Innholdsfortegnelse for 9-Nov-24 i Amateur Gardening

As the year lumbers into its closing weeks, it’s time to thank the garden for its bounty and reward it by replenishing its spent resources. Once summer’s annuals have been composted, and perennials cut back or tied up, our next task is to protect and feed the soil before winter gets her hooks into it and causes untold degradation and damage. The instruction to ‘never leave soil bare’ is an important one to heed, because empty soil is extremely vulnerable to being compacted or eroded by winter weather. It will already have been depleted by plant growth over the previous months, so one of the most important jobs of autumn is to protect and nourish it for the next year. Green manures (plants that are sown, grown and then chopped…

It took me a good few years to discover something that makes my grow-your-own experience an absolute pleasure, so let me share it with you so you don’t have to go through my pain. Get organised! It’s completely understandable to take a relaxed approach to your hobby, but the hand-to-mouth mentality I applied to gardening put pressure on me and, at times, made me feel a failure. So, while things are quieter on the plot, I now ensure I put time aside to check that I’ve got everything I need for 2025 by completing an annual garden shed inventory. Yes, I am totally aware that given the option of a) doing this, or b) sitting on a comfy sofa in the warm, 99% of us would opt for b, but…

Tidying up borders, moving pots, or adding in new plants may all result in you finding one of these fascinating insects — the earwig. Often painted with a bad reputation, the earwig actually has some surprising but amazing traits and behaviours, and it does not want to live in your ears (don’t worry)! Earwig anatomy Unsurprisingly, the most likely species of earwig you will encounter in the UK is the common earwig (Forficula auricularia), although there are three other similar looking species you could come across, with only minor differences between them. All earwigs have long, slender, flat bodies with distinctive pincers, which may look unnerving, but they do not have the power to harm humans. For the earwig, they are invaluable as they will be used for defence, grabbing…

Roses are somehow timeless. The scent and the swagger of blossom attained over the summer months is often breathtaking. This summer just gone, my roses put on such a display that the stems bowed with the weight of their floral fireworks which exploded in my borders and in my hedgerows. I have wide ranging tastes when it comes to roses, veering from dog roses and the fabulous scent of Rosa rugosa ‘Roseraie de l’Haÿ’ which fills the cottage garden for weeks, and the modern cultivars that repeat-flower, like Gertrude Jekyll (R) (‘Ausbord’) and Emily Brontë (R) (‘Ausearnshaw’) When planting roses in hedges, there is nothing better than ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk’ rose in a hornbeam hedge, the tiny pink blooms poking through like the froth of candyfloss, nodding in the breeze,…

Microgreens are the perfect way to enjoy fresh, nutrient-packed goodness even if you don’t have a garden at any time of the year. These tiny, vibrant shoots are grown from seeds and harvested when they are just a few centimetres tall, making them ideal for small space indoor growing. The other huge benefit is that they’re highly nutritious and fast growing - you can have a harvest in just a few weeks, plus they are super easy to grow! Top microgreen recommendations Red cabbage Known for its high levels of vitamins C, K, and antioxidants, it adds a peppery, slightly sweet flavour to dishes and is perfect for boosting salads or sandwiches. Radish Fast-growing and providing a spicy, peppery punch of flavour despite their small size. They are rich in…

If you fancy a spot of effortless propagation this autumn and winter, may I point you in the direction of root cuttings? This is one of the easiest ways of boosting plant stocks of perennials such as oriental poppies, sea holly, acanthus, phlox and Japanese anemones that spread via new suckers emerging from their roots. The established plants are dug up while dormant, a small amount of root material is removed, and then the plant goes immediately back into the ground, is firmed in and watered well, none the worse for wear. One of the benefits of using rootstock as cuttings is that they take easily and the resulting plants are much less likely to be afflicted by pests and diseases lurking among the top growth. We do, however, advise…

Will seedlings survive winter? Q I have some hardy annual and perennial seedlings in my unheated greenhouse. Will they be OK through winter? Tim Humphries, Cumbria A Thankfully all plants are hardy enough to remain in your unheated greenhouse over winter. There is one proviso however: if severe frost is forecast, protect youngsters by erecting a bamboo frame around them, and draping the structure with several layers of bubble plastic or horticultural fleece. This will keep them snug, but remember to remove it when temperatures rise otherwise condensation will be trapped and can cause moulds. How to remove weeds safely Q I have a lot of perennial weeds growing among my roses. Would it be safe to use weed killer on them? Mary Baker (via email) A We strongly advise…

