Innholdsfortegnelse for 14-Mar-2020 i Amateur Gardening

Coming up roses: The leaf buds are bursting and leaflets unfurling, so now is the time to get your roses ready for their summer show. In next week’s AG, I show you how. Top Tip Cut back and compost last year’s dead perennial stems that you left in winter to make room for new growth. Leave more tender penstemons alone for another few weeks.…

IF your pond is one of the lucky ones that’s bubbling over with frogspawn, tadpoles and adult frogs, then lucky you! We are still waiting for amphibious visitors to show an interest in our pond (which we only put in last year, so I must be patient), but there is still plenty to do. Start by removing any plant debris, such as dead leaves, that has fallen or been blown into the pond. Do this sooner rather than later, before the water warms up enough to prompt decomposition. Take care when removing debris if you have tadpoles or spawn in the pond, as they should be disturbed as little as possible. Cut back the mangled and dead plant material growing in the margins around the edge of the pond. This…

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

MANY years ago, a lady asked me why her beetroot were so miserable. Apparently, she’d grown really nice beets in the past, but now she wondered whether her soil was infected or impoverished as her crops were small and spindly, with many bolted. I asked how large she wanted her beets and she replied: “Like tennis balls!” Then I asked how close she sowed – it turned out she was sowing the seed too close together at an inch apart. Now this is bad practice with many crops, but especially the beet family, as their seeds naturally come in capsules of several. Not much of a problem if these clumps are then well spaced, but when sown closely the several in the same place just competed and checked each other.…

■ Pre-warm soil: This is useful in spring, as warmer soils can be planted up sooner. Place in position for seven-10 days, using glass or twin-walled polycarbonate cloches, as these are the most insulating types; see ‘Making a stale seedbed’ opposite. Opt for a sunny, sheltered spot. ■ Harden off crops: Bypass conventional hardening-off. Instead of bringing transplants in and out of a greenhouse for a fortnight, plant them straight under cloches (use glass or polycarbonate), cloaking also in fleece initially if in full sun. ■ Protect against pests: Mesh, polythene or fleece cloches are ideal, as insulation isn’t the goal. Many aerial pests (such as whitefly, root flies, leaf miners, caterpillars) can organically be excluded from your vulnerable crops using tunnel cloches.…

WHILE we’re all familiar with how to start off the potato, in recent years we’ve been searching for less blight-prone, more unusual crops. Seed companies have obliged by selling us oca, yacon, dahlia, sweet potato and Chinese artichoke. They have a long growing season so if you have a heated greenhouse, start them off now; if you haven’t, wait until mid-April. If you’ve got healthy tubers from last year, use these – otherwise, wait for garden centres and mail order specialists to make their spring stock available. Oca and Chinese artichoke tubers can be planted 5in (12cm) deep in pots of multi-purpose compost for planting outside in May. Yacon and dahlias can also be started off in pots; you’ll need larger containers for these sizeable crops. Sweet potato tubers, too,…

WHILE lettuce is the backbone for most salads, we often get the urge to add spikes of flavour to this buttery crunch, and this is where Anise hyssop comes into its own. Known botanically as Agastache foeniculum, the flavour of the young leaves hints deliciously (as you might expect from the species name) of aniseed – though there’s some mint, liquorice and lemon in the mix, too. Microleaves, too, can be scattered in salads and added as a garnish to fish and poultry dishes. Seeds can be sown now in seed trays, and placed in a warm (20°C/68°F) propagator; don’t cover over the seeds as light aids good germination. Seedling emergence can take two-three weeks, so be patient. Alternatively, buy potted plants of this hardy perennial (which is an excellent…

WHILE some shrubs are pruned hard to produce winter stems, others can be given similar treatment to encourage more eye-catching foliage. The Indian bean tree (Catalpa bignonioides), Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum), foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa) and others will respond by developing leaves that are much larger than on plants left unpruned. The usual techniques for tackling these plants are pollarding and stooling, which should be carried out between late winter and early spring, before leaves appear. To stool plants, cut back stems to within (2-3in) 5-8cm of the ground. If grown as a pollard (a clear stem with shoots on top), cut back shoots to within (2-3in) 5-8cm of the permanent trunk.…

