amateur gardening - october 11 2014 uk.pdf

5 April 2014 11 October 2014 w ekly

Enjoy blue gentians, just

follow our guide

GROW

A GENT

New plants from

woody cuttings

HARVEST

SQUASH

GET EM IN!

GIVE IT A GO

with new shrubs

ANNESWITHINBANKTry my colourful winter container

Shape up your borders

HOW TO SOW SWEET PEAS

Naturalise spring bulbs

Best ever autumn colour

Grow BIG garlic bulbs

see p28

NEWGARDENINGPRODUCTS FOR 2015 REVEALED

Advice on

lifting and

storing fruits

clean.indd 1 29/09/2014 11:49

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This week inThis week inw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw eklyw ekly

11 OCTOBER 2014

GET IN TOUCH01202 440840EDITORIAL OFFICES: Westover House, West Quay Road, Poole Dorset BH15 1JG

EXPERTS HELPLINE: 0843 168 0200 (12-1 Monday - Friday)

EMAIL US... [email protected]

Editors EEditors E let erlet erEditors

let erD

O YOU struggle to

untangle runner bean

stems from cane

wigwams at the end of the

season? Heres how I do it:

TIM RUMBALL

EDITOR

P10

Advice on naturalising

spring bulbs in lawns

Greenhouse heater health

check, plus best options

28

30

38

14

16

20

22

37

59

Special report from GLEE

garden trade exhibition

The best trees and shrubs

for autumn colour and more

Flower focus: The beautiful

blue- owered gentian

Features

Sue Stickland Pumpkin & squash harvest

Peter SeabrookHouse plant revival

Christine WalkdenChicken wires a great tool

Anne SwithinbankIdeas for winter pots

Bob FlowerdewGrow bigger garlic bulbs

Toby BucklandTake care with yucca!

Expert advice

40

48

50

Six log baskets tried &

tested we pick the best

Tea break puzzles with

30 cash prize

We visit a Japanese-style

garden in Dublin, Ireland

Regulars

Step-by-step guide to help you get it right

HARDWOOD CUTTINGS

PLANT SHRUBSIts the right time to get them in

P12

SWEET PEASSow now for early owers

P8

2 Lift the wigwam out of the soil

and lay it down on the ground

3 Cut through or release cane

binding at the top of the wigwam

4 Grab the bottom of each cane,

twist anticlockwise and pull hard

5 Canes slip out easily, leaving

bean stem bundle to compost

Have a great gardening week.

1 Cut all bean stems at soil level, &

any ties attaching them to canes

on a subscription to

Amateur GardeningVisit magazinesdirect.com/CBW4

0844 848 0848 and quote: CBW4

Lines open 7 days a week 8am-9pm (UK time). Overseas +44 (0) 330 3330 233

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P003_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 3 26/09/2014 14:02

Natural selection

STRETCH of grass speckled with

crocus, daffs or drifts of

snowdrops is one of the more

beautiful sights of spring.

Naturalising bulbs in the lawn is an easy

way of brightening up the garden. Bulbs

such as hardy cyclamen, crocus and

scillas also lighten dark, dry areas under

trees where few other bulbs will thrive.

Ruth shows how to naturalise spring bulbs in your lawn

There is a wide choice

of bulbs suitable for

naturalising in lawns

and under trees

4 AMATEUR GARDENING 11 OCTOBER 2014

With AG e perts Graham Clarke and Ruth Haye

T HIS YEAR has been the

best year for some time for

growing sweet peas. We

have three stands in the garden

and thanks to regular deadheading

and watering, they have been

throwing out blooms and scent

for months now. I want next year

to be just as successful, so have

already sown my sweet pea seeds

for owering early next summer

and on page 10 I show you how.

We continue our spring bulb series

with naturalising in lawns, and also

tackle greenhouse heating (p7),

take hardwood cuttings (p8-9),

and plant trees and shrubs (p12-13).

Happy gardening!

ASpring-flowering bulbs are planted in

grass in the autumn, so that turf can re-

root while there is still some warmth.

Hardy summer-flowering bulbs can also

be planted now, but hold off planting

tender bulbs until the spring.

Watch for squirrels, which dig up tulip

and snowdrop bulbs. Slugs and snails will

also go for new shoots in late winter.

Ruth HayesAGS GARDENING WRITER

All T

imeIn

c u

nle

ss ind

icate

d

In grassy areas you intend to mow, choose bulbs that grow and

ower early, such as crocus. Daffodils are great for growing in the lawn, but leave at least six weeks after owering before mowing, ideally until the daff leaves have turned brown

and straw-like.

TOP TIP

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We have five to give

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To enter the draw, send your name and

address on the back of a postcard to

Autumn All-in-One Draw, Amateur

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Closing date 15 October, 2014.

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P004-005_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 4 26/09/2014 14:09

11 OCTOBER 2014 AMATEUR GARDENING 5

Your gardening

week

NATURALISING BULBS

For a natural look, scatter the bulbs randomly

over the chosen area and plant them where

they fall, but not too close together.

Dig holes in the grass with a sharp, narrow

trowel or bulb planter. The holes need to be

three times the depth of the bulb.

Replace the turf on the top of the hole and tamp

down. Level the top of the turf plug with the

surrounding lawn surface and water in well.

Alternatively, when planting

small bulbs such as crocuses in

areas of grass, lift or roll back

sections of turf. Fork over the soil

and add a little balanced fertiliser,

such as Growmore. Score the

underside of the turf with a hand

fork to loosen the soil before you

replace it. Set your bulbs, then firm

the turf back in place, tamping

lightly with the back of a rake.

step by step

Break up some of the soil from the plug of turf

removed with the bulb planter, and use this to

backfill around the bulb once it is in the hole.

Bulbs for the natural look

ALTERNATIVE PLANTING

SNOWDROPS DWARF DAFFODILS CROCUS

ANEMONE SCILLA

Also known as winter hellebore, these small

perennials have yellow flowers and like a position

in full sun or part shade.

WINTER ACONITE Wood anemones bring

a delicate

beauty to UK

forests and will

thrive in and

brighten shaded

areas of the

garden under

trees and shrubs.

Another plant with

delicate-looking, star-shaped

or bell-shaped flowers that

are usually blue.