I’m very fortunate to have visited Japan a few times over the years, and I have just returned from the Japanese Flower Trials. I always visit trials in Europe so it was very exciting for me to see what different plants I would discover at this trade event, and I’m delighted to share some with you now. Most might be quite far off getting to Europe, (if they ever do), but it doesn’t hurt to have a look at some of the exciting plants out there, even if they haven’t got official names yet! Celosia seedling gift boxes When I was young, I used to grow these plants from seed with my grandma, and I remember how eager they were to flower, often creating that colourful candle when they were…

Leading garden centre chain Dobbies has announced the closure of 17 of its sites by the end of 2024. The company made the decision after announcing a £105.2 million pre-tax loss in the year leading up to March 2023, against a £7 million loss a year prior. Gloucester, Altrincham, Gosforth, Huntingdon, King’s Lynn, Pennine and Stratford-upon-Avon centres are among those set to close, while Little Dobbies shops in Cheltenham and Bristol, Chiswick, Richmond, Stockbridge, and Westbourne Grove will also be affected. The company has stressed that suppliers will not be impacted by the move. The company currently employs around 3,600 people, and the closures will hit 465 employees, including 82 full-time workers. In a statement, Dobbies said the closures would allow the company to secure its ‘long-term future’, access future…

Growing in containers presents a new set of challenges for the gardener, particularly when it comes to soil. In open ground, you can feed and nourish, carefully turning natural waste into compost then adding it back to the soil to maintain organic matter content, soil integrity and drainage. The situation is very different in a pot as composts quickly become depleted due to the leaching of nutrients through regular irrigation. Gardeners need a different set of methods to grow plants successfully, particularly when it comes to seasonal ones. The first big decision is what compost to choose. Go to any garden centre and there’s an array of choices. But I say, don’t skimp on compost. A decent peat-free multipurpose compost in the slightly higher price range will be worth every…

Gardening with wildlife in mind is now something many of us do instinctively, whether it’s leaving seed heads in place over winter, accepting ‘weeds’ which we know to be loved by pollinators, or sacrificing a few plants to hungry caterpillars. Each year, members of the garden team rethink their approach slightly, considering how their work impacts the wildlife who call the garden home. For example, last year, when cutting back spent stems to make way for emerging bulbs, instead of adding the material to the compost heap, they used these cuttings to create tipi-like structures within the borders to protect those insects already hibernating within the hollow stems, offer structures for mammals and amphibians to shelter within, and to avoid removing seed heads which will be used as a food…

Beans – here and a-broad! Vicia faba is better known in Britain (and Australia and New Zealand) as the broad bean. In the US it is more commonly referred to as the fava or faba bean. In Britain, November is a good month for planting certain hardy varieties – and these will be ready for harvesting in about 25 weeks; spring-sown plants develop more quickly and will crop after about 15 weeks. So, if you sow a few of each, you will be able to harvest beans over a long period from April through to September. ■ Broad beans are full of goodness; 100g (3½oz) of raw, mature beans amount to 341 calories, and they comprise: 11% water, 58% carbohydrates, 26% protein and 2% fat. They also contain numerous essential…

Whatever the size of your growing space, there is a tree to suit; from bonsai-suitable varieties grown in small, shallow containers to towering cypresses and mighty oaks. When your garden is smaller, choosing the right plants for your situation and taste is especially important, but there is no need to go without. In fact, careful placement of a tree in your outside space can provide privacy from neighbours and give it the feeling of a larger garden overall. You could grow a tree in a sturdy container such as a large half-barrel, which will help to restrict the growth. But be careful of where you position the container as there is a potential, as the tree grows taller, for it to tip over in strong wind, or punch into the…

Delphiniums and their annual cousin, the larkspur, are two of the most iconic cottage garden plants, and easy to grow. They usually come in shades of blue, but white and burgundy cultivars are now available so there’s a lovely selection from which to choose. Delphiniums are easy to grow from seed undercover. Sow now, or early next year, in trays or pots of dampened seed compost, then top them with a thin layer of vermiculite. Keep the compost damp, not soggy, and remove the tray lid or pot covering once the seeds germinate. The seedlings can be potted on individually when they are large enough to handle without damage, and planted out when they have been hardened off and the weather is reliably warm in late May. Protect them with…

