Amateur Gardening - 28 May 2022

62 Pages·2022·64.9 MB·English

138 years of practical advice
1884 2022
The World’s Oldest Gardening Magazine
Jobs for this week
6
isfsoure £s 6* 4 H ow to get months of colour
only
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10 E arly-flowering perennials
12 F ree seeds: Beetroot
‘Moulin Rouge’/what’s on
Great garden ideas
24 Versatile hardy geraniums: why
they are a must for every garden
28 Heaps of colour: hydrangeas offer
huge blooms in shady areas
33 How to grow hostas: with their lush
foliage, they’re perfect ground cover
24
“My top 16 hardy geraniums are sure to
Gardening wisdom
have something for you,” says Camilla
14 B ob Flowerdew
16 V al Bourne Wildlife
19 L ucy Chamberlain’s Fruit and Veg
37 A sk John Negus
42 A ll Our Yesterdays
45 A Gardener’s Miscellany
50 A dvanced Gardening
52 A nne Swithinbank’s Masterclass
55 L etters to Wendy: from AG readers
58 T oby Buckland
Reader offers
22 See our latest special plant deal
48 Try six issues of AG for free!
“This week sees the Chelsea Flower Show
4 33 return to its traditional slot in the calender
“I’ll show you how to “Hostas are
and those who can’t afford to go can enjoy
get months of colour perfect ground
a bumper 14 episodes of TV coverage
in your garden,” says Ruth cover plants,” says Graham
on BBC2 in the comfort of their homes.
e
ur
ut For the general public, this is the biggest
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gardening event of the year – and one
cannot underplay its role in making people
aware of the unique benefits of gardening.
The messages are stronger than ever,
not just in terms of how gardening keeps
you physically and mentally healthy, but
also its role in helping the environment:
planting for polinators, creating highways
for hedgehogs, building insect
hotels, and much more. Let’s
hope Chelsea inspires many
more to join our ranks.”
Garry Coward-Williams,
Editor
ed Contact us:
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cre Subscriptions: 0330 333 1113
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wis Editorial: 0330 3903732
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h Email: [email protected]
ot
ss 28“Huge blooms, great structure and Advertising: 0330 3906566
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y u late summer colour,” says Hazel
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Cover: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Kardinal Violet’ (pic: Alamy)
28 MAY 2022 AMATEUR GARDENING 3
Your
Gardening Week
with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes
Plant nerines
I am adding lots of home-grown
and bought plants this year for
prolonged flowering and extra Autumn bulbs extend the season
height in our borders
Verbena bonariensis
is a late-summer delight
1
Dig your planting hole and add
lots of well-rotted organic matter
for drainage and to enrich the soil.
How to get months of colour
2
Plant so the bulb tips are just
proud of the soil, then firm
down and water well. Add a label
Ruth’s top tips for prolonging that sense of summer
W
so you can avoid digging nearby.
E are in peak planting assortment of varieties to lengthen the
season – the best time of garden’s flowering until well into the
the year – but at the time autumn and also to improve the sense
Consider pots
of writing we haven’t had of height and depth in our borders.
any significant rainfall for several weeks Verbena bonariensis seedlings,
of perennials
and the soil is hard and desiccated, grown from our free seeds, are almost
This means that anything that goes in ready to be placed in the centre and
the ground now needs extra attention back of borders. Their willowy stems Remember to use all your garden
while it gets established. that can reach 48ins (120cms) are when you are thinking of summer
Even newly bought, mature topped with clouds of small mauve planting schemes.
perennials can’t be planted and left florets that provide late season Containers aren’t just for annual
to their own devices. Their roots nectar for many insects. bedding – larger ones are deal for
may look robust but until Planting alstroemerias These airy plants look growing perennials and shrubs.
they have bedded in and in a container wonderful teamed with Clematis look wonderful in a large
spread they will still only grasses and fiery prairie- pot with ornamental supports (we
have a limited access to style varieties such as have a low-growing ‘Countess of
water and nutrients. rudbeckias, heleniums Wessex’ that is thriving in a pot) and
So if you are planting and, of course, long- shrub and standard roses also look
in the next few weeks, flowering echinaceas. the part.
especially over this bank They all flower late into Lilies and agapanthus will do well
holiday weekend, make sure summer and autumn, thus too, especially the latter as they like
plants are watered generously extended your garden’s warm having their bulbs and roots slightly
and you cover their root area with weather beauty, constricted, so should flourish.
lots of well-rotted compost or manure to I have also planted a cluster of nerine Divide bulbous perennials every
help hold the water in the soil. bulbs that will provide interest later in few years and top dress with fresh
Thereafter when you water, give them autumn. These may take more than one compost and a granular fertiliser
a good soaking rather than a light season to get going but their flowering each spring.
sprinkle as this will encourage the roots will improve and grow as they mature. As with all container plants, watch
d
e
ditto grow downwards in their search for As with all bulbs, make sure they are out for attacks by vine weevils and
e
s crmoisture rather than staying close to the planted in an area with good drainage to treat the compost with a chemical
s
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unlsurface, which can cause instability. help prevent rotting, and label their spot drench or nematodes.
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utur This week I have been planting an so they aren’t disturbed.
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4 AMATEUR GARDENING 28 MAY 2022
By royal command: Next week we celebrate the
Queen’s jubilee and I’ll be showing you how to
grow the Royal family’s favourite plants.
Making the most of your soil
Whatever your soil, there’s a plant for every season
Borage brings
helpful pollinators
flocking
Planting Calendula in the raised bed
to attract pest-eating insect predators
Companion
planting
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1 2
For year-round colour in chalky soils Many plants that like acidic soils If you are looking for colourful
opt for winter jasmine, snowdrops, are shallow-rooted, so mulch plants that have a practical use,
pulmonaria, honesty, globe thistles regularly and water well. They include consider companion planting.
(pictured), helenium, sedum, nerines camellias and rhododendrons, This is when we introduce
and pyracantha (inset). Mulch regularly magnolias, heather, Liriope muscari attractive plants that have the added
with well-rotted compost or manure to (pictured), echinacea, irises, Japanese benefit of either luring pest insects
boost nutrient and water-retention. anemones (inset) and ceanothus. away from treasured cultivars and
crops, or encouraging insect
predators that will reduce the
numbers of destructive visitors.
I have planted some calendulas
around our veg-growing area.
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and will also repel whitefly and bring
in ladybirds and hoverflies, whose
larvae eat aphids.
Tagetes are another variety of
marigold and they deter whitefly
from tomato plants.
Other companion plants include
strongly scented herbs that confuse
pests, borage, which attracts
3 4
Before planting in heavy clay soils Don’t despair if you have poor, thin pollinators, thus benefiting the rest
always incorporate lots of manure soil. Bulbs should flourish, as will of the garden, and nasturtiums,
and grit to open it up and improve lavender, rosemary (pictured), sea holly which can be used as a ‘sacrificial’
drainage. Good plants include hardy (inset), and many perennials. Feed, mulch plant to lure cabbage white
geraniums pictured), Astrantia (inset), and water plants well, enrich the soil with butterflies away from brassicas.
bergenia, sedum, weigela and roses. compost or manure in autumn.
Step
How to successfully plant perennials
by step
1 2 3 4
Stand the plant in water Add granular fertiliser Plant your perennial, Water generously then
to hydrate the roots and and well-rotted compost firming the soil as you go add a slug deterrent and
dig a planting hole that can or manure to help retain to knock out air pockets and mulch to keep weeds away
contain all the roots. moisture around the roots. give support. and hold water in the soil.
28 MAY 2022 AMATEUR GARDENING 5

