Innholdsfortegnelse for 12-Aug-2023 i Amateur Gardening

GIVE your lavenders a trim now to keep them in shape and prevent them becoming woody. Late summer is the best time to prune this iconic plant, once it has finished flowering. Simply remove the spent flower stems and around an inch (2.5cm) of leafy growth. Avoid cutting into the older, woody material as this won’t rejuvenate and you will be left with ugly, stumpy bushes. If you harvested the flowers of your lavender earlier in the summer to use for their scent, all you need to do now is run a pair of shears over the bushes to keep them neat. Again, take care not to cut into the older wood. Despite regular pruning, lavender bushes tend to become straggly after a few years so it is worth taking…

▪ Our wildflower lawn gets better each year and this spring and summer have gifted us several new species of plants and insects. ▪ We were especially delighted to have a colony of small blue butterflies take up residence, probably drawn to the garden by the kidney vetch we sowed, which is the sole food plant for their caterpillars. ▪ What made their arrival even more special is the fact they are declining in number. ▪ We want the meadow to continue, so this week we have been laying the foundations for next year. ▪ This has involved harvesting yellow rattle seeds to sow in other areas of lawn, and cutting back the grass and flowers that have faded. ▪ The cut stems will be left for a few days…

AS the light slips at the end of summer, you can go bold, brassy and hot in your colour schemes to catch the final flourish of the season – or you can savour those dipping rays with the cool, pale blooms of Japanese anemones. If you can accommodate a swathe of them, the clouds of delicate flowers bring a luminosity to the fading light of late summer and early autumn days. Also known as windflowers for their airy habit, Japanese anemones are guaranteed to light up shadier areas of your borders. They are supremely elegant in shades of pure white through the palest pink and deeper rose tints. Making a real impact Japanese anemones generally peak during August and September. Of the 120 or so varieties to choose from, many…

Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’ Cornflowers are an essential wildlife plant; to keep things contemporary, opt for deep burgundy over classic blue. Sow under glass in September, or direct sow in well-drained, sun-baked soil in April. H: 3ft (90cm). Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Cat’ A fabulous dark-claret perennial that lures pollinators such as hoverflies and butterflies into the garden. Pick regularly for the vase and it will flower for months on end. Sow under glass now. H: 39in (1m). Geranium phaeum The dusky cranesbill (also known as black widow) is a useful perennial that produces its maroon flowers in late spring. Great with ferns, it favours semi-shade but will tolerate dry shade. H: 21 ⁄2ft (75cm).…

‘Black Knight’ AGM Large, vigorous plants with relatively short slender spikes filled with deepest purple (though not black), yellow-eyed florets. Still an awardwinner 65 years after its introduction. Good for: Back of a mixed border. Good with: Canary creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum) growing through it. Also try: ‘Purple Emperor’ is similar, but much shorter and with smaller leaves. Hardiness: RHS H6. Height: 10-13ft (3-4m). Buzz Series Short and mid-sized buddlejas in ten different colours across the whole buddleja range, ideal in small spaces as they all remain compact. Developed in Suffolk. Good as: Accent plants for small gardens, attracting butterflies. Good for: Annuals such as petunias and pelargoniums around the base. Top choices: Buzz Ivory (‘Tobudivory’) (white flowers), Buzz Indigo (‘Tobudmidni’) (deep blue), shown. Hardiness: RHS H6. Height: 3-4ft (90cm-1.2m). ‘Dartmoor’…

It’s time for our just-for-fun puzzle – AG’s Garden Wall. This wall comprises 12 bricks in three courses. Each brick has a different word, or phrase on it. The first brick in each course, with BLOCK capitals, is cemented in place and cannot be moved. Just rearrange all the other bricks, so that the four words in each course of bricks are linked. There are three different connections to look for, one for each course. You may find that some words have more than one connection to other courses, but there is just one correct answer. You’ll either find this puzzle fiendishly difficult, or incredibly easy! Answers below. Hint: In one of the courses, the bricks are all linked to tree versions of common garden plants! Answers: SHIRLEY = Gigantomo,…

Prosecution of River Lugg farmer… I WRITE to you concerning your article ‘A long battle’ by Val Bourne (AG, 24 June), which was very concerning. I write this as a person living quite near the area discussed in the article. For many years locals have suffered severe flooding. As Val Bourne says in the article, the previous decade has been spent having meetings and surveys. I dare say the organisations wear high-vis jackets and carry clipboards and have an air of knowing all that is to be known about the countryside. Farming families of many generations have worked on the land for long hours every day of the year. The very nature of their work requires working with nature, for the crops to grow and thrive. If this doesn’t happen…

▪ One of the most frequent questions asked of John Negus is ‘why won’t my wisteria flower?’ ▪ For such a popular plant, it certainly frustrates a lot of our readers! ▪ There are two varieties of wisteria grown in the UK; Wisteria sinensis (which grows in an anticlockwise direction) and W. floribunda which grows the other way. ▪ They are sturdy deciduous plants with profuse mauve flowers in summer and attractive seedpods in autumn, and they will do best on a south or southwest-facing wall in moist, fertile soil. ▪ Wisterias grown as standards can also be grown in large pots, but they need regular feeding. ▪ The key to encouraging your wisteria to produce a froth of scented mauve blooms is to prune it twice a year, in…