Drifts of dazzling white

snowdrops are often the

first signs that warmer

weather is on the way.

Ever-popular crocuses look

lovely in grass, with petals of

yellow, white or shades of

purple, depending on variety.

Wik

imed

ia S

cilla

sib

eric

a

Dwarf daffs give a cheerful glow

to the garden and grow well

scattered in lawns. Try varieties

Tete-a Tete or Minnow.

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Your gardening

week


AG editor Tim gets his greenhouse heater ready for a season of winter use

OST OF us understand the

bene ts of heating a

greenhouse during the

coldest season keeping tender

specimens alive, propagating

plants, and forcing plants to ower

or fruit earlier than normal. Now is

the time to check your heater to

make sure it is in good (and safe)

working order. If you dont have

one and want one, nows the time

to invest!

To the right are the pros and cons

of the different forms of heating.

Most modern heaters will give

many years of trouble free service.

Just follow the manufacturers

M

Heater check-up

HEATING OPTIONSElectricity: Electric fan heaters

with a thermostat are a

simple and ef cient

option, but bear in

mind that the outdoor

mains supply must be

installed by a quali ed

electrician. Electric

heaters are easier and

safer to use. They do

not produce noxious

fumes or water

vapour, so ventilation

is not required, which

helps offsets the cost

of the electricity.

Paraf n or gas: The need to ventilate

freely when burning

reduces any savings

from using these fuels.

However, they are useful

for crops grown at low

temperatures. With

paraf n heaters, you

must also remember to

trim the wick and top-

up regularly with fuel.

Bottled gas can

produce harmful fumes,

whereas natural gas

heaters need plumbing-

in professionally. Both

produce water vapour.Make sure you check your

heater is in good working

order well before it is needed

instructions where maintenance is

concerned and youll be ne. But if

youve lost the instructions, here

are the salient points to remember:

BE SAFE, NOT SORRY Avoid using or buying old heaters, as these

could be defective and may not meet the

current regulations.

All heaters must be cleaned and checked at

least annually, and should never be used in a

sealed area.

Bottled gas heaters normally have the gas

bottle stood outside for safety, and should be

installed as per the manufacturers instructions.

Paraf n and gas heaters can produce poisonous

carbon monoxide gas if poorly maintained.

Visually inspect the fan or blower wheel to

make sure it is not damaged or loose.

Check power connections and cables to

ensure they are secure and intact, with no

damage or abrasions.

Inspect a gas burner for general cleanliness.

If it is in need of cleaning, use a stiff brush but

not a wire brush.

After inspecting a gas connection, you could

turn on the gas and check for leaks using a

solution of water and soap.

HOW MUCH HEAT?TENDER PERENNIALS, such as

fuchsias just need a minimum

temperature of 5C (41F). Citrus,

conservatory climbers, cacti and

succulents bene t from a minimum

of 10C (50F).

Heating to higher temperatures

than these is much more expensive,

and you might be better off moving

plants into the house.

All Tim

e Inc.

For most people, simply insulating the glazing with

bubblewrap,to keep temperatures from plummeting to outside levels, is all that is needed. Invest in a max-min

thermometer to check the temperature.

TOP TIP

P007_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 7 23/09/2014 16:42

OW THAT most hardy deciduous

shrubs, trees and climbers are

losing their leaves and going

dormant, it is an ideal time to propagate

them from hardwood cuttings.

They will root more quickly at this time

of year since the soil is still warm from

the summers sun,.

Although a very easy method of

propagation, you will need to be patient

since it can take cuttings from 6 to 18

Your gardening

week

Philadelphus, or mock

orange, is ideal for propagation

by hardwood cuttings

Free trees and shrubsHardwood cuttings taken at this time of year are a good way to propagate shrubs. Ruth shows you how

months to root. However, you can get

more reliable results more quickly by

rooting cuttings in a coldframe.

Hardwood cuttings are less prone

to fungal infection than other types.

Many popular fast-growing,

hardy deciduous trees and shrubs,

including forsythia, kerria, leycesteria,

philadelphus, salix, spiraea and weigela,

root readily from hardwood cuttings,

but many others are worth a try.

All T

ime Inc

A small number of cuttings can be grown in a pot instead of a trench. Insert them in deep containers lled with 50:50

coarse grit and John Innes No 1. Keep in a sheltered place or unheated greenhouse until

the following autumn

TOP TIP

Insert the

cuttings

4-6in (10-

15cm) apart

along the

trench, so

that one-

third of the

cutting is

above the

surface after

rming in.

Cover with

cloches

in colder

areas. Plant

out or pot

up rooted

cuttings the

following

autumn.

Plant out

after a

further 12

months.

HARDWOOD CUTTINGSSelect a

healthy

shoot from

this years

growth of

about pencil

thickness

and make a

horizontal

cut just

below a bud.

Remove

low leaves

and buds,

and make

a second,

angled cut

above a bud

further up

the stem. Dip

each cutting

into rooting

compound.

Create a

V-shaped

trench in a

sheltered

site and

line it with

horticultural

grit or

compost,

so that it is

half- lled.


N

step by step

P008-009_AMG_OCT11.tim 8 23/09/2014 17:09

Your gardening

week

All T

ime Inc

PLANTS SUITABLE FOR HARDWOOD PROPAGATION

GARDEN FEATURES USING WILLOW Willows root so readily from hardwood cuttings that you can simply insert unprepared whippy shoots into the ground. This is a good way of creating an instant living screen, or even a living sculpture or childrens leafy igloo.

Insert the rod-like cuttings 6in (15cm) apart into well-prepared soil and rm and water well.

By angling alternate cuttings left and right, and set out in a line at 45 (pictured right), you can create an instant diamond-patterned screen, tying the crossing stems into position using soft ties.

