Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2024 i Woman's Weekly Living Series

Expert Q&A Container camellia Q I’d like to grow camellias in pots. What’s the best place to position them? A Full sun in summer does not suit these woodland plants, but very deep shade may reduce flowering. Dappled shade in summer and full sun or very light shade in winter (under leafless tree branches, for example) will suit camellias well. They thrive beneath deciduous trees, as they can get plenty of sunlight in winter, when the trees are bare; while in summer, their very deep green leaves, crammed with chlorophyll, make the best use of limited light. The north side of a house, a tall wall or fence is also good for patio camellias in pots. They won’t put up with the dull areas beneath evergreen trees, though. Slippery situations…

Chilli, garlic and basil courgetti A light and tasty alternative to pasta, this is a meal in itself but also makes a fabulous side. SERVES 2READY IN 20 mins ✱ 500g courgette✱ 4tsp olive oil✱ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped✱ 1 small red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped✱ 1tbsp lemon juice✱ 3tbsp torn fresh basil leaves 1 Use a spiraliser or a julienne peeler to cut the courgette into long, spaghetti-like strands (‘courgetti’). 2 Pour the olive oil into a small pan, add the chopped garlic and chilli, and warm over a very low heat for 2-3 mins, until softened but not coloured. Remove the pan from the heat, and set aside for 5 mins to infuse. 3 Put a large non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Pour in…

It’s so tempting to go to the nursery on a sunny day and buy something that you like the look of, without much research into what it will work well with, or where it will thrive. Before you know it, you end up with a random bunch of plants dotted around, and no cohesive structure to your outdoor space. That’s where we come in. Garden designers are trained to think of gardens holistically, with areas that speak to each other through a common visual language. Through our horticultural knowledge, we are always creating plant schemes with different end environments in mind. Right now is a great time to be planning your border for next spring and summer. Not only are the bare root plants and trees available to buy now…

These bright, colourful blooms will spring to life when there is precious little else in flower, bringing a splash of joy to any garden in winter. These evergreen shrubs, with bright glossy green foliage, are bold and elegant; and what’s more, they love a shady spot. We love camellias because they are hardy enough to be very happy outdoors in a cool climate. Flower buds may need temporary protection during periods of extreme cold and frost, but generally, camellias are relatively trouble-free, with few pest and disease problems. They come in a variety of sizes, but are generally slow-growing, don’t need much pruning, and only occasional feeding. And for a plant that is relatively low-maintenance, the rewards are very high. How to grow The main thing to remember is this:…

The satisfaction of picking your own fresh produce is unbeatable. It’s the healthier option too, as you can grow your fruit and veg organically. Planting veggies is certainly a quick and cheap way to get the freshest greens – and just because we’re entering autumn, it doesn’t mean you have to stop now. There are plenty of crops you can grow that will go on producing right through the cooler months. Kale This frost-hardy leafy green is a must in the winter vegetable garden, as young leaves can be picked and enjoyed from autumn to mid-spring. To raise kale the traditional way, in seed beds for winter and spring greens, you will need to have sown seeds from mid to late spring. The seedlings appear within seven to 12 days.…

JOBS FOR SEPTEMBER ✱ Harvest your greenhouse crops as soon as they ripen, providing support to peppers if required. Continue to feed tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and chillies with tomato feed to ripen. ✱ Store only apples that have no blemishes, in plastic bags punctured with holes to prevent shrivelling. Use up damaged apples, or make sauce. Pick pears when slightly underripe. Large quantities can be wrapped in newspaper and stored in slatted trays. ✱ Rake up or collect rose leaves affected by black spot, and bin them. Prune out the worst of the damaged growth, and apply a final treatment of fungicide. ✱ To pick apples and pears, cup the fruit in your hand and give it a gentle twist. If it’s ready, the fruit should come away nice and…

FELBRIGG HALL, GARDENS AND ESTATE, NORFOLK Tina Hammond Liew-Bedford, head gardener Summer and autumn are our strongest seasons. The entire Walled Garden looks bountiful and flower-packed, and the Kitchen Garden is in full swing, with produce and cut flowers alongside traditional companion plantings. The bounty continues with lots of Victorian varieties of wall-trained fruit, which visitors can take home, for a donation, during our last open week, which takes place in October. This year, we have a new ‘pumpkin arbour’. We are training ‘Turk’s Turban’ squash over the arbour, which straddles the path – a really fun feature that I’m sure will result in lots of selfies! The rest of the garden is packed with colour and foliage. Stunning architectural plants, such as Dasylirion and exotic Hedychium punctuate swathes of…

FLOWERS FOR WILDLIFE These pollen and nectar-rich flowers will continue into autumn, and keep foraging bees and butterflies happy. 1 ECHINACEA PURPUREA Attractive to bees and butterflies, the coneflower can be short-lived in a wet winter. Provide free-draining conditions for success, and avoid crowding plants. Leave seed heads for birds. H: 1.5m 2 CARYOPTERIS X CLANDONENSIS Boasting real pulling power for the bees, this small perennial has little whorls of brilliant blue flowers in late summer and autumn. Try ‘Heavenly Blue’. Best in full sun. Cut back in spring. H: 60cm 3 AGASTACHE Giant hyssop is a reliable autumn winner for attracting bees and butterflies. The new variety ‘Beelicious’ is ideal for both containers and free-draining soil. H: 45cm 4 CERATOSTIGMA PLUMBAGINOIDES This ground-covering deciduous perennial offers cobalt blue flowers,…