WHETHER you are using peat or peatfree compost, blossom end rot is a common problem for those who grow tomatoes, aubergines and peppers. Caused by a lack of calcium, it presents as a leathery area at the base of tomatoes, which grow flat and hard. It can also be caused by adding liquid fertiliser to dry compost, as the nutrients impede the take-up of the moisture when you next water. The easiest way to avoid it is to water the crops’ growbag compost consistently so it stays healthily damp, not saturated, which can cause the roots to drown and rot. If the compost is allowed to dry out the plants can’t access the calcium through their roots and it stays locked away, thus causing blossom end rot.…

1 Kids getting bored? Have them grubbing weeds out of the lawn with blunt knives – a bucketful in exchange for some treats! 2 Now is a good time to destroy wasp nests before they destroy all your fruit crops; we strongly suggest you hire a professional! 3 Cut hollow-stemmed sticks into lengths, bind in bundles and hide inside evergreens as nests for the insects through the winter months. 4 Prune your blackcurrants, cutting out a third of the oldest branches now, and then water generously for more new growth.…

1 Drooping: The majority of unripe figs protrude upwards along the branch where they’re growing. As the stalk softens and flesh ripens, the fig will noticeably hang downwards. This is often the very first sign of maturity. 2 Sugar liquid: The base of the fruit bears a tiny opening (often coloured beige). As sugar and water levels peak, a clear sticky liquid may be seen emerging from this area (often described as a weeping eye). 3 Skin splitting: As figs ripen fully, they take on a lot of water. With skins becoming increasingly soft and fruit volume increasing, you’ll often see skins beginning to split. This is a sign that harvest is imminent!…

Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’ AGM A really abundant anemone, oozing flower power. It lives up to its name as it reaches its peak in the final throes of summer and early autumn. The blooms are larger and more upright facing. This is a very reliable hardy perennial. HxS: 4x3ft (120x90cm). Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ AGM This classic variety dates back to the Victorian era. It epitomises all the elegance of this late-flowering perennial, with white blooms appearing from late July into October. A mass of ‘Honorine Jobert’ in a shady border is an ethereal sight. HxS: 39x24in (100x60cm). Anemone x hybrida ‘Little Princess’ A relatively new introduction, this is a great compact variety with a long flowering period from June to September. The diminutive ‘Little Princess’ suits the front…

THERE’S something very alluring about dark plants, and they are one of the easiest ways to add sophistication to a border. Flowers that smoulder in shades of midnight navy, damson black and velvet crimson; sultry black and maroon foliage woven in among other plants – both will give gardens an instant lift, creating a mood that is both stylish and modern. The secret lies in being sparing: only a few splashes of witches’ purple and deep claret are needed – too many and the tone becomes morbid. If you already have dark plants, such as a yew tree or a leylandii, go easy; otherwise your garden could start to resemble a graveyard. Contrasting colours However in the average summer border, where bright colours tend to dominate, the addition of a…

Cascade Series Four seedless varieties that are hardy anywhere, these are the latest in the new weeping style, following on from ‘Wisteria Lane’. Their arching growth develops on relatively small plants. Good for: Places where invasiveness is a problem. A striking feature in small garden, impressive in a large container. Good with: Mahonia aquifolium ‘Apollo’, heucheras. Top choices: ‘Grand Cascade (lilac-lavender), ‘Pink Cascade II’ (pale pink), shown. Hardiness: RHS H6. Height: 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m). Flutterby Series A series of five, very short, unusually drought-tolerant seedless varieties, that are good in hot gardens but stay very short whatever the conditions. Good for: Places where invasiveness is a problem, as container specimens, in small tight borders. Good with: Ivy-leaved geraniums, petunias. Top choices: Flutterby Petite Snow White (‘Podaras 15’), shown, (white flowers), Flutterby Petite…

THE hybrids of Alstroemeria ligtu are among the most desirable of all herbaceous plants for the garden and for cut flowers for the house. No matter what kind of a heatwave their June-July flowering may coincide with, they will last in water for a fortnight. Their flowers, in shades of pink, carmine, apricot and fawn, are reminiscent of azaleas and have a wonderful freshness. But the story has it that they are difficult and certainly one hears of many cases where gardeners have failed to get them established. The truth is that there is no more accommodating plant, once it is settled in. All our troubles occur in the initial stages. One hears it alleged, for instance, that after planting ligtu alstroemerias you must expect them to disappear completely for…