And also: Parthenocissus (Virginia creeper), actinidia

Honeysuckle: Honeysuckle cuttings take easily from cuttings

Forsythia brings a welcome splash of yellow in early spring

Philadelphus: Beautiful white owers with a gorgeous, heady scent

And also: Morus (mulberry), vines, sweet chestnut, crab apple, elderberry

Boost garden stocks with cuttings from gooseberries and currants (fruiting and owering)

Fig: Figs are a gorgeous taste of the Mediterranean

Buddleja is great for attracting butter ies and pollinators

And also: deutzia, cornus, celastrus, kerria, laburnum, leycesteria, privet, spiraea, snowberry, tamarix, elm, viburnum, wisteria

Jasmine: Both the scented white or yellow winter jasmine will grow from cuttings

CLIMBERS:

FRUITS:

DECIDUOUS:

Hazel: Brings nuts tothe garden and can be coppiced for rewood

Rambling roses: A delicate and scented addition to any garden

P008-009_AMG_OCT11.tim 9 26/09/2014 14:11

Your gardening

week

GERMINATION AID: SOAKING AND NICKING

Sweet peas are a perennial favourite and you can sow them now for early owers. Ruth shows how

WEET PEAS are one of the

easiest and most rewarding

owers to grow from seed. By

sowing them in pots now and over-

wintering them in a coldframe, they will

be streets ahead of spring-sown plants,

producing more owers, earlier in the

year on longer-lasting plants.

However, if you live in colder parts of

the country, it is best to wait until mid-

spring to sow.

Sweet peas have large seeds that are

easy to handle and sow, making them

an ideal introduction for anyone new to

gardening, and great fun for children to

have a go with.

S

Sow now for early

blooms next summer

Sowing sweet peas

SWEET PEA seeds are bullet-hard and can

take time to germinate. To ensure good

germination, I soak mine for 24 hours then pat

them dry on kitchen paper. I nick the lighter

ones (that havent absorbed any water) with

a sharp penknife, making a very shallow

cut in the seedcoat on the opposite

side to the eye (where the shoot

will be produced).

HOW TO SOW

Following

germination,

remove covers

to prevent

the seedlings

becoming

leggy. Move

to a well-

ventilated

coldframe

over winter,

keeping them

just moist.

Sweet peas

produce

long roots,

so are best

sown in tall

narrow pots

or special root

trainers lled

with fresh

compost.

Sow seeds

-1in (2-

3cm) apart

by making

individual

holes with

the end of a

pencil, then

covering with 12in (1cm)

compost.

Label clearly

and water

thoroughly

before

covering

with a clear

plastic lid or

polythene

or glass.

Put them

on a cool

windowsill

After the sweet pea seedlings have overwintered in a coldframe, they can be

hardened off in April before being planted out in well-prepared soil. Plant 8-12in

(20-30cm) apart

TOP TIP

All Tim

e Inc

step by step

P010_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 14 23/09/2014 17:26

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New trees can die if they are planted too deep. Plant them in the

soil at the same depth as the container they are supplied in. To boost their chance of survival, check roots are not pot-bound

before planting, and make sure you water themregularly once theyre in.

TOP TIP


Tree-planting time

I have a crab apple tree and a new

pointilla shrub to plant out this autumn

REES AND shrubs give shape

and de nition to a garden and

there are myriad varieties out

there to suit every size of garden and

every type of soil.

Autumn is prime planting time for

trees and shrubs, whether for the open

garden or in a container, as the ground

is warm and there should be less need

for regular watering.

Bare-rooted and rootballed trees and

shrubs sold directly from nurseries

should be planted immediately. If that

is not possible, plant them temporarily

to keep the roots healthy, until they go

somewhere permanent.

T

Your gardening

week

Autumn is prime planting time for trees and shrubs.

Ruth shows you how and gives some aftercare tips

SITE PREPARATION Trees will not thrive where there are insuf cient soil nutrients, too much or too little water and compacted soil.

Break up heavy soil. Improve all soils by digging in extra fertiliser with lime if needed (do a pH test to check) and garden compost or well rotted manure.

Waterlogged soil will cause smaller roots to rot and die, so improve drainage. Alternatively, create a small mound approximately 10-12in (25-30cm) high and 39in (1m) in diameter and plant the tree on this.

All Tim

e Inc

P012-013_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 12 26/09/2014 14:13


AFTERCARE OF NEW TREESWatering: Water regularly young tree roots can be surrounded by dry soil even if the surface of the ground appears to be damp

Tree ties: Trees should be staked at planting and secured with tree ties. Check regularly to ensure ties do not become too tight and cut the bark.

Protection: Deer and rodents like to feast on tender young bark, so protect trees with a plastic collar, tree guards or a wire cordon

TREE-PLANTING

Remove containers or fabric wrapping (some

wrapping says it should be left on under terms

of guarantee, but normally it is taken off)

Tease out and free the roots, then dig a hole

that is no deeper than the roots, but is up to

three times the diameter of the root system

Scrape away the top layers of compost in

container-grown plants. The point where the

roots flare out should be near the soil surface

Place the plant in the planting hole. In-fill

carefully, placing soil between and around

all the roots to eliminate air pockets

Firm the soil gently, avoiding compaction. Weed

regularly. Mulch the soil leaving a 3in (7.5cm)

space around the trunk to help avoid trunk rot

Break up any compacted soil at the sides and

base of the hole to prevent waterlogging and

give the roots a chance to spread

Your gardening

week

Plant out spring cabbages but make sure they are netted to protect them from attacks by marauding pigeons!

If you stored apples and pears, check the fruit now and discard any that are over-ripe or rotten

Lift the corms of gladioli, dahlias and begonias and store them somewhere cool and dry over the winter months

THREE THINGS TO DO NOW

step by step

P012-013_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 13 24/09/2014 10:27

I leave fruits on the plant for

as long as possible so they

accumulate the maximum

amount of sugar from the

leaves, but watch the

weather. If hard frost

threatens, or a prolonged

cold, damp and dull spell sets

in, I bring the fruits inside.

It is tempting to use their

stalks as handles, but if these

break they give entry points

for disease. I cut off the fruits

with secateurs, leaving each

with an inch of vine either

side of its stalk, and then pick

them up from the base and

UMPKINS HAVE a

month of fame, with

show bench prizes and

Halloween lanterns, but my

winter squashes will be stars

of the kitchen from now right

through to the end of March.

I dont grow them to giant

proportions they are often

watery and tasteless but

instead I choose smaller

squashes with dense,

smooth, sweet flesh.

