FREE! Febru ary Issue
GETTING YOUR GARDEN READY FOR SPRING CAMELLIAS
One of the most popular shrubs in the UK. Learn how to make the most out of yours.
CLIMBING PLANTS
Add a little height to your garden with climbing plants.
GROW YOUR OWN CABBAGES
Start your vegetable patch off by sowing spring cabbages today!
DAVID ALLISON
From the National Vegetable Society, discusses what we should be up to on the plot this month.
TOP TIPS | HOW TO GUIDES | EQUIPMENT | TOOLS | EXPERT ADVICE
PROMO: MAG16
lead the good life welcomes you... February has a tendency to be thought of as a month where there’s not a lot to do. I believe this isn’t the case. There’s plenty of planning and preparation to be done and now is a good time to start thinking about seeds. Think about your favourite vegetables or flowers and plan your vegetable patches and flower beds accordingly. This means considering colour schemes and also habit. Try to incorporate a range of heights and form as well as colours and think about existing shrubs, bulbs and other plants. If you’re stuck for ideas why not take a look round your local gardens for inspiration.
camellia
try something new. Last year I grew butternut squash for the first time and was extremely pleased with the outcome, the excitement of vegetable growing is truly endless.
Everything you need to know about Camellia and how to grow your own! Page 03-06
Stephen Mackley, Editor, Lead the Good Life
If you’re more of a vegetable fan consider crop rotation (an article on page 19 will show you how to make the most out of this system). The key to a good veg patch is space and time management this way you can have a thoroughly productive vegetable plot making the most out of even the smallest area of land. Finally why not
ur Plus all yo seed needs.
using the plot... The vegetable expert, David Allison gives us some tips on preperation using your plot. Page 11-12
cious Plus a deli cipe on cabbage re page 13
This month we look at our top products that can help you get ready for Spring on page 15
Grow Your Own Cabbages 07-08 Design Ideas Climbers 09-10
Using the Plot David Allison, Vegetable Ex pert 11-12
Recipe of the Month Rustic Cabbage and Bacon Soup 13
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Reader’s Corner February 2012 17-18
TIPS
Top Jobs February 14
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Handy Tips Crop Rotation 19-20 Ask the Expert Stephen Answers 21
Tools for the Job Getting Ready for Spring 15-16
Don’t forget! 01 | Welcome
rden Get your ga rd! working ha
Don’t forget our design ideas. This month we look at Climbers on page 09-10
How to Grow Camellia 05-06
Tools for the Job
Get the v best ou ery your cr t of ops. p19-20
Design Ideas
Plant Portfolio Camellia 03-04
Learn all about Cabbage’s including how to grow your own. page 07-08
CRO ROTAT P ION
£
P&D Watch Pesky Problems 22 February Bargain
Featured on back page
In this Issue | 02
Plant Portfolio
l! Beautifu
Camellia
se hine The C for tion a l e s is th tran a i l l ame ea’ the C ing t r e w ‘flo
Learn about the beautiful Camellia and it’s origins to see if it is a match for your garden. The Japanese Camellia, or the rose of winter, is the most recognizable species of Camellia and is a native flowering shrub of Japan, Korea and China. These evergreen shrubs are grown for their dark green glossy foliage and abundance of huge deep pink-red large flowers in early spring. They look great in the border, perform well in pots and are extremely handy to have in the garden as they are tolerant of shade. They will flower around April and be covered in beautiful deep pink/red blooms for up to 4 weeks adding great early colour to your garden. Camellia japonica is related to one of the most important plants in the world, Camellia sinensis or the tea bush. Unlike the Japanese Camellia the tea bush is
not a common garden variety mainly because it has insignificant white flowers. Tea was probably used as a medicine up until the Zhou Dynasty (1046 -256 BC) and more recently extensive studies have focused on these medicinal properties with some interesting findings. Tea could possess anti-carcinogenic properties and help prevent cardiovascular diseases plus it’s also been proven to aid the immune system and the microfloral inhabitants of the intestine. So next time you’re having a ‘cuppa’ you can enjoy the health benefits as well as the delicious taste.