This word search comprises words associated with tree plants. They are listed below; in the grid they may be read across, backwards, up, down or diagonally. Letters may be shared between words. Erroneous or duplicate words may appear in the grid, but there is only one correct solution. After the listed words are found there are six letters remaining; arrange these to make this week’s KEYWORD. TREEPLANTSDAHLIAFERNGERMANDERHEATHERHERBACEOUSIVYLARGELUPINMALLOWONIONPEONYPERENNIALSPOPPYSTEMMEDTALLTOMATO HOW TO ENTER: Enter this week’s keyword on the entry form, and send it to AG Word Search No 684, Amateur Gardening, Future Publishing Limited, Unit 415, Winnersh Triangle, Eskdale Road, Winnersh, RG41 5TP, to arrive by Wednesday 23 August 2023. The first correct entry chosen at random will win our £30 cash prize. Future plc, publisher of Amateur Gardening, will collect your personal information…

11-13 August: Shrewsbury Flower Show, The Quarry, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, West Midlands, SY1 1RN. 12-13 August: Brogdale Plum Weekend, Brogdale Collections, Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8XZ. Brogdalecollections.org for tickets and details. 12-13 August; Great Comp Summer Show, Great Comp Garden, Comp Lane, Platt, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 8QS. 11am-5pm. 12 August: Godalming Green Gala, Bury’s Field in Godalming, Surrey. 11am-4pm. 12 August: Ellingham & Ringwood Agricultural Society Annual Show, Somerley Park, near Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3PL. 9am-6pm. 13 August: The National Fuchsia Show, Squire’s Garden Centre, Halliford Road, Upper Halliford, Shepperton, Surrey, TW17 8SG. Noon-4pm. 13 August: The Worcester Show: Pitchcroft, Worcester. 10am-5pm. 13 August: Capesthorne Hall Plant Hunters’ Fair, Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9JY. 10am-4pm. 17-20 August: Southport Flower Show, Victoria Park, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 1RX. 19-20 August: Cactus…

ARE runner beans a staple in your house? Then why not try a specially selected variety with huge beans that will add a delicious Mediterranean twist to your culinary repertoire? The ‘Gigantes’ bean is a form of runner bean that produces huge seeds – and I mean huge! Over twice the size of conventional runner bean seeds, ‘Gigantes’ are traditionally the main component of the Greek dish gigantes plaki. They look and behave, to all intents and purposes, like a butterbean (Phaseolus lunatus), and yet their runner bean (P. coccineus) genetics allows them to crop reliably in the UK. Cultivate identically to a runner bean, but leave the pods to become dry and papery on the plant. The seeds can then be collected, dried and stored for months if not…

Anemone hupehensis var. japonica ‘Pamina’ AGM This award winner has enjoyed a long popularity due to its large double flowers. The deep pink blooms are 2in (5cm) across and make a colourful end of season splash. It will cope with full sun or part shade. It’s reliable and hardy. HxS: 36x30in (90x75cm). Anemone hupehensis var. japonica ‘Bressingham Glow’ A 20th century classic, this has been grown since the late 1960s. It’s well behaved so useful for garden borders. The flowers are open, with a clear double tier of petals and they really do glow a rich deep pink. They will appear in waves from August through to September. HxS: 3x4ft (90x120cm). Anemone x hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ (syn. ‘Queen Charlotte’) AGM A double pink flushed bloomer, flowering from August to October. Great…

BUDDLEJAS (Buddleja davidii) have been garden essentials for more than 100 years. Introduced from Tibet in 1869, by the early years of the 20th century they were widely grown and many varieties were named. This was facilitated by the fact that buddlejas produce a great many seeds – but this has also caused problems. These are deciduous shrubs, losing most of their sometimes greyish leaves at the end of the season but often opening a few small, winter leaves at the leaf joints. Easily recognised by their long, cone-shaped heads of small flowers at the tips of the branches in summer, the fragrance is often strong and the flowers produce abundant nectar that attracts a range of butterflies and other insects. Buddlejas are such favourites with butterflies that they are…

ACROSS 1 Country generally associated with any plant species named japonica (5) 3 Type of pelargonium (5) 7 Underground part of Cichorium intybus, roasted and ground to substitute for coffee (7,4) 8 Shrub or small 6 down genus in the petunia family, with the common names of yesterday-today-and-tomorrow (10) 9 Sugarsnap peas! (10) 13 One of the common names for Oenothera biennis – and Venus in the western sky after sunset! (7,4) 14 Swedes, confusingly also referred to as turnips – largely in Scotland! (5) 15 Carex spissa is the San _____ sedge (according to this Spanish boy!) (5) DOWN 1 This boy’s ladder is Polemonium caeruleum! (5) 2 In taxonomy, the primula plant family (11) 4 and 5 down This Saturday is known as this – unlucky if you’re a…

Better chard from seed Q I bought and planted Swiss chardin spring, but this has now run up to seed. We would like to grow more so when should I sow the seed? Phillipa Turson, Radstock, Somerset A Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp.cicla var. flavescens) and closely related perpetual spinach (B.v. subsp. cicla var. cicla) are, in my opinion, easier to grow than regular spinach (Spinacia oleracea). As you can see by their botanical names, Swiss chard is closely related to beetroot (Beta vulgaris) and their leaves carry a slightly beety tang that you either love or hate. Annual true spinach runs up to seed quickly, especially during the heat of summer, but it is the best choice for salads. Although Swiss chard is described as biennial (a plant that…