Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Woman's Weekly Living Series

‘In summer it’s wonderful to enjoy the scent of sweet peas It is tempting to plan a garden by first looking at the shape – square or rectangular, broad but shallow or long and narrow – and dreaming of the perfect layout. But while those considerations play an important part, there is a bigger picture to first bear in mind, one that extends to a garden’s boundaries and beyond. The smaller a garden, the greater the need to ‘borrow’ elements of the wider landscape in order to make a confined space seem roomier. Eyesores on the horizon can be blotted out by carefully placed trees, whereas those closer to home may be concealed by ploys such as fixing trellis panels atop fencing. Boundary fences, hedges and walls not only provide…

On a chilly wintry day, there are few lovelier sights than groups of flowers huddling together until, when touched by the sun’s rays, they open wide to reveal the inner beauty of the stamens nestling within. Among this doughty group are some stunning flowers — winter aconites, their yellow flowers sitting on a ruff of bright green leaves, translucent-petalled crocuses and violas whose pretty faces smile in the face of the even the worst weather. Such delicate flowers demand an equally graceful container, such as a lightweight basket crafted from metal. Lining is essential to retain the compost, and moss collected from a rotting tree creates an attractive-looking permeable barrier. Moss also forms a good foil for variegated ivy and periwinkles that spill over the edge Crocus ‘Cream Beauty’ is…

FAIRS & SHOWS VIOLA AND PANSY FESTIVAL Essex, 13-21 March The annual event is going ahead at Meadow Croft Garden Centre. ✣ Free of charge. Open 9am-5pm; Woodham Road, Battlesbridge, Wickford, Essex SS11 7QU. Tel 01245 320314; meadow-croft.co.uk RARE PLANT FAIR Somerset, 21 March Pick up a spring plant or two and discover the ruined great hall, moat and gardens, included in the entry fee. ✣ Adults £7, under-16s free. Advance booking for timed entry. Open 10am-4pm; The Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset. Parking city centre. Tel 01749 988111; rareplantfair.co.uk RARE PLANT FAIR Northants, 28 March This fair is set in the beautiful Evenley Wood Garden, noted for its collection of trees, shrubs and bulbs. ✣ Adults £7.75, entrance is free for under-16s. Timed entry ticket; booking in advance. Open 10am-4pm;…

Roast Jersey Royals with spicy feta, yogurt and toasted almonds Sticky, spicy potatoes meet cool and creamy dairy SERVES 6 ✣ 1kg (2¼lb) Jersey Royal new potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 3cm pieces ✣ 200g (7oz) feta cheese ✣ 1 lemon, cut into 8 segments ✣ 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil ✣ 3tbsp fresh oregano leaves (or rosemary) ✣ ½tsp chilli flakes ✣ 400g (14oz) green beans ✣ 80g (2½oz) blanched almonds ✣ A large bunch of parsley, leaves picked For the harissa (spice mix): ✣ 2-4 red chillies to taste ✣ 2tsp cumin seeds, toasted ✣ 1 cooked red pepper from a jar ✣ 1 garlic clove ✣ 75ml (3fl oz) extra virgin olive oil plus 1tbsp to dress For the tahini yogurt: ✣ 4tbsp tahini ✣ 100g (3½fl…

Mediterranean 1 Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ Hardy through much of the UK, the large palmate leaves of this shrub create a lush feeling in any garden. If kept frost-free they can remain evergreen, but in areas that experience hard frosts the plant will die back to ground level and reshoot from the roots. 2 Nerine bowdenii Bridgewater’s nerine collection is planted in a sunny bed in front of the glasshouse, for shelter. In colder regions, plant these South African native bulbs slightly deeper (around 5cm) to protect from frost. 3 Berberidopsis corallina An interesting climber from Chile that rewards with clusters of deep coral red flowers in late summer, lending its common name of coral plant. It needs light, free-draining, acid soil and a sheltered, slightly shaded site. 4 Salvia ‘Amistad’…

Potatoes originated in the Andes of South America some 8,000 years ago. They were first cultivated in Peru by the Incas roughly 6,000 years ago. In the 1530s, the Spanish conquered Peru, discovered potatoes and brought them back to Europe. By 1597, potatoes were being grown in London and soon after were grown throughout the UK. During the period of the Industrial Revolution potatoes became one of the main staple food sources because it became known that they contained most of the vitamins needed for good health, and they could provide food for 10 people per acre of land cultivated. This, coupled with the ease of growing potatoes compared to other food sources, gave rise to the potato’s popularity globally, and it’s now the world’s fourth-largest food crop after rice,…

When it opens on 11 May, RHS Garden Bridgewater will be the first new RHS Garden in 20 years. The garden has been created on the site of the former Worsley New Hall, once a grand Victorian residence built by the first Earl of Ellesmere, one of the country’s wealthiest men at the time. While the hall no longer stands, remnants of the Earl’s lavish estate have been restored and made new by the RHS and a team of world-renowned designers. And though the Paradise Garden might be the star of the show, Bridgewater’s 154 acres offer lots of horticultural delights to discover… ✣ The Worsley Welcome Garden Setting the scene for the world-class horticulture within, the first area visitors will discover on entering the garden is also designed by…