FUN FA
C
T The firs tC to be se amellia Englan en in dw Essex, as in 1739!
the white camellia japonica
Thou beauteous child of purity and grace, What element could yield so fair a birth? Defilement bore me - my abiding place Was mid the foul clods of
polluted earth. But light looked on me from a holier sphere, To draw me heavenward - then I rose and shone; And can I vainly to thine eye appear,
Thou dust-born gazer? make the type thine own. From thy dark dwelling look thou forth, and see The purer beams that brings a lovelier change for thee. Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna
em? Email us to po ed em th en rd ga ite ur vo fa What is your 03 | Plant Portfolio
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let us know.
Plant Portfolio | 04
How to Grow
did you know...
k To Kill a Mockingbird when Camellias can be found in the boo s out of anger because of she bu a lli me ca e’s bos Bu s. Mr ys Jem destro about his family. Later in the de ma d ha she s nt me com ive sit insen d by the dying Mrs. Dubose. book Jem is given a Camellia bu
How to Grow...
camellia
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Everything you need to know to grow your own Camellia...
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Difficulty:
Hardiness: Fully hardy down to -15°C Full Sun
Partial Shade
SITE & SOIL The natural habitat for Camellias is woodlands so bearing this in mind they enjoy a sheltered environment with dappled shade even though, with a little more care, they will be perfectly happy in full sun. You should condition the soil with lots of organic matter, such as leaf mould, to improve drainage. Preferably your soil needs to be ericaceous however they will tolerate neutral soil. If your soil is alkaline then think about growing in a container with ericaceous compost.
05 | How to Grow
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Hardy
Half Hardy
WATERING & FEEDING Camellias are calcifuges plants meaning they will not tolerate alkaline conditions. Tap water in many areas around the UK is too hard for Camellias and will reduce the acidity around the roots over time so instead use rain water collected in water butts.
Flowering Season PRUNING Very little pruning is necessary for Camellias. Having said this they will tolerate hard pruning. In May prune to regain symmetry and remember to remove flowers as they die.
Do not over feed Camellias. You can apply a balanced fertiliser in midspring and then again in summer if required.
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How to Grow | 06
Grow Your Own
Grow Your Own...
Cabbages
Add some green to your garden and diet...
health benef i ts
Lead the Good Life with Cabbage...
Difficulty:
1. Sow
2. Grow
Now is the time to sow summer cabbages. It’s advisable to sow in seed trays for two reasons. Firstly you can protect your seedlings from late frosts and pest damage easier by keeping them in a green house. Secondly you will waste valuable growing space if you sow in situ. This space could be better used for fast growing crops such as radish or lettuce.
Once your cabbages have four to six true leaves they are ready to transplant out into their final position; this should be around April/ May. Ensure you water your plants before transplanting. Dig a hole and fill with water (‘puddle’) and then plant each cabbage between 1ft and 18in apart. On planting the lowest sets of leaves should be level with the soil. If puddled in well on planting your cabbages won’t need much watering except during prolonged periods of dry weather when you should give them a good soak. The key to big cabbage heads is to generous amounts of water and apply a high nitrogen feed when the heads begin to form.
• Antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and high in glucosinolates.
3. Harvest
In August your cabbages will be ready to harvest. Using a sharp knife cut the cabbage close to the ground. A handy tip is to cut a cross into the top of the stump of the stem. Hopefully you’ll receive a second crop of smaller cabbages later in the year.
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y See o v a ITEM lS of Al t s e B
4. Soil
Condition your soil by adding lots of organic matter and lime it if it is acidic, all Brassicas hate acid soils. Dig over the site well and wait several weeks before planting so the soil has time to become consolidated. Cabbages love sun so be sure to choose a bright sunny position.
• Cabbage can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits if you cook it by steaming.
healthy sauteed red cabbage
Why not try out our quick recipe idea for a delicious Red Cabbage? • 1 TBS lemon juice • 5 TBS low sodium chicken/vegetable broth
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07 | Grow Your Own
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• New research shows that steaming is a better cooking method than microwaving if you want to maximize the health benefits of glucosinolates found in cabbage..
recipe idea
What you need: • 4 cups red cabbage, shredded
CP: £11.69
• Cabbage in general but also Savoy cabbage in particular turns out to be an especially good source of sinigrin. Sinigrin is one of the cabbage glucosinolates that has
received special attention in cancer prevention research.