These, I find, are delicious


Pumpkins and squashesFollow my harvesting and storing advice, says Sue Stickland

Your gardening

week

My Crown Prince pumpkin which,

along with self-seeded nasturtiums,

took over the maturing compost heap.

(inset) The orange Wee-B-Little

Leave fruits on the plant for as long as possible

Leave fruits on the

plants until their skins

have started to turn colour

and harden.

When the leaves have

begun to die back, or if

hard frost threatens, bring

the fruits in to a warm,

sunny place for a few weeks

to nish ripening. Partly

mature fruit may continue

to ripen fully, but not

immature green ones.

HARVESTING

WINTER SQUASHES

P

SUE STICKLAND is a quali ed gardener and widely published gardening writer

sliced and roasted, or stuffed

and baked. They also make a

simple but wonderfully rich

winter soup.

Finding space for the

sprawling plants can be a bit

of a problem, but there are

ways of fitting them in. This

year I have had the small-

fruited Wee-B-Little

climbing up the fence; the

medium-sized Green

Hokkaido trailing amongst

the sweetcorn; and the

vigorous Crown Prince

taking over a maturing

compost heap.

You can tell when the fruits

are ripe because the skin

changes colour either

dramatically to orange like

my Wee-B-Little, or more

subtly like my Crown Prince,

which turn from pale green to

steely grey. The skin also

hardens and loses its gloss.

Bo

th S

ue S

tickla

nd

/Tim

eIn

c

Tim

e Inc

To harvest leave the stalk with

a short bit of vine each side

Store squashes in a relatively

warm, dry place; a

temperature of 50-60F (10-

15C) is said to be ideal, but I

nd a slightly warmer one is

ne. Some varieties will keep

for up to six months.

put them in a dry, sunny place.

Small squashes look

attractive lined out on a

south-facing windowsill

indoors, or along the bench

of a well-ventilated

greenhouse or porch. Left for

a few weeks they will finish

ripening, and any wounds in

the skin will heal and harden.

For long term storage they

then need somewhere cooler,

but not cold. Unlike onions

and root vegetables, squash

are better off in a cool place

in the house in a spare

room, in the hallway or

ranged up the stairs rather

than in a shed. As a reminder

of the tasty winter dishes to

come, it is worth welcoming

these colourful guests.

Tim

e Inc

P014_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 14 26/09/2014 14:14

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New-look houseplantsNovel ways to display house plants are the way forward, says Peter Seabrook

ISITING AN of ce

recently, I noticed a

shiny leaved rubber

plant (Ficus elastica) growing

in a 5in (13cm) pot. In the

1950s and 60s pretty well

every house and of ce had

one; competitions were even

held to see who had the

tallest. I remember seeing

aged plants in room corners

that reached the ceiling, and

then turned at right angles to

continue their journey to the

light. Then, bit by bit, these

plants fell right out of fashion.

However, I have recently

noticed trays of them on sale

in supermarkets. What goes

around comes around!

Im reminded of the days we

imported van-loads of them

from Belgian growers. Our

van was driven to Southend,

hydraulically lifted into the

front of a cargo aeroplane,

own to Ostend, driven to the

nursery, loaded with rubber

plants, and then own back.

Every plant had the leaves

folded up vertically and

wrapped in newspaper, then

Magnetic pot covers are available for mounting houseplants on tovertical metal surfaces

stacked pot-on-pot so when

we opened the van doors we

were faced with a wall of

pots. Then a diligent customs

of cer at Southend asked for

every plant to be of oaded

and unwrapped for a

contraband inspection!

It was impossible to rewrap

them as the Belgians had

done, and we had to make

three journeys to collect just

the one van load!

The Belgians did a similar

thing with gloxinias; they

would hold a big, eshy leaf

in the palms of both hands,

twist the so-succulent stem

through 180 and then fold it

upright. Again, all the leaves

were held upright with

newspaper. I have tried this

with the long stem on a leaf

SEE OUR

PETER EVERY

SATURDAY IN

THE SUN

V

Offices without foliage

look bleakPETER SEABROOK is a gardening expert and formerpresenter of Gardeners World

PETERS TOP TIPS

of Begonia rex and it works

equally well.

Twisting the stem applies

the pressure all the way

up; just bending puts

pressure at one point and the

stem snaps.

Research tells us that

having green leaves in rooms

and of ces improves our

health, and I must say of ces

without foliage look pretty

bleak to me.

The sharp green leaves of

rubber plants suit the

modern minimalist furnishing

style; indeed, all those foliage

houseplants from the sixties

Tim

eInc

are pretty appropriate to

todays styles.

At a recent trade show I saw

brightly-coloured square and

round pot covers with a

magnetic strip that allowed

them to be clamped to any

metal surface; rather like a

fridge magnet. They were

being displayed with air

plants, some within a picture

frame to hang on the wall like

a work of art. I rather hope

such ideas will catch on.

Magnetic pot covers sold under the Kala Mitica UK brand

PJS

PJS

A variegated rubber plant are these staging a comeback?

Be careful handling Ficus elastica leaves; if they are cracked, white sap emerges and brown spots result. 1

Stop small-leaved cus losing leaves; water, then allow to dry to just damp before watering again.2

3Plants still actively growing will need feeding in winter diluting to half-strength works well.

4Flowering plants, such as cyclamen, are better on windowsills in the day from now on, to get best light.

5

Now days are shortening, plant growth rates will slow so watering will be needed less frequently.

Your gardening

week

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P017_AMG_OCT4.tim.indd 17 19/09/2014 13:31


eAsk theAsk the experts

Ask thetheAsk theAsk thethe experts

Que tions answered!

ANNA TOEMAN

has 20 years

experience working

in historic gardens

JOHN NEGUS

trained at the RHS

and is a specialist

garden writer

DR JANE BINGHAM

has a plant science

PhD and a MSc in

plant ecology

AMoles can be a frustration! They are very

timid creatures, but despite this they can be

dif cult to discourage.

Mothballs have long been a traditional remedy

and are worth trying. A single mothball dropped

into each tunnel should ll the subterranean

network with its overpowering smell.

Moles are also thought to be deterred by noisy

vibrations, so using ultrasonic scarers or even

a childs spinning windmill pushed into a fresh

molehill may do the trick. There are also mole-

repellent smokes, such as Pest-Stop Biofume

Mole Smoke, that are said to be effective.

