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GARDEN ESSENTIALS

The Armoured Easy Hose Super Strong Stainless Steel Hose with 8 Pattern Nozzle Stainless Steel design; high quality, pierce resistant, super strong and kink free

ORDER BY 3PM FOR SAME DAY DESPATCH

8 Pattern Nozzle;

Stainless Steel Easy Hose

FROM

£19.99

to cover all your watering requirements Trigger Lock; you don’t have to manually hold the trigger down Choice of 4 Lengths; Choose from 25 ft, 50 ft, 75 ft and 100 ft

The Armoured Easy Hose Water plants with ease thanks to this stainless steel hose from Easy Hose.

The incredible kink free Easy Hose is everything your standard garden hose isn’t, super-strong, durable and pierce resistant. The stainless steel design eliminates the risk of your hose being pierced by thorns, jagged rocks or anything sharp that may be laying around. The cutting-edge design eliminates virtually all the twists s associated with standard garden hoses, niversal fittings are compatible with all and hose attachments. The lightweight body is also UV resistant, stays cool to the ust-proof. 12 month guarantee.

e coils neatly away for can be stored next to your by using our Easy Hose Holder that is available for

Just £5.99

Another great watering idea!

Mighty Dripper Irrigation System Automatic 24 hour Watering System with no mains water supply needed Works by steadily flowing drops of water through six adjustable drippers to give each plant time to absorb and make use of the water. Comes with a large 10.5 litre water bag that holds over 2 gallons of water, five metres of irrigation tube and six independently adjustable drippers. Full water bag will last for over 24 hours.

Just £12.99 2 for £19.99 SAVE £5.99

“My patio had not been cleaned in years covered in green now have brand new cream slabs in less than 30 mins”

Order Online:

www.thompson-morgan.com/TM_TS1332

By Telephone: YOUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEED or your money back We want you to be 100% satisfied with any product you buy from us.

If you’re not 100% happy then neither are we, so let us know within 30 days and we’ll replace your product or give you your money back. †

0844 573 7414

Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

When ordering online please use order code TM_TS1332 to access our special offers

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G2232

25ft Stainless Steel Easy Hose

£19.99

G2233

50ft Stainless Steel Easy Hose

£34.99

G2234

75ft Stainless Steel Easy Hose

£49.99

G2235

100ft Stainless Steel Easy Hose

£64.99

D8466

Holder for Stainless Steel Easy Hose

£5.99

D3659

Mighty Dripper Irrigation Set

£12.99

G3366

2 x Mighty Dripper Irrigation Sets £25.98

£19.99

Please debit my:

✓Access your order information online ✓Receive delivery date updates ✓Receive despatch notifications ✓View order tracking 24/7 Offer subject to availability. © 2019 Thompson & Morgan. † For full T & C’s, please visit www.thompson-morgan.com. If you are not happy for any reason, we will accept the return of faulty/unused goods in sealed original packaging for refund or replacement within 30 days. Return postage for unwanted goods is at customer’s own expense. This does not affect your statutory rights. Postage quoted applies to mainland UK only.

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!

Y E N O M E V S14 A h s a c s s le r fo n e d r a g to s y a w Amateur

13 APRIL 2019

The plants that don’t need soil!

Six best tagetes for you to grow How to use potting compost

Grow the best lobelia

SAVE !

MONEY

20 best buys! garden for le

6 best rhododendrons to g

14

STANDARD OLEANDER

BUY 2 – SAVE

£10.00! “ Introducing… ‘Standard’ Oleander!

JUST

.99

£WHEN YOU BUY 2

…A Profusion Of Hot-Pink Blooms All Summer Long, Every Year! ”

EACH

FOR JUST £29.98

SAVE £10.00!

— INTRODUCING WINTER HARDY —

STANDARD OLEANDERS

G

ive your ront door, conservatory, patio or balcony a sunny uplifting Mediterranean feel with these breathtaking 3ft tall winter hardy Oleander. Easy to grow, Oleanders thrive on neglect, surviving hot, dry weather or temperatures as low as -5ºC ...no wonder it’s one of the UK’s favourite hardy exotics!

We have a limited number of these mature, well-established plants available. Supplied at 3ft tall in 5 litre pots, they can be seen at over £40 each in garden centres.

Take advantage of this limited time offer and you can buy one for just £19.99.

Or, save an extra £10 and buy two for only £29.98 – that’s just £14.99 each!

WINTER HARDY TO -5°C SUPPLIED

3FT TALL

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Standard Flowering Oleander 0.8-1m Tall Potted Plants – JUST £19.99

BUY 2 FOR JUST £29.98 – SAVE £10.00!

DON’T FORGET!

Smothered in beautiful hot-pink blooms all summer long!

Incredible instant impact for any garden!

SEE THE VIDEO One of the UK’s favourite hardy exotics ONLINE Perfect for patio pots, or framing a door or gateway Important: Contact with Oleander foliage and its sap Lush, evergreen foliage for may irritate the skin. All parts of the Oleander Plant are toxic year-round interest if ingested.

3 EASY WAYS TO ORDER NOW! EXTRA BONUS OFFER Pair of Tulipa 11” Diameter Square Planters Classic square planters made from strong, durable plastic and hand-wash-painted in silver. Perfect for your Standard Oleander!

Item Code 130152

NOW £6.99 SAVE £3.00!

Offer available while stocks last. © YouGarden Ltd 2019

0844 6 569 569 Calls cost 5p per min plus your network’s access charge.

NEW! Blooming Fast Soluble Feed – 100g The only feed you need for more flowers, more fruit, and better roots and shoots! Use on all your plants for quick, long-lasting results!

ONLY £1.99 SAVE £3!

Item Code 100085

USE CODE

AG450

www.YouGarden.com/AG450

or by post using coupon below to: Offer AG450 YouGarden, PO Box 637, Wetherby Road, York YO26 0DQ PLEASE SEND TO: Offer AG450, YouGarden, PO Box 637,

‘Standard’ Oleander 0.8-1m Tall Plant in a large pot £19.99

YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS I enclose a cheque/Postal Order payable to YouGarden (name & address on back) for £ Or charge my Visa / Mastercard / Maestro card: Issue Card No. No. Start Exp Security Date Code Date

BUY 2 – JUST £14.99 EACH! SAVE £10.00

DELIVERY DETAILS

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Price Qty Subtotal £29.98

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These special offers go perfectly with your Standard Oleander 130152 Pair of Tulipa 11” Diameter Square Planters SAVE £3.00! £6.99 100085 Blooming Fast Soluble Feed - 100g Pack SAVE £3.00!

Add PP&I TOTAL ORDER VALUE

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JOIN THE YOUGARDEN CLUB - Get £20.00 FREE vouchers & SAVE 10% on EVERY ITEM you order!

820005 Renewal Subscription Membership*: SAVE £15.00! £5.00 £10.00 820001 1 Year Membership: SAVE £10.00!

DON’T FORGET: Deduct 10% (10p in every £1) if you joined the YouGarden Club: Orders dispatched within 7 days. Delivery to UK only and a £6.00 surcharge may apply to the following postcode areas: AB, BT, DD8-11, GY, HS, IM, IV, JE, KA27-28, KW, PA20-80, PH19-50, TR21-25 & ZE. Offer subject to availability and in the event that this offer is oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitutes. Images show mature plants in situ. See website for full product details and T&Cs. © YouGarden Limited 2019.

Initial

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My DOUBLE GUARANTEE to you!

1 If you’re not totally happy with your order, return it within 30 days and we’ll replace or refund in full.

2 Should any hardy plants fail to thrive thereafter, we’ll replace free of charge.

You just pay the P&P. Peter McDermott, Head Gardener

Yes, I would like to sign-up to the FREE YouGarden Newsletter.

Please tick here if you would prefer not to receive offers other than from us. © YouGarden Limited 2019.

AD CODE

AG450

Amateur

135 years of practical advice

1884 The World’s Oldest Gardening Magazine 2019 2019

TI-Media

MONEY SAVING

7

“Let me show you the great deals on offer at supermarkets,” says Ruth

“Do you find garden centres expensive? They can offer a large variety of plants and will stock a lot of specialist tools and nurturing products, but they are often high in price and low on value. I think many of them are more about selling scented candles, tacky bric-a-brac and food. My local centre has a food hall to rival Fortnum & Mason, but good gardening deals are der to find. This week, Ruth checked out the nt and garden product content of all the major permarkets, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and so on, to e what they can offer and she found some real rgains. See her article on page 7. You could save a few pounds, and avoid the scented candles!”

Garry Coward-Williams, Editor

Jobs for this week

4 7 8 13 14

10 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY Follow Ruth’s tips to keep your planting cost-effective TRY SUPERMARKETS FOR BARGAINS Ruth checks out all the top stores for the best savings TIME TO SOW THIS YEAR’S TOMS Save some extra cash by sowing from seed, says Ruth FREE SEEDS/WHAT’S ON How to grow charming ‘Majorette Mixed’ hollyhocks MAKE MORE PLANTS FOR FREE Ruth explains the steps to taking basal cuttings in steps

Great garden ideas Alamy

22

“Colourful and bold: these are the six best tagetes,” says Graham

22 26 28 32 55

SIX OF THE VERY BEST: TAGETES Our pick of long-flowering marigolds to dazzle this summer HOW TO GROW LOBELIA Anne provides the secrets to dainty carpets of colour THE TOP 20 BEST-VALUE PLANTS Perennials, shrubs, climbers and trees that give most value RHODODENDRONS FOR POTS AND BORDERS It’s time to re-evaluate this surprisingly varied plant group GET THE LOOK: A GARDEN IN A VALLEY Even a challenging location can yield extraordinary rewards

Gardening wisdom

Alamy

Alamy

28

32

“Find out about my top 20 best money-saving plants,” says Hazel

“Brighten your borders with azaleas and rhododendrons,” says Camilla

Cover image: Helenium Sahin’s Early Flowerer (pic: Alamy)

10 16 19 20 36 40 42 45 51 53 59

PETER SEABROOK Perennial success from seed and cuttings, as Peter reveals BOB FLOWERDEW Get planting in bags for the easiest spuds ever, says Bob VAL BOURNE’S GARDEN WILDLIFE No-dig gardening? Val explains how it works LUCY CHAMBERLAIN’S FRUIT AND VEG Boost brassica crops, grow Thai basil, companion planting ASK JOHN NEGUS Peach leaf curl, multiplying auriculas, pruning dogwood RHS EXPLAINS Plants that don’t need soil? There are more than you think!

HOW TO USE: POTTING COMPOST Tim explains your compost options and demystifies the jargon A GARDENER’S MISCELLANY This week’s trivia and puzzles are all about fritillaries ANNE’S MASTERCLASS Anne advises on drought-tolerant plants for a hot border YOUR LETTERS Your chance to be published in our 135th anniversary issue!

TOBY BUCKLAND Toby explains how blue alkathene pipe can help your crop 13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

3

2019

MONEY SAVING

10 ways to save money in the garden

Creating a fabulous garden need not break the bank. Ruth shares her cash-saving tips

1

2

Looking after your plants well, from when they go in the ground onwards, keeps them healthy and means you’ll spend less money fighting off pests and disease, and shouldn’t need to buy replacements.

3

Why splash out on expensive perennials when you can take cuttings and make lots of new plants for free? Late spring and summer are key times for softwood cuttings of perennials, climbers and shrubs.

5

Keep an orderly shed, with everything in its place, so you don’t run the risk of buying replacement products and tools simply because you can’t find the ones you need!

6

Market stalls are a goldmine of bargain plants and gardening advice.

Buy small perennials for a couple of quid and grow them on until they are large and robust enough to plant out.

4 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

Nip pests in the bud before small colonies grow into large infestations that need expensive chemicals to keep them in check.

Encourage beneficial natural predators, too, such as ladybirds, wild birds and hedgehogs.

4

Recycle plants such as forced indoor hyacinths. After dying back, they can be set outside in light shade and in future years will produce early scent and colour when there’s little else around.

Celebrate the spring: Next week’s AG is bursting at the seams with great ideas for creating a colourful garden over the Easter weekend.

Don’t miss out: it’s in shops on 16th April!

Avoid buying cheap tools as they are a false economy and quickly break and blunt. Quality tools may involve more initial outlay, but should last for years.

7

Wash and re-use pots instead of buying more. I also wash my gardening gloves regularly to stop them cracking and perishing after hard use and coming in contact with mud and chemicals.

8

Buying reduced plants from garden centre ‘bargain bins’ often pays dividends. They may look weary but in time they recover – and they will perform well in future.

9

Tools are expensive, so look after them. Wipe them clean after each use, sharpen those that need it and store them properly.

Give them a thorough overhaul and lubricate their moving parts at least once each season.

10

Growing from seed is an economical and satisfying method of growing, with a massive variety of ornamental and edible plants available. You could even set up a seed-swapping club with friends and neighbours!

13 APRIL 2019 AmAteur GArDeNING

5

NEW FOR 2019

Breathtakingly Beautiful Magnolia For springtime colour, nothing compares to the glorious yellow blooms of this half standard magnolia Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ half standard

WAS £ .99 NOW

£14.99

HURRY OFFER MUST END APRIL 20th

Large goblet shaped, lemon yellow flowers set against rich, dark green foliage Low maintenance, hardy shrub

Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ This magnificent half standard magnolia, produces a sunshine of huge, yellow, long lasting flowers in late spring, just as the leaves emerge. The foliage is dark green in colour and contrasts well with the flowers, fading to yellowy brown in autumn. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Yellow Bird’ will tolerate sun and part shade if grown in a sheltered position.

“Arrived in excellent condition. Can’t wait to see them blossom. The yellow looks so unusual so looking forward.”

Despatching April as a PREMIUM 5-8 branch bare root plant.

Patio Pot Perfect for your Magnolia, this durable pot stands 30cm (12”) tall and 39cm (15”) wide. Black with a brushed metal finish, lattice design and a large saucer ideal for all your patio favourites. Just £9.99

EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS OFFER Magnificent Magnolia ‘Sunrise’ This breathtakingly beautiful variety has been grown as a standard to ensure a compact habit ideal for a patio feature or planted along borders with stunning effect. A low-maintenance deciduous shrub will grow up to 1.5m (60”) high to become a majestic focal point in your garden.

Supplied as a bare root shrub with a stem height of 70-80cm

1 plant for £19.99, £9.99

www.thompson-morgan.com/TM_TS1335 When ordering online please use order code TM_TS1335 to access our special offers

Tel:

0844 573 7414

Mon Fri, 9am 8pm Sat - Sun, 9am-6pm

Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

Your satisfaction GUARANTEED Ð or your money back

We want you to be 100% satisfied with any product you buy from us. If you’re not 100% happy then neither are we, so let us know and we’ll replace your product or give you your money back.†

Please send to: Thompson & Morgan, Dept TM_TS1335, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU. I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to ‘Thompson & Morgan’ for £

ORDER CODE

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Staying in touch with T&M Please read each statement carefully

Price

Product Code Item Description

KA9508

Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ 1 PREMIUM Bareroot (5-8 branches) £24.99 £14.99

KB0661

Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ 2 PREMIUM Bareroot (5-8 branches) £39.99 £24.99

KB0662

Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ 3 PREMIUM Bareroot (5-8 branches) £54.99 £32.99

59763

Magnolia ‘Sunrise’ Standard, 1 Bare Root £19.99

£9.99

T56850P

Large Patio Pot (24 litre, 39cm) & Saucer x 1

£9.99

T56956P

Large Patio Pot (24 litre, 39cm) & Saucer x 3 £29.97

£19.99

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3Access your order information online 3Receive delivery date updates 3Receive despatch notifications 3View order tracking 24/7 Offer subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties if necessary *Please note that savings CSV are based on the equivalent of multiples of the cheapest pack size. © 2019 Thompson & Morgan. † For full T & C’s, please visit www.thompson-morgan.com.