It is almost impossible to picture a summer garden without dahlias and pelargoniums, those warm-weather stalwarts whose vibrant colours belie their tender nature. Although they bloom in brilliant shades, these hot favourites don’t take kindly to our sullen, wet winters and need to spend the colder months under cover somewhere that’s frost-free. Those that successfully survived are getting ready for this year’s show and throwing out new shoots. Some of these can be removed and used to create new plants – it’s a simple and economical way of keeping your garden and containers stuffed with colour. Dahlia tubers which have been potted up will start to shoot in March time but should be kept under cover for a few more weeks until the weather gets milder before they’re hardened off…

SLIGHTLY EARLIER ✣ IT’S TIME TO CHIT POTATOES Use a shallow seed tray or egg box and place in a light, frost-free position, such as a sunny windowsill. Stand each tuber with the ‘rose’ end uppermost – this is the end with the most eyes. Within a few weeks, sturdy ‘chits’ will develop. ✣ KEEP GUTTERS CLEAN and free from debris so water will flow into water butts or other rainfall harvests. ✣ INSPECT FORCED RHUBARB stems for slugs and snails. Either remover them by hand or scatter some organic slug pellets under forcing pots. ✣ ASPARAGUS CROWNS BECOME AVAILABLE in early spring. Plant them quickly so they have time to settle before spears emerge. ✣ STEP TO IT IF YOU’VE GOT BARE-ROOT FRUIT TO PLANT The sooner they are…

1 Always empty out old soil and thoroughly clean your containers before planting. 2 Drill drainage holes in salvaged containers, and cover with gravel to ensure the holes are not blocked by compost. 3 Three-quarters fill the container with general-purpose compost formulated for pot-grown plants. 4 Gingerly remove plants from the plastic containers, teasing out roots that have become bound up. 5 Lightly place plants in the soil, moving around until the balance is pleasing, then add more compost and firm in. 6 Water thoroughly, ensuring thereafter that the compost never dries out.…

✣ First early potatoes are ready from about 10 weeks after planting. Planting is often between March and May, dependant on where you are geographically and the variety chosen. Because of the small size of first early potatoes, these varieties do well in containers or potato sacks. Some good varieties include: ‘Accent’, ‘Lady Christi’, ‘Swift’ and ‘Maris Bard’. ✣ Second early potatoes are ready from about 13 weeks after planting. Planting is often between March and May. Interesting, tasty varieties include: ‘Jazzy’, ‘Kestrel’ and ‘Ratte’. ✣ Maincrop potatoes produce larger tubers ideal for roasting or baking and are ready about 20 weeks after planting. Plant between March and mid-May. Popular varieties are: ‘Sarpo Mira’, ‘Setanta’ and ‘Desiree’.…

1 WATER Given their roots in dry, Middle Eastern desert regions, it’s perhaps no surprise that water is the ‘backbone’ to most paradise gardens, in the form of gently flowing channels or large, rectangular pools. 2 GEOMETRIC LAYOUT The earliest examples comprised four quadrants divided by paths or watercourses, and while today’s designers use a little more artistic license in their interpretations, a formal layout of paths and beds remains at the core. 3 SHADED AREAS As paradise gardens were envisioned as spaces for quiet reflection, the shade of trees, walls and sometimes elaborate pavilions was an important element in the hot climates where this style of garden first emerged.…

Winter is one of my favourite seasons in the garden. It’s a time when, after the reds and oranges of autumn have faded, the structure of the garden can be seen and all of the subtleties can be admired, with the less audacious but equally charming winter flowers coming to the forefront. It’s a time when our attention is cast forwards into preparing a garden for the spring to come, cutting back the less structural herbaceous perennials, and leaving a chosen few winter stems – and ornamental seed heads – to twinkle magically in the frost. Plus mulching always helps to create a blank canvas ready for new spring plants to emerge through, while suppressing weeds, protecting tender new shoots and adding beneficial nutrients and minerals to the bed! Perfect…

MOUNT STEWART GARDEN, Northern Ireland The mild climate of Strangford Loch allows for some thrilling planting experimentation at Mount Stewart, where a wide range of styles come together to create an original tapestry of garden wonders – it’s considered by many as one of the top 10 gardens of the world. Formal domains have a strong Mediterranean influence, and wooded areas offer plants from all over the world, as well as carpets of woodland wildflowers, such as primrose, bluebell and wild garlic. Look out for: Specimen southern hemisphere plants, such as the mountain cabbage palm from New Zealand, which grow to prodigious proportions. ✣ Entry £11, nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart . Some of the famous floral installations at Mount Stewart gardens include the Irish harp-shaped hedge, which sits next to a ‘Red Hand…