Your lovely letters, emails and social media posts continue to flow in beautifully. Every message, poem, idea and comment matters. Please keep them coming. We will send out a thank you gift for every item published in the magazine so do please send your address and contact details when you get in touch. Healing through nature In regards to the last issue of AG’s ‘A warm welcome’, I’d just like to share my love also for all things wildlife. Covid hit me from every angle. I was wiped out by long covid. Although the lack of physical fitness was tough to swallow, the mental damage hurt me more than anything. Until I decided to go for a walk near Harewood House. A perfectly situated bench in the midst of lots…

The tulips of Keukenhof bulb fields might offer the most spectacular display in the world, but they’re not my favourite. That honour goes to a road verge in Rotherham. There are no pictures of this horticultural wonder, and to see it you’ll need to dust off your time machine and set the dial to spring 1999, just as the daffodils are starting to open. Take care as you step from the door… you’ve materialised in a cycle lane – and prepare to be wowed by the thousands of blooms arranged in strange, idiosyncratic swirls. Then get your eye in, and quicker than you can say ‘what the *!%#*&$’ you’ll see that they’ve been planted to spell out the sort of Anglo-Saxon word that would shock even a sailor. The story…

As long as well-drained soil is guaranteed, late autumn is a good time to plant garlic. Roots will grow down and leaves develop, ready for take-off when the days lengthen and temperatures rise towards spring. The garlic growing season is finite and the longer plants are in leaf, the bigger the bulbs will be. In my kitchen garden, white rot has made growing onions, shallots and garlic a miserable business. Even before that, our heavy soil remained wet for much of winter and I used to start garlic in pots under unheated glass in January or February, for planting out later. This worked well and we raised good-sized bulbs. For their usefulness, aroma and benefit to insects, I aim to line our pathways with a wide variety of culinary herbs.…

A magazine subscription is the perfect gift: • Personal, thoughtful and fuels their passion • Provides enjoyment all year round • And saves you money on the shop price! GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM £15.99 OVER 45 TITLES TO CHOOSE FROM VISIT SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/XMAS24 OR CALL 01959 543 747 AND QUOTE ‘XMAS24’ Lines are open Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm. Calls are charged at your standard network rate UK customers only. Offers end 31st January 2025 PLUS! Annuals, Books, Calendars, Event tickets, Clothing & Merchandise at shop.kelsey.co.uk/stocking…

● I often stand looking at the garden and what I have lying around the shed searching for inspiration for what I can make next. I love making items out of leftover bits and bobs and turning what could be seen as rubbish into something useful in some way for the garden. It’s incredibly rewarding. Yes, the final item might not be polished or perfect, but the sense of‘I made that’ is truly hard to beat. When coming up with an idea for this issue, I stumbled upon a pack of long bamboo canes and an idea immediately popped into my head and I had to give it a try. This week I’ve created something that I’ve never seen before. I'm sure I’m not the first to do it but…

How should I care for my cordyline in winter? Q Having bought a Cordyline australisduring the summer, how do I look after it during winter to keep for next year? William Steele (via email) A I am delighted that you have planted a Cordyline australis, commonly called cabbage palm or Torbay palm. Enjoy it for its dramatic subtropical appearance, rosettes of slender leaves and huge ‘pyramids’ of tubular white blooms. If you’ve planted it in a large pot or tub, move it to a sheltered, frost-free spot if the temperature drops below-5C (23F) for more than a few days. If it’s in a bed or border and frosty winds are forecast, use your hands to shape the foliage into a cone and wrap it in several layers of fibre fleece.…

There’s pruning you can leave, or even forget, such as blueberries, and there’s pruning you really must keep on top of. If, like myself, you’ve foolishly planted any of the blackberry/bramble family or their hybrids: loganberries and the luscious tayberry, then any failure to snip back and you’ll soon find your garden lost under a thatch-work of interlocking thorny stems. The way to tackle these brutes is via the systematic nibbling away, short lengths at a time, which you stack as you go. (Lay two strings/wires parallel on the ground, place the trimmings across these, when the stack’s as large as you want to handle, pull tight and tie the strings around) This makes it easier to remove. Knowing which to prune first The bramble family, like most raspberries, fruit…