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•By placing an order with us, you become a T&M customer, so we would like to continue sending our catalogue to you, giving you first sight of our new varieties. Please tick the box if you do not want to receive them .

•As a T&M customer we would like to send you new variety previews, newsletters & exclusive special offers & discounts via email. Please tick the box if you do not want to receive them .

•We would like to send you gardening related offers

by SMS. Tick here if you do not want to receive them .

•Tick here if you are happy for us to share your data with other carefully selected & reputable organisations who will contact you via post .

•By sharing your email address and mobile with us, you can track the progress of your order online and receive progress updates on your orders. Please note that we may print your telephone number on the despatch label which will ensure the carrier can contact you if they need to. We will not pass on email or phone numbers to any other 3rd parties.

Thompson & Morgan take your privacy very seriously.

You can change your communications preferences with us at any time by calling our customer service team on 0333 400 0033 or emailing us at ccare@ thompson morgan.com. To find out exactly how we store and use the data you give us please visit www.thompson-morgan.com/privacy.

2019

MONEY SAVING Many supermarkets are selling more plants and garden equipment

Not all plants are well cared for

Step by step

Building a large Wilko container

Not as easy as instructions suggest!

Low prices attract more customers

Stores are developing their own brands

Check all the pieces are present, then start fitting together the container framework using the easy-to-follow instructions.

1

There are some very good deals on offer, says Ruth

S

UPERMARKETS are increasingly catering for the gardening market, selling own-brand composts and fertilisers alongside seeds, bedding plants, bulbs, trees and shrubs.

Sure, it’s convenient, and it’s usually competitively priced – but do supermarkets really provide quality goods at accessible prices, or are they offering a false economy?

My own experiences have been positive; three years ago, I bought a ‘Jonagold’ apple tree, ‘Conference’ pear and a honeysuckle from Lidl, and all are thriving. Recently, I visited my local supermarkets to see what they offer, checking out Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose, Asda, Aldi, Lidl and Wilko.

Waitrose was the only store I saw selling plants in recyclable taupe pots.

Tesco had the widest range of plants, from bedding and summer bulbs (around £3) to fruit trees and shrubs (£6-£12), and Wilko came out on top for equipment and fertiliser.

A large part of the Wilko store was given over to seeds, mini-greenhouses, containers, pots and own-brand feeds and growbags. I bought a hexagonal container for £8 that will be ideal for growing beans (see panel right). It looks sturdy, but it was trickier to assemble than the instructions suggested, requiring a wooden mallet and an extra pair of hands to complete.

This is just a representative selection of what is available near me. It pays to shop around and see what works for you – don’t automatically rely on garden centres. I will let you know how this year’s supermarket purchases fare.

Bargains worth watching out for…

Tesco fruit trees look healthy and cost £6 (2 for £10) compared to slightly larger trees in my local garden centre that cost much more.

1

2

These Morrisons shrubs costs £1.76, which is roughly the same as the flourishing honeysuckle I bought from Lidl a few years ago.

Carefully tap all the pieces firmly into the plastic holders (I used a wooden mallet) – otherwise, the lining won’t fit properly.

2

Unfold the sturdy, re-usable lining and place it in the frame so the corners are all aligned.

3

Fold the liner over the framework to create a double thickness. The finished container is a generous size and ideal for larger ornamentals and veggies.

4

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

7

2019

MONEY SAVING Pot on plug plants ready for hardening off and planting out in a few weeks’ time

Next week’s free seedsn’ are Malope trifida ‘Vulca

by Sarah Raven

Get set for the Easter break Ruth looks forward to the year’s first bank holiday

W

ITH the first bank holiday is next week’s free seeds – a packet since the New h Raven’s stunning Year just a ope trifida ‘Vulcan. week away, These rather unusual excitement is building in nd eye-catching plants the AG offices. are laid-back and easyI always think that o-grow, and that will add the Easter break is the height to borders with ‘proper’ start of the heir large, silky trumpets gardening year, when reddish-pink, each one are nesting Birds things really start to take off ked out by a zingy so keep feeding as the temperature warms u ‘star’ at its base.

Adding to this year’s anticipation Malope like a sunny spot and

Maybe consider a patio water feature

will attract lots of pollinators to the garden. They should also flower throughout the summer.

As well as showing you how to sow your Malope seeds, next week’s bumper bank holiday special also focuses on creating containers for colour and scent, growing the best cherry tomatoes, plus lots of other timely tasks for the long weekend including getting plants ready for the summer, installing a simple water feature, laying a stepping-stone path to help prevent well-trodden areas of the garden from turning into a bog, and much more besides.

All the usual popular elements are included, too – including How to Use Tools with Tim, and words of wisom from Anne, Bob, Lucy and Toby, not forgetting Graham’s Gardening Miscellany.

So buy next week’s AG for great bank holiday ideas and information, and don’t forget to send us details and pictures of your own Easter garden adventures!

Time to sow this year’s toms!

They will soon germinate in warmth and light, says Ruth

W

E’RE getting close to the sweet, reddish-brown fruits. They all germinated, and are now growing well deadline for sowing this on a warm windowsill, and will soon be year’s tomatoes now. ready for pricking out and growing Although plug and on. Some will grow in the mature plants are readily garden against a sunny available in garden centres, fence, the rest will live in starting the from seed the greenhouse. is easy to do and much Tomatoes are easy more economical. to grow. Simply sow the I have sown three seeds thinly in trays of batches this year. ‘Shirley’ fresh seed compost that are reliable croppers and has been watered well and grow well in an unheated Sow seeds thinly left to drain. greenhouse, and yellow bitefor best results Cover the seeds with a sized ‘Sungold’ explode in little more compost, label and place little mouthfuls of sweetness. somewhere light and warm. Remove the The third variety is ‘Sunchocola’, a tray lids once germination takes place new one to me that produce trusses of 8 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

Tomatoes soon germinate and grow on a warm, light windowsill

and make sure the seedlings aren’t left to dry out. Move them into 3in (7cm) individual pots or coir modules when they are large enough to handle.

LESS THAN 14P PER PLANT

72 Spectacular Perennial Plants £71.88 - NOW ONLY £9.99!

Flowering year after year, May to November Fill all your beds and borders Perfect for cut flowers indoors

A

Fill your beds and borders with this Bumper collection of herbaceous perennials that will bloom year after year. They can also be cut and brought into the house for beautiful flower arrangements. Height: Up to 1m (39"). Spread: 45cm (18"). Plug plants supplied from April/May.

B

FREE SNIPS WORTH £4.99

When you order online

Collection includes: A. Gaillardia ‘Mesa Bright Bicolour’ Brightly coloured border favourite.

B. Digitalis ‘Dalmation Mixed’ Statuesque foxgloves for garden borders.

C. Coreopsis ‘Golden Joy’ Bright yellow flowers on compact plants.

D. Verbena ‘Buenos Aires’ The long lasting blooms attract clouds of bees and butterflies into your garden.

E. Leucanthemum 'Crazy Daisy' Large double white daisy like blooms all summer. Height 75cm.

F. Delphinium ‘Dark Blue & White Bee’ Intense dark blue flowers, each with an unusual white “bee” shape at the centre!

G. Gaura 'Sparkle White' Something different to delight you this year!

Neat, bushy habit making it ideally suited to growing in patio pots.

H. Achillea 'Cassis' – Low maintenance perennial perfect for cottage garden borders and wildlife gardens.

I. Aquilegia 'Mrs Scott Elliot' Pretty coloured cottage garden favourite.

J. Doronicum 'Little Leo' Perfect for the front of shaded borders as well as making a pleasing cut flower.

K. Echinacea ‘Primadonna Rose’ Striking petals radiate outwards from a deep orange brown central cone attract bees and butterflies.

L. Dianthus 'Rockin Red' Colourful, incredibly long lasting and durable. Lacy, lightly-perfumed, vivid red flowers .

C

H

Maxicrop Plant Treatment ONLY £1 For ONLY £1 we will treat your whole order with MAXICROP to give your plants a strong, healthy root system, greener, healthier leaves, better establishment and improved root growth.

D

E

EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS OFFER

I

G

F

Begonia Apricot Shades

24 for

L J

K

To place your priority order visit:

£9.99

Perfect for Baskets or Pots. Cascading radiant colour.

Unbeatable for value and durability. Extra-large double flowers. Our Best-seller just got better!

OFFER MUST END APRIL 20th

48 plugs for £11.99 £19.98

www.thompson-morgan.com/TM_TS1334 When ordering online please use order code TM_TS1334 to access our special offers

0844 573 7414

Tel: Mon - Fri, 9am-8pm Sat - Sun, 9am- 6pm Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

Please send to: Thompson & Morgan, Dept TM_TS1334, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU. I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to ‘Thompson & Morgan’ for £

ORDER CODE

Address

Postcode

100% satisfied with any product you buy from us. If you’re not 100% happy then neither are we, so let us know and we’ll replace your product or give you your money back.

Staying in touch with T&M Please read each statement carefully

TM_TS1334

Name

YOUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEED or your money back We want you to be

Telephone

Email

Product Code

Price

KA9820

Perennial Collection, 72 plug plants £71.88

£9.99

KB0603

***ONLINE EXCLUSIVE *** ONLINE EXCLUSIVE*** Perennial Collection, 72 plug plants + FREE SNIPS WORTH £4.99

£9.99

16811

Begonia F1 Apricot Shades Improved, 24 plugs

£9.99

16812

Begonia F1 Apricot Shades Improved, 48 plugs £19.98

£11.99

KA2524

Maxicrop Plant Treatment

£1.00

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Listen to Peter’s free podcast every Thursday. Search for ‘This Week In The Garden with Peter Seabrook’ on iTunes

with Peter Seabrook, AG’s classic gardening expert

Peter’s top tips

Save money and still have lots of delphiniums by taking basal cuttings, says Peter

1

Delphinium seed is short-lived and needs to be stored in the vegetable draw of a refrigerator when ripe, and dry in an air-tight tin or jar. Sow within a year.

Delphinium cutting removed with dark piece at base

2

Scabiosa caucasica seed is shuttlecock-like and best sown into an inverted cone-shaped hole, made with a pencil point – the seed gently pushed into the hole.

Increase vigour and crop with a little cut, suggests Peter

“Cuttings need to be taken when the base of the stem is solid” 10 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

seed raising is not just numbers and value for money. When seedlings flower, you can discard poor colours and shades, which are not to your taste, to steadily improve what are selected over a number of years.

My heavy clay soil is not ideal for these perennials, especially when land stays wet through the winter and encourages root rots on older plants.

Organic matter is being dug in regularly to raise soil level and improve drainage.

Good plants with plenty of vigour are used to provide basal cuttings, and if I am lucky, some pull away with a bit of root – these are called ‘Irishman’s cuttings’. Cuttings taking needs to be done while the base of the stem is still solid and not when it’s hollow.

You will find the delphinium and lupin cuttings root fairly easily in a glass jar, with half an inch of perlite in the base kept permanently wet, stood on a light, north-facing window sill. A one-pound jam jar does the job with short, compact cuttings initially pretty well contained within the jar.

3

Regular removal of fading flowers will encourage repeat flowering and avoid masses of self seedings when it comes to lupins.

Alamy

All photography Peter Seabrook / TI Media, unless otherwise credited

W

HERE there is enough space to sow first-year flowering perennials, it is well worthwhile doing so – and it is a low-cost way to get a lot of plants carrying plenty of flowers to cut.

I am thinking particularly of such subjects as delphiniums, lupins and scabious, both raised indoors and outside.

They will flower earlier if sown indoors late winter, but can still be sown now, when the temperatures are warmer and light levels better, and still see flowers in the autumn. I bought one plant of Lupin ‘Pam Ayres’ a number of years ago, and rooted cuttings from it and saved seed.

While seedlings will not come true to the parent plant colours, the beauty of

4

Perennial scabious makes a very popular cut flower in shades of blue, mauve and white.

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Poulton’s Red is the latest in day neutral breeding. Remarkable in trials for its vigour and deep green leaves, however the most eye-catching feature was the bright red, stringless stems – the strongest red we’ve ever seen.

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With rhubarb, generally the redder the stem the sweeter the taste. The flavour of Poulton’s Red is similar to Poulton’s Pride but with less sharpness, meaning little or no sugar needs to be added in the cooking process.

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2019

MONEY SAVING What’s on

Things to do near you

Hanami Cherry Blossom Festival at Brogdale National Fruit Collection (April 14)

Powder-puffs of colour for the front of your borders

Powder-puffs of pastel colour Ruth sows some mini hollyhocks to edge her borders

H

OLLYHOCKS are a traditional Hollyhocks are relatively easy to cottage garden favourite, but grow but are prone to a rust disease that because they usu ll k lants with orange pustules grow so large the wer leaves and the stem are not always ideal for t rapidly spread up the smaller plots. hole plant.

Step forward Mr If your plants have Fothergill’s ‘Majorette succumbed to this Mixed’ hollyhocks, a dwarf problem in recent ‘powder-puff’ variety that easons, grow this often produces delightful ear’s plants elsewhere Germinate somewhere double blooms in pink, blue he garden. light and warm and white. Perfect for the fro ollyhocks are hardy of borders, if sown underco p ls, but if you repeatedly now they should flower this year. have problems with rust, treat them as Alternatively, sow in autumn and be biennials and bin or burn plants after rewarded with earlier blooms next year. flowering – don’t compost them.

Two ways to sow your hollyhocks

Between now and May, sow thinly into trays, pots or modules of dampened seeds and cuttings compost. Cover and either add a lid or seal in a clear bag and place in light warmth to germinate.

1

2

Alternatively, between May and July, sow directly into soil that has been cleared of weeds and stones and raked to crumble topping consistency. With protection and care, these will flower in situ next summer.

13: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Sandwell Valley Park, West Bromwich, Birmingham B71 4BG 13: Starting from Scratch – Propagation: RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. 0845 265 8071, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/hydehall 13: Introduction to Growing in Polytunnels: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/rosemoor 13-14: Sweet Pea Workshop: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/ gardens/harlow-carr 14: 20th Mapperton Gardens Spring Plant Fair: Mapperton, nr Beaminster, Dorset DT8 3NR (10am-4pm).

Admission £3 for Dorset Wildlife Trust 14: Hanami Cherry Blossom Festival: Brogdale National Fruit Collection, Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ. brogdalecollectors.org 14: Rare Plant Fair: The Old Rectory, Quenington, Cirencester, Glos GL7 5BN. 01278 661352, rareplantfair.co.uk 14: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Consall Hall, Wetley Rocks, Stoke on Trent ST9 0AG 16-17: Daffodil Show: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. 0845 6121 253, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley ■ Send details and images of events to ruth.hayes@ti-media.com ■ All details are subject to change without our knowledge, so please check that the event is still going ahead before leaving home.