Alstroemeria ‘Inca Smile’ A finalist in Chelsea Plant of The Year in 2019, large blooms to 3in (8cm) wide are white and yellow, with pink flushes and dark markings. Reaches 14in (35cm) and hardy to -7ºC (19ºF) or more when mulched. A. ‘Sweet Laura’ This tall-grower reaching 33in (85cm) opens shapely, lightly fragrant flowers of rich buttercup-yellow, blushed with red and flecked brown. Very hardy, it withstands lows of -4º to 5ºF (-20º to -15ºC). A. Inticancha Indigo A stunning low-growing cultivar with purple blooms bearing white and maroon markings. Reaches 12-16in (30-40cm) and withstands temperatures of 14-23ºF (-10 to -5ºC). A. New Tree Everest Mix If you are after a tall column of alstroemerias for cutting, this richly coloured mixture whose stems top 55in (1.4m) is sure to fit…

Look for self-seeders Why sow seeds when your plants can do the work for you? The likes of aquilegia, Verbena bonariensis, foxgloves and love-in-a-mist all self-seed – although their offspring may not always be identical to the parents. Avoid thugs like Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, which are hard to remove; instead stick to spreaders that are effortless to pull up if required, such as sisyrinchium (above) and Geranium macrorrhizum. Get to know your soil You can take a lot of the hassle out of keeping plants healthy simply by ensuring they are suited to the conditions you’re growing them in – and key to this is the soil. A DIY soil testing kit will tell you whether your soil is alkaline, neutral or acid, while plant labels will indicate the…

Hedera helix ‘Buttercup’ AGM A golden ivy that provides nectar-rich autumn flowers for bees, especially the ivy bee. Plant in alkaline-to-neutral soil, in sun (for yellow leaves) or in semi-shade (for lime-gold leaves). H: 8ft (2½m). Pyracantha coccinea ‘Red Star’ This exciting new wall shrub features long-lasting red berries and has fewer thorns than regular pyracantha; there’s also a plentiful supply of nectar-rich blossom for bees in May and June. Sun or semi-shade. H: 10ft (3m). Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’ AGM Blooms in the depths of winter, making it a life saver for winter foraging bees, while also providing evergreen cover for birds. Plant in alkaline-to-neutral soil, in sheltered sun or semi-shade. H: 13ft (4m). Ceanothus ‘Autumnal Blue’ AGM This California lilac can be grown as an evergreen wall…

BUY a nesting box made from untreated wood and attach securely to the trellis or wall that your climber is growing up. Birds are looking for nests now, in early spring – so do it soon! The optimum height will vary for different birds: Blue tits: Both blue tits and great tits like boxes to be 61∕2-13ft (2-4m) above the ground, with a direct flight line into the entrance hole. For ease of access, clear the climber’s vegetation around the box. Robins: To attract robins and wrens, your bird box needs to be below 61∕2ft (2m) high, and well hidden within the climber’s vegetation.…

Fritillaria pontica AGM The typical bell-shaped flowers of this short fritillary are marked with green and brown. Happy in a sunny spot but can tolerate partial shade. Less showy than its Asian cousins, it will self-seed once established. H: 10in (25cm). F. elwesii Small and unusual, with bell-shaped blooms broadly striped in olive green and maroon, topping slender, arching stems. An excellent companion; good for containers, mixed borders or meadows, it’s low-growing, reaching just 10in (25cm). F. raddeana A low-key species of crown imperial, featuring clusters of soft cream flowers tinged with lime green and deepening to yellow as they mature. Ideal for containers, it prefers a sunny spot and will flower in March/April. H: 2ft (60cm). F. persica ‘Ivory Bells’ Tall spikes of greenish-white flowers and glaucous green foliage.…

Q Please can you ID this plant? Ben Palmer, via email A The plant appears to be shallon (Gaultheria shallon), a native of moist temperate and tropical regions, it has escaped into the wild and is now to be found in many British pine woods. In gardens, it usefully carpets shady areas and keeps down weeds. Birds adore its berries. Q Should I prune my buddleja now? Joe Twomey, via email A All the flowered shoots should be cut back to within 4in (10cm) of the main framework in early March. This is called ‘stooling’. If your shrub is getting straggly, keep it in check by shortening intrusive shoots by half – they will produce new flowering growth. Q Please can you tell me what this plant is? Maria Hill,…