• Quarter cabbage, slice into 1/4-inch strips, and let sit for at least 5 minutes to bring out the hidden health benefits. • Chop or press garlic and let sit for at least 5 minutes. • Sprinkle cabbage with 1 TBS lemon juice before cooking to prevent it from turning blue.
The Dressing: • 3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• 1 TBS lemonjuice • 1 medium clove garlic, chopped or pressed • Sea salt, and pepper to taste
• Heat 5 TBS broth over medium heat in a stainless steel skillet. When broth begins to steam, add cabbage and cover. Sauté for no more than 5 minutes. • Transfer to a bowl. For more flavor, toss cabbage with the dressing ingredients and any of the optional ingredients you desire while it is still hot.
Find another delicious recipe on page 13. 08719 77 55 55 | www.gardenbargains.com
Grow Your Own | 08
Design Ideas
Climbers No garden is complete without a climber or two...
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ITE atis rs Clem u e s is o n Con ts n 3 plan Collectio
These plants come in a wide range of colours and forms and have numerous uses. Perfect for the back of borders, for training up trellis or in containers, but above all they give depth to your garden by adding height and increasing interest. Here are a few of my favourites which I think completes a garden.
Morning Glory
The quintessential Morning Glory climber will happily run up your walls, trellis and any pergolas you may have but is easily trained around ornaments too. The blooms will wake up with the sun in the morning for a brilliant display of azure that is reminiscent of a crystal clear Mediterranean summer sky. Truly deserving of the RHS Award of Garden Merit it has already acquired.
Sweet Pea
These plants are probably the most popular annual to grow mainly due to their colour and scent. They’re perfect for new gardeners because they are easy to grow and give fantastic impact over a long period of time. I like sweet peas because you can use them in numerous ways; most traditionally up a trellis however you can plant them in a hanging basket and let them flow over the edges. Once in flower you can cut them and bring them inside to fill your house full of sweet scent.
09 | Design Ideas
Clematis
If you are going to have only one climber in your garden then it must be Clematis. These popular plants come in a wide range of cultivars which flower throughout the year from winter to autumn. I particularly enjoy ‘Ville De Lyon’ with its carmine red flowers but there are so many others to choose from; ‘Jan Powell 2nd’ produces delicate soft pink flowers which complements another favourite of mine, ‘President’ with its deep purple flowers.
“For even more beautiful climber scenes in your garden plant more than one kind, they will find their own space against the wall.”
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Give your plants a helping hand to ensure they grow tall, strong and beau tiful by attaching vine ey es to the supporting w all with a wire threaded threw to help support th e climbers.
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Plant your climber approximately 50cm away from the wall and remember to lean the climber against the supporting wall.
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Design Ideas | 10
Using the Plot by David Allison
using the plot with david allison
The vegetabe experts gives us the must do’s of February... is no point in sowing seed David Allison is a vegetable in cold wet soil, it will only expert; what he doesn’t rot; it’s far better to wait know about veg just isn’t until the soil has warmed worth knowing. This month up a little and cloches can David explains what to be used to speed up this do now with great hints and tip for February process. your vegetable Any necessary is usually garden. repairs to raised a fairly quiet beds, cold frames, February is usually a fairly month on to greenhouses and other structures quiet month the plot could be carried on to the plot as out at this time and if by now the digging should be completed and the disease has been a problem last summer, consider a soil is too cold to start seed good soak with a garden sowing or planting. There
delicious seeds
Want to give growing your own a go?