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

13

2019

MONEY SAVING Cut just below the soil level

Now the weather is warming up, you can cut back less hardy penstemons

Take your cuttings in the early part of the day when plants are turgid (full of moisture) from the night before. It makes them more robust and easier to harvest.

Lupins are easy to propagate by taking basal cuttings from mature plants

Plastic bags keep cuttings damp

Ruth makes more lupins using this traditional method

P

ERENNIALS are some of the easiest plants in the garden, but mature plants can be expensive to buy, and growing from seed takes time, space and patience, so the easiest way of making more for free is to take cuttings.

Softwood cuttings can be taken in early summer and are a simple way of propagating tender geraniums and penstemons, but at this time of year basal cuttings are the way to go.

This method of cuttings is best for plants such as lupins and phlox that have

Step by step

extremely dense crowns or come from one thick taproot.

Taken now, the cuttings have time to root and grow, and be planted out in the summer – maybe in time for a second, later flush of flowers.

If nothing else, they will hopefully have matured enough to survive the winter and come back next year.

Collect in the morning, and if you can’t pot up your cuttings straight away, store them for as short a time as possible somewhere cool, in a dampened plastic bag, to prevent them drying out.

Cutting back your penstemon Our penstemon plants survived the winter with their top growth cut back by just a third to protect their vulnerable crowns and prevent wind rock in stormy weather.

Now that things are starting to warm up, it is time to cut back last Gauras can be year’s straggly growth trimmed, too to make room for new.

You can do the same with other more tender perennials such as gaura.

Using a sharp, clean pair of secateurs, cut back the growth to just above the lowest new shoots, cutting at an angle so rainwater runs off.

Mulch after pruning and check for pests.

Taking basal cuttings from new lupin shoots

1

Fill a 4in (10cm) pot with seed and cuttings compost with perlite or vermiculite and dampen with fresh tap water.

3

Remove any lover leave so just the main stem remains, and dip the cut end in hormone rooting powder or gel.

14 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

2

Clear a little soil away from the shoot and cut through it just below ground level using a sharp, clean garden knife.

4

Insert the cuttings into the compost mixture around the pot so they have enough space to develop roots and grow.

Keep the bag off the foliage using a framework of sticks or BBQ skewers

5

Seal the pot in a plastic bag and place it somewhere warm and light.

Cuttings should root in a few weeks.

DELPHINIUM

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Delphinium Dark Blue with White Bee Height 90cm (36")

Delphinium Astolat Height 1.5m (60")

Delphinium Cameliard Height 1.5m (60")

Delphinium Lavender Height 90cm (36")

Delphinium Black Knight Height 1.8m (72")

Delphinium Cherry Blossom Height 90cm (36")

Delphinium Sky Blue with White Bee Height 1.5m (60")

Delphinium Galahad Height 1.5m (60")

Delphinium Blue Bird Height 1.5m (60")

ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PLANTS TO WATCH AS THE TIGHT BUDS SLOWLY UNFURL INTO STATELY SPIRES

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HE PERFECT PLANT to add colour and structure to a cottage garden or herbaceous border yet also looks sensational in a more modern planting scheme. Stunning spires rise majestically above lower growing plants. Prefers well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Spread 30cm (12").

Fully hardy herbaceous perennials. Your order will be confirmed along with a copy of our latest catalogue and your young plants will be delivered within 14 days with our No Quibble Guarantee.

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HAYLOFT PLANTS, MANOR FARM NURSERY, PENSHAM, PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE WR10 3HB

with Bob Flowerdew, AG’s organic gardening expert Use potting compost or sieved garden compost, soil and leaf mould, with just one or two sets per bag

Bob’s top tips for the week

1

The sides of the bags must exclude light, so black bags are ideal

Make more of small garden spaces by growing the likes of ‘Nadine’ new potatoes in sacks and bags

Alamy

Main image and bottom inset: Alamy

Cleanse the bird table, feeders and bath. Don’t just use water – scrub with disinfectant to prevent birds cross-infecting each other.

2

Don’t put lush weeds straight on to the compost heap – rot first in a bucket of water to make free liquid feed for plants.

Are you after a productive new way of growing potatoes?

The secret’s well and truly out of the bag, as Bob explains

All photography TI Media, unless otherwise credited

T

HERE are more ways of growing potatoes than the standard ridge and furrow method, and each way has both advantages and drawbacks, and suits different situations.

Some are new, because the materials were not available in the past. One such way is growing in woven or plain durable plastic sacks and bags, which were only introduced in recent decades. Growing in bags has several plus points and it is ideal for someone without any spare ground space, since they can be stood anywhere, though preferably in a light, not shady, spot.

Crop yields can be similar to those in the ground and can often be had a bit earlier. Also, it involves less labour – particularly when harvesting, as it’s easier to tip the bag out rather than lift the crop from the ground. To my mind, a huge gain is that you find all of your crop, not leaving ‘volunteers’ to come up through next year’s crops, getting in the way and carrying over diseases.

Now, you can buy specially made sacks, but old potting compost bags serve nearly as well, and they are free.

16 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

The important thing is that the bags need good drainage, so with re-used plastic bags do ensure that you make lots of extra holes in the bottom. Nearly as important is that the sides must exclude light – black bags are better. Hold them up to the light, and if any comes through then try doubling up or line the bags with several sheets of newspaper.

“This is ideal if you have no spare ground space” Next, fill the bags three-quarters full of potting compost, or sieved garden compost, soil and leafmould, enriched with some fish, blood and bone meal, or similar. Put one set – or, at most, a couple – per bag, and cover with more infill.

Then water, water, water – and once the plants are growing strongly, add diluted liquid feed. Simple!

3

Liming rough, non-bowling green turf encourages grasses and clovers; this disadvantages many weeds, especially those troublesome Veronica speedwells and buttercups.

4

The sun can get hot this month, so ensure that greenhouses and cold frames are well ventilated so your seedlings don’t cook.

30 Garden Ready Lupins from ONLY £11.95...

perfect for masses of summer colour!

Praised for their outstanding garden performance, plants from the Gallery series are much famed for their bold spires packed full with bright and colourful, beeattracting blooms and exotic palm-like leaves – it’s not surprising they are such cottage garden favourites.

Very hardy and easy to grow, lupins prefer well-drained soil and actually improve it by fixing nitrogen in their roots.

Thriving in full sun or partial shade, cut back after their first flush of flowers in June and July for more, later in the summer.

Delivered as garden ready plants from early June. ✿ Supplied as Garden Ready Plants in trays of 30 They have large, well-developed rootballs and will start to flower within a few weeks of planting ✿ First year flowering providing colour this summer ✿ Fully hardy perennials returning year-after-year ✿ Lupins improve poor soil and provide valuable early food for bees ✿ Height to 60cm/24in ✿ Delivered in early June for immediate planting outside

Special Offer Save £8!

Buy 2 Or More Trays for Only £11.95 Each That’s Less Than 40p Per Lupin Plant!

Garden Ready Lupin plants from less than 40p each.

Order online at www.woolmans.com/W19LUAG2 Or phone: 0845 658 9137 (Calls cost 3p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge) Please post to: Woolmans W19LUAG2, Gazeley Road, Kentford, Suffolk CB8 7QB Name (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss) Delivery Address Postcode

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Gardening Week Charles Dowding planting lettuces

TI Media

Compost on the vegetable beds will be raked through at sowing and planting time, not dug in, to avoid disturbing the soil

TOP TIP

No-dig gardening Val looks at the benefits of no-dig gardening and, in particular, the methods practised by Charles Dowding

L

AST week (AG 6 April), I was writing about earthworms and discovered some new research carried out by farmers. They were asked to dig down and look at the different types of earthworm.

A healthy field should contain three different types of earthworm.

There are the non-burrowing, small branding worms that dwell on the surface. Topsoil worms, those that make horizontal burrows near the surface, should also be present. Finally, there’s our commonest type of earthworm, the large pink one, which makes permanent vertical borrows that go down deeply and aid drainage.

Results showed that disturbed fields, those that were often deeply ploughed, had fewer earthworms. It may be that overenthusiastic digging in the garden could have a similar effect on worm numbers. Fewer earthworms basically means less fertile soil, because earthworms coat their burrows with their own plant food, from anaerobic bacteria and digested leaf litter. This made me think about my own garden, particularly the vegetable plots.

Some of the wisest vegetable growers are no-dig gardeners, and Charles Dowding is a famous exponent.

No-dig gardening began in America with Ruth Stout (1884-1980), who gardened in Kansas. She advocated using a thick, 20cm (8in) mulch of hay to suppress weeds and keep the soil moist. Stout used cheap ‘spoiled’ hay that wasn’t

“Fewer earthworms basically means less fertile soil” suitable for animal use. She also added grass clippings, straw, leaves, pine needles, sawdust, weeds and kitchen scraps (eggshells, vegetable peelings and so on) directly onto her garden and didn’t have a separate compost heap.

When weeds grew, Stout added more mulch. When she planted potatoes, she chitted them and then threw them onto the surface – and she planted

seeds in the same easy way. Ruth Stout became famous for not watering her Kansas garden for 35 years!

Charles Dowding was inspired by reading one of Ruth Stout’s books and he’s come up with his own no-dig method. He begins by removing some perennial weeds, such as docks, with a trowel rather than a fork. Other pernicious weeds, such as couch grass, dandelions and buttercups, are covered with cardboard. Annual weeds are hoed, mainly in spring, when they germinate.

Charles feeds the soil by applying a 5cm (2in) layer of compost, animal manure or green-waste compost to the surface once a year, as soon as the crops are harvested in autumn. Sometimes he applies a summer mulch around brassicas, cucurbits and leeks, using larger lumps of compost.

The finest consistency of compost is saved for crops such as carrots, and it is always added before Christmas so that there’s time for his mulch to be broken down. He believes this mulch keeps the soil warm and makes the worms more active earlier in the year, and they draw the compost into the ground and add extra fertility and air.

Charles’s no-dig plots hold warmth and moisture in spring, and water soaks away more quickly in these beds, helped by plenty of earthworm burrows.

At Spring Cottage, where I dare say the veggies are nowhere near as good as they are on Charles Dowding’s patch, we also lay our garden compost on the top of productive plots. Our own compost contains lots of smaller brandling worms, and these get transferred to the vegetable plots and continue to process the mulch.

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

19

TI Media

Charles Dowding on his no-dig plot

Val Bourne

The award-winning No Dig Organic Home & Garden,

by Charles Dowding and Stephanie Hafferty

No-dig plots can make seed germination trickier, so Charles Dowding grows many of his vegetable plants in modular trays and then transplants them.

with Lucy Chamberlain, AG’s fruit and veg expert

Focus on...Winter brassicas Lucy’s picks Impressive sprouts, kale, cabbage and sprouting with Lucy

Three must-try brassicas

B

RUSSELS sprouts, kale, purple sprouting, Savoy cabbage, winter cauliflower… these hardy veg are the core of a cool season harvest – but the time to sow is now!

Winter brassicas are all part of the same plant species, Brassica oleracea, and they all have distinct juvenile and mature phases, but there the similarity ends. A cauliflower curd is made up of thousands of immature buds on a short stem, while Brussels sprouts and purple sprouting kale have elongated stems.

Individual sprout buttons are squat, enlarged leaf buds; those of purple sprouting develop into long flowering sideshoots. Cabbages, like cauliflowers, have a short stem. The ‘head’ is formed by leaves broadening and curving inwards until a tight heart is formed.

Secrets of bigger yields An extensive root system and moisture supply are key to bigger yields, so dig over the plot well and add garden compost or well-rotted manure; this helps to ease compaction on heavy clay soils and boost water retention on sandy types.

Winter brassicas love nitrogen, so dig a high-nitrogen fertiliser into the top 8in

DT Brown

(20cm) of soil before planting to feed gargantuan leaves – and fork some in during early September to top levels up.

Leaf surface area relates to yield, so water and feed steadily to avoid growth check; wider spacings help on lighter soil.

Three ways you can boost your brassica crops

Alamy

All photography TI Media, unless otherwise credited

Don’t forget!

Although you can sow into outdoor seedbeds for transplanting later, I start my winter greens in modules, sowing one seed per cell. Protected under cover, you get far better emergence and the seedlings can be transplanted out in June with no root disturbance. High germination temperatures are not essential: 59-64ºF (15-18ºC), which is the temperature of most homes, is fine.

T&M

Purple sprouting is available as early and late selections

Kale ‘Buttonhole Starmaker’ Liven up your plate this colourful kale!

Bred for its mild, sweet flavour, it’s winter-hardy and early to mature.

Steaming means you retain colour.

Kalette ‘Mixed’ A cross between a sprout and a kale, a known as the ‘flowe sprout’. Loose frilly buds have a mild, nutty flavour.

Very good winter hardiness and F1 hybrid vigour give impressive yields.

Cauliflower ‘Veronica This F1 hybrid bears spiralled lime-green curds. With a nuttier taste and firmer texture than white types, it matures earlier in the year, giving autumn and early winter harvest

T&M

In just a year, brassica seedlings can mature into a fine harvest

Liming your soil to pH 7.5 helps to deter clubroot – a destructive fungal disease of brassicas – as does preventing waterlogging, and growing resistant varieties such as Brussels Sprout ‘Crispus’, Cauliflower ‘Clapton’ and Cabbage ‘Kilaton’.

1

20 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

2

Large and small cabbage white caterpillars can ruin the quality of a harvest and strip plants bare of foliage.

Prevent egg laying by placing a cage of fine butterfly netting over plants (take care that leaves don’t touch the nets!).

This handily stops pigeons, too!

Cabbage root fly can attack all brassicas, including winter types.

Female flies lay eggs around the base of plants in late spring and summer, but this can easily be prevented by placing root fly collars (available from garden centres) around transplants.

3

Next Week: Grow squashes, take herb cuttings, start off leeks, make room for veg seedlings, try strawberry popcorn.

5 quick jobs Currant ‘Rosa Sport’ (Ribes rubrum)

Step by step

Perpetual spinach will happily grow in shade

3

raspberries, rhubarb, blackberries and blackcurrants will all yield brilliantly in shady spots (many can be wall-trained).

See? Shade should be celebrated!

1

4 5

Thai basil

Thai Basil ‘Siam Queen’

sweetcorn or climbing French beans will offer respite for shade-loving leafy veg (see above). To top it all, the diversity of planting helps create an attractive plot!

PINEAPPLE guavas, pomegranates, loquats, persimmons – all can be grown outdoors with winter protection. Here’s how to check plant health:

You’ll also need to remove any rotten or dead foliage, then work over your plants with secateurs and prune out any dieback, well into healthy wood.

2

Why not try..?

Alamy

Strong-smelling tagetes at the base of toms deter whitefly

Uncover and check tender fruits

To get these fruits through a UK winter if they are permanently outside, you’ll have wrapped them up with insulation – so remove this now.

Pull rhubarb: slide your index finger down to the bases of the stem, then twist it off. Pull no more than one third of the stems each fortnight.

As the soil begins to warm, start sowing drills of the hardier veg, such as carrots, radishes, beetroot and turnips. Cover with cloches in exposed plots.