THE common fig is native to an area from Portugal in the west to Afghanistan in the east. It has been widely grown for its fruits since ancient times. Fig types are characterised by their unique flower structure and distinctive pollination requirements, which involves tiny wasps, s, known as fig wasps, that enter via a small hole in the ‘closed’ flower, to both pollinate it and lay their own eggs. Fig pollination has been a source of wonder to biologists for centuries. At first glance, distinguishing between fig types can be difficult, but a trained eye will tell them apart: many have aerial roots and/or a distinctive shape or habit, and their fruits have distinctive characteristics, too.…

THE commercial rubber tree is not a member of the ficus family, but is more closely related to the euphorbia. It is Hevea brasiliensis, from the Amazon’s rainforest region. Latex, the primary source of natural rubber, is a system of substances in certain plants – particularly the fig and euphorbia families. It comprises suspended particles of rubber, and its purpose is to protect the plant against pests and diseases, and seal any injuries. It can also cause temporary blindness if it gets into the eyes of browsing animals – or gardeners!…

ONCE the preserve of specialist growers, electric lights to stimulate plant growth are now available at reasonable prices. Grow lights are not the same as household light bulbs. Plants require specific ranges of light for leafy growth and flowering or fruiting. So-called full-spectrum grow lights provide the correct ranges of light for all these functions. Starting early flower or veg seeds in small pots on a windowsill indoors is not difficult. The warmth of the house is generally enough for germination. But as soon as the seedlings start growing they need good, strong light for a minimum of 12 hours a day (though 16 hours is better), and that’s in short supply in late winter and early spring. What’s needed, then, is a growing lamp that will fit on a…

Q A low-lying and shaded area of our garden holds water pretty much all year round, but especially in winter. What will survive here? Celia Chapman, Lincoln, East Midlands A As with all planting problems, the first step is to analyse soil type and conditions. As your low-lying area stays swampy all year, this suggests a high water table with ground water close to the surface. If you dug a hole, it would probably fill with water. Believe it or not, this is good news as it means plants adapted to marshy conditions will be able to grow here without danger of drying out in summer. The roots of most land plants need oxygen to survive – not usually a problem since 20-30% of an average soil is made up…

I WRITE regarding the interesting article from the archives (AG, 21 December 1918). Although some old remedies seem far-fetched, they do work. For instance, when my husband suffered night-time leg cramps and a neighbour suggested putting a bar of soap in the bed to cure the cramp, we couldn’t see the logic. But we tried it – and it worked! I decided to give the potato a go after I read your story. Tried carrying it around in my trouser pocket for three weeks, but didn’t notice any difference to my aches and pains (arthritis). One of my modern remedies for almost anything is natural thick yoghurt – works on skin, rashes, etc. Even my old dog’s persistent stomach rash was cured after three days – beats expensive prescriptions and…

Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 8 minutes Serves: 2 Ingredients: ■ 2 tbsp vegetable oil■ 1oz (25g) butter■ 4oz (100g) mooli■ 4oz (100g) sweet potato■ 8oz (225g) butternut squash■ 4oz (100g) leeks■ 1 level tsp garlic salt■ 3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce Zest and juice of 1 lime■ 9oz (250g) large prawns Method 1 Peel the mooli, sweet potato and butternut squash. Cut into bite-sized cubes. Wash, peel and slice the leek. 2 Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan on a medium-high heat until the butter has melted. Add the vegetables, sprinkle with garlic salt and stir-fry for three minutes. Add the prawns and stir-fry for a further two minutes. 3 Add the sweet chilli sauce, plus the lime juice and zest. Simmer until cooked through…

THANK you so much for my cheque for £30 for winning the Wordsearch competition. It was such a lovely surprise. I enjoy reading AG every week and always do the Wordsearch. You give such helpful advice and interesting articles. I’m attaching photos of our windowbox with some bacopa left in since last summer, bought from Thompson & Morgan, of course, and it has flowered non-stop all through winter… amazing! Gill Summerfield, Oxfordshire Guess this plant! Wendy says: Hailing from the Mediterranean region, this bulb gives a showy display of flowers in May and June Answer to Guess this plant: Scilla peruviana (Portuguesesquill) SHARE YOUR STORIES TIPS AND PHOTOS and you will receive a fantastic pair of Town & Country’s Master Gardener gloves — the UK’s best-selling gardening glove and a…