If all else fails, you could hire a professional

contractor to eliminate them, but the relief may

be short-lived as moles from nearby infested

areas may well re-colonise your garden.

ANNA TOEMAN

QI have a problem with moles digging up my lovely lawn. Im

told that mothballs will deter them. Is this true?Ben Gordon, Mill Hill, London

0843 168 0200*

AG ExpertppAG Expert

ehotlhotlinepp

hotlineCall weekdays f om 12-1pm

*Calls cost 5p per minute from a BT landline, call costs from other networks may be higher.

Jill T. from Stockport

woke up in May to

nd her gooseberry

stripped of leaves. It

was due to an attack

of saw y. In 2015

she should spray

with Bug Clear

Gun for Fruit &

Veg a week

earlier than

when it

happened

this year.

LET US HELP YOU!

AIf your soil drains freely,

dahlias can survive

outdoors in the soil. Just cut

them back to 9in (23cm)

from the base and cover

with 6in (15cm) of leafmould,

well-rotted garden compost

or autumn leaves held in

place with netting, to

insulate against frost.

However, if your soil

remains wet in winter, it

would be best to lift your

All Tim

eInc unless credited

QI have been delighted with my Dark Night dahlias this year. Can you please

tell me how to overwinter them successfully?Barry Flemming, Nottingham

plants as soon as frost

blackens the foliage. First,

cut back the main stems on

each plant to 9in (23cm),

then lift the roots using a

garden spade or fork. Shake

off most of the soil from the

roots and pack them into

boxes, pushing just-moist

compost in between. Place in

a frost-free shed, garage or

greenhouse for the winter.

JOHN NEGUS

Store dahlia tubers

dry over winter

Cute they may be, but moles

can wreak havoc in a lawn

Shutterstock

P018-020_AMG_OCT11.tim 18 24/09/2014 17:09


YEAR-ROUND

BORDERS

Q I want to plant up a south-facing border in partial-shade, but using plants that offer year-round interest. What do you suggest?Mark Westward,

Sutton, Surrey

AIt is possible to create

even quite a small

border with year-round

colour or features just

combine well-behaved

perennials and shrubs that

offer more than one season

of interest.

Choosing problem-free

plants that perform for

months rather than a few

weeks will make your job a

lot easier. Aim to have at

least one-third evergreen

plants to provide structure

and background interest

through the winter months.

Bear in mind the colour,

shape, texture and eventual

size of each plant when

putting combinations

together. Also, if you are

walking past or sitting near

the border, it can be very

desirable to add a few

scented plants to your list.

Use pictures online or in

magazines/books to help

you visualise how different

plant combinations will

work together.

I always draw out a new

border on paper, as much

to scale as possible, and

then choose plants for the

five seasons of interest:

i) spring, ii) early summer,

iii) late summer, iv) autumn

and v) winter.

You could create a

visually stimulating feature

of perennials and small

shrubs by planting the ones

on this page (right):

JOHN NEGUS

Bergenia Bressingham White

All T

imeIn

c u

nle

ss c

red

ited

SPRING

Skimmia reevesiana

Cytisus Burkwoodii

Gra

ham

Cla

rke

EARLY SUMMER

Wik

imed

ia

Ceanothus Blue Mound

Potentilla Yellow Queen

LATE SUMMER

Convolvulus cneorum

Aster (Michaelmas daisy)

AUTUMN

Ceratostigma willmottianum

Helleborus orientalis

WINTER

Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire

P018-020_AMG_OCT11.tim 19 24/09/2014 17:09


Ask theexpertsAsk thetheAsk the

experts

AChicken wire is useful

for supporting and

protecting plants all around

the garden. I use it to help

self-clinging annual climbers

with lightweight foliage.

Also, it makes an ideal

support for peas and beans,

or even climbing cucumbers

and squashes, when held by

stout poles at the ends. If

rodents are a problem, you

can protect potted bulbs or

fresh sown seed by placing

wire over the top. Local cats

can also be prevented form

disturbing soil in the spring

after seed sowing, by laying

chicken wire over the

seedbed. I sometimes use it

to make tubes, which I place

over plants to support them,

allowing the foliage to grow

through and hide the wire.

AIt is possible to lift and

divide clump-forming

herbaceous plants, such as

your persicaria, now. Use a

border spade to loosen and

lift the rootball onto a sheet

of polythene on the lawn or

patio, so you have room to

work. Then slice the clump

into chunky, well-budded

and rooted portions,

discarding the woody and

exhausted central portion.

Replant each portion

in well-prepared soil

thats been enriched with

bonemeal or similar organic

fertiliser that will break

down over winter into root-

promoting phosphates that

speed growth in spring.

JOHN NEGUS

AI suspect that by

feeding with a

high-nitrogen

chicken pellet

fertiliser you have

encouraged your

plants to produce a

lot of vigorous green

growth at the

expense of edible

tubers. Next year, try

planting the tubers in

fresh multipurpose

compost and feed

with special organic

Vitax Potato fertiliser

that will encourage

good root and tuber

development.

JOHN NEGUS

Problem solverChri ine Walkdens

AG on Go to facebook.com, create a free account if needs be, search for Amateur Gardening and

youre ready to join in the chat!

Problem solverProblem solver

Versatile chicken wire is ideal for protecting

and supporting plants around the garden

SEE OUR

CHRISTINE

ON THE ONE

SHOW, BBC 1

QCan you please tell me how to divide a large clump of Persicaria Red Dragon?

Roger Fender, Shef eld, Yorkshire

Q I use chicken wire to keep leaves out of ponds. What else can it be used for?Diana Farr, Bristol

QHelp! I have tried to grow potatoes in containers, but I got tiny crops. I kept

them well fed with organic poultry manure and home-made comfrey fertiliser.Jenny Pulman, Salisbury, Wiltshire

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DIANA HUDSON What do the terms species and sports in plants mean? Are species the originals?

DR JANE BINGHAM Yes. Species can hybridise naturally to form new varieties; man-made crosses are new cultivars. Sport is a genetic mutation, which may have arisen spontaneously, or it may have been caused by a virus infection. If a sport is attractive and can be reliably reproduced, it can become a new cultivar.