Buy plug plants if you missed a key sowing date or if you don’t fancy windowsills full of seed trays. Garden centres now sell an excellent range.

Make the most of overwintered leeks, Swiss chard and perpetual spinach – for they’ll quickly run to flower as spring temperatures rise .

April is renowned for bringing the wet weather. Act now to get water capture and storage organised by installing butts or tanks and clearing out all the gutters.

2

The benefits of companion planting WHAT this technique lacks in scientific evidence, it makes up for with feel-good factor! Companion planting helps thwart pests, attract pollinators, suppress weeds and maximise your growing space – not a bad list of credentials!

Plant pungent-smelling garlic cloves alongside drills of carrots to confuse root fly females, and strong-smelling tagetes (French marigolds) at the base of your glasshouse tomatoes to deter whitefly.

Sweet peas climbing amongst your runner beans, and calendula (pot marigolds) nestled amongst courgettes and squashes, will lure in pollinators to help set a better crop. Scattering ‘cut-and-come-again’ salad seeds in between winter brassica plants will suppress weeds, and growing tall

1

Gradually increase watering and adding high-potash liquid feed as the weather continues to warm. Throw fleece on overnight if a cold snap is forecast.

3

Alamy

MANY gardeners feel disappointed if their garden is predominantly shady.

Well, don’t be! This moist, sheltered, lowlight environment is perfect for growing lush, leafy foliage. Annual and perpetual spinach, spring cabbage, rocket, lettuce, claytonia, lamb’s lettuce… the list of crops that will supply you with verdant pickings from a shady bed is impressive, and all can be sown in April. In sunny, exposed spots, gardeners would be endlessly watering and mulching for such growth: shade gives the low-maintenance option.

Fruit, too, can be abundant in shade.

Those with tarter (rather than honeyed) flavours can be planted right now. Red, white and pink currants, gooseberries, morello cherries, cane and groundcover

Lubera.co.uk

Crops that thrive in shade

WE’RE familiar with basil, tomatoes and olive oil as a Mediterranean threesome, but have you given Thai basil a try? It’s just as easy to grow, yet it bears an altogether spicier flavour. Basil (technically called ‘sweet basil’) is great for pesto and pizza, but it’s lovely to toss some Thai basil leaves into an aromatic aubergine curry, or a hot and sour tom yum soup? The purple-tinged leaves taste of liquorice and aniseed.

If you’ve grown sweet basil before then the good news is that Thai basil needs the same treatment. Sow now into well-watered pots of seed compost – ‘Siam Queen’ is the most widely sold Thai variety. Place in a propagator set at 68ºF/20ºC and, once the seedlings are large enough, transfer three or four to a three-litre pot. Grow on in full sun, harvesting the leaves as and when needed.

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

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Pick of the very best

All photography Alamy, unless otherwise credited

Graham Rice chooses his six top RHS Award of Garden Merit winners

African or French – the undeniably bright blooms of tagetes add impact in borders and work well in containers, too

This week it’s

Tagetes

¨

The Aztecs believed that marigolds had protective properties and used it to treat burns. Extracts from certain varieties are used as a natural colouring for foods and textiles.

With a long flowering season and a bold colour palette, marigolds blaze a trail throughout the summer. Graham Rice shares his top picks

W

E grow five kinds of marigolds in the UK. Setting aside English marigolds (Calendula officinalis), of which only one has an AGM, we’re left with perhaps the most dazzling flowers in the summer garden: African and French marigolds and the hybrids between them, plus the dainty and aromatic ‘tagetes’. If you have a good pair of sunglasses, you might want to fetch them before reading on – you’re going to need them.

African marigolds can boast fully double flowers up to 6in (15cm) across, but the stout plants produce relatively few of them at one time. The flowers keep coming all summer, often on tight

and not especially elegant plants, although taller varieties with more open growth are now coming into vogue.

These include varieties derived from the long-stemmed types traditionally used in garlands at Hindu wedding celebrations, such as ‘Kushi’, which have not yet been assessed for an AGM. Water damage The colours are certainly bright but, sadly, the dazzling blooms tend to collect rainwater and may rot in cool, wet conditions. Those with flowers most densely packed in petals (AGM-winning Discovery and Inca Series) seem to throw off water most effectively.

Weather is much less of a problem for

Where to buy Mr Fothergill’s mr-fothergills.co.uk 0333 777 3936 (calls cost same as 01/02) Moles molesseeds.co.uk 01206 213213 Thompson & Morgan thompson-morgan.com 0844 573 1818 (calls 7p/minute) 22 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

French marigolds, especially the singleflowered varieties, and their season is just as long, especially if you deadhead regularly. The flowers are smaller, but are often prettily marked or come in striking shapes and colour combinations.

Most French marigolds are low and neat, so are ideal for small containers and windowboxes. However, those that open their first flowers on very young plants may not extend their season into the autumn. I like the very pretty, taller old varieties that have reappeared. The long-stemmed, small, single flowers are often striped boldly and fit well into mixed borders, but even mahogany and yellow ‘Tall Scotch Prize’ (also known as ‘Harlequin’ and ‘Jolly Jester’) did not quite manage an AGM. Hybrid marigolds combine the best of both types and, because they rarely set any seed, will flower for longer and more prolifically than other marigolds.

Unless you need very short or very tall marigolds, these are definitely the ones

GAP

GAP

the Award of Garden merit is a mark of quality awarded since 1922 to garden plants (including trees, vegetables and decorative plants) by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

‘Honeycomb’ The dramatic double flowers are mahogany-red, their petals edged in gold, and featuring a golden crest in the centre of each bloom. Has held an AGM since 1975, and is still one of the best. French. H: 10in (25cm).

‘Inca Orange’ Dense and compact; the green-eyed, vivid orange, fully double flowers open from July into September above small, dark green foliage. Dramatic in formal bedding schemes; good in a container.

African. H: 16in (40cm).

‘Zenith Yellow’ Bright yellow flowers open in staggering profusion on spreading plants for many summer months. Sets no seed, so will flower continuously and prolifically, with new blooms just overtopping the remains of the old. Hybrid. H: 1ft (30cm).

‘Fireball’ A new development in French marigolds: the large double flowers change colour as they age. After opening red, they become copperyorange and finally mature to gold. All set against dark foliage. H: 10in (25cm).

GAP

Bonanza mixed Series Double, crested flowers in seven colours from deep orange to lemon yellow, including bicolours. Flowers open over a long season, and the fading blooms are well hidden by the new ones that follow. French. H: 1ft (30cm).

to pick. Three out of the seven fully double options available have been awarded AGMs (‘Zenith Yellow’, ‘Zenith Lemon Yellow’ and ‘Zenith Golden Yellow’), but all are excellent.

Grow a bed full of these hybrid marigolds and you’ll get a welcome blast of summer sunshine – just don’t forget your shades!

‘tiger eyes’ Produced from June to September on neat and compact plants. Each flower features a ring of broad, deepmahogany-red petals around a mass of small rich orange ones. Long a favourite. French. H: 8in (20cm).

What makes a good marigold?

A long flowering season Pure single colours along with attractive bicolours Resistance to bad weather Attractive flower form

Evenly balanced growth habit New flowers opening above the old ones Uniformity Easy availability 13 APRIL 2019 AmAteur GArDeNING

23

Sowing and raising tagetes Sow seed indoors at 20ºC/68ºF in March or April in 2-3cm individual cells.

Seeds are long, thin and easy to handle.

French and hybrid marigolds can also be sown in a cold greenhouse in April.

French marigolds can be grown on in their cells; African and hybrid types usually need more space, and should be moved on into 3½in/9cm pots.

Harden off before planting out after the last frost – French and hybrid marigolds will take more chills than African ones.

French marigolds can also be treated like hardy annuals, and sown direct where they are to flower, in late May.

Sow in individual cells

Move African and hybrid seedlings into 9cm pots

How toÉ

Plant out in sun, after the last frost GAP

Deadhead French types often Try teaming with dahlias

Marigold planting and care Plant in full sun; they can cope with some shade from the side but will not thrive in overhead shade.

Taller types can be quite hungry, so it pays to improve the soil before planting.

Tall African marigolds may need stout canes for support; use a cane or canes and twine for taller French marigolds.

Snip off the flowers of African marigolds if they start to turn brown and mushy, or as they eventually begin to look ragged.

Deadhead French marigolds every few days – leaving the flowers to set seed can severely cut short their flowering period.

Know your marigolds DESPITE the name, French marigolds (Tagetes patula) do not come from France; they come from Mexico and Guatemala. Single or double, and mainly dwarf, they have small flowers on well-branched plants, in colours from mahogany to lemon yellow, plus various bicolours.

African marigolds (T. erecta) also come from T. tenuifolia types have Mexico, and feature much larger, usually densely small single flowers double flowers in a more limited range of orange and yellow tones, plus the occasional creamy white. The hybrids between the two are the best marigolds of all.

Varieties usually called ‘tagetes’ (T. tenuifolia) have small single flowers in orange and yellow, above nicely aromatic foliage.

All four are half-hardy annuals, while Calendula officinalis (English marigold) is hardy. Grown here since 995AD, it comes in shades of orange and yellow, plus creams and pinks, in a variety of flower forms. However, just one has an AGM. 24 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

Make the most of marigolds ALL marigolds have very bright flowers, so when it comes to using them in the garden we need to take a moment to think about positioning.

Taller African marigolds can go in the middle or back of the border, planted among dahlias and cannas, or in large containers. Shorter types are best given a place of their own where they can dazzle. Alternatively, I find they look great interplanted with curly parsley, which softens the whole look but will not clash with those bold colours.

Curly parsley is also good with shorter French and hybrid marigolds.

Other low partners include the creeping and trailing ipomoeas grown for their limey or bronzed foliage, such as those in the Sweet Caroline Series. In fact, purple and bronze foliage generally partners well with tagetes: try ‘Impala’ castor oil plant for taller types; dark-leaved coleus for shorter ones – or darkleaved heucheras.

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Before planting out, always harden the plants off by standing them outside the greenhouse or cold frame to feel the weather for a few days before planting.

Lobelia erinus produces a fan-like mound of flowers from early summer to autumn

Lobelia is ideal for bedding and containers, bred to form both low mound-forming plants and trailing varieties

How to grow...

Lobelia

These dainty little blooms are often treated as the floral chorus to flashier plants – but lobelia can easily wow with their pretty carpets of colour, as Anne explains

W

HERE would the star be without the supporting cast, the show-off with no audience, a bride robbed of her congregation? The humble lobelia, the horticultural equivalent of crowds, choruses and stooges, has long been dismissed as a filler plant, but they can help to create knockout floral displays.

Whether in a hanging basket, windowbox or flower bed, the many cultivars of Lobelia erinus create a fine sea of tiny leaves and many flowers in white, all shades of blue, mauve and

TI Media / John Swithinbank

Although a little late, I’m sowing pinches of lobelia seeds to modules. They’ll look great as edging between Stachys byzantina, and together they cover the ground to keep weeds down

26 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

pink. They make great edgings to paths or lawns, as well as creating a backdrop for showier blooms from the likes of petunias, marguerites and pelargoniums.

Lobelia erinus is just one of the 370 species within this genus of plants in the campanula or bellflower family, and in its native Southern Africa it would make a scrambling herbaceous perennial. Here in the UK, we treat the many cultivars as half-hardy annuals. Some are bred to form low mound-forming plants, 4-6in (10-15cm) high, while others have a more trailing habit – great for covering the sides of baskets and boxes. Tubular, two-lipped flowers are fan-like and appear over a long season from early summer to autumn.

The tiny seeds are fiddly to sow, and best started early in February or March at 60-65ºF (15-18ºC). To transplant the tiny seedlings individually would require the skill of a surgeon, so we used to ‘patch them off’ – in other words, take a group of four or five seedlings as one to set out grid fashion in a seed tray.

Alternatively, a pinch of seed could be sown per module.

Once grown, young plants produce strong root systems and are more robust than they look. In the days before plug plants and modules, I recall cutting half a

dozen plants in a strip from a seed tray, then wrapping them in newspaper and sending them on their way for customers who didn’t need a whole tray full.

Buying young plants bypasses the fiddle of early sowing. The secret with these is always prompt handling; plug plants are unpacked, set up in a cool, bright place, checked for moisture and then potted up as soon as possible.

Good multi-purpose compost and 3-3½in (8-9cm) pots are ideal.

Stately relatives DON’T forge to try some of the taller herbaceous lobelias.

Some, like 3ft (1m) tall L. cardinalis and its many Purple Cardinal flower cultivars, will (Lobelia cardinalis) enjoy moist s Stunning but tricky L. tupa, capable of reaching 6ft (1.8m) tall, will suit an exotic border.

pots of colour: lobelia makes an attractive partner for begonia, chrysanthemum and allysum in a tub

Care and cultivation All photography Alamy, unless otherwise credited

Plant out from May onwards, after the last frosts.

Make sure the soil is well cultivated and conditioned, in a sunny or lightly shaded spot.

Set the plants 8in (20cm) apart in borders, but closer in containers. Lobelias are ideal for colonising the sides of hanging baskets.

Keep the roots of lobelia moist by regular watering and, when established, feed fortnightly or they tend to run out of steam. Use a well-balanced liquid fertiliser, but when flowering starts, switch to a high-potash feed.

Inspect newly planted lobelias for slugs and snails by torchlight. Trap them or set down a few ferric phosphate slug pellets, hidden beneath pots.

Suttons Seeds

Pan American Seed

Four lovely lobelias

‘Lilac Fountain’ Soft lilac-pink flowers smother the trailing foliage.

This plant is excellent in large planters and smaller pots. Reaches 6in (15cm).

Thompson & Morgan

Thompson & Morgan

‘Cambridge Blue’ This mound-forming lobelia is smothered with pretty sky-blue flowers.

It’s a compact annual that reaches 6in (15cm) tall.

‘mrs Clibran Improved’ Electric blue flowers are marked with contrasting white eyes for a dramatic effect, coupled with rich green foliage. This plant reaches 6in (15cm) tall.

‘White Cascade’ Perfect for hanging baskets, producing waterfalls of small white flowers against green foliage that will help to highlight other blooms.

Reaches 6in (15cm).

13 April 2019 AmAteur GArDeNING

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For big impact on a small budget mix long-flowering perennials like Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, kniphofia and salvia with annuals such as linaria and calendula

The Top 20

Best-value plants Want a garden that looks a million dollars, but costs a lot less? Hazel Sillver reveals the 20 perennials, shrubs, climbers and trees that work hardest for your money

E

ven a small garden can be a money sponge and it’s easy to spend huge amounts filling it with plants year after year.

However there are lots of ways to cut costs and still enjoy a fabulous display.

The secret is to choose plants that perform over a long period – or in more than a single season. evergreens are always a worthwhile investment, providing colour year round. Many gardeners skip over them, deeming them dull, but their low-cost impact is unrivalled. Having lots of green in the garden can be both revitalising and calming, so don’t underestimate the value of a one-timepurchase evergreen shrub like Choisya ternata, which will perform for years.

When it comes to flowers, those that 28 AmAteur GArDeNING 13 APRIL 2019

are in it for the long haul offer the best value. In spring, this means opting for the likes of Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’, Euphorbia epithymoides and Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Yellow Queen’ – all have unstoppable flower power.