POTATO varieties fall into one of three categories, with a fixed number of weeks of growth to the earliest harvest. ‘First earlies’, as the name implies, are the quickest and they can be ready after 10-12 weeks, including the time spent chitting. ‘Second earlies’ take 14-16 weeks, and ‘maincrops’ take 16-22 weeks. The time saved chitting makes the most difference with the earlies, but is only a marginal reduction for maincrops. That said, it’s still useful to do, as the sooner the tops are up and blocking out weeds, the better.…

IT is almost impossible to picture a summer garden without dahlias and pelargoniums, those warm-weather stalwarts whose vibrant colours belie their tender nature. Although they bloom in brilliant shades, these hot favourites don’t take kindly to our sullen, wet winters and need to spend the colder months undercover somewhere frost-free. Those that successfully survived are getting ready for this year’s show and throwing out new shoots. Some of these can be removed and used to create new plants – it’s a simple and economical way of keeping your garden and containers stuffed with colour. Throughout this mild winter I have been pinching put any pelargonium shoots that have grown too large. I stopped a few weeks ago so that the latest growth can be harvested for cuttings (see panel below).…

■ Container plants are more demanding than those in the ground as they can quickly run out of food and water. ■ During dry spells, check the compost’s dampness every day or so and water where necessary. ■ Container compost has enough nutrients for a couple of months, but a fortnightly feed with liquid tomato food will give plants a boost after six-eight weeks in the pot. ■ As these plants are also packed closer together than usual, pests and disease can spread faster and more easily. ■ Watch out for vine weevil grubs that eat the roots, killing plants. Treat with a chemical soil drench or, when the weather warms up in summer, a nematode drench. ■ Also watch out for slugs and snails that hide under leaves and…

Until 15 Science Week: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 14-22 Viola and Pansy Festival: Meadow Croft Garden Centre, Woodhall Road, Battlesbridge, Wickford, Essex SS11 7QU. ✆ 01245 320314, meadow-croft.co.uk 14-22 Daffodil Festival: St Dominick, near Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6TA. ✆ 01579 351346, nationaltarust.org.uk/cotehele 15 Plant Hunters’ Fair: Ness Botanic Gardens, Ness, South Wirral, CH64 4AY. planthuntersfairs.co.uk 16-22 Dazzling Daffodils: Hever Castle, Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG. ✆ 01732 865224, hevercastle.co.uk 18 The Edible Garden – Growing Food With Young People: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 19 The Botanical Art Collection at RHS Lindley Library (talk): The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London W1G 0AE. ✆ 020 7290 2900,…

PETUNIAS never seem to go out of fashion and such is their popularity that new, gaudier incarnations of this trumpet-bloomed plant appear every year. However, there is also a lot to celebrate about traditional varieties and this week’s free seeds are for Petunia ‘Confetti Mixed’, which produce a mass of mostly single-coloured flowers in a mix of shades. Some of the flowers will also be ‘stars’, with darker hearts fanning out attractively into paler petals. Sow the seeds now to get robust plants this summer. Then prick them out when they have developed their first sets of ‘proper’ leaves, as opposed to the little germination leaflets, and grow them on in individual pots. When the threat of frosts has passed, gradually acclimatise the seedlings to external temperatures and then plant…

I WAS slightly surprised when I went into a health-food shop at the beginning of this year to see a picture of a large rat, until I noticed a banner proclaiming that 2020 was the Year of the Rat. The Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle and the Chinese view rats as clever and quick thinkers. They’re successful, but live a quiet and peaceful life. People born in the Year of the Rat, whether it’s 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 or 2008, are optimistic and energetic. I have visited Japan several times to lecture about roses, with a mixed group including musicians, actors, gardeners and potters. We all looked up our signs according to our year of birth. I know I am born in the Year…

1 Bell: Perfect for placing over individual plants not commonly planted in rows, such as courgettes, squashes, pumpkins, globe artichokes, sprouting broccoli, etc. Upcycle using: old demijohns or large water bottles, especially those used by offices. 2 Rigid: Ideal where insulation is key, and therefore materials like glass or rigid plastic are required. Ensure simple storage by buying/making models that can be flat-packed. Upcycle using: old windows (especially from caravans) and conservatory roof offcuts. 3 Tunnel: Easy to concertina up for compact storage if space is an issue, and perfect for protecting rows/drills of all manner of vegetables, herbs and salads. Upcycle using: rigid alkathene water pipe and dowels (very robust) or thick wire.…