cleanser or winter wash. There’s plenty to do in the greenhouse especially if it’s heated. Prick out and pot up leeks and onions and start sowing sprouts and celery. You could even try a few tomato seeds if the light levels are good and you’re prepared to keep the greenhouse heated to minimum of 50F (10C). Bare rooted fruit trees can continue to be planted; both soft fruit (currants, gooseberries, raspberries)
hire Bedfords n Champio eds Onion Se
ITEM:
and top fruit (apples, pears, plums cherries). Mulching established fruit areas has three main benefits; conservation of moisture in the summer months, suppression of weeds and provision of plant foods. Retreating into the shed is very welcome on cold, bitter days and is an ideal time to clear out the rubbish that has accumulated over the past year. Tools should
be cleaned, sharpened is below 6.5 add lime or and oiled if necessary and ground chalk to increase wooden handles rubbed with the alkalinity especially raw linseed oil. where you intend to grow Cleaning your There’s brassicas as it helps greenhouse to reduce club root plenty to glass is also problems. a must do job do in the Warming a piece of at this time ground with a sheet greenhouse of the year to of plastic will allow you allow maximum to make an early start light in plus clear on sowing. Not only will out greenhouse guttering it increase the soil and the bottom of temperature but it your water barrels. will help to dry out Feed spring the surface. Put the cabbage with cover on a few weeks a high-nitrogen before you intend to sow fertiliser such as then hoe off any weeds that sulphate of ammonia or if it encourages to germinate, you are organic pelleted this will help to reduce the poultry manure. If your soil weed problem later in the
season and is particularly useful to use prior to sowing carrots.
summer cauliflower are all good types for this type of growing.
It is extremely important at this time of the year to ventilate the greenhouse to avoid problems such as botrytis; if the glass is covered in condensation then it requires urgent ventilation. Towards the end of February is also a good time to sow vegetables that will be ready to harvest when prices in the shops are at a premium. The secret is to sow in modules, indoors for transplanting outside later. Broad beans, leeks, onions, peas, summer cabbage and
First sowings of parsnips can be made towards the end of the month if soil conditions are OK, or consider raised beds, barrels etc, particularly for exhibition use. By David Allison
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11 | Using the Plot
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Using the Plot | 12
Recipe of the Month
Top Jobs
Recipe of the month
Rustic Cabbage & Bacon Soup
top jobs
Get prepair ed for the co ming months wit h these han dy tips...
has a bad reputation in Cabbage is an under rated vegetable and d properly the humble the kitchen which is unfair because if use es and dishes. cabbage can be used for a variety of cuisin PREP: 30 mins
COOKING : 30 mins
You will need... • Olive oil • A small onion or shallot (sliced) • Seasoning
5g/5oz pancetta, • 7 bacon, cubed • 200g/7oz shredded cabbage
SERVES: 2
3 spring Get your y plot read vegetable r your g ove by diggin eed beds. You s vegetable me o s w o s can s vegetable ou y t u b now some will need ver under co n. protectio
1
00ml/10fl oz • 3 vegetable stock • A potato peeled and chopped
Method
1. Add olive oil to a saucepan and heat. Add sliced onion and bacon and fry until they begin to turn golden-brown. 2. Mix in the cabbage and cook for 3 – 5 minutes stirring well. 3. Incorporate the stock and potatoes and cook the potatoes are softened. 4. Season to taste and serve with a warm slice of crusty bread and butter.
4
Winter-flowering shrubs will need a prune if they have finished flowering.
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Buy and chit your potato tubers.
Protect blossom for fruits which are susceptible to frosts such as apricots, nectarines and peaches. Cosy fleece covers are perfect protectors.
s such a Bulbs ops are r snowd ded now. v i yd i ideall wly ne Plant bulbs d dive . green in the
5
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month February tends to be a quiet the for gardening however it’s en rd ga ur perfect time to get yo protect prepaired for Spring and to ns. it from the current conditio the Follow our essential jobs in glowing garden to ensure yours is come March.
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Hardy eve rgr hedges sh een o uld be pruned now and deciduous hedges th at are overg rown wou ld benefit fro m regenerati some ve prunin g.
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Top Jobs | 14
Tools for the Job
CUTTER GLOVES
ring getting ready foyourr garsp den thrive... Top products, straight from us, to help
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SUPER 17 FERTILISER Professional Results Made Easy! Give Your Flowers & Fruit A Real Boost This Season with ‘Super17’ Fertiliser! Just like a vitamin pill for plants, ‘Super17’ is ALL you’ll need for bumper crops of fruit and vegetables, and prolific flower beds full of prize blooms!