Meanwhile summer stalwarts include gaura, nepeta and perovskia. Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ flowers from June to August; Helianthemum ‘Wisley Primrose’ blooms from April into July; and penstemon ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’ goes at it from July to October.

Pick slug-proof plants Don’t waste money on feeding the slugs and snails. If you are prey to these slimy, voracious pests, avoid things they love to eat (delphiniums and rudbeckias are out) and go for those they slide past

– lavender, foxgloves and euphorbia.

Steer clear, too, of tender plants that may succumb to harsh weather or trampling by pets and/or kids. The likes of male fern, bergenia, periwinkle, globe thistle, buddleja, rosemary and bamboo can survive pretty much anything.

Roses are also hard to quash. For best value, choose forms that repeat flower – the white blooms of ‘Kew Gardens’ are a delight – or produce autumn hips (The Generous Gardener). If your boundaries are vulnerable, varieties with sharp thorns (try ‘Albertine’) will deter intruders.

Pyracantha is another cheap burglar deterrent, and for your cash you’ll also enjoy evergreen leaves, May flowers and autumn berries. By opting for plants like these, which perform on many levels, you’ll get the best return on your outlay.

9 perennials to invest in

2019

MONEY SAVING

tall

Kniphofia thomsonii var. thomsonii ‘Stern’s trip’ AGm A red hot poker that flowers during summer and autumn, producing flaming torches of coral-apricot that brighten up the border. Needs very well-drained, deep soil in sun. H: 20-39in (50cm-1m).

Verbena bonariensis AGm Butterflies love this airy vervain, which flowers from mid-summer to late autumn. A short-lived perennial that is usually grown as a hardy annual, it will self-sow. Best in well-drained soil, in sun. H: 39in-6½ft (1-2m).

Helenium ‘Sahin’s early Flowerer’ AGm Perhaps the longest-flowering sneezeweed; plant in well-drained soil and in full sun, and it will produce lovely daisy blooms that flush shades of yellow, bronze and ochre, from June right through to October. H: 39in (1m).

Knautia macedonica A scabious with wonderful pincushion flowers in a raspberry-crimson shade – they float airily amidst other perennials and lure bees during summer and early autumn. One for well-drained soil and full sun. H: 32in (80cm).

Lychnis coronaria ‘Alba’ AGm The white strain of the rose campion flowers all summer long, producing a succession of silky, snowy blooms above downy silver foliage. Will selfseed. Likes well-drained soil in full sun. H: 2½ft (75cm).

Alchemilla mollis AGm A great path edger, lady’s mantle is a froth of chartreuse yellow flowers from June to September. The downy leaves catch drops of morning dew that shine like silver teardrops. Sun or part shade. H: 1½ft (45cm).

Erigeron karvinskianus AGm Plant sun-loving Mexican fleabane for an adorable cloud of white and pink daisies during summer and autumn.

It will self-seed around the garden, often taking root in paving cracks or sun-baked walls. H: 1ft (30cm).

GAP

All photos Alamy, unless otherwise credited

midborder

Salvia greggii ‘Salmon Dance’ A new introduction from Sarah Raven, this pink salvia flowers during summer and autumn. The pink blooms seem to float among other border perennials, creating a layered, breezy effect.

Needs full sun. H: 28in (70cm).

Small

Geranium ‘Anne thomson’ AGm Reliable, spreading (to 3ft/90cm) and coated in black-eyed magenta flowers from June into November. The young foliage emerges lime green. Cut back after flowering. Equally happy in sun or semi-shade. H: 16in (40cm).

13 APRIL 2019 AmAteur GArDeNING

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3 trees with added value

GAP

Prunus ‘Shirotae’ AGm This gorgeous cherry has a spreading flat-top and is coated in semi-double white flowers in spring.

Come autumn, the leaves flush shades of copper and butterscotch before falling.

H: 13-20ft (4-6m).

Corylus avellana ‘red majestic’ AGm Red-leaved form of the corkscrew hazel, featuring beetroot-coloured leaves that mature to green, plus twisted branches that are adorned with lovely pink catkins in late winter. Sun or semi-shade. H: 6½-13ft (2-4m).

4 sterling shrubs Rosa Harlow Carr A versatile and compact David Austin shrub rose, with strongly scented pink rosettes from early summer into autumn.

Suits container growing, too.

H: 39in (1m).

Cotoneaster sternianus AGm Semi-evergreen, with two seasons of interest courtesy of its bee-friendly summer flowers and red autumn berries. Can be trained into a small tree.

H: 2½-13ft (2-4m).

Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’ AGm The trademark shocking pink crêpe-paper flowers of this compact rock rose appear all summer long.

Well-drained soil, in sun. H: 8-20in (20-50cm).

4 climbers worth the cash Rosa ‘Crépuscule’ This lovely old noisette climbing rose produces a generous succession of tea-scented apricot blooms in summer and autumn. Full sun.

H: 11½ft (3½m) 30 AmAteur GArDeNING 13 APRIL 2019

Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’ AGm Plant in sun or part shade and it will perfume the air from July to October, especially after dark when the scent intensifies.

H: 23ft (7m).

Trachelospermum jasminoides AGm Grow star jasmine in sun for teascented blooms from June to August. After the flowers have gone, the glossy evergreen leaves flush bronze in winter. H: 30ft (9m).

2019

MONEY SAVING

Betula utilis var. jacquemontii ‘Doorenbos’ AGM Lovely if you have room to spare, this Himalayan birch tree develops its striking white bark while young. As well as the ghostly trunk and branches – a great addition to the winter garden – it has golden autumn leaves. H: 40ft (12m).

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ AGM Superb for borders as well as path edging; will fill the summer garden with fragrance and the delightful sound of humming bees. H: 8-20in (20-50cm).

Rosa ‘Golden Showers’ Produced continuously through summer and autumn, the delicate golden flowers of this climbing rose pale to primrose yellow with age.

H: 13ft (4m).

Cut-and-comeagain annuals HARDY annuals (such as sweet peas) are known as cut-and-come-agains because, when snipped for the vase, they respond by producing more flowers, providing you with a glut all summer. Not bad for the price of a packet of seeds!

Sow now and look forward to vasefuls in a few months’ time. Good choices include cornflower, toadflax (Linaria), pot marigold (Calendula), nigella, cosmos, Ammi majus and, of course, sweet peas.

Linaria are good for cutting

Budget buys Volunteers: Take advantage of self-seeding plants (such as aquilegia and Welsh poppy), which spread themselves about freely – and for free.

Bargains: Hunt down low-cost plants, for example at car boots, village plant sales and local market stalls. Try low-cost supermarkets, too.

Youngsters: Instead of buying expensive mature plants in June, buy tiny bedding (such as geraniums now, for potting on later.

Aquilegia will set seed

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

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Rhododendrons are characterised by bold blooms and dark, shiny leaves, but there are more subtle varieties such as the pale-flowered ‘Cunningham’s White’ (inset)

Brighten borders or pots with

rhododendrons and azaleas Don’t rule out rhododendrons just because your soil is alkaline and your garden is modest. This surprisingly varied plant group has options for all, says Camilla Phelps

B

E honest: when you think of rhododendrons and azaleas, do you see them as slightly garish, old-fashioned plants that belong in large, suburban gardens?

Or maybe you have written them off because of the invasive purple-flowered Rhododendron ponticum?

Either way, it’s time to re-evaluate.

It’s true that they make great woodland plants and generally prefer acid soil and shade, but there are many different types of rhododendron. Some originate from alpine scrubland and tolerate sun; some will cope with soils that are neutral to alkaline. And there are many compact options – so even if you don’t have the ‘right’ soil, you can grow these colourful plants in containers.

Another thing you might not know 32 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

is that many rhododendron flowers are scented – the famous ‘smellies’.

Meanwhile, others have beautiful foliage, giving them a longer season of interest. Some colour up brilliantly in the autumn, and there are evergreens whose textured leaves are covered with a ‘furry’ coating known as indumentum.

Plant hunters’ favourite The thousands of different species of rhododendron originate from every corner of the world. As a favourite of the great plant hunters, many rhodo seeds were brought from China in the 19th century. Later, collectors introduced them to famous gardens in the UK, such as Caerhays in Cornwall and Exbury in Hampshire. These original species then went on to become the parents of many

hybrids and cultivars that were bred to suit a whole range of garden situations.

So now that you are considering planting one, the question is: azalea or rhododendron? You might well be confused; azaleas are officially listed under Rhododendron, but many nurseries still call them azaleas. The main difference is size. Rhododendrons tend to be much larger, varying in size from large trees to small shrubs; they have bell-shaped flowers and are generally evergreen. Azaleas are smallto medium-sized shrubs, with funnelshaped flowers and narrow leaves; they can be evergreen or deciduous.

Smaller rhododendrons and azaleas are ideal for shady city gardens. If your soil is alkaline or neutral you can build up a great collection in pots – simply pick

GAP

David Millais, Millais Nurseries

Top 6 compact rhododendrons

elizabeth red Foliage A reliable choice for smaller gardens, with the added interest of beautiful dark red, textured leaves. The large scarlet flowers appear in April, and sometimes a second time in the autumn. H&S: 39in (1m).

‘Cilpinense’ AGm Another of the ‘smellies’, this early flowering dwarf variety has pale, pinkish flowers and long evergreen leaves. Hardy in milder areas, it needs shelter indoors during harsher winter weather. H&S: 43in (1.1m).

‘Silbervelours’ If you fancy trying the very latest rhododendron, this lovely new variety will be launched at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. It has silvery foliage plus pale pink flowers through April and May. HxS: 39x49in (1x1¼m).

‘Princess Alice’ Slow-growing and compact, with large white flowers that are flushed with pink. Tolerates a sunny spot without too much heat. Hardy; requires some protection in severe weather. H&S: 6½ft (2m).

David Millais, Millais Nurseries

David Millais, Millais Nurseries

All photography Alamy, unless otherwise credited

‘Lady Alice Fitzwilliam’ AGm An attractive bushy hybrid with large pink buds that open to scented white flowers. It loves a sunny spot, but will need to be overwintered in an unheated conservatory or greenhouse. H&S: 6½ft (2m).

‘merganser’ AGm Pretty pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers appear in April against a backdrop of dark green leaves. Compact and good for containers, which should be positioned out of direct sunshine or reflected heat. H&S: 2½ft (75cm).

a colour that suits for a fantastic early summer show. And if you do have acid soil? Combine your chosen rhodo with other acid-loving plants and trees. This will create a layered woodland effect and help you to extend the season to before and after the rhododendron flowers.

Where to buy Burncoose Nurseries burncoose.co.uk Crocus crocus.co.uk 01344 578000 millais Nurseries rhododendrons.co.uk

01209 860316 01252 792698 13 APRIL 2019 AmAteur GArDeNING

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GAP

GAP

3 amazing azaleas

R. stenopetalum ‘Linearifolium’ With its pointed leaves and candy pink, long-petalled blooms (in April and May), the spider azalea is very distinctive.

Stems can break easily so it is best planted in a sheltered spot, away from a path. H&S: 2ft (60cm).

‘Berryrose’ A hardy, deciduous cultivar with lovely coppery new foliage that develops good autumn colour. The large, tubular pink and peach flowers are almost lily-like in appearance. Has an upright, spreading habit. H&S: 5ft (1½m).

R. luteum AGM A hardy, deciduous azalea. Good in a mixed shady border, it will tolerate some sunshine. The generous yellow flowers appear in May and June and have a fantastic scent, while the autumn leaf colour is stunning. H&S: 13ft (4m).

How to grow rhododendrons Plant into acid-soil borders in autumn or early spring, adding composted pine needles or Deadhead after flowering bracken to a shallow hole.

Keep well-watered, and mulch with acid compost every spring.

Alternatively, plant in a container filled with ericaceous, soil-based compost. Renew the top layer of compost each spring, and every other year repot your plant into some fresh compost.

Deadhead rhododendrons immediately after flowering.

If your plant is particularly overgrown, remember that rough-barked types will cope with hard pruning, while smooth-barked varieties will not.

For inspiration, visit…

Caerhays Estate, Cornwall  visit.caerhays.co.uk Isabella Plantation, Richmond Park, London  royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park/richmond-parkattractions/isabella-plantation Winterbourne House and Garden, Birmingham  winterbourne.org.uk Exbury Gardens, Southampton, Hants  exbury.co.uk Bodnant Garden, Wales  nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden 34 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

Try a Chinese lantern tree with bold rhodos

Plant rhodos with…

In borders Acer palmatum The delicate, finely cut leaves of this brilliantly coloured small Japanese maple create an umbrella of foliage above low-growing rhododendrons.

HxS: 8x13ft (2½x4m).

Crinodendron hookerianum The Chinese lantern tree has dark leaves and small red fruit-like flowers that will provide subtle contrast to the blooms of a larger, bolder rhododendron. HxS: 26x13ft (8x4m).

In containers Dryopteris affinis Smaller-leaved rhododendrons will benefit from the textural contrast provided by the fern’s fabulous semi-evergreen fronds. HxS: 5ftx39in (1½x1m).

Carex elata ‘Aurea’ Combine this evergreen grass (also known as Bowles’ golden sedge) with smaller varieties of rhododendron to create an effective partnership in a pot. H&S: 20in (50cm).

Glossy foliage and fragrant early summer flowers in white tinged with pink and yellow characterise R. occidentale. H: 6½ft (2m)

Ask John Negus

Unknown plant

Both photographs Alamy

Q A

Why do bees avoid spring bulbs?

Q A

Bees visit flowers to harvest nectar and pollen to take back to the hive and turn it into honey to feed their developing larvae. They have to be very efficient at this and will target flowers that are rich in their sources of food.

For example, they will avoid doubleflowered varieties as the nectar and pollen-producing organs have been significantly diminished in the breeding process to create more petals.

This may also explain why bees aren’t visiting your daffodils and tulips. Species types – those that might be found in the wild – could be a good source of food,

but many cultivated types are a long way from these and are different colours, shapes and highly bred for scent or to remove vulnerability to disease.

Sometimes, breeders remove the plant’s ability to reproduce, and without reproductive tissues the flower may no longer produce nectar or pollen and therefore cease to be attractive to pollinating insects.

You are unlikely to see bees around daffodils, but you might be able to attract them to tulips by planting purple varieties – bees can see the ultraviolet rays produced by the petals in sunlight.

You could also grow crocuses, grape hyacinths, primroses, winter aconites and snowdrops to attract early bees to your garden.

How can I stop peach leaf curl?

Q

The leaves on my dwarf, potted peach tree are curling. How can I stop this?

Mrs M Sawyer, via email

Treat peach leaf curl with copper mixture

36 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

The flower appears to be a form of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) b t it is flowering very early.

An annual, it sets seed and dies when flowers fade. If you would like to Opium poppies like to perpetuate grow where they seed enclose the seedhead in a plastic bag to save the seeds before they disperse and are lost.

Opium poppies are best sown where you wish them to flower, as they resent being transplanted and can sulk and die if you do.

Border auriculas are easy to grow outside

Can I multiply my lovely auriculas?

Q

A

Copper-based fungicides, such as Bordeaux Mixture, which used to be sold for controlling peach leaf curl, have been withdrawn.