1 Excavate a bed 12in (30cm) deep and, for four plants, 50in (1.2m) square. Choose a spot in full sun or part shade. Line the base and sides of the hole with old compost bags or pond liner, piercing the base with a fork. 2 Fill the bed with a 50:50 by volume mixture of garden soil and ericaceous compost (peat-free formulations are now available). If you garden on a chalky soil, it’s best to buy in sterilised loam. 3 Plant your blueberries to the same depth as when in their pots. Water them well, and then again during dry spells through the growing season. The lining and ericaceous compost keeps conditions moist and acidic.…

AS a student at horticultural college, I became used to performing repetitive tasks that were intended to fix routine gardening jobs into the memory of trainee gardeners. Countless seeds were sown in spring, while many hours were spent taking pelargonium cuttings in summer. The arrival of autumn was greeted with dread as it meant days of backbreaking double digging in a field of heavy clay. After all that toil with a spade, squelching around in claggy soil, late winter offered a respite. It was time to unholster my trusty pair of secateurs and get to grips with some pruning. Huge beds planted with nothing else but roses were tackled, while berberis, cotinus and other deciduous shrubs that had started to outgrow their allotted space were thinned out or brought under…

Hedera colchica ‘Sulphur Heart’ AGM Brushed with lime-gold, the heart-shaped green leaves of Paddy’s Pride look lovely and provide excellent cover for nesting birds. There are nectar-rich flowers for bees, too. Needs alkaline soil in semi-shade. H: 20ft (6m). Clematis ‘Apple Blossom’ AGM Almond-scented blush-cream flowers open from rosy buds in spring, while the evergreen leaves shelter feathered friends. This vigorous climber likes well-drained soil in sheltered sun. NB: extremely toxic to dogs. H: 16ft (5m).…

THE rubber plant and fig genus (ficus) is surprisingly large. Around 850 different species of this genus comprise woody trees, smaller shrubs, vines and epiphytes – plants that grow on the surface of other plants, but which do not take moisture or nutrients from them. They also make up a huge portion of our house plant market. In the wild they are all native to the tropics, with a few species extending into the Earth’s semi-warm temperate zones. This is a crucial group of plants for the food and pot plant industries worldwide – as well as for the creatures that feed off them in the wild – so let’s look at some of the amazing stories surrounding them.…

HOMEGROWN figs are juicy, sweet and quite fragrant. A fig ‘fruit’ is a type of multiple fruit known as a syconium, comprising many small fertilised flowers almost completely encased in an outer covering. These small flowers remain unseen – unless the fruit is cut open. In the UK, figs produce two or three crops each year, but only one crop usually ripens. The pea-sized embryo fruitlets formed in the autumn need to overwinter to produce a crop of figs the following summer. The fruits produced in late spring and early summer do not get enough good weather to ripen, so it’s best to remove them in autumn. ■ The fruit of almost all of the ficus species is edible, though it is most usually used as bushfood, or by small…

ON this day (or at least what is believed to have been this day) in the year 105, a Chinese man named Ts’ai Lun gathered some bark from the mulberry tree, along with some bamboo, and other barks and fibres, including rags and fish nets – and ended up inventing paper! As an official at the Han Dynasty’s Imperial Court, he presented samples of his paper to Emperor Han Ho Ti, who was delighted with the product. Ts’ai Lun was promoted, and given influence, wealth and an aristocratic title; later, he became embroiled in palace intrigue, which led to his downfall, and suicide by poison. Before Ts’ai Lun’s paper, Chinese books were made mainly from bamboo, which was considered heavy and clumsy. Some prohibitively expensive books were made of silk.…

