Garden News January 23

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SPECTACULAR WITCH HAZEL Grow now for zesty scent

Germinate broad beans in freezer bags

IN JUST 10 DAYS JOBS TO DO !

THIS WEEK ✔ Plant an evergreen herb pot ✔ Sow cauliflower indoors ✔ Force rhubarb for an early crop

Turn up the

colour!

Bold foliage, berries and flowers to transform your garden this weekend

CAROL KLEIN

"Why plant pollinators fascinate me!"

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AboutNOW NOW Barnsdale border will honour Geoff Hamilton

Geoff at Garden News Geoff was Technical Editor of Garden News in 1973 after first running a garden centre on the outskirts of Ke ering in Northamptonshire. He came to GN just as colour printing was introduced to the publication, penning the columns Geoff Hamilton’s ‘Grow Plan’ and ‘Garden Design’. The publication cost just 5p then! In 1977, he became Editor of GN’s monthly sister title Practical Gardening.

After guest appearances on Gardening Diary for Anglia TV and BBC Gardeners’ World, he became the programme’s main presenter from 1979, until his death from a heart a ack while on a charity cycle ride near Merthyr Tydfil.

Maybe you remember Geoff’s appearances in GN

Help GN plant a fitting tribute Words Ian Hodgson

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substantial winterthemed border created by much-loved TV gardener and GN contributor Geoff Hamilton is to be replanted, and we’re inviting readers to nominate the most appropriate plant that GN should donate to the project.

The sinuous 30m x 13m (98ft x 42ft) plot at Geoff’s home at Barnsdale in Rutland was one of the first plantings he created in the mid-1980s, but is in dire need of replanting after the removal of many overgrown shrubs and conifers.

The 3ha (8 acre) attraction contains many of the themed gardens Geoff created and still “The winter border was embraces the same organic designed in association with principles he helped pioneer conifer and perennial expert through his programmes.

Adrian Bloom of Bressingham “We’re inviting people in the Gardens and its creation was world of gardening that my dad filmed for a series of Gardeners’ came into contact with to donate World,” said Nick Hamilton, one plants that evoke a cherished of Geoff’s three sons and who memory, that they particularly now runs the late-TV presenter’s associate with him or think he legacy at Barnsdale Gardens Gardens. would have liked. The border will use a series of repeated planting modules to provide How the continuity, while showing winter border planting ideas that visitors looked can use in their own gardens.

Although lthough a winter border, we will also use plants that are of interest nterest throughout the year.”

Plans also include seating areas and the use of bespoke sculpture among the plantings.

Local horticultural students have been invited to use the border as part of their coursework.

The new border is scheduled to open from mid-August as part of the 20th anniversary of Geoff’s death. l For information about Barnsdale Gardens, call 01572 813200 or visit www. barnsdalegardens.co.uk

What should GN plant?

Recent clearing work underway

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4 Garden News / January 23 2016

What would you want GN to plant as a tribute to Geoff?

Should we reflect his interes interest in co age gardens with a new cheery-flowered helleborus helleborus, a sweetly-scented witch hazel or daphne? Perhaps you would prefer to include something o of year-round interest? Tell us about your ideas and why you’ve chosen them. We’ll include your suggestions in a future edition of GN and Should we select a winner. Write to donate a ‘Plant for Geoff’ to the daphne? address on Post, page 39.

AboutNOW

Snowdrop gardens open for charity M

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ore than a hundred gardens renowned for their snowdrops are to open for the National Garden Scheme (NGS) in February.

Gardens opening especially for the charity vary in size from established favourites, such as 4.9ha (12 acre) of woodland at Hodsock Priory, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire, and 2.8ha (7 acre) plantings at Bennington Lordship, near Stevenage, Hertfordshire, to snowdrop collectors such as Elaine Thornton on in Beverley, Yorkshire, who has 150 varieties in her small town wn garden and Pamela and Anthony Harris who have over 300 different varieties in their 0.8ha (2 acre) garden at Abergele, North Wales.