However, Vitax Copper Mixture, which is used on fruit and other trees to protect them from copper, manganese and zinc deficiency, may help to guard against this disease.

Additionally, you could improve your tree’s resistance by feeding it with sulphate of potash, monthly, from April to September. Sprinkle it at 1oz

Please can you identify this plant?

Bob Cypher, via email

How can I get my auriculas to spread, please?

Mark Thornton, Colwyn Bay, N. Wales

A

(28g) per m2 over the feeding-root area – a circle around the tree that aligns with outermost branch tips. You should also dispose of infected leaves.

Garden or border auriculas do well outdoors and are generally easy to grow, whereas those with more delicate, fancy flowers (florist auriculas) or those grown for showing, are usually kept under cover.

Auriculas tend to push themselves up and almost out of the soil as they grow, so lift and replant yours deeper, taking offsets where you can.

Alamy

Daffodils may not attract bees, but growing purpleflowering plants will bring them in

Could you tell me why bees seem to avoid my daffodils and tulips?

Mrs M Warne, Swindon, Wilts

John has been answering reader queries for 49 years

Write to us: Ask John, Amateur Gardening magazine, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 7BF. Email us: amateurgardening@ti-media.com

Quick questions & answers

Wisteria are best transplanted in autumn

Q

Joyofplants.co.uk

Why are my indoor cyclamen dying?

Isabel Liu, via email

A

There are three possible reasons: the plants are too dry, too wet or too warm.

This plant is happiest at around 10ºC (50ºF). Don’t water it too much in winter, as air is driven from the compost and growth suffers. If the compost is too dry, leaves wilt.

When should I transplant my wisteria?

Q

I have a small wisteria that has grown as a runner off a larger one.

How and when can I transplant it?

Sue Langridge, via email

A

The best time to transplant your small wisteria is in autumn when the leaves are turning yellow. Lift it with as much soil as possible around the root system. If the ground is dry, water it liberally beforehand to ensure that the soil sticks to the roots.

You did not say how large your plant

is. If it is more than 6ft (1.8m) and has been established for some years, you will need to prepare it for transplanting.

All you do, in autumn, is to dig a trench about 12in (30cm) deep around the root system and fill it with gritty soil. Fresh feeding roots will fill the trench the following year, and in autumn the climber can be lifted and transplanted.

Ideally, set it in a generous planting hole enriched with organic soil conditioner, such as old crumbly manure or well-rotted garden compost.

Help! My Christmas tree is not so festive!

Q

Can you please tell me what’s wrong with this Christmas tree?

Is it getting too much water?

Barbara Stacey, via email

A

I think the problem is a touch of transplant shock. Plants can deteriorate after repotting because their roots get disturbed or damaged, or because of changes such as a difference in watering or compost type, or even a sudden drop in temperature.

The tree may simply need time to become established in its new home.

Make sure that the pot is draining well, and only water once the surface of the compost is dry.

On the other hand, make sure the compost does not dry out too much, especially during the summer when the tree is growing. Place the pot in a sheltered spot out of direct sunlight.

Plants can take time to settle when moved to new surroundings

Q

What is this bug on my blueberry plant?

Jaroslav Zejman, via email

A

I am sorry that your plants are infested with small green and growth-chewing caterpillars.

The best way to control them is to spray with Vitax PY Bug Killer.

There is a seven-day harvest interval so, if necessary, wait a week after spraying before picking fruits.

Q A

What is this plant, please?

Brian Silva, London

This is bear’s breeches (Acanthus spinosus), a robust perennial with spires of purple and white flowers. It can become a thug, colonising a large area.

It’s best planted in full sun where it can become a fascinating focal point.

If it outgrows its situation, dig deeply around the plant and remove any intrusive, fleshy roots, then infill.

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

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Write to us: Ask John, Amateur Gardening magazine, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hants, GU14 7BF. Email us: amateurgardening@ti-media.com

Can vine can be grown from seed?

Q

Please can you tell me what this intriguing plant is, and does it set seed for propagation?

Shiela Martin, Malvern, Worcs

Chocolate vines like a warm and sheltered spot

A

pruning, although trimming may be required to keep them under control.

The best method of propagation is by seed (if you can get hold of any), softwood cuttings from new growth in early summer or by layering.

Prune dogwood plants gradually over several seasons

How should I prune my dogwood?

Q

How should I prune my dogwood, as it is overgrown but I don’t want to kill it?

Barry Lea, via email

A

You can indeed renovate a dogwood by cutting into old wood, but it is best not to try to do the whole plant in one season, particularly when you need to cut right back into the stool.

Aim to cut out no more than one third of the really old wood, and less if it would mean removing more than one third of the newer growth. March is the right time of year to do this.

After pruning, feed with a generalpurpose shrub fertiliser to encourage 38 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

Q

I have a grapevine growing in a 10x8ft (3x2.4m) greenhouse. It was planted with the roots outside, but some roots have spread into the greenhouse beds. Would it damage the vine if I removed some?

Vince Scott, Bi Co Durham

A

Wikicommons

The plant is a chocolate vine (Akebia quinata). Its common name comes from the scent of its flowers, though you need a still and sunny day to get their full effect.

It is a lovely climber, native to Japan, China and Korea, but possibly not hardy in the UK except in a sunny, sheltered spot. The flowers appear in spring and are often missed as they are dark in colour and hidden by foliage. If pollinated by a second plant they will create purple, sausage-shaped fruits up to 4in (10cm) in length.

Akebia are pretty easy to keep going and are happy in sun or partial shade, in any soil, as long as it is kept moist but not too wet. They are relatively pest and disease-free and don’t need regular

Spreading roots

strong and vigorous growth. If new growth shoots from much lower down in the shrub, you can then do the same to another stem next spring and in subsequent years until the whole plant is renovated. This might seem frustratingly slow, but it should ensure the long-term strength of the plant.

You could also consider taking cuttings to start a new plant elsewhere, which you could maintain to a stricter pruning regime.

Softwood cuttings can be taken of the new growth in late spring or early summer, or you could take hardwood cuttings of the matured year-old stems from late autumn to mid-winter.

It’s good to hear that most of the vine roots are outside the Roots of an established greenhouse vine are safe to prune and that only a few are migrat g to other regions within it.

By all means, shorten the roots to an acceptable distance from the trunk.

As the majority of roots are sustaining energy from outside the greenhouse, the few that you cut away from inside will make little or no difference to the vigour and cropping capacity of your vine.

Daffodils are best moved in August

Daffodil failure

Q

I moved some ‘Tête-à-Tête’ daffodils that were about to bloom into pots with heathers. The flowers died off quickly. Will they recover next year, or should I ditch them?

Kim Erikson, via email

A

You moved your daffodils in full growth. Roots were damaged and yellow leaves are the plant’s response to being disturbed, but they won’t die. Water well in dry spells until the foliage fades and growth ceases for this year. They will spring into life again next March.

If you wish to move daffodils, do so in August. Set dormant bulbs in crumbly soil enriched with bonemeal to encourage robust growth next spring.

13 APRIL 2019 AmAteur GArDeNING

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RHS Explains A series in which an RHS expert gives an in-depth answer to a challenging horticultural question

Is it true some plants don’t need soil?

Actually, you may be surprised to know that one plant species in eight gets along well without roots or soil, as RHS chief horticultural advisor Guy Barter explains

T

HOUSANDS of years ago, the very first plants – algae, seaweed and liverworts – had no roots. They were confined to the sea, aquatic environments and other damp places. The development of roots allowed plants to conquer the world by doing away with the need to have a constant supply of water, as the roots they developed could explore the ground

Plants developed roots to allow them to survive out of water

40 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

for moisture. With roots came soil – plants and their roots modified the unfriendly planet surface into the 10-40cm (4-16in) thick layer of living soil that covers our planet. Soil therefore keeps you alive (unless you live on seafood). Yet despite this, about 12% of plant species that are not water-based can do without soil and occasionally without roots either.

Life on trees and rocks For example, while tree trunks and rocks lack soil, they support plants called epiphytes and lithophytes respectively.

These are vulnerable to dry weather.

Although epiphytes are not strictly rootless, their roots gather water and nutrients only from the air and act as anchors.

For epiphytes, getting away from the soil can mean evading

competition for light from other plants and by growing beyond the reach of many herbivores.

While the ‘cost’ to plants of growing roots can be high, life is hard for plants unless they have something that gives them an ‘edge’. Less fortunately for epiphytes, forgoing soil usually leads to slow growth and limited flower and fruit production, so epiphytes are not important for food or animal forage.

On the other Early plants hand, these like liverworts properties have no roots make some epiphytes excellent houseplants – bromeliads and orchids, for example.

Understanding bromeliads The Bromeliaceae family (bromeliads) includes pineapples, which have roots, but others are epiphytes. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), for example, whose strands of up to 30m (33-yard) long cover trees in Florida, USA, is even more specialised. It lacks roots entirely and consists of grey strands of plant matter covered in microscopic hairy tufts or trichomes that absorb water and nutrients from the air. In addition, Spanish moss uses a waterefficient metabolism snappily called crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM).

Although CAM helps plants survive drought, it also slows down growth.

Right: The moth orchid has thick spongy roots that soak up water from the air

Despite this, Spanish moss is abundant in certain humid regions.

Tank bromeliads The tree-dwelling tropical tank bromeliads, such as Guzmania and Vriesea, are adaptable with trichomes plus a ‘water tank’ formed by the leaf bases to collect water and nutrients.

Their limited root system is mainly for anchorage, although when cultivated in pots of compost the roots will acquire water. Bromeliad houseplants, whose highly ornamental coloured flower shoots, or bracts, last for months, are less like to be overwatered as they merely need their ‘tank’ emptied and refilled from time to time.

Orchids Orchids include many epiphytic and lithophytic species, such as the popular moth orchids (Phalaenopsis). This valuable houseplant is usually found in tropical forests getting a leg-up on tall trees for better light. These orchids have thick spongy roots that soak up water and nutrients from the air after rain. As rain can be unreliable, epiphytic orchids are well adapted to going without water for long periods. Some even have bulbous water-storage organs called pseudobulbs.

Epiphytic orchids are grown in special very lumpy potting compost featuring bark and rockwool, often in clear plastic pots, thus mimicking the natural environment of the plants.

Some can be attached to slabs of bark or logs with wires.

Hydroponics – growing without soil Soil is not strictly necessary for root function. Roots need nutrients, air and water, and these are usually supplied by good soil or potting compost. However, when given water, nutrients and air in other ways, called ‘hydroponics’, roots and therefore plants will thrive. Plants still need anchorage, typically a block of horticultural rockwool securely mounted in the hydroponic system.

Ingenious growers have come up with many soil-free environments, such as ebb-and-flow nutrient solutions

that periodically re-wet the root zone, shallow flowing films of nutrients, nutrient-rich fogs or troughs of aerated nutrient solution into which roots dangle. It sounds a lot of faff, but perfect root zones free of pests, diseases and stress lead to vigorous plant growth. Hydroponics are widely used for supermarket tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, aubergines and recently lettuces, as well as some flowers such as roses. Aquaponics, where fish live in the hydroponic system feeding plants with their excreta,

is the organic version.

Hydroponics and energyefficient LED lights combine in indoor city ‘plant factories’ producing, say, salads, close to where people live for the utmost freshness.

Water propagation MANY plants, such as fuchsias, have root initials (spots of cells capable of dividing and forming roots) in their stems. A section of stem or cutting of these plants, placed in reasonably well-aerated water, will root, and after potting it make a new plant.

Less confident gardeners often favour ‘water propagation’, but all

Water plants WATER plants (hydrophytes) clearly get water from their surroundings and without drought to constrain them they tend to be rampant growers, especially where the water is rich in nutrients. They don’t even need to invest in sturdy stalks or trunks as they merely float in or on the water. On the other hand, below the surface light and oxygen (from the air) can be in short supply, and specialist structures are found

is not as it seems. That mass of roots mostly die soon after potting, being replaced by different roots that are more suited to the much more demanding soil environment.

Experienced gardeners prefer to strike cuttings directly into well drained, and thus aerated, soil or potting compost.

in aquatic plants to aid collecting oxygen, including aerenchyma, which is a porous air-filled tissue.

Yet despite what may be expected to be favourable conditions, few (2%) of flowering plants have adopted the aquatic way of life. However, those aquatic plants that exist tend to be found over broad regions. As aquatic environments are similar, there may be less impetus for numerous species to evolve to exploit ecological niches.

Parasitic plants PARASITIC plants use other plant’s roots, the host’s roots being replaced by haustoria – a brilliantly effective way for parasitic plants to plug into the tubes that move water and nutrients around their host plant.

Haustoria of the native broomrapes (Orobanche), for example, ‘break and enter’ roots, or, like mistletoe, stems.

Parasitic plants account for less than 1% of flowering plants, so parasitism appears to be much less effective than covering trees (epiphytes) or rocks (lithophytes).

Broomrape is a parasitic plant that draws nourishment from roots of others

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

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How to use tools Best techniques to get the job right with Tim Rumball

Potting compost explained

Seeds and young plants need composts that suit their needs, says Tim Rumball

T

O get the best from proprietary composts you must understand the different types on offer, so you can buy the right one.

Multi-purpose compost The most popular is multi-purpose. This is claimed to be suitable for a wide range of jobs, from sowing seeds and pottingup seedlings to growing mature plants for a full season in hanging baskets and containers. Modern multi-purpose composts are very good, but they have their limitations. Because they must maintain strong growth in more mature plants, they have fertiliser mixed in.

However, fertiliser can inhibit the germination of some seeds and burn the roots of tiny seedlings, so it is not always a good choice for sowing. Generally, larger seeds will do well in multi-purpose (sunflower, sweet pea, squash, bean) while small, delicate seeds (petunia, lobelia, primula, streptocarpus) may not germinate so well. This is not always the case, but if you sow on multi-purpose and your seeds don’t germinate you have wasted time and money.

Using the right compost makes a big difference

and especially for hanging baskets, as organic composts are light in weight.

However, they are not ideal for longterm container planting of trees, shrubs and perennials that will be in the pot for several years. They sink in the pot as the compost rots. For long-term planting always use mineral (soil) based compost such as John Innes No2 or No3.

Seed composts These composts, also called sowing and young plant composts, have a low level of fertiliser to help germination. They are the safest choice for sowing into. There’s Slow-release fertiliser just enough food to keep seedlings Multi-purpose is generally fine for going for a couple of weeks, but that’s potting up (from seed tray to individual OK as you’ll soon be potting them up pots) and potting on (into larger pots as compost. It’s good to pot the plant grows). However, o ery small seedlings into plants get closer to maturity It’s usually OK to use sh seed and young plant their final pots, the fertiliser in multi-purpose for potting up larger ompost to grow on a little multi-purpose compost can seedlings efore moving them to a run out after six weeks, so multi-purpose or similar additional feeding (usually with higher fertiliser levels. a liquid feed) is necessary.

At the other end of Some brands have slowe spectrum are potting release fertiliser or waterposts. These have high retaining granules added. r levels formulated to These will feed for longer (so sustain strong growth in mature plants claim all season long) and reduce watering requirements, and so are good in their final pots. They’re excellent for flowering and cropping plants in pots choices for mature plants in containers.