Do ✓ Protect electrical wiring, sockets and connections from water, especially in the greenhouse. I cover them with a plastic bag. ✓ Reposition the growing light close to seedlings after germination. The light needs to be about 3in (8cm) above seedlings to prevent them being ‘drawn’. ✓ Move seedlings on quickly (pricking out or hardening off) if necessary. Crowded seedlings become unhealthy and are tricky to prick out. Don’t ✗ Start sowing seeds that need to be pricked out and grown on too early, as it will be too cold to put them outside and they won’t all fit under the growing light. ✗ Leave the light on 24 hours a day. Darkness is part of the natural cycle. ✗ Forget to check that compost is kept moist in pots.…

1 Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’: The coral bark willow is showy and quite easy to maintain by cutting stems annually near the base or to the top of a stem as a short ‘pollard’. 2 Iris versicolor ‘Rowden Concerto’: The North American blue flag or Boston iris flowers from early summer at a height of around 24in (60cm). 3 Caltha palustris: The marsh marigold is good in wet soil. Separate a large clump into small fistfuls; plant out 18in (45cm) apart in groups. Reaches to 16in (40cm). 4 Primula pulverulenta: Not all candelabra primulas grow well in badly drained soil and may need raising up slightly. This Chinese native can reach 3ft (90cm) tall.…

Yes I THINK the Q&A reply to ‘squirrel menace’ (AG, 8 Feb) is totally barbaric. I have welcomed squirrels for many years without any problems at all. They only take food from bird feeders sometimes. I have a squirrel feeder and feed them all year round. Killing is wrong. What about rabbits, deer, badgers, etc? They cause damage, too. As a gardener, live with them or find a more humane way. Name not supplied NICE to hear that reader Mrs Gloria Wilding feeds squirrels as well as birds (AG, 8 Feb). I have a table for nuts for squirrels, and I give fat balls, seeds and mealworms to the birds. We have birds feeding on the table with the squirrels – they get on very well together. We humans could…

■ Pelargoniums are one of the easiest plants to propagate via cuttings. ■ Start by filling a 4in (10cm) pot or several 3in (8cm) pots with cuttings compost mixed with grit or perlite. ■ Dampen with fresh tap water. ■ Cut lengths of new growth from the parent plant, strip away the lower and largest leaves and dip in rooting gel. ■ Insert the cut ends into the potting mix, seal in plastic bags and place them somewhere warm and light. ■ Remove the plastic when the cuttings root and start to grow.…

Reuse and recycle: It’s great to see so many garden centres moving to recyclable pots. It’s even better, though, if gardeners wash and reuse all their pots instead of buying more every year.…

COLOURFUL primroses are now offered for sale from autumn right round to early summer, some in small pots at very modest prices. The right kinds do need selecting for any given purpose, and if you just need an instant splash of colour indoors, then price can be a guide. There are specially bred series to flower early (before Christmas); mid-season (Jan/Feb); and late, often in time for Mothering Sunday sales. Weather also plays a part in this and in an early season – such as this, and where Mothering Sunday comes late – they may well be over. There is also a small leaved, compact growing kind to suit supermarket cut-price pack sales. Gardeners and home owners who are looking for outdoor garden flowering and value for money should avoid…

■ Fill a tray or pot with fresh, sieved seed and cuttings compost and dampen it with fresh tap water. ■ Mix a few petunia seeds with a little horticultural sand and sprinkle as thinly as possible onto the surface. ■ Do not cover with more compost or vermiculite. ■ Instead, stretch a layer of Clingfilm over the tray or pot to maximise light and retain moisture in the compost. ■ Place somewhere light and warm and remove the Clingfilm once the seeds germinate.…

IF, like me, you’re bursting to run out on to the plot and get some crops into the ground, I’ve found the perfect way to focus all that positive energy: cloches. By offering your precious veg seedlings a transition between the protective environment of a windowsill, conservatory or glasshouse and the open ground, you can scratch that horticultural itch – so let’s do it! One name, multiple uses Cloches come in a range of shapes and sizes (see page 18 for a few of the main styles and functions), and they are also made in various materials. These have a direct and notable effect on the crops growing beneath them, so it’s important to choose wisely. For example, clear polythene may be inexpensive and easy to store, yet it will…

THIS is another one of those random horticultural terms that makes me smile! In essence, it’s a nifty way to reduce the weed seedling population when you are sowing directly into the soil. Let me explain the concept: you dig over and rake level your seedbed around a fortnight before you actually need it. If the weather is warm, just leave it – if the forecast is chilly, cover over it with insulating cloches. Within the fortnight, weed seeds near the soil surface will germinate. You can then either hoe them off (keep the hoe shallow – otherwise, you’ll draw more weed seeds up to the surface) or you can use a flame gun to singe them off. You then sow your chosen veg into the bed – and hey…

Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ This ornamental dogwood produces a mass of glossy greenish-yellow stems that are perfect for adding a shot of winter colour to a sunny spot. Rubus thibetanus Once its ferny foliage drops in late autumn, the ghost bramble reveals an 8ft (2.4m)-tall clump of upright, prickly purple stems dusted with a chalky-white bloom. Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ This ornamental dogwood is prized for its yellow and red stems. The shoots are hidden for much of the year by green leaves that turn gold in autumn. Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ The scarlet willow is grown for its striking orange-red stems that almost glow when backlit by the sun. Originating from Germany, it looks great planted in groups. Rubus cockburnianus ‘Goldenvale’ Golden-yellow foliage in spring turns lime-yellow before falling…

■ Plant your alstroemerias 24in (60cm) apart between May and August, when plants are in growth and soils are warm. ■ Choose a sheltered spot in sun or light shade, where soil is well conditioned and well drained. ■ Watch out for slugs from February onwards, as they like to eat the new growth. ■ Provide support for taller varieties by pushing stout twiggy sticks into the ground around the plants. ■ Mulch in autumn with an 8in (20cm) layer of bark, but push this back gently in spring. ■ Pot Peruvian lilies into a 50:50 mix of John Innes No2 and a soilless compost with a little bit of added grit and leafmould. ■ Insulate the sides of the containers with Hessian or bubblewrap plastic for winter, or place…

Stipa tenuissima AGM The Mexican feather grass produces soft blonde plumes that work well in most planting schemes, and it self-seeds. Full sun. H: 2ft (60cm). Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’ AGM This evergreen shrub features slender green foliage and pretty white scented flowers in late spring. Good for the back or middle of borders. Plant in sheltered sun. H: 8ft (2½m). Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ AGM Glossy evergreen with fragrant winter flowers. Rarely needs pruning – simply reduce leggy plants by a third in spring. Likes a shady spot. H: 8-13ft (2½-4m). Gladioli A summer-flowerer that has real impact in borders, yet needs little TLC. Try dramatic magenta pink wild G. byzantinus (above) or lime-hued ‘Green Star’. H: 2ft (60cm). Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ AGM A dense mound…

Pyracantha Saphyr Orange AGM This firethorn makes a hardy wall shrub and a wonderful wildlife plant. It not only provides valuable shelter and orange autumn berries for birds, but also supplies bees with nectar-rich blossom in May and June. H: 10ft (3m). Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ AGM As if the fragrant golden-cream flowers were not reason enough to plant this deciduous honeysuckle, it has the added bonuses of cover and scarlet autumn berries for birds. Sun or semi-shade. H: 20ft (6m). Rosa Rambling Rector AGM In summer, Rambling Rector is a cloud of musk and clove-scented white flowers; these are followed by small orange-red hips in autumn. Ideal for growing through a large tree or structure. Sun or semi-shade. H: 23ft (7m). Rosa ‘Francis E Lester’ AGM Generously produces a…

John will reply personally to all your gardening questions every week… What should I do with bulbs after flowering? Q What do I do with spring bulbs after flowering? Should the potted ones be lifted and stored? Clive Gurman, via email A If those bulbs that you planted in a border can be left to ‘naturalise’ and you are not planning to replace them with other plants, so much the better. Indeed, they will multiply well if left in situ. As for those in containers, I suggest that when they’ve finished flowering you move them to a bed or border to establish well. Ideally, liquid-feed all plants at weekly intervals with a high-potash tomato fertiliser while leaves are green and perky and before they fade to brown. Don’t cut off…

WITH the right variety, and a sunny, sheltered site, figs (Ficus carica) can be grown outside in the UK. They’re useful for covering large south or south-west facing walls or fences and, if trained as a fan, will grow to around 7ft (2.1m) high and 10-12ft (3-3.6m) wide. They are naturally vigorous, so keep them compact and fruitful by restricting their roots (otherwise they’ll grow too vigorously, and produce little or no fruit). ■ Figs should crop well in the ground if planted in a large pot sunk into the soil, or in a free-standing container above ground. In each case the pot will need to be 16in (40cm) across, with drainage holes. A fig in a pot will need potting on into a slightly larger pot every two years.…