Although unseasonably warm weather has brought Snowdrops are snowdrops into flower up flowering early to two wo or three weeks early in some me parts of the UK, NGS Director George Plumptre is confident there will be plenty still to see. “While we’ll probably miss early ones, we’ll still

Snowdrops at Hodsock Priory

Dig a V-shaped trench with enough space for the plants’ roots

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his is a method of keeping new bare-rooted plants in good condition if bad weather or lack of time prevent them being planted immediately. With any plant out of the ground, it is important to stop the roots drying out.

If kept in a cool but frost-free, shady place, such as a shed or unheated garage, plants will often survive for a week left in their original packaging, provided the roots are moist (check every two to three days) and the temperature low so that plants don’t start growing.

Any longer and the plants will suffer, unless temporarily planted or ‘heeled in’ outdoors where they are exposed to light, air and moisture. Choose a spot that’s shaded and sheltered, where the plants will not be in the way for a few weeks.

Fork over the soil and then dig a V-shaped trench, wide and deep enough for you to bury the plants’ roots without crowding.

Space out the plants, leaning them at an angle against the side of the trench with their roots safely below surface level.

Loosely backfill with the excavated soil, and finally water thoroughly.

In dry weather, check regularly that the plants are still moist. They should stay in good condition for several weeks (even months if they remain dormant), but the sooner they are permanently planted the better.

The same technique of heeling in is often used in spring when the remnants of winter vegetables, such as parsnips and leeks, are dug up and then re-buried in a vacant space to release ground for cultivation.

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Arthur Conan Doyle (in register right) used plant poisons in his stories

studies he learned about plants such as belladonna and monkshood.

Students at the time were taken on excursions to local botanical hotspots. They could also study in the garden and attend demonstrations in the conservatories and hothouses.

While at medical school in 1879, he published his first story The Mystery of Sarassa Valley, and an article on a climber, Gelsemium as a poison, in the British Medical Journal. It transpired that although he did not start writing his Sherlock novels until a decade later, his botanical studies stuck with him.

Five cases of homicidal poisoning were used in 60 Sherlock stories.

“I think it will surprise a lot of people to know that Conan Doyle studied here,” said Dr Elspeth Haston, deputy curator in the gardens’ herbarium.

Expert

Heeling in

get ones that would normally continue into March,” he said.

Opening details of the snowdrop gardens can be found at www.ngs.org.uk l Before planning a visit, check times as they may be being brought forward.

Events at Chelsea Physic Garden, London, are now being held January 16-24 (020 7352 5646, www.chelseaphysicgarden. co.uk). The National Trust Anglesey Abbey festival in Cambridgeshire now starts from January 18 (01223 810080, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/angelsey-abbeygardens-and-lode-mill).

Sherlock Holmes author schooled in toxic plants The mystery of why Victorian detective Sherlock Holmes was so adept with the use and identification of poisons has been revealed. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the fictitious detective, learned about poisonous plants by attending lessons at Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, recent documents have shown.

In class rolls dating back to 1877, the teenage student took a break from studying medicine to take a course in botany, attending around 60 classes, seven demonstrations and nine excursions.

During his

60 SECOND

Veg such as parsnips and leeks can free up room in beds if heeled in

What to do this week

IN YOUR FLOWER GARDEN

Brighten up a border with winter heathers hea Dainty, white and pink blooms will add colour now

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n the coldest months, even trusty winter pansies can lose momentum when it comes to flowering, but there is another reliable plant you can turn to to add some much needed colour to your garden. Winter-flowering heathers are smothered in flowers right now and, if treated as a bedding plant, can add splashes of pink, mauve and white among the dried seed heads and stems of a winter border.

Winter-flowering heathers are varieties of erica, but you might also see calluna varieties on sale now.

Calluna are summer flowering, so any on sale now that are in flower will have been forced or imported, so its best to stick to true winter-flowering forms, which will be hardier and longer lasting.

Heathers often have a preference for acidic soil, because iron and other nutrients, which they absorb through their roots, are only soluble in water at a low pH. If the soil is too alkaline, the water will be lower in nutrients, leading to yellowing of their leaves and poor growth.