Tim

eIn

c

Lift and divide persicarias now

Potatoes in containers should

produce good results if fed properly

P018-020_AMG_OCT11.tim 20 26/09/2014 14:16


Pots help to set the scenePlants in pots provide a moveable feast of colour in the darker months says Anne

CONTAINER

PLANTINGS for the

autumn to spring

period are well

worth the effort, and more

challenging than summer

containers on the basis that

they tend to sit tight and

dont grow much until spring

and theres less choice of

material. Each is like a

miniature landscape and they

are moveable, so great for

scene setting.

Practicalities first, you need

frost proof containers, plenty

of crocking over the holes

(make sure they are convex

to let water but not soil

escape) and good, well-

draining compost (50:50

John Innes no 2 and a soilless

multi-purpose mixed 4 : 1

with cornish grit).

If decent compost is left

behind from summer, do

re-use it but mix in some

controlled release fertilizer

and avoid repeating plants

from the same family.

When shopping for plants I

tend to stay local and not be

too prescriptive in other

words, Ill keep an open mind

and spend maybe 20-30 on

whatever small plants, shrubs

and bulbs take my fancy.

Shrubs can be expensive so if

I invest, they must be able to

go into borders afterwards.

These need to be frost proof

too, so avoid tempting

evergreens like prostanthera

and coprosma in colder

regions unless they can be

moved into a porch or

covered with fleece during

freezing spells.

HARDY STOCK

Solanums (winter cherry)

have proved hardy here and

in dads garden we have

mature shrubby plants

covered in orange berries to

prove it. The stock came from

Kent 12 years ago and has

seeded itself around.

For tall containers, a flat top

of flowering plants with bulbs

beneath works well but I do

like an evergreen, so set

silvery-leaved, wind tolerant

daisy bush (Olearia x haastii)

in the middle with an under-

planting of viola and white

tulips. Always soak dry

container plants in a bucket

of water before potting and

water in well after planting.

Out in the borders, the

original evergreen red hot

poker Kniphofia caulescens

has 10 flower spikes out. Its

offspring (raised from seed)

each have one and will be a

fine sight when they all reach

a good size.

Mandevilla grows fast from

late summer onwards and

ours is putting on a good late

show of bloom. I unwound its

spiralling shoots from

neighbouring tomatoes in the

greenhouse and transferred it

to the porch where it can

stay, frost free all winter.

When shopping for plants I tend to stay local

AGs Family Gardener

AnnewithinbankwithinbankAnne

Swithinbank

LISTEN TO OUR ANNE ON RADIO 4'S GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME

Ph

oto

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ph

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ban

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PLANTING A TROUGH FOR AUTUMN TO SPRING

Step by step

P022-024_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 22 25/09/2014 15:57

11 OCTOBER 2014 AmAteur GArDeNING 23

tulip bulbs are added around

a daisy bush in a large planter

red hot poker Kniphofa caulescens is

resplendent this year with 10 fower spikes

mandevilla require a

cool but frost-free

winter with water

given only sparingly.

Prune to tidy up in

autumn or spring.

this bowl is just right for the

evergreen or semi-evergreen hardy fern

maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium

trichomanes). Luckily, I have a good

stock of Iris reticulata already

growing in pots from previous years,

so tucked these around the outside.

r

I put plenty of crocks over the drainage holes and then a good, well-drained compost so water cant sit in the pot

the solanums are added frst, then violas arranged around them. Add or take soil from under plans so they sit at the right level

Bulbs of Narcissus minnow were added between the plants before compost was trickled in to fll gaps

P022-024_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 23 25/09/2014 15:57

Eat corn quickly

ON A roll with

containers, I

couldnt stop and

decided to plant

up a wooden crate with

some lettuce and herbs.

Even hardy lettuce like these

August-sown Marvel of The

Four Seasons will frequently

die off during severe cold

and snow, yet leaves grown

outside seem to have better

flavour than identical plants

grown under glass.

Having some in a crate

means I can move them in if

the weather turns bad. The

wooden crate has wide gaps

round the sides, so a lining of

hessian will stop compost

from leaking out. Shingle in

the base encourages water

to trickle out and escape.

Putting compost in whilst

holding hessian up around

the sides was fiddly but

eventually the lettuces were

in place.

I dug a couple of mint roots

and decided to add these in

the middle, along with some

marjoram, which had sown

itself into a pot on the patio.

The lettuces will be

harvested by the leaf from

the outside to maximise

production and also stop

them from growing too large

at these close spacings.

SOWING SUCCESS

An Indian summer meant the

runners sown in early July

managed to crop before the

weather turned too cold.

Here in the Axe valley cool,

dewy nights start quite early

so we were lucky. I wont sow

so late again and will keep

the middle of June as a cut

off point.

A second sowing of sweet

corn made mid-May of the

variety Incredible have

delivered sweet, succulent

cobs. When you have a good

batch of plants, harvest and

eat them the minute the

cobs are ready, even if the

corn is still slightly pale. This

way youll enjoy them at their

best before the corn swells

fully, when it turns bright

Annes sweet corn Incredible is certainly living up to its name

yellow, looses its sweetness

and needs so much chewing

your jaws lose the will to live.

FLAVOURFUL CUCUMBERS

The last few cucumbers are

ripening and weve had great

compliments from visitors

amazed by the appearance,

texture and taste of the

outdoor variety

Marketmore. The slightly

bristly fruits are full of

character, with a distinct,

cucumbery flavour. I am still

determined to pickle the

final few and have been

looking out recipes involving

mustard seed, vinegar, garlic

and possibly dill.

This has to be evening

work now, because daylight

must be used for essential

clearing, bed defining and

mulching. The race is on to

get as much as possible

done before saturated soil

stops play.

An 'sAnne'sAnne'sKitchen GardenAnne'snAnne'sAnne'snnKitchen Garden

Im still harvesting tasty cobs of

sweetcorn. By eating the rst cobs

promptly, well get through all of

these with no waste.

Cucumber Marketmore has

been productive and tasty


PLANTING LETTUCE IN A CRATE

The crate is lined with hessian or

polythene, a layer of shingle

helps the compost drain

Arrange lettuce over the top but

then add any extras like mint and

marjoram in the middle.

