email address below Email: amateurgardening@futurenet.com How do I prune an inherited climber? QWe have inherited a fantastic climbing rose, though I don’t know what variety. How should I prune it? Simon MacDonald (via email) AWe can advise you on pruning, even without knowing the variety or growing habit. Start by pruning out completely any dead, diseased and dying wood, cutting to healthy wood just above a bud. Also look at the plant and cut our crossing branches where the thorns on one stem might rub and damage another. Stems can be removed either to their…

Q What is the best way to divide herbaceous perennials, and how big a section is best for replanting? I would like to plant some types in together. Is this a good idea? Gloria Chadwick, Birmingham A Herbaceous perennials are longlived, non-woody plants whose growth dies back in winter and returns every spring. Most have specific flowering periods between spring and autumn, and perform well in herbaceous and mixed borders, prairie style plantings, as statements and in containers. I love them for they are a movable feast, rarely objecting when we fork them up out of the ground to plant elsewhere. After a couple of years, new plants have usually expanded sufficiently to be divided into several portions, perfect for swapping or making larger drifts. Interplanting one sort with another…

Centaurea montana ‘Amethyst Dream’ The perennial cornflower thrives well in clay and will even tolerate some waterlogging. Flowers open from scaly buds during May and June, looking well at the front of a border. H: 18in (45cm) S: 24in (60cm). Aruncus dioicus AGM Goatsbeard opens its tall, feathery plumes of creamy-white flowers in early summer and can thrive in sun where soils remain moist, or in shade in drier places. Stems are usually self-supporting. H: 6ft (1.8m) S: 4ft (1.2m). Astrantia major ‘Abbey Road’ On good, moist soil masterworts will produce their June to September show of jewel-like umbels in sun or light shade; the small flowers sitting like pins in lacy, cushion-like bracts. H: 2ft (60cm) S: 18in (45cm). Care and planting LIKE any art form, painting with perennials…

Eggcellent for gardening!: Next weekend is Easter weekend, the unofficial start of the gardening year. I shall be focussing on jobs that are perfect for the four-day holiday. ROSES can take a hard prune; in fact they flourish and will send out lots of new shoots as a result. Last winter I gave mine the chop and cut our inherited floribunda right back to just over ankle height. I was slightly alarmed by my bravado, but it seems to have paid off as lots of new shoots have sprouted, hopefully leading to a heavy festooning of flowers come the summer. The plant is obviously healthy despite its age as the pruning wounds from the previous year have callused over well. Now roses are starting to grow again we need to…

Listen to Peter’s free podcast every Thursday. Search for This Week In The Garden with Peter Seabrook’ on iTunes PLANT trials are often mentioned in these columns, and you may wonder about their significance and value to the home gardener. The judging results for the FleuroSelect Rudbeckia 2020 Trial have been ratified, and they confirm 11 new Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merits (AGMs), the hallmark for good garden performance, for this single species. There were over 80 different cultivars in this trial, opening one’s eyes to the range of flower colours, bloom shapes (from single to semi-double and fully double), heights from nine inches to three feet, and the length of time they were colourful. We all had something to learn, and for me it was the remarkable…

Next week: Focus on carrots, wake up your wormery, sow leeks, rustic pea and bean supports, homemade compost, try strawberry popcorn. Did you know? Potted fruit trees can be ‘festooned’ to keep them small yet productive. Bend the side branches over into an arch, using soft ties. This suppresses vigour while also encouraging more fruit buds. MEANDERING under a canopy of bee-draped fruit tree blossom is a real springtime treat, but few of us fancy we have space to plant large, orchard-style fruit trees. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution if you yearn for homegrown cherries, apples or peaches: grow them in pots! This method can transform the tiniest patio or balcony into a bountiful oasis. Let’s look at the basics. Larger thick-walled pots are ideal because you don’t want the…

Annuals Nicotiana langsdorffii The most elegant of tobacco plants, the dainty vivid green, waisted bells hang from unexpectedly strong, wiry stems, their colour enhanced by the blue anthers. Resistant to the blue mould that attacks other nicotianas. H: 3ft (90cm). Perennials Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’ An entirely green coneflower, both the ring of petals and the domed cone are green and the upwardfacing flowers are held on stout stems. ‘Coconut Lime’ is a frillyflowered double version. H: 28in (70cm). Shrubs and climbers Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ Long, coneshaped flower heads open green, become creamier as they mature then deepen in colour eventually developing pinkish tones. Prune hard in spring. ‘Little Lime’ (‘Jane’) is more compact. H: 6ft (1.8m). AGM. Zinnia ‘Giant Lime’ Large fullydouble flowers about 4in (10cm) across are pale lime…

Only £ 6 a month ROOTS is a celebration of Scotland's flora, bringing you closer to our flowers and plants at home. You'll get: Gardening goodies every six weeks including Scottish seeds six times a year Tips from expert gardeners Stories and histories about the flowers you'll grow And you'll be helping the National Trust for Scotland gardens flourish and thrive. Subscribe today at nts.org.uk/roots NATIONAL TRUST for SCOTLAND The National Trust for Scotland is a Scottish charity, SC007410…

See the entire range online at www.magazinesdirect.com/spring21 or phone 0330 333 1113 and quote code SP02 *Terms and conditions: Offer closes 30.04.2021. Offer open to new subscribers only. After your trial ends, your subscription price will be adjusted to reflect a 10% saving against the RRP price. This offer is also open to overseas readers- 5 issues for €5 for Europe and 5 issues for $5/£5 for ROW. After these issues, standard subscription pricing will apply. The savings are based on the UK shop price. Please allow up to six weeks for delivery of your first subscription issue (up to eight weeks overseas). Payment is non-refundable after the 14 day cancellation period unless exceptional circumstances apply. For full terms and conditions, visit www.magazinesdirect.com/terms. For enquiries please call: +44 (0) 330…

Lysimachia clethroides AGM The gooseneck loosestrife is a winner in my rural garden where clumps spread happily in moist clay soil and light shade. Arching spires of white flowers open mid to late summer. H and S: 1m (3ft). Alchemilla mollis AGM Lady’s mantle is good at self-seeding. Early summer brings a foam of lime green flowers and a shearing of tatty leaves plus a good soaking brings fresh foliage for late summer. H: 18in (45cm) S: 24in (60cm). Symphiotrichum ericoides ‘Erlkonig’ Michaelmas and New England daisies are usually all sidelined by rabbits. This disease-free light, airy heath aster opens sprays of starry lilac flowers over fine, dark green foliage in September and October. H: 3ft (90cm) S: 60cm. Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’ AGM Safely anchored by long woody…

A day to remember What a difference a day makes! Toby explains how to capitalise on the extra daylight the spring equinox brings I’M reading a book on anti-gravity – honestly, it’s impossible to put down! But seriously, I have been pondering the wonders of the solar system this week, largely because the angle of the planet below our toes has entered the perfect section of its solar orbit for sowing seeds. March 20 is a key date in the gardening calendar – it marks the ‘spring equinox’ when, thanks to the earth’s slanted spin, the sun’s influence crosses the equator to favour the Northern hemisphere. It’s the only day (apart from September 22, the autumn equinox) that the sun rises due east and sets due west wherever you stand…