Innholdsfortegnelse for Apr-22 i BBC Gardeners' World

WORTH £12 Buy any shade-loving Astrantia Collection and receive fve free lilies of the valley. Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) signifes the return of happiness and these beauties will certainly add joy to your garden’s shady areas. The scented white bells nod in the breeze in late spring on arching stems and spread freely, flling your garden with fragrance. Supplied as bare roots. Height x Spread 23cm x 30cm Flowers May For more offers and details on how to order. see opposite page Shade-loving astrantias Commonly known as Hattie’s Pincushion, astrantia’s posies of tiny flowers are surrounded by ruff-like bracts, creating sprays of intriguing star-like blooms on upright, branching stems from May until September, sometimes even longer if deadheaded. Plant in a shady bed or border where their distinctive blooms…

New bioweapons fight alien invaders A tiny mite, visible only under a microscope, could be about to beat back the tide of invasive non-native water weeds from the UK’s rivers. Scientists have gained permission to release the mite, Aculus crassulae, into the wild to tackle rafts of Australian swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii), a superweed currently choking rivers across the country. Until recently, swamp stonecrop was a popular garden pond plant but it is such a thug that it’s now banned from sale in garden centres. It can reproduce from tiny fragments, spreading easily into nearby waterways and devastating native biodiversity. Scientists from bioscience research institute CABI travelled to Australia to collect the plant’s natural enemies, then tested their effect on all kinds of plants, from house plants to wildflowers. This…

When we first came to Glebe Cottage more than 40 years ago and started to make a garden, I was advised by knowledgeable friends that the first plants I should put in were shrubs. They, it seemed, would give the garden some structure, some backbone – it seemed they were indispensable. Not entirely true, any gardener can choose not to grow a particular category of plants, no trees, no bulbs, sometimes it seems the only group you can’t exclude are the weeds! It wasn’t that I ignored my advisers, more that there were more pressing considerations, terracing the garden, building deep beds and at last having an opportunity to grow my beloved perennials. Over the years, almost surreptitiously more shrubs have been incorporated into the garden, though they have crept…

Ian Stallard, London “It’s a place to socialise, and it’s just magical to be able to sit somewhere like this in the city” In East London, sculptor and furniture designer Ian Stallard has created a completely unique garden set across two small plots. One is a roof garden space, screened by birch trees, and the other a calm, shaded yard. Both connect to his company’s design studio, a former print workshop, and since moving here in 2012 he and his partner have set about transforming it into a welcoming sanctuary both for the people who work there and for the myriad wildlife that flocks to this green haven. What was the outdoor space like when you first came here? When we first came to look at this place, we entered through…

The starting point for working out what veg to grow has to be: ‘what do you like to eat most?’ Make these crops a priority and then think of other considerations for growing crops such as health benefits and the amount of money that can be saved by growing, compared to shop prices. Keep your seed packets in one place and organise them so the packets for the month in which you want to sow are kept together. There are lots of seed organisers out there, or you could keep them in an airtight tin. You will need ▪ Seed organiser ▪ Labels ▪ Waterproof pens STEP BY STEP How to mark out areas for sowing 1 Decide how big you want each sowing area to be and insert canes…

It may seem strange to remove a lot of the young plants that you were so happy to see germinate in the soil but it will result in a tastier, more satisfying harvest. Any crop that you want to mature fully before harvesting will need room in order for its roots to swell and its roots to find enough water and nutrients for the plant to be able to develop fully. Removing a lot of plants from a crowded row therefore becomes essential. Gently pull out or cut off unwanted seedlings to leave the rest of the plants with enough room to grow fully. In many cases there is an instant bonus. Leaves from thinned out plants of beetroot, chard and spring onions will make a tasty addition to a…