Alternatively, you can mix slow-release and baskets, but have too much fertiliser for reliable seed sowing. fertiliser and water-retaining granules into the compost before potting on.

Some multi-purpose composts have John Innes compost John Innes soil-based compost mixed John Innes (JI) composts, developed by the John Innes Institute, are made to a in to improve the texture. formula using sterile soil (loam), peat and Most multi-purpose composts are grit-sand with fertiliser added. There are made from organic material – peat, coir three grades: JI No1, JI No 2, and JI No3. fibre, wood fibre, composted green JI No1 is a seed and young plant waste and the like – which rots down over time. This is fine for annual displays, compost with a low level of fertiliser 42 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

(some brands offer a separate JI Seed Compost). JI No2 has an intermediate level of fertiliser, suitable for growing young plants and more mature plants with low fertiliser needs, and JI No3 has a high level of fertiliser for growing on vigorous mature plants.

John Innes allows you to control the level of nutrients offered to plants at different stages of development. They are heavy and have a gritty texture. For seed sowing, choose JI No1 or JI Seed Compost. For long-term planting in containers, use JI No 2 or No 3 – the heavy compost helps to stabilise pots, and the mineral content won’t rot down like organic composts.

Verdict Most plants we grow from seed will do fine in ordinary seed compost – even acid-soil loving plants, which later in life do best in ericaceous compost.

Other composts, such as bulb compost and orchid compost, offer benefits for particular ranges of plants.

Anatomy of bagged composts 1. What level of fertiliser does it contain?

If you’re looking for a potting compost will you need to feed it after six weeks?

2. What type of compost is it? There should be a clear name on the bag – multi-purpose or all-purpose, seed and young plant, John Innes No1 are all suitable for seed sowing 3. Is it organic or mineral based?

Peat and peat-free are usually organic (plant based – this does not mean free of chemicals), while John Innes is mineral (soil) based – useful if you’re planting a long-term container 4. Does it have additional benefi s like slow-release fertiliser and waterretaining gel?

5. How much does the bag contain?

Is there enough to fill the containers you’re working on?

Step by step

The language of composts Organic based compost: Compost made from plant materials including peat, coir fibre, wood fibre, and green waste. In this context, organic does not mean free from chemicals. Light-weight, soft texture and clean to handle Soil-based compost: Made from loam soil, peat and grit with a high mineral content – the most common are John Innes formulations under several different brand names.

Heavy and with a sandy texture Potting compost: Either organic or soil-based (JI No3 is a potting formulation) with a high level of fertiliser, suitable for mature plants.

Peat and peat-free composts: Most multi-purpose and potting composts used to be made from Irish moss peat. Some still are, and they work very well. However, extracting peat is very damaging to the environment, so alternatives made from coir fibre, wood fibre and green waste have been introduced. The latest versions of peat-free composts also work well.

A bewildering choice: check the type to make sure it is right for the task

Water-retaining granules: Chemical granules (polyacrylamide copolymer gel, not toxic) that soak up water, then slowly release it back into the compost, reducing the need for frequent watering.

Slow-release fertiliser: Usually chemical fertiliser encased in plastic resin granules, which slowly break down in the presence of moisture and warmth to release their contents in a controlled way. Used correctly, they will feed the soil for longer and reduce the danger of fertiliser burn.

Sowing and growing

For large, easy-growing hardy annuals and the like, fill trays or pots with sieved multi-purpose compost. For fine seeds, always use a sieved seed compost.

1

Sow large seeds at generous spacings or in individual cells or pots, about 1in (2½cm) below the surface. Sow fine seeds thinly on the surface – do not cover!

2

Do’s & don’ts of using compost Do ✓ Pick the right compost for the job you’re tackling, and buy fresh every year. Old compo st can dry out and become contaminated.

✓ Sieve compost before use. Sieving introduces air, which is an important element in pla nt

root growth.

Wa ter compost before sowing seeds in it. ✓ Watering afterwards can wash seeds into clu mps. Use tap water because rain water can carry mould or disease.

Water compost before sowing seeds

Prick out big seedlings into multi-purpose compost. Some fine seeds grow big enough to handle individually, or pot small clumps into fresh seed compost.

3

Don’t ✗ Use the same compost for every job – choosing one

which suits the plant’s needs, such as acid-loving plants, will bring greate ericaceous for r success, saving time and money. ✗ Always go for the cheapest compost – cheaper composts may contain cheaper ing redients, leading to inconsistency in performance. ✗ Re-use compost for sowing seeds and raising young plants – it will no longer be sterile, its consistency will have deteriorated, and there ma y be pests hiding in it. It may be OK for mature plants if mixed with some fresh and boosted with fertiliser.

Don’t use the same type of compost for every job

When setting plants in final containers, use potting, multi-purpose or JI No3. Add slowrelease fertiliser and water-retaining granules if not already included.

4

Don’t re-use compost for sowing 13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

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Great Value Offer Each specially created light and re-usable plastic basket contains: compost with FREE feed and water absorber, robust trailing plants and a FREE Plant Hydrator for easier, more effective watering. These baskets are £14.99 each or buy 2 for £24.98, that’s just £12.49 each, saving you £5! Very affordable!

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Gardening’s king of trivia and brain-teasers, Graham Clarke

Fabulous fritillaries

This week it’s: Fritillaries are fantastic spring-flowering bulbs UNQUESTIONABLY the most spectacular member of the fritillary clan is Fritillaria imperialis – known by its common name of crown imperial. A large group of these fritillaries in all their glory is a magnificent sight, and with their stout stems and sizable bell-shaped blooms they make a real statement in the border. They are flowering now, so let’s take a look at

these and their cousins in the wider fritillary genus.

F. imperialis is native to an area of the planet stretching from Turkey through northern Iran, to Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, it is known to have been grown in British gardens at least since 1575, having been brought into Europe from Turkey, via Vienna in Austria.

Imperial splendour WHEN in flower, crown imperials can reach a stately height of around 4ft (1.2m).

The narrow glossy leaves are produced in ‘whorls’ along the stem, with the rich red, orange or yellow flowers in a cluster high up the stem, and topped by a crown of leafy bracts. It is this flower arrangement that gives rise to its

alternative common names of crownon-crown and royal crown flower.

Within a century of crown imperials first having arrived in Britain, there were 30 different types – some with white, purple, spotted or double flowers – although most of these have since been lost to cultivation.

Foxy whiff!

CROWN imperials may look hugely impressive, but if you have a sensitive nose don’t get too close as they are supposed to have a rather unpleasant ‘foxy’ scent (though I’ve never discerned it). However, this should in no way deter anyone from growing them, just perhaps not too close to the house or patio. There

is a positive angle even to this, though: some gardeners swear that the fox-like smell discourages actual foxes, along with deer, squirrels, moles, rabbits and other rodents.

F. imperialis var. inodora (pictured) has lovely dark orange flowers, and is said to not possess the foxy scent.

smaller, purple-based fritillaries

THERE are at least 24 commercially available cultivars of crown imperial today, and most of them have subtle differences. Here are some of the best: Deep yellow: Fritillaria imperialis ‘Maxima Lutea’ (pictured), or the slightly shorter ‘Lutea’.

Vivid orange: F. imperialis ‘Rubra Maxima’ or ‘Garland Star’.

Bright red: F. imperialis ‘Rubra’ or ‘William Rex’.

Variegated leaves (orange flowers): F. imperialis ‘Aureomarginata’ or ‘Aureovariegata’.

Early flowering: F. imperialis ‘Aurora’ (orange flowers) or ‘The Premier’ (clear red to dark orange).

Pointed-petal fritillary (F. acmopetala) J Ian Young SRGC

All photographs Alamy/Wikimedia/TI Media unless otherwise credited

Crown im choice

Michailovski fritillary (F. michailovskyi)

Fox’s grape fritillary (F. uva-vulpis)

Fritillaria pontica

Fritillaria persica ‘Adiyaman’ 13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

45

Gardening’s king of trivia and brain-teasers, Graham Clarke

Prize draw

Hanging baskets are a traditional yet timeless way to make a centrepiece of your front door, and to ensure that your baskets flourish all season, Miracle-Gro is giving eight lucky readers the chance to win a pot of Miracle-Gro All Purpose Pot Shots. Miracle-Gro Pot Shots are pre-measured and ergonomically designed to push easily into the soil and feed your plants, without any product waste or overfeeding. This makes them ideal for your hanging baskets or pots, plus one feed will last for up to six months and will give you beautiful, healthy and strong plants. We have eight Miracle-Gro Pot Shots to give away, each worth £4.29. See below for details of how to enter the prize draw.

ritillaries since Victorian times ROUND the time AG was launched 1884, a limited number of fritillaria ecies were grown, but during the 20th ntury the list increased dramatically. fore the outbreak of World War II in 1939, a large number of species had been gathered in a relatively small number of gardens, but during the war and the difficult years immediately afterwards, the number in cultivation dropped. It is really since the 1960s that the extent of the genus has begun to be recognised by gardeners and collectors.

How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Miracle-Gro Pot Shots Draw (13 April), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF. Or you can email your details to ag_giveaway@ti-media.com, heading the email Miracle-Gro Pot Shots Draw (13 April). The closing date is 19th April 2019.

WIN £30

Word search

No: 462

This word search comprises Y W E L P R U P S S words associated with L R O R A N G E N L fritillaries. They are listed below; in the grid they may F C A L T B A A Y A be read across, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

R R T L L B K G E I Letters may be shared E O E U L E N R K R between words. Erroneous or duplicate words may T W B A S I Y E R E appear in the grid, but there is only one correct solution.

T N C H R L T D U P After the listed words are U K E P I L Y I T M found, there are seven letters remaining; arrange these to B A S L A T E P R I make this week’s KEYWORD. FRITILLARY D E R E U Q E H C F IMPERIAL HOW TO ENTER: Enter this week’s keyword on the entry form, SNAKESHEAD and send it to AG Word Search No 462, Amateur Gardening, CHEQUERED Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 BUTTERFLY 7BF, to arrive by Wednesday 24th April 2019. The first correct entry chosen at random will win our £30 cash prize.

BLACK SPRING This week’s keyword is ..........................................................................................

YELLOW Name ........................................................................................................................

TURKEY Address ....................................................................................................................

ORANGE BULB ...................................................................................................................................

LILY Postcode ..................................................................................................................

PETAL Email.........................................................................................................................

CROWN Tel no ........................................................................................................................

RED TI Media Ltd, publisher of Amateur Gardening will collect your personal information solely to process your competition entry.

PURPLE 46 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

Historical Gardening Event Of The Week: 13 April, 1852

Fifty years ago, most British gardeners bought their plants and seeds from FW Woolworth on the high street. Seeds from Bees of Chester were stocked in most branches, along with bulbs in bags and bare-root plants in cardboard containers.

On 13th April 1852, Frank Winfield Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York state, USA. His first Woolworth’s store opened in 1879 and, when he died in 1919, his business was worth $65million ($800billion in today’s money).

Twenty years ago, Woolworth’s stores were facing severe financial pressures, and its gardening department had all but disappeared.

In 2004, the firm sponsored a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, to raise its profile (see picture above).

However, it wasn’t enough, and Woolworths closed its final UK store on 6th January 2009.

Crossword Recent discoveries

2

3

5

7

8

9

10

11

12 13

14

The name, the plant, the butterfly

ACROSS

15

1 _____ Manor is a horticultural college near Enfield, Middlesex (5) 3 Common name for the tree Populus tremula (5) 7 Delicious and extremely appetising, as in the dessert apple variety, and rose ‘Truly ________’ (11) 8 and 9 across Common name for one of the subjects of this week’s Miscellany!

(10, 10) 9 See 8 across 13 Dark green narcotic liquid substance derived from wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), and used in liqueurs (8,3) 14 _____ Miller is the common name shared variously by Centaurea cineraria, Lychnis coronaria and Cerastium tomentosum (5) 15 Yellowish viscous liquid of plant origin, used in lacquers, varnishes and many other applications (5) The_County_Clerk

1 These are left by earthworms – and they mess up the lawn (5) 2 Thick subsurface layers of soil that remain below freezing throughout the year, (mainly in polar regions) (11) 4 Items of greenhouse equipment used to create a warm or humid atmosphere for germinating seeds or rooting cuttings (11) 5 At this time of year you should not trim a hedge or prune a shrub if there is a bird’s ____ present (4) 6 Health resorts near mineral or hot springs, such as in the saxifrage ‘Boston ___’ (4) 10 This small quantity is the 9th letter of the Greek alphabet, and a cultivar of dionysia: ‘Ewesley ____’ (4) 11 Common name for Magnolia denudata, with large white blossoms that open before the leaves (5) 12 Loose, granular component of many soils, resulting from the erosion of siliceous and other rocks (4)

ANSWERS TO ABOVE CROSSWORD

Wow! I didn’t know that...

DOWN

ACROSS 1 Capel 3 Aspen 7 Scrumptious 8 Snakeshead 9 Fritillary 13 Absinthe oil 14 Dusty 15 Resin DOWN 1 Casts 2 Permafrosts 4 Propagators 5 Nest 6 Spas 10 Iota 11 Yulan 12 Sand

THE name ‘fritillary’ derives from the snakeshead fritillary (F. meleagris). When it grew in the Loire meadows of France in the 1570s, the locals called it ‘fritillarie’ because the checkered pattern on the flower resembled the boxes in which playing dice were kept; the Latin w fritillus means ‘dice-box’. This also applies to the original naming of the 70 or so fritillary butterflies worldwide, due to the usually black and orange chequered markings on their wings (see picture above of pearl-bordered fritillary).

Fritillarias are in the lily family.

F. imperialis should be planted in the autumn at a depth of 8in (20cm). The much smaller F. meleagris should be just 2in (5cm) deep.

When planting the large crown imperial bulbs (pictured), handle them carefully as they are technic hollow, and therefore quite fragile. Lay each bulb, on its side and on a bed of sand, so that water cannot collect in the hollow and cause it to rot.

F. alburyana likes cool, fresh water flowing over the bulb, so it is important to keep the soil around the bulbs moist during summer – quite the opposite requirement for most species of bulbs.

4

6

J Ian Young SRGC

ARE botanists and explorers still discovering new and never-before-seen plants?

Well, yes, and there are probably as many plant species still to be discovered as are already known, if not more.

These days, collecting tends t for medicinal and economic reasons, but beautiful ornamental plants are still being found, such as the tiny alpine fritillary, F. alburyana (pictured). It is named after the explorer Sidney Albury, who was present on an expedition to Turkey in 1966, when the plant was discovered. You won’t find this in a garden centre – it will only be available from alpine specialists.

1

KEYWORD TO WORD SEARCH 457 (AG 9 MARCH): CLUSTER AND THE WINNER IS: MRS P. PHILLIPS, BASSINGHAM, LINCOLNSHIRE 13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

47

This extract from AG 27 May 1916 shows methods of training and staking sweet peas. Simplicitas netting was made of heavy twine, tanned and rot proof. ‘Brush’ refers to tree prunings used to guide the sweet peas upwards.

Amateur

1884

35 years of practical advice Oldest Gardening Magazine

2019

The popular Simplicitas netting. This is a lasting support and is rot-proof. It is easily fixed and can be procured in short or long lengths.