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Cutter Gloves Medium
Slugs are often a gardeners’ worst nightmare munching their way through new foliage causing extensive damage.
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hermaphrodita, which was discovered by scientists at the government research institute at Bristol, England. One application of Nemaslug provides 300,000 nematodes for every square metre of soil, giving at least six weeks control of slugs. This is generally enough time for seedlings and bedding plants to get well established.
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01
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These shuttle trays are commonly used by commercial growers for potting up, growing on and moving plants around.
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Tools for the Job | 16
Reader’s Corner
anagram
READER’S CORNER
How many words can you make? Give yourself 2 minutes to find as many as you can...
1 – 5 terrible
Puzzles and Trivia for when you’re not gardening...
c a
6 - 11 poor
m
12 – 19 average
e l
20 – 23 good
l
22+ excellent
i a
CROSSWORD
Complete the crossword, fill in the shaded squares to reveal a group of plants that are commonly found in high altitudes and email your correct answer to editor@ltgl.co.uk: the first correct answer will receive a year’s free membership
ACROSS 5 The genus to include lime and linden 6 False acacia 8 Which nut comes from Aesculus hippocastanum 10 A common hymenopterous pest
GOODLIFE & TRU #03 DOWN 1 Italian for ‘sprouts’ 2 Lilie turf 3 An evergreen with striking catkins 4 Turfed area of your garden 7 Windflowers 9 Use these tools for collecting leaves or producing a fine tilt
Know you
r stuff?
Do you ha ve some h andy tips and tr ick would like s you to share in next mon ths Reade r’s Corner? If so email u s with the d etails and you might get featured.
17 | Reader’s Corner
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Congratulations to:
feature in the next issue
Miss Edwina Sykes who recommended a friend and won a lifetime membership to the gardenbargains.com gardening club And Alison Chamberlain who knew the answers to last months odd one out. The correct answer was B Cosmos: Delphinium, Helleborus and Clematis are all in the Ranunculaceae family, Cosmos are in the Asteraceae family
Send us your photographs and letters and they could appear in the next issue. Send them to editor@ltgl.co.uk or Stephen Mackley, Lead the Good Life Ltd, Ideal Home House, Newark Road, Peterborough, PE1 5WG Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive regular hints tips and seasonal advice, updates on offers and bargains plus loads more!
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Reader’s Corner | 18
TIPS Handy Tips
ious Delic
“Growing vegetables is not a science it’s an art!”
THE ART OF GROWING VEGETABLES Learn the art that will help your veg thrive... CROP ROTATION Growing vegetables is not a science it’s an art! No matter how hard you try it’s inevitable that your prize crops will succumb to the occasional pest problem. There are a few tricks that you can do to help prevent this problem and crop rotation is one system which has proven time after time to work. THE BASICS Crop rotation is simple enough to understand. Growing the same vegetables in the same plot of land increases the potential of soil borne pests and disease which prey on that specific type of vegetable. Additionally over consumption of specific nutrients can occur leaving your vegetables with deficiencies. By sowing or planting you vegetables in a different plot of land in succeeding years you can avoid these problems.
The first thing to do is split up your vegetables into three groups; see below. Brassicas including: cabbages, broccoli, sprouts, swede etc. Roots including: carrots, beetroot parsnips, potatoes, etc. Others including: beans, leak, marrow, spinach and anything else that doesn’t fit into the other groups. Secondly split your vegetable plot into three sections one for each of the groups and sow or plant them accordingly. You can keep your vegetables in the same plot of land for up to three years and when this time is up grow your crops in the subsequent plots. Brassicas into the root plot, roots into the others plot and the others into the brassicas plot. It’s as simple as that. By following these rules you will improve the quality of your crops and alleviate some of the everyday problems that gardeners face.
Crops to try...