Sturdy supports are essential in order for climbing crops such as runner beans, climbing French beans and cucumbers to crop well. The plants will need a helping hand, with some tying in to do when plants are young, but once mature they will climb without help. These plants are all ‘tender’ which means that they will be damaged by frost. Wait until the last week of May before planting them out. Plant one plant to one cane, or in slightly exposed situations, add a few more canes to make a more solid structure. Climbing crops that survive winter and get bigger each year such as blackberries and grapes are best grown against walls or up pergolas because they can be very large plants. You will need ▪ Bamboo canes ▪…

For beginner gardeners, getting to grips with the fundamentals can seem daunting. But in this 12-part exclusive series, Alan Titchmarsh is sharing his wisdom to help you master the skills that really matter. This month, discover ways to garden that benefit wildlife and, ultimately, you. FollowAlan’s advice and you will learn to see your garden as a valuable ecosytem where pests and pollinators all have their place. “Gardens are living organisms that can - and should – support many forms of wildlife” You’ll learn about: ✓ Making your garden a wildlife haven ✓ Identifying creatures ✓ Separating pests from pollinators Wildlife-friendly gardening You walk out of your back door to the sound of silence. The air is still. There is no movement. No birdsong, no stirring in the leaves. No…

Fresh food grown from your own garden always tastes better than anything you buy in the shops. That is my main motivation for growing my own, along with the added benefit of knowing that no nasty chemicals have been used to grow the vegetables. Even though I have only been growing veg for two years, my small patio (measuring 6.4m x 3.4m) has given me enough room to experiment and grow my favourite veg, from beetroot to beans, pak choi to peppers. Here, I’ll show you that with just a few simple techniques you can grow an abundance of food no matter what size your growing space is. There really is something special about rustling up a salad from leaves you’ve just picked or making a stirfry with vegetables grown just…

Plant strawberries in a sunny, sheltered site (avoid shade). Pollinating insects are essential for fruit formation as poor pollination causes misshapen fruits. Flowering to fruiting takes one month. Forced plants under glass require hand pollination – just run your hands gently over fully opened blooms. Use glass or rigid plastic cloches to protect early outdoor blossoms from frost damage, which can cause individual blooms to develop a blackened centre (‘black eye’). Watering Strawberries are thirsty and those in containers demand daily irrigation during very hot summer days (automatic irrigation, water-retaining granules and pot reservoirs will all help). The root system is extensive once established, so small containers are unsuitable for mature plants. Avoid getting water on fruits to deter blemishes and rots. Feeding At the start of the growing season,…

For anyone with a lawn, mowing is one of the main tasks of the gardening year and a mower is an essential piece of kit. There’s a huge choice of mowers available, including corded electric and petrol, but as their range increases and prices fall, cordless, battery-powered models are an increasingly popular option. Easy to use with none of the maintenance needs or costs of corded and petrol models, cordless mowers are light, compact and simple to move around the lawn. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, they’re also quiet and emission free. Traditionally more expensive than corded mowers, there is now a number of budget cordless models available, and as prices usually include a battery and charger that are compatible with other tools from the same manufacturer, you’ll also…

Climate change may be the biggest, darkest cloud on the world’s horizon but every cloud has silver linings and modern April is one of them. It has become one of the most glorious months of the year, radiant with light, and hope and new growth. Last year we had 20 days of frost in April but that did not diminish its beauty in any way. It is a joy from first to last. By the middle of the month, the heated climate means that even at cold Longmeadow, situated halfway up the country on the Welsh border, most tulips are up and out and the hedges are prickled strongly with new leaves. It also means that the early daffodils in pots have finished their earlier display and rather than leave…

Humaira Ikram Humaira has worked as a garden designer for over 10 years and runs a garden design course. Matthew Pottage Matthew is the curator of RHS Garden Wisley, the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society in Surrey. Pippa Greenwood Pippa is one of the foremost experts on pests and diseases. She gardens using organic methods. Q How can I brighten up my very shaded stone trough? Roy Harper, Cotswolds A HUMAIRA SAYS I’d start with lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) for fragrant white flowers in spring. Then Corydalis ‘Korn’s Purple’ has deep purple droplet flowers in May to July. Disporum leucanthum with its bronze-toned leaves and creamy summer flowers will add another layer. These work well with ferns such as Dryopteris erythrosora and hostas such as ‘Devon…