Simplicitas netting in circular form for clumps can be obtained in various heights.

A circular rainer made of large-mesh wire netting.

If you are using sticks, place them as above, slanting slightly outwards. An nward slope as below is altogether bad.

A convenient type of support made of ordinary wide-mesh wire netting fixed on stout uprights.

trainer made of bamboo canes secured to crosswires.

Admirable for exhibition growing.

Below is an nexpensive trainer simply made of cord stretched on crosswires.

It is an unobtrusive support.

There is no ‘best’ support. One grower’s favourite is another’s bugbear. Height of supports depends on the system of culture.

Well-trenched soil means plants 8-14ft high, but generally speaking 7ft above ground will do. The width between ordinary stakes depends on their bushiness. If they have a good brush, put 2ft apart with small brushes at the base.

Town growers often find it difficult to secure good twiggy boughs, and here are pictured substitutes of value for rows or clumps. If galvanised wire is used, remember that when new there is danger o plants from the acid in the wire. This danger can be cured by exposing the material to the elements before use, or, better still, giving it a coat of green paint. This is a point to note.

If you are in doubt or difficulty, study Curtis’s Sweet Peas and their Cultivation, post free for 1/4d from the Amateur Gardening office.

The views, information and opinions expressed during this series of extracts from past issues of AG are solely those of the individuals involved, at the time they were written, and are not necessarily relevant or even legal today. Please treat these pages as a look back at how things were done in the past and not necessarily how they are done today. AG accepts no responsibility if readers follow advice given in these articles from past issues.

48 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 APRIL 2019

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Anne Swithinbank’s masterclass on: drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant Helianthemum ‘Ben Ledi’

Alamy

Inset: Alamy

Even drought-tolerant plants need a generous watering in, plus further soakings during their first summer. Once roots are established, they look after themselves.

Anne’s picks Why not try...?

Helianthemum ‘Wisley White’ This sun rose makes a mound of growth, covered from late spring to summer with creamy-white flowers centred with sunny yellow. Reaches 12in (30cm) high, 18in (45cm) across.

1

To prevent wasting money, I try one plant first and if it succeeds, divide herbaceous perennials like hardy geraniums or, as with these penstemons, take cuttings.

They root quickly in 50:50 multi-purpose and grit

Which plants are best for hot spots?

I have a hot, sunny border with some shrubs, and last year planted bedding in the gaps. However, keeping them going in last summer’s drought was difficult. Can you recommend some long-lasting, drought-tolerant plants to keep this border interesting?

Tina Newsom, Ledbury, Herefordshire

Q

Perennial Sicilian chamomile (Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana) will cover the ground with filigree foliage and white daisies in late spring and early summer, and groups of bearded iris will thrive here – their rhizomes at the surface and facing towards the sun. Track down unusual, silvery shrub hairy canary clover (Lotus hirsutus), native to Southern I’m going to look on the bright side Portugal – only 24in (60cm) high and d in summer by white, and assume that your s il i lushed, pea-like flowers light, sandy and likely to be d maroon seedpods. good home for droughtThis spring, sow hardy tolerant Mediterranean nnual Venus’s navelwort style plants. I would aim Omphalodes linifolia) to fill some of the spaces n situ or to modules for with groups of permanent lanting out. These plants plants and leave smaller make a mat of airy, whiteareas for hardy annuals Sow drought-tolerant wers to 12in (30cm) high. and biennials. A visit to the biennial clary sage in May ay and June, sow droughtalpine section of the garden biennial clary sage (Salvia centre often comes up trum sclarea var. turkestanica). Planted in late because they sell the likes of sun roses (Helianthemum hybrids) and lithodora in summer they’ll make shimmering pink and white bracts and flowers, reaching small pots, and you can often select five 3ft (1m) tall, the following year. or 10 at a bargain price.

Lavandula stoechas French lavender is hard to grow on heavier, wetter soils but thrives on light types, making a show of purplebracted flower heads from late spring. Reaches 24in (60cm) high.

2

Border controls WHERE borders are sucked dry by roots, even drought-tolerant plants will struggle. Consider removing some of the shrubs and then digging and conditioning areas of soil in between.

If you have the space, widen the border.

Alternatively, plant into containers of good compost stood on the border, raised on pot feet.

Alamy

Linaria triornithophora Perennial three birds toadflax from Spain and Portugal thrives on light soils, producing spurred, palepink blooms from early summer to autumn on plants to 3ft (90cm) tall.

3

Help droughttolerant plants by widening borders

Getty Images

Body image and bottom panel inset: Alamy. Other photography John Swithinbank / TI Media, unless credited

A

4

Penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’ Penstemons are droughttolerant on both light and heavy soils, reaching around 24in (60cm) tall. Cut back in late winter/early spring, and after the first flush.

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

51

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Write to us: Letters, Amateur Gardening magazine, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hants GU14 7BF (please include your address).

Email us: amateurgardening@ti-media.com

with Wendy Humphries

Just as nature intended

I

DO wish people would stop going on about slugs. I’ve always had slugs and snails, and I’ve also won several prizes for my garden (without entering), and I’ve never used slug pellets, sprays or pesticides. Over the years, I’ve learned that slugs love certain plants – so I don’t grow them!

I have a hedgehog house and encourage them to visit – they love the dried worms I leave for them. They also love slugs and snails – as do the birds, especially thrushes. I have a pond for frogs and toads, grow flowers for bees and butterflies, and feed the birds twice a day. That’s the way I’ve looked after my patch. Everything works together in balance and harmony, and nature will establish its own routine.

Pauline O’Keefe, Ormskirk, Lancs Wendy says: It’s wonderful that you are so passionate about welcoming wildlife!

Star letter

Pauline grows plants that slugs and snails leave alone

“My ‘Anticipation’ has the most incredible big flowers”

Best foot forward I READ Tim Rumball’s article on ‘gardening footwear’ (AG, 16 March).

While I agree with what he says, I sadly Finding the right have to say that footwear is tricky there are those of us that can’t use most of that footwear.

After years of being badly bitten and having constant bouts of cellulitis, I find my legs swell as soon as get up. I wear a size 5 shoe, I struggle with lace-ups, and wellingtons are a no-no unless I try a size 7, but it’s difficult when your feet won’t get past the lower part!

The best boots for me are those that just cover the feet, but I need a shoe horn to get them on – or clogs! Years ago, I had the ideal pair of plastic boots that were worn over ordinary shoes; the spare plastic just folded over.

It is frustrating not to be able to do all the gardening, and relying on others as I haven’t the suitable footwear.

Frances Bunyan, via email

Wendy says...

Brilliant colour from camellias I HAVE always been a great fan of camellias. They look exotic, but don’t really take a lot of looking after – you just absorb their beauty. This is a new one for me called ‘Anticipation’, and as only a young shrub it still has the most incredible big flowers. They

have been amazingly early this year, opening even before Christmas – and considering the dreadful winds, they have held up pretty well, with only the odd bloom being blown off.

Sylvia Monk, Hayling Island, Hants

Tell us what you think of AG and why you love it!

We’d like to hear from newbies and loyal longstanding readers – write or email, with a photo of yourself, to the above address before 18th April, briefly explaining what you think in 25 words. We will choose a selection to be published in our 135th anniversary edition on 18th May.

SHARE YOUR STORIES TIPS AND PHOTOS and you will receive a fantastic pair of Town & Country’s Master Gardener gloves — the UK’s best-selling gardening glove and a perfect companion to help you in the garden. State small, medium or large with your letter.

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the look Get Ideas for gorgeous gardens

Photography by Peter Chatterton

Use blocks of hedging to provide year-round structure and link together different parts of the garden. Helen has used clipped evergreen Choisya ternata to create crisp lines

Follow natural lines with ‘rivers’ of colour. Helen’s ‘blue’ river is planted with three species: Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’, nepeta and Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’, which flower in succession

Two sides to a valley garden Bold design has created a Cotswold valley wonder, as Sue Bradley discovers

G

oing with the flow of the landscape lies at the heart of Helen Westendorp’s plan in drawing the eye away from her long and narrow valley garden on the edge of Eastcombe in gloucestershire.

Key to her design is the use of circles and the widening effect they bring, along with a serpentine-like stream that’s been diverted from its naturally straight course to create a series of space-expanding curves.

Wooden posts, which have been cut to size, professionally dipped in preservative and set into concrete, reinforce the new route of the waterway, which Helen and husband gerwin built with the help of a landscaping company.

“Previously, the stream ran along the line of a hedge. it was in a deep gulley and was full of silt, so it wasn’t safe,” 55 AmAteur GArDeNING 13 APRIL 2019

says Helen. “We needed to work out the fall of the ground and volume of water that came down our valley so we could get the widths and depths right, but this wasn’t difficult – any good landscaping contractor would be able to help with something like this.”

A windy pathway complements the stream, surfaced with buff-hued gravel that mirrors the waterway’s curves and skirts contrasting grassy swards. “i’ve restricted the different

“The plot was long and narrow like a bowling alley”

types of materials used in the garden to achieve a sense of unity,” explains Helen, who runs a business improvement consultancy and is also a trained garden designer. “Buff-coloured gravel chimes with the stone from our cottage. We’ve also used wood and black limestone.” once the hard landscaping was in place, Helen’s attention turned to structural planting, including meandering clipped hedges of varying heights that lead the eye and link various parts of the garden.

There’s a flowing green line created using the evergreen shrub Choisya ternata, while copper beech provides a contrasting purple hue.

Additional structure is provided by repeat plantings of conifers and trees, including a series of hornbeam

the look Get Ideas for gorgeous gardens cylinders, the clipping of which releases a hormone that enables them to retain their leaves all year round.

The final piece of the garden jigsaw is its plants. These contribute to the linear theme, with four distinct ‘rivers’ featuring successions of similarly coloured perennials that bring simplicity, and a sense of unity to the banks of the valley throughout the seasons. They contrast beautifully with mass plantings of grasses, which look particularly good when the wind moves through them.

Completing the garden is an area for growing fruit close to a wooden retaining wall.

Helen and Gerwin set about changing their garden in 2013, nine years after moving in, and are thrilled with how it has developed.

“With the valley rising on both sides, I’ve always looked to work with the landscape,” Helen explains.

“When we first came here, the plot was long and narrow like a bowling alley, but by blending it with the landscape it looks much wider.”

Yet while the garden may look like it requires a lot of upkeep, Helen says the style of planting, which simply needs to be chopped back at the end of the winter, and measures such as timber edging that save on mowing time, mean that it’s surprisingly low maintenance.

“When designing a garden, it’s well worth taking the time to include timesaving measures to make being outside enjoyable rather than a chore,” she laughs. “It’s all in the planning, really.”

Combine hard landscaping features to create a ‘mirroring’ effect, as Helen has done with the stream and pathway

Grow Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’ for swathes of long-lasting, blue, daisy-like flowers

Squeeze in a greenhouse to enjoy the taste of homegrown fruit and vegetables, such as this impressive melon

Mix grasses, such as Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, and perennials for colour and interest that lasts into the winter

Left-over yew saplings have been used to create a green ‘Nessie’. The feature is underplanted with frothy Persicaria affinis ‘Superba’ 56 AmAteur GArDeNING 13 APRIL 2019

Create lines using clipped hedging to draw the eye in different directions

A south-facing retaining wall provides valuable surfaces for espaliered apples and fruit bushes

Helen has used circles, contrasting pebbles, a small fountain, yew hedging and Stipa gigantea grass to draw attention away from the driveway

Create natural ‘walls’ using long and narrow boxes filled with plants, such as contrasting hosta and bamboo

Choose coneflowers, Echinacea purpurea, for eye-catching perennial blooms that look great with grasses

Carve lawned pathways into steeply sloping banks for natural terracing

meet the gardeners Owners: Helen Westendorp Address: Hawkley Cottage, Eastcombe, Glos, GL6 7DQ Garden size: Three quarters of an acre Aspect: South facing Soil: Clay and silt and free-draining loam and stones within banks Special features: Designed to complement its valley setting, with curving stream, structural and ornamental planting, vegetable and cutting beds.

Open for NGS in 2019: Sunday 5th and Monday 6th May, 2-6pm, as part of the Eastcombe, Bussage and Brownshill open gardens.

13 APRIL 2019 AmAteur GArDeNING

57

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Toby Buckland

Nurseryman and former Gardeners’ World host My alkathene pipe cloche – complete with net fastening to keep out the pigeons

Wikimedia: Wardrin

Toby’s tops tips

Humphries

Main image: Toby Buckland

1

Net cloches over newly sown seed will speed up germination.

The net blocks the breeze that otherwise robs the soil of warmth and moisture as seedlings develop.

White-hot innovation calls for true blue thinking, which this hoop brilliantly demonstrates!

This week sees Toby joining the inner circle of cloche innovation, thanks to some humble blue alkathene pipe!

All photography TI Media, unless otherwise credited

S

PADES may well have been the go-to gardening tool for millennia, but like the horse and cart they could be superseded by new technology. After all, we’re living in the era of graphene, silicon and AI, and anything is possible!

Take those new gloves, with their plastic claws designed for digging – go on, take them! They might look like they belong to Freddy Krueger, but according to the blurb they’ll ‘save the effort of lugging around heavy tools’ and unlike spades, which can be too short, they’re made from stretchy rubber so one size fits all… what a time to be alive!

My favourite example of white-hot horticultural innovation was originally made famous by the late, great Geoff Hamilton – although the genesis of the blue-hooped cloche probably came from an allotment, where

“Unlike glass or wire designs, this cloche is easily moved”

upcycling and homespun inventiveness go hand-in-glove.

The key ingredients are timber battens and blue alkathene pipe (every plumber’s favourite), pinned to the wood to create a series of hoops to support a protective tent over the top. Unlike glass, which is heavy, and wire designs that are pinned to the soil, the blue cloche is easily moved – so you can get in to weed/harvest, and make it to fit the dimensions of your plot.

I’m rustling a few up to cover the 30in (75cm) row spacings in my kitchen garden, but they could be made long and narrow or square to cover any seedbed. I’ve even seen them fixed with hinges to timber raised beds, turning

TI Media

Bolt from the blue

2

It’s best to leave the ends of plastic cloches open to prevent the temperature spiking and the plants inside from cooking.

them into cold frames that open and prop in place like a car bonnet.

The material that goes on the top is another bespoke choice, and it is changeable, depending on the challenges you face. My veg beds are savaged by pheasants and pigeons, so netting is all I need – but if you want to keep out the cold, clear poly-tunnel plastic or fleece is the choice, while fine mesh will protect cauliflower from aphids and keep root fly from your carrots.

Making a blue-hoop cloche YOU need a cordless drill, tape measure and wood-saw.

Cut four lengths of treated timber for the base; mine is 8ft (2.4m) long and 2.3ft (70cm) wide. Pin them together with screws in the corners. Bend a test section of alkathene pipe over the top to give an idea of hoop length – mine are 1½m (5ft) long – and cut with the saw. Use this first hoop as a template to cut the rest. Fix to the base, 2ft (60cm apart, with screws. Screw a length of timber batten to the underside of the tops of the hoops to lock them together.

Tools to help you make your cloche

13 APRIL 2019 AMATEUR GARDENING

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