Use a trowel to plant the lettuce

and water everything in using a

rose (sprinkler) on the can

Step by step

P022-024_AMG_OCT11.tim.indd 24 26/09/2014 14:19

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RADIO gardening

Q&A went to pot

when a gardener

was told that the

mystery plant growing in her

garden was cannabis.

Grandmother Patricia

Hewitson, 65, of Exmouth in

Devon, emailed photos of the

large 5ft (1.5m) plant to her

favourite BBC show, ironically

called The Potting Shed.

But Patricia was left stunned

when gardening experts said

the weed was cannabis,

and told her that the

images had been

sent to the police.

Luckily Sarah

Chesters and

Pippa Quelch,

presenters of the

BBC Radio Devon

show, explained that

of cers had assured them she

would not be in trouble.

Patricia said: It was the size

of a petunia at rst, with only

four leaves. I watched it grow

until it was as tall as me.

As it got bigger I got

nervous because it was

BBC EXPERTS IDENTIFY PLANT AS CANNABIS

Pot plant hopes go up in smoke

Living legacies to honour Britains war dead

starting to look suspicious, so

I decided to contact The

Potting Shed for help. They

said it was cannabis and

advised me on how to

dispose of it.

PROSECUTED

Patricia said she did not mind

that the BBC presenters had

sent her photos to the police,

but added it had put her

mind to rest now that she

knew she would not be

prosecuted.

Patricia and

husband John,

a retired marine

biologist, wanted

advice on the leafy

bush that was

taking over the

garden and giving off

a sickly sweet pong.

They rst noticed the plant

sprouting in one of their

ower beds in July.

Patricia thinks it grew from a

rogue seed in a bag of bird

food. The plant has now been

destroyed (circled) on advice

from the police.

Award winning

NewsNews Got a story? call 01202 440848or email [email protected] a story? call 01202 440848 or email [email protected]

A


Sgt Ryan Canning of Devon

and Cornwall Police said that

of cers were taking no further

action. He said: If you come

into possession of an illegal

drug such as cannabis, you

It was givingoff a sickly

sweet pong

must either destroy it or take

it to a police of cer.

The lady has committed an

offence, although there are

mitigating circumstances, so

we will not take it further.

GAP

SWNS

GARDENERS ARE being called on to

plant a living legacy for those who

fought and died in the First World War.

The Royal British Legion is

working with Ashridge Nurseries

in a bid to encourage the public

to plant trees, shrubs and

roses in their garden or at a

place thats special to their

family or community.

Called the Centenary

Gardens project, over 100 trees

and plants are available online to

buy and plant with a minimum of 50

per cent of pro ts going to the Legion,

the national custodian of remembrance.

A website (see end of story) will offer

fruit trees such as apple Arthur Turner

(from 20) and the Remembrance Rose

(pictured, left) from 6.50.

Legion head of remembrance, Dr

Stephen Clarke, said: The idea

of planting a living legacy in

commemoration of those who

died in the First World War

brings to life the notion of

passing on the torch of

remembrance to the next

generation. Living tributes last

for decades, or hundreds of years.

Orders can be placed at centenary

gardens.co.uk over the next four years,

for planting throughout

commemorations of the Great War.

Cutting the grass: Patricia was ordered to

chop the rogue cannabis plant down

Wikimedia

P026-027_AMG_OCT11.tim 26 29/09/2014 11:31


It wont keep until Valentines day GARDENERS QUESTION TIMEBOB FLOWERDEW, Anne Swithinbank and Matthew Wilson

join Peter Gibbs in Kent. Tune in

to BBC Radio 4 at 3pm on Friday

10 October (repeated at 2pm on

Sunday 12 October)

KEEN VEGETABLE grower

Rod Matless loves his

tomatoes so much so that

one of his plants has

produced a perfect heart-

shaped fruit.

Rod auctioned the tomato,

which he grew in his Norwich

greenhouse, to raise cash for

the British Heart Foundation.

The magni cent 2.26oz

(64g) fruit sold on eBay for

16. Rod, 69, wanted to

support the charity after

suffering a heart attack a few

years ago.

Rod said his pride and joy

tomato, of which the variety is

unknown, had gone to a

woman in Wales who aims to

give it to someone special.

VERY SWEET

He said: It was a bit of an

obvious thing to do I suppose.

I spent a couple of days

thinking about it, but it

seemed like a good use.

I hope it will do someone a

bit of a good.

The retired dagger-maker

added: Its very sweet

Prize-winning runnersTrevor Brooks, a local at The

Carpenters Arms in Soham,

won DT Browns National Pub

Challenge by growing a 17.7in

(45cm) long runner bean

Enorma. The firm challenged

drinkers across the UK to see

who could grow the longest

pod. A press challenge was

won by AGs Peter Seabrook

with a 14.6in (37cm) bean.

A BLOOMIN BAD WEEK

A BLOOMIN GOOD WEEK

whenever people see it they

just want to hug it.

But with the

tomatos freshness

a key factor,

enthusiastic

gardener Rod was

up against the clock.

I didnt want to

send someone

something horrible. I

probably could have raised

Climate campaignersFriends of the

Earth (FoE) has

slammed a new

outdoor heater by

Bromic. The 1,350

Tungsten Smart Heat

Portable Heater,

claims to have seven

times the output of

traditional patio

heaters. FoEs

policy and

campaigns

director, Craig

Bennett, said:

It would seem

that parts of the

garden industry

have planted

their heads in

the ground.

THE FIRST stage of a 6.7million project that

aims to uncover and restore historic landscape

at the National Botanic Garden of Wales has

been given the go-ahead.

Experts plan to bring to life the origins of

Middleton Hall the 568-acre estate occupied

a bit more money with more

time but I was worried about

it, he said.

It will certainly

make a nice

present for a loved

one. I hope that

they like it and Im

glad I got to help.

Its all been good fun

and I enjoyed growing

this special tomato.

by the garden, in a bid to reveal secrets from

the time of Shakespeare and before.

It will see the restoration of Regency

landscape, including seven lakes, cascades,

and waterfalls created over 200 years ago.