Roots
vegetable seeds
Fancy a go at growing your own vegetables, get all the bulbs you need here. 01
05
02
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19 | Handy Tips
03
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Brassicas Purple Sprouting Broccoli Snowball Turnips Roots Early Carrot ‘Nantes’ Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ Runner Bean ‘Prizewinner’ Leeks ‘Prizetaker’ Other
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Handy Tips | 20
Ask the Expert
P&D Watch
Pesky em ! probl
ask the experts
Having problems with your prized pansies, struggles with you star Streptocarpus or troubles with top tomatoes? We’re here to help! MIKE ASKS: I have some clematis that start to grow looking strong and healthy then after 2 or 3 months start to turn yellow, then brown. Any advice would be appreciated. STEPHEN SAYS: An unfortunate problem which clematis can be susceptible to is clematis wilt and this sounds like yours might be having this problem. The natural habitat of clematis is woodlands which are shady and moist so if your clematis is in a position of bright sunlight and quickly draining soil you might want to consider moving it to a more suitable position, now is the time to do this. Containers have a habit of drying out quickly I recommend adding lots of organic matter to help with water retention or you could try some swell gel.
WILLIE ASKS: My 4/5 year old Gojo berries are now 10 ft but still have no blossom or berries. What’s going on? STEPHEN SAYS: Gogi berries need two key things welldraining soil and adequate sunshine. As yours are 10 ft tall I would assume your drainage is alright. I would suggest checking their location and if they are receiving enough light. I’d recommend being a little harsh with your plants. When the soil is fertile plants put their effort into growth so sometime ‘neglecting’ them is required to coax them into producing flowers. Avoid fertilising especially those containing lots of nitrogen which will make them bushier. You could try a high-potash feed at the start of March to promote flowering.
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also be black, pink, white or yellow and can sometimes be confused with other pest such scale insects or mealy bugs especially if the aphids are of the woolly variety. Being from such a diverse group of insects their hosts can vary tremendously too. Some may attack a single host plant where as others may feed on numerous different species of plants. LOOK OUT FOR Colonies grouped on shoots and tips. These are clearly
Also known as green fly this tiny pest (1-7mm) can
pergola or fence and is great for covering unsightly objects. It is fast growing so will not take long to create a carpet of flowers. It’s easy to look after and pruning is simple too. Simply remove dead stems before growth begins in spring, then Clematis The President is trim all remaining stems to a colourful, large-flowered . Deadhead to clematis, clothed in huge, rich strong buds e long flowering. purple flowers from summer encourag to early autumn. This large flowering variety looks great on any trellis,
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your Keep rries be straw h ! fres
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seen with the naked eye especially if the colonies are large. Plants may be stunted and their leaves distorted causing weakness and susceptibility to different viruses. Aphids excrete honeydew, a sugary substance which accommodates sooty moulds As Aphids grow they shed their skins, these are left on the upper surface of the leaf as skin casts. WHAT TO DO Aphids have a wide range of natural predators such
as ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies and numerous parasitic wasps. This is not a fool proof method of control. As is often the case these predators appear when the infestation has gotten out of hand. In this situation you can regularly check your plants and rub of any aphids which you come across. There are many chemical insecticides available on the market but if you’re after something a little less harsh to the environment try spraying with some soapy water.
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21 | Ask the Expert
for ater w y oap n Try s lutio o s o c an e
With more than 500 different species in Britain alone Aphids are a common problem in every garden... PESKY APHIDS This sap-sucking insect causes deformations in growth and leaves a sticky material, known as honeydew, on foliage attracting sooty moulds. Aphids are also the largest vector for virus transition specifically affecting strawberries, tomatoes, dahlias and many other ornamental and vegetable crops.
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Using Swell Gel will aid water absorption and storage to ensure healthier growth of your plants; and less watering will be required.
This Months P&D WatchTalks Pesky Problems...
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P&D Watch | 22
Feb Barr uar y g ai n
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rry runners red gauntlet strawbe abundance main season crop. A deliciously sweet variety that produces an These strawberries are extremely easy to grow, and are one of the most popular soft fruits for growing at home. Red Gauntlet is a great performer in the UK as it will continue to ripen, no matter how long or short the days are. It can produce
fruit for up to 7 months of the year. Fruits are medium-sized, sweet, juicy and store particularly well. Each plant has the potential to yield up to a kilogram. 10 plants provided.
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MARCH
26 look out for the march issue
In next week’s issue we get expert advice on potatoes from how to grow to cook plus everything you need to know about organic gardening. For questions & ordering details contact us on:
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