But the good news is that there are also some lime-tolerant varieties to suit alkaline soils. If your soil pH is above 6.5, opt for a variety of Erica carnea, E. erigena or E. darleyensis. These are commonly found at garden centres and will cope well with most soil types.

Plant heathers deeply if you intend to keep them in their position permanently, but this isn’t so important if you plan to treat them as a reasonably priced winter bedding plant. They are also fantastic plants for winter containers, mixed with ivy and a few violas to make pretty patio arrangements.

Among winter-green perennials, heathers add a pop of colour

Garden News RECOMMENDS Lime-tolerant ericas in flower now

E. carnea ‘Loughrigg’

E. carnea ‘Springwood White’

Erica canaliculata

Low growing and prostrate, with dark foliage and rosy-purple flowers.

Masses of pure white flowers cover this trailing winter heather.

A large heather covered in dainty blooms, but for mild coastal areas only.

24 Garden News / January 23 2016

Keep forced hyacinths going If you had a pot of forced hyacinths for a Christmas display, you don’t have to bin them as soon as the flowers fade. Forced bulbs are sapped of all their energy so they won’t be good for forcing again, but if you give them some care in their leafy stage they can be used again as a garden bulb.

Deadhead spent flowers and keep watering and feeding the bulbs with bulb food. Don’t plant them out yet as the shock of the cold will kill them. Keep them indoors in their flowering position, or move them to a bright windowsill in a spare room if they look messy. Don’t tie up or cut back the leaves – wait for them to yellow and die back naturally.

When the leaves have withered, lift the bulbs and store them until you can plant them again in autumn. If your forced hyacinths flower later this month, by the time the blooms fade it may be mild enough to plant them directly outside ‘in the green’.

This has been an exceptionally mild winter so far, and in many gardens the grass is still growing.

But because the weather has also been very wet, mowing has been a juggling act between keeping the lawn in check, without turning it into a muddy mess! Only mow the grass if the soil has dried out, you’ll simply rip out the roots and scar the lawn if you mow on waterlogged soil.

The undercover

GARDENER Former head gardener, broadcaster & RHS judge

Warm up the soil You’ll be able to plant earlier, says Martin

A soil thermometer will tell you when its warm enough to start sowing

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o take full advantage of my polytunnel I’m looking to plant and sow a selection of vegetables and salads as early as possible, to get tender early crops. Even though there’s no artificial heat in the tunnel, it’s surprising how quickly it warms up when we start to get a little spring sunshine. However, the all-important temperature is that of the soil. If it’s too cold, seed won’t germinate and seedlings won’t grow as well as they should.

When the sun does shine, the soil gradually absorbs heat and slowly warms up, acting a bit like a storage heater. Covering over the soil border with black polythene or landscape fabric helps the soil-warming process because the dark colour absorbs more heat. Alternatively, you can cover an area with garden cloches or frames in preparation for early sowing.

Hopefully by late February the

Black fabric traps in heat

Photos: Martin Fish

Only mow the lawn if it’s dry

MARTIN FISH

soil temperature will be warm enough to start sowing, and I’ll test this by pushing a soil thermometer about 10cm (4in) into the soil. When the temperature creeps up to 10C (50F) it’s warm enough for most vegetable seeds to germinate and grow away, although lettuce will germinate at cooler temperatures of around 6-8C (43-46F), so this can be sown even earlier.

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Cut down sedum Your old sedum flower stalks will have given you a good bit of frosty structure and a few hiding places for overwintering insects during the last few months, but by now they’ll be rather tatty.

Hopefully your sedums have come good for you again this year, and you’ll see some new growth emerging through from the crown – snip all the old stems down to this new growth ready for the season ahead.

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Jobs to do now

Harvest chard Pots of chard that I’ve been growing in the polytunnel have made decent-sized stems, which are now large enough to eat as a winter vegetable. They taste really delicious braised!

Water evergreens

f o k oc s t s y g n tra i ak and T k: ots e e tp w n x23t 2016 January la / Garden News 25 e p N Make sure you water any tender evergreen shrubs you’re wintering under cover every few weeks, to keep the compost just moist.