FINEST WATER PARKS

The Regency landscape, it is claimed, was

once one of the nest water parks in the UK.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has pledged more

than 300,000 to get the project underway.

Welsh botanic garden director Dr Rosie

Plummer said: It is an ambitious project and

the most signi cant undertaking since the

garden opened in 2000.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales has

received over 2.2million visitors in 14 years and

features a single-span Great Glasshouse that

was designed by Lord Norman Foster.

Go to gardenofwales.org.uk for visiting

details and more information.

NEW LOOK FOR GARDEN CENTRE

Notcutts re-opened its Wheatcroft

Garden Centre in Nottingham after a

1.5million refit. It now includes a new

restaurant and gift department.

GARDENING BEHIND BARS

HMP Maidstone in Kent won the RHS

Windlesham Trophy, awarded to the

best prison garden in England and

Wales. It last won the gong in 1991.

NewsNews

RHS

Notcutts

Both Archant

Botanics 6.7m treasure hunt

Rods tomato was a

perfect heart shape

DT Brown

Digging deep: The National

Botanic Garden of Wales

Tim

e inc

Bromic

P026-027_AMG_OCT11.tim 27 29/09/2014 11:33

Top 10 new gardening products for 2015

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From a control for box blight to boosters for your tomato plants, theres a host of

innovative products heading to garden centres for the new season. Marc Rosenberg

visited the GLEE trade show in Birmingham to

nd out what will be in stores in the New Year

Seramis orchid care rangeORCHID CARE brand Seramis is big in

Germany, but hasnt been seen in the

UK for a decade. Now, due to the rising

popularity of orchids, itll be back next

year. The line-up is set to include

Seramis Orchid Potting Mix, a range of

clay granules and pine bark designed

to absorb and release nutrients where

the orchid needs it.

Seramis Orchid Feed and Seramis

Revitalising Leaf Spray, will be

introduced to the UK, too.

Jacks Magic Garden FertiliserJACKS MAGIC, the peat-based

compost brand, will be

expanded for 2015 to include a

new Jacks Magic Garden

Fertiliser. Its a low-dust granular

feed to give flowers, shrubs and

vegetables a boost (NPK 6-8-12)

and is enriched with seaweed, a

natural growth stimulant.

The product is said to

strengthen roots and result in

bigger and better flowers and

veg. Available in a box and tub.

RRP: 4.99 for a 1.75kg box or

11.99 for a 3.5kg tub.

Miracle-Gro Magic StartA HANDFUL in a

planting hole thats

the golden rule for

how to use this new

mix of feed and

compost. It aims to

give plants a better

start in life by

feeding for up to six

months. Claimed to

promote strong root

growth, its

recommended for

problem soils such

as heavy clay or

light, sandy soils, or

areas that are low in

nutrients. A pack

with an RRP of

6.99 is sufficient

to treat 15 plants.

Fungus Fighter PlusTHERES BEEN no control

for box blight, which has

ravaged plants across the

UK, until now. Bayers new

Fungus Fighter Plus contains two

active ingredients (tebuconazole

and Trifloxystrobin) which can

beat the blight and control

other diseases of plants

and roses, like blackspot,

mildew, rust and leaf spot.

Its a contact and

systemic spray that can

be used in gardens,

greenhouses,

conservatories or in the

home, with a maximum of

six applications per year.

RRP: 6.50.

P028-029_AMG_OCT11.tim 28 26/09/2014 14:22


Vital Earth Chelsea MixA NEW brand of peat-free

compost containing recycled

green waste and blended

horticultural bark. Its likely to only

be available from April to June

(around the time of Chelsea

Flower Show, although it has no

connection to the RHS).

A spokesman for Vital Earth said

the compost, which will come in

50-litre bags priced at 5.99 or

two for 10, outperformed all our

peat-free and peat-based

composts in trials.

Plant Magic PlusA NEW range of organic feeds

but what makes them different

is that they are a food source

for friendly microbes that

live in soil and compost.

By feeding microbes,

its claimed, they

increase in numbers,

giving plants more

minerals, vitamins,

nitrogen and amino

acids. There are five

products in the range,

for salads, veg,

tomatoes, strawberries

and chilies. Products

have a RRP 7.99 each.

After Moss Lawn SeedTHIS NEW dwarf

perennial ryegrass mix

claims to be unique

because it has been

designed to deter the

return of moss.

Seed is coated in a

calcium carbonate-

based anti-moss shell

that gently raises the

pH of the soil, creating

an inhospitable

environment for moss,

thereby allowing new

grass to establish

unhindered.

Seed will be available

in 1kg cartons with a

RRP of 9.99.

Empathy Tomato StarterBEFORE PUTTING a

tomato plant in a growing

bag, place a Tomato

Starter biscuit in the base

of the hole, then plant as

normal. The biscuit is

peat-free, formed from

compressed coir fibre, and

swells up to five times its

original size.

Biscuits are claimed to

steadily release nutrients

and trace elements for up

to four months, while

water-retaining crystals

prevent compost from

drying out. It also contains

Rootgrow mycorrhizal

fungi. RRP: 5.99 for a pack

of 20 biscuits.

Neudorff mycorrhiza rangeNEUDORFF, THE German

organics giant, has three new

mycorrhiza products to launch in

the UK in 2015. Mycorrhiza Root

Enlarger (RRP: 5.49) claims to

increase the size of a plants

root system by up to 150 times.

Plus, theres Mycorrhiza Root

Enlarger Soluble (RRP: 6.99)

and Mycorrhiza Root Enlarger

Ericaceous (RRP: 6.99) for

acid-lovers such as

rhododendrons, blueberries and

heather. The products claim to

promote vigorous growth and

strengthen plants against pests

and diseases.

Gro-Sure Tomato Gro-PackA MINI-GROWING bag for just one tomato plant! Aimed at first-time

gardeners, or people who only have space for one tomato plant on a

small patio or balcony. Its

extra-deep design is said

to promote stronger

roots and lead to

heavier crops.

The Gro-Pack can

also be used for crops

such as chilli and

sweet peppers. And

its compost

contains six weeks

of plant food, too.

RRP: 3.99.

P028-029_AMG_OCT11.tim 29 26/09/2014 14:22

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