Miracle-Gro is giving AG readers the chance to win one of two gardening bundles, each worth £27.99. The prizes are perfect for those wanting to get ahead this spring and get started on their immaculate lawn. The two winners will each receive Miracle-Gro EverGreen Luxury Lawn Seed (420g), which is ideal for creating a new lawn or for over-seeding. It is specially selected to create a fine luxury lawn with strong roots for optimum absorption of water and nutrients. Winners will also receive Miracle-Gro Patch Magic Grass Seed, Feed & Coir (1.5kg) that will regrow bare patches 2x thicker than ordinary grass seed, with first shoots being seen in just four days. It has been developed to survive virtually every condition and grow grass anywhere – even on concrete! How…

THE most frequently seen house plant ficus is F. elastica – and with a species name like that, there is no wonder it enjoys such common names as rubber plant/bush/tree/fig. But ironically it is not the tree that gives us rubber (see below). As a houseplant, its large, glossy, waxy leaves, often variegated, are a feature of our living rooms and hallways, and have been for more than a century. It tends to have a central stem that grows without producing sideshoots. Cut off the top when it reaches the ceiling (which will encourage branching), but stop the latex ‘bleeding’ by dusting the cut with powdered charcoal (from some garden centres or pet shops) or wood ash.…

1 Assemble the grow light following instructions. The only fiddly bit is fitting the light bracket and reflector. The water tray, stands and capillary mat drop into place. 2 Position the Grow Light Garden on a bright windowsill in a warm room. Avoid sills where heavy curtains may get in the way. Set the light at its highest position. 3 Fit an electric or mechanical 24-hour timing device between the grow light plug and power socket. Set it to come on mid-afternoon and go off around 8pm. 4 Fill trays with seed compost, firm surface and sow seeds thinly. Lightly cover seeds with vermiculite or compost, stand trays on the mat and fill the reservoir with water.…

Write to us: Letters, Amateur Gardening magazine, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hants GU14 7BF (please include your address). Email us: amateurgardening@ti-media.com Star letter I WORK for a large supermarket chain and recently had the idea of making a bug hotel out of the spent till rolls. I got my colleagues to start collecting them for me, and have finally finished my first one using 90 per cent recyclable materials, from the wood to the fillings. It will help to attract more bug life to my garden. Lynne Austin, Llandudno, Conwy Wendy says: The box appears to be in a light warm spot favoured by solitary bees.…

Photo of the week HERE is a picture of one of the numerous clumps of Leucojum vernum flowers we have in our small exposed garden in a village just west of Aberdeen. We have lived here for over 26 years, and the leucojum bulbs came here with us from the garden of our previous house. These bulbs have been grown by our family for over 70 years and are our favourite spring flowers, emerging just ahead of the snowdrops. The clumps of bulbs are lifted and split up every three-four years, and we pass on our surplus bulbs to friends and family all over the UK – our bulbs are now growing in gardens from London in the south to Inverness in the north. There are even some of our…

IF like me, you are a bit fed up with supermarket herbs, dig up a few sections with a good root of established clumps in the garden. Use a trowel and place into pots of compost mixed with garden soil, and bring them into the warmth of a windowsill or porch. Water, and after a week they will be sprouting new tasty fresh leaves to use in cooking. I have found this works with chives, oregano, parsley and fennel. Lucy Walker, Sittingbourne, Kent…

YOU say ‘potayto’, I say ‘potahto’ … and for the record, botanists prefer ‘underground storage tuber’. Whatever you call them, homegrown spuds are wrapped with more words than Friday night’s fish ’n’ chips. One of the most unusual is ‘chit’ which, though it sounds like something a bear might do in the woods, was common parlance in the 17th century for ‘new shoot’ or ‘sprouting stem’. And in tater-talk, that’s what it still means today. Chitting – encouraging tubers to develop short ¾in (2cm) sprouts before planting – has the potential to quicken their time to harvest and simply involves setting the spuds out in a cool, frost-free and bright spot. Like daffodil bulbs, seed potatoes grow whichever way up they are planted but, for the strongest shoots, put the…