Your
Gardening Week
with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes
Step
Planting
Planting my leggy tomatoes in
deep growbags to encourage by step
more root development ‘leggy’ toms
Bury the stem for better roots
Pale and leggy
seedlings
1
Pinch out the lower leaves in
preparation for burying the stem.
Smaller and more
robust plants
A tale of two tomatoes
Ruth shows how to resurrect leggy seedlings
I

HAVE been pleased with the weaker stems and leaves. At the
results of sowing my ‘Gardeners moment, I wouldn’t bet on a good crop.
Delight’ tomato seeds, part of our However, all is not lost. The great
2
free seed range for 2022. They thing about leggy tomato seedlings is Set the growbag on its side
all germinated healthily and most have they will sprout new roots up their stems and excavate as deep a hole
been living on a windowsill indoors when planted deeply, which will help as possible for the leggy tomatoes.
with a few extras relegated to our improve their overall health. Plant and firm them in.
unheated greenhouse. Another option is to strip off half the
The greenhouse tomatoes benefited leaves and bury the entire stem in a
from the ‘tough love’ of colder nights windowbox-style container. The tip will
and grew slowly but robustly. They are start to grow up through the soil and,
now healthy-looking sturdy plants. again, roots will develop along the stem.
Unfortunately I left the indoor toms I have never tried this but would love
on the windowsill for a few days too long to hear from any readers who have; email
and they have grown tall and pale, with me at [email protected].
Two varieties in one packet
3
If needs be, top up the
(cid:81) The Ageratum ‘Blue Mink’