Your 2 for 1 Card & Garden Guide ▪ Enjoy two adult price tickets for the price of one ▪ Includes over 390 gardens nationwide ▪ Save £££s – reusable card valid until April 2023 ▪ Use our online directory to plan your visits £15 if booked in advance Also in the May issue… Follow Monty’s May action plan to stay on track! Get summer impact with Carol‘s pick of annuals Grow crops in pots for tasty small-space harvests Get your lawn in top shape with Alan’s easy advice Create great pots with our one-stop, foolproof guide Get your exotics set for summer – Frances shows you how ON TEST Best lawn kit Discover our top performers and best buys FREE SEEDS for every reader WORTH £13.80 Six packs to sow…

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything”William Shakespeare We are always about love on these pages of this excellent magazine, but this month it is particularly appropriate. The sap is rising, the birds are scurrying about gathering twigs, the bees are waking up, the buds are bursting, the boy rabbits are looking at the girl rabbits in that particular way and spring is definitely upon us. April is all about love, so I dedicate this month’s column to all things romantic and in the words of the Bellamy Brothers, “Just let your love flow like a mountain stream, And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams, It’s the season”. STAR OF THE MONTH Myosotis sylvatica (forget-me-not) Very possibly the most overtly romantic flower we have, not…

Big plants and objects such as containers make a small space seem bigger whereas lots of small ones just make it feel cluttered Some of you may be aware that as well as contributing to these pages and making television programmes about gardens and gardening, I also write books. In fact, I probably spend more hours of my working life writing books than everything else put together. The book I am working on at the moment – which will not come out until September next year – is a first gardening book. Aimed not at children but adults who are perhaps not readers of this publication (yet) and do not watch Gardeners’ World but have, for the first time, access to their own plot and want to make it nice.…

Gardens of the Year 2022 is now open for entries and we want to see beautiful readers’ gardens of all styles and sizes. If you’d love to see your garden featured in this magazine and be in with a chance of winning a fantastic prize, why not enter our exciting competition now? We’re looking for gardens from all over the UK – no plot is too big or too small. Previous finalists have included flower-filled allotments, tiny urban balconies and sprawling country gardens. We’ll pick eight winners, who will all be featured in the magazine. Our expert judging panel will then award their Judge’s Choice and Highly Commended prizes, while you, the readers, will choose our People’s Choice. It could be your garden this year so, go on, enter now!…

Regular feeding and watering is essential for most edible crops, especially those that are grown from seed or young plants in spring and produce a fruiting crop before dying when the weather turns cold. Known as ‘annual’ crops, these include tomatoes, courgettes, peppers and beans and are the ‘hungriest’ edibles. Veg planted or sown in spring and summer will need more water than fruit bushes and trees that have been in the ground for more than a year. Water veg each time the soil or compost is dry and you can mix liquid plant food into your watering can to give them a feed at the same time. Plants in pots or growing bags will dry out fastest so check them daily for watering needs. You will need ▪ Plant…

You may spot… Slow worm, Anguis fragilis Neither slow nor a worm, the slow worm is a legless lizard, and is the only animal of its kind in Britain. It resembles a snake but it has a notched, rather than forked tongue, lack of a distinct ‘neck’, and it can blink (snakes don’t have eyelids). Adults can grow to around 50cm long and are golden brown in colour, with females having dark markings along their sides. The easiest way to tell if slow worms are using your garden is to lay corrugated iron or old roof tiles over long grass in a sunny spot, which they will bask under to warm up. Check underneath to see if you’ve had any visitors. Mating takes place from May, with copulation taking up…

An old Belfast sink, tin bath or similar container makes the perfect habitat for pond dwellers such as damselfies, dragonfies, frogs and newts. Place the pond in partial shade, ideally so it gets sun in spring and shade in summer, and the water warms up in colder months but doesn’t dry out in heat. Fill up with rainwater if you can, although tap water is fine to use. 1 Fit a rectangle of pond liner in the bottom and seal. Check the pond is watertight then partially fill. Stand marginal plants at their preferred depth on brick platforms. 2 Use marginal plants like brooklime and water forget-me-not, plus oxygenators such as hornwort and spiked water milfoil. Gravel prevents pot compost escaping. 3 Add more water and make ‘steps’ for wildlife…

Strawberries are hardy, self-fertile perennials that offer good harvests for three to four years. There’s no need to protect them from frosts as the cold helps synchronise flowering in spring. After harvest, remove unwanted runners, trim back faded foliage, keep the plants well watered and feed with a balanced fertiliser until autumn. Good leaf growth now directly affects the quantity of fruits produced the following year, so be vigilant. After three to four years, yields decline and the plants become congested or succumb to viruses and root problems. Propagating stock via healthy runners every three or so years allows you to continue growing strawberries from your initial investment. Peg down runners in midsummer, leave to root, then dig up and treat as new plants in the autumn or spring, replanting them…

▪ Where are you cutting? The type of lawn you’re cutting will dictate the mower features you’ll need. Push mowers require you to provide the momentum, so manoeuvrability is key, particularly if your lawn slopes or you have play equipment, beds and trees to navigate. A mower that cuts to the edge gives a neat finish and saves time with the shears or trimmer later. For a sharp, neat look opt for a low cut height, but if you lack time to mow regularly, a higher cut will tackle longer grass. A rear roller gives neat stripes, while a mulching plug lets you choose between collecting clippings or mulching them. It saves you emptying the collection box but mulching only works if the lawn is cut regularly. ▪ What’s the…

Plant out broad bean seedlings Prepare a free-draining, sunny and weed-free bed to plant some broad beans. Rake in some blood, fish and bonemeal fertiliser to give the plants a boost. Plant the seedlings in a row 15-20cm apart. Dig a hole and firm each seedling in. Water the row well after planting. Space rows 45cm apart to allow access for picking. If you have chosen a tall variety such as ‘Longpod’ or ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ the plants will need support. Place sturdy stakes either side of the row at intervals with lengths of string spaced 30cm apart. VISIT GardenersWorld.com/broad-beans for more sowing and growing tips Plant Jerusalem artichokes If you have space to spare, this is a good month to plant Jerusalem artichokes. The tubers are planted in the spring and…

Prune frost-damaged shrubs Snip off the frost-damaged leaves on slightly tender evergreens such as bay. Look for the tell-tale brown scorch marks on the outer, more exposed leaves. Cold winds can cause this damage, too. On some species the scorch damaged areas can look quite wet. Just snip the affected stem back to a healthy bud to leave the plant looking green again. Those leaves will be replaced in just a few weeks. The prunings can be added to the compost heap. VISIT GardenersWorld.com/spring-pruning for more advice on seasonal pruning Look after box plants in pots Give pot-grown box plants a feed to keep them healthy and vigorous. Start by loosening the surface of the compost with your fingers and removing some of it if you can. Replenish with fresh…

worth £16.99 FREE 2 for 1 Entry Card & Guide Subscribe before 29 March to start your subscription with the May issue, which includes 6 free packets of seeds, plus our 2 for 1 Garden Entry Card and Guide 2022! The guide comes with a reusable entry card, valid for a year, granting you 2-for-1 access to over 390 stunning gardens across the UK. Offer ends 14 April 2022 2 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE Call 03330 162123* and quote code GWSP422 Visit buysubscriptions.com/GWSP422 Your friend can experience more as a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Subscriber Club member with: 1 FREE delivery direct to their door 2 Secret Garden access – a special Subscriber-only area of gardenersworld.com 3 Rewards pages and Extras section, sharing extra content in every copy 4 Exclusive…

They say that smell is the most evocative of all the senses – the one that can instantly transport us to a time and a place, which was, until that moment, deeply buried in the memory. But from a gardener’s point of view, particular plants can do the same. Think about it. What is the flower you first remember or which first made an impact upon you? In my own case, the earliest memory is of sweet peas growing on my grandfather’s allotment. I would have been about one and a half years old and I can still feel the leathery texture of his hand as he led me through the tent-like rows of beanpoles that supported them, their blooms nodding in the breeze, dazzling against a cloudless sky. I…

SAVE £15 ON 18 PLANTS Penstemons are incredibly popular and it’s not hard to see why, as they have such a long flowering period and are loved by bees and butterflies. Easy to grow and maintain, they will flower throughout summer into autumn, giving you months of colour. Their strong stems make them excellent for cutting to display in vases. Unfussy on soil conditions in sun or part shade, and resistant to most pests. Collection includes: ▪ ‘Alice Hindley’ ▪ ‘Appleblossom’ ▪ ‘Blackbird’ ▪ ‘Maurice Gibbs’ ▪ ‘Rich Ruby’ ▪ ‘Wedding Day’ Height x Spread 70-100cm x 30-65cm Flowers May-October Supplied as young plants, delivery ▪ Penstemon Collection x 6 (1 of each) £15 (ROGW-10PE6) ▪ Penstemon Collection x 18 (3 of each) £30 SAVE £15 (ROGW-10PE18) hayloft.co.uk/ROGW 01386 426245 quote code ROGW Please…

HOT TOPIC Can they do more? Following on from February’s Hot Topic and all the excellent articles about sustainable gardening, I do wonder why the onus is always on the gardeners. What about the manufacturers and wholesalers? What about the garden centres and DIY stores? All of them are now being forced to change to peat-free composts, but the changes need to be more fundamental than that. For example, how much plastic is used in the horticultural industries? Plastic labels, plastic pots, massive plastic bags of compost, miles of plastic wrapping – all used in vast quantities every day. Thousands of lorries drive from nurseries in Europe, supplying all the plants we are encouraged to buy in garden centres. And then there is garden furniture, outdoor gas heaters, hard landscaping…

Join your fellow Subscriber Club members and sow this month’s free seeds. It’s all part of our 14-pack, five-month giveaway, worth more than £31. The coriander can be sown indoors on a kitchen windowsill for a handy supply, or outdoors this month. Sowing a few seeds every few weeks will give you tasty fresh leaves for many months and you can harvest straight from the pot you sow into, so it couldn’t be simpler. Sow the sunflowers indoors in pots, hardening off the seedlings before planting outside after all risk of frost has passed, which is usually at the end of May. Alternatively, sow directly outdoors into large pots or borders. Supporting the plants with stakes will protect against wind. 3 REASONS TO GROW ▪ Coriander ‘Cilantro’ can be sown regularly…

The planting in this single container was designed purely to evoke a particular moment, a particular emotion You will need ▪ Galvanised container ▪ Compost suitable for woodland plants: I used 2 parts peat-free compost, 1 part topsoil, 1 part composted bark and a half part horticultural grit ▪ Compost scoop ▪ Watering can/hose Plants ▪ Epimedium ‘Amber Queen’ ▪ Dryopteris stewartii ▪ Semiaquilegia ecalcarata ▪ Thalictrum ‘Purple Marble’ ▪ Polystichum setiferum ▪ Dryopteris sieboldii How to create a shade-loving pot 1 First, I place the key plants from which to build the rest of the feature. Here, I have used a fern, which provides great versatility and textural interest, as well as instant height to the display. 2 I then think about leaf shape and look for good contrast…

The advantage of sowing vegetable seeds direct into the soil is the crops can develop exactly where you want them to mature. This saves time moving seedlings from trays to pots before planting them out. You also don’t have to worry about seedlings having to acclimatise to a new environment after being raised in a pot or tray. The key with sowing veg direct is to sow when the conditions are right. Veg such as beetroot, broad beans, parsnips and carrots can be sown in March and April when the soil is still not very warm. Others such as French beans, runner beans and courgettes are best sown in early May. You will need ▪ Stringline ▪ Hoe or trowel (to make your trench) ▪ Watering can ▪ Compost ▪…

Harvesting your produce at the optimum time has a big bearing on the amount of flavour and freshness. Pay close attention to your crops so that you don’t miss the perfect opportunity for picking. With some plants such as strawberries, chillies and tomatoes, you’ll know its time to pick when the fruits have developed their full colour. With others, there is more leeway. Root crops such as potatoes, beetroot, carrots and parsnips can be harvested when you decide they are big enough for your needs. Bear in mind that potatoes are sweetest when early ones are dug up as ‘new’ potatoes and that parsnips are much tastier if left in the ground in winter and dug up when needed. You will need ▪ Secateurs ▪ Snips ▪ Trug ▪ Trays…

DOING YOUR BIT NOW If you’re in the exciting position of taking on a new garden then now is the perfect time to plan your garden’s layout to increase your neighbourhood’s biological diversity and make the most of natural resources. Sun, rain and shade are free and easy to harness with a little forethought. Of course, few of us will be starting from scratch but we can make careful purchases when planting and creating garden features. Choose materials that last and lay them carefully, remembering local is kinder to the environment and often looks best, too. It’s time to get creative in your space! Go to: GardenersWorld.com/growing-greener COMING UP in Growing Greener ▪ MAY Pesticide reduction Pesticides impact biodiversity and our carbon footprint. Find out how and what to use…

April is one of those months that just tingles with anticipation. The spring sun has the power to wake up every hibernating creature, myself included. The sounds of a new season are everywhere: with bees buzzing from buttercups to dandelions, robins chirping excitedly over the freshly turned soil and even the excited laughter from children splashing in puddles from neighbouring plots. These are the sounds and the scenes that are putting a smile on my face this month. And my main hope? What this growing season will bring. I can only hope the gardening gods are ready to provide my plot with sunshine all summer long. Time for me to turn my attention to my allotment. There are lots of seeds to sow, but there’s even more to plant out.…

ACROSS 1 It’s time to prick out vegetable __ as soon as they produce their first leaves (9) 7 Create a dedicated __ bed for culinary crops such as chives (4) 8 Ribes sanguineum is also known as flowering __ (7) 9 These showy bulbs are classic spring bloomers (6) 11 ‘__ McKenzie’ is a widely grown variety of Crocosmia (5) 12 Popular house plant with colourful sepals but no petals (7) 14 Hydrangea ‘__ Therese’ was named after a famous nun (6) 17 Common name for Pimpinella anisum (7) 20 Cut back tatty __ fronds to allow new ones to unfurl (4) 21 Latin name meaning triangular, as in Dianthus __ (9) 23 Add this to soil to reduce acidity (4) 24 A __ floret is a strap-shaped outer flower like…

Behind the scenes On location with Frances Here at the magazine we’re capturing fresh new photography with your favourite programme presenters all year round, and shooting for new content in 2023 (with a sneak preview here). Sometimes we photograph a presenter in their own garden, as we do with exclusive access to Monty’s Longmeadow, and sometimes we venture to external locations to capture the very best of what the season has to offer. One of our regular locations is West Dean Gardens in West Sussex, where most of our shoots with Frances Tophill take place. We work with Head Gardener Tom Brown and his team to identify seasonal gardening tasks and, among other things, much of our pruning content is photographed with Frances at this location. West Dean has a…

NEW DATE 5 days from £499pp* – 14-18 September 2022 Due to popular demand, we bring you another opportunity to join this unique rail holiday, visiting Norfolk to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea at the Royal Family’s Sandringham Estate and a guided visit of the park’s spectacular gardens. Add to this the nostalgic feeling of travelling on steam trains along heritage railways and you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable experience. DAY 1 Norfolk Arrive at the hotel, where you will be greeted by the Tour Manager. DAY 2 Bure Valley Railway and the Southern Comfort Mississippi Paddle Boat In the morning, travel by coach to the market town of Aylsham to join the Bure Valley Railway. The route leads through unspoilt countryside to Wroxham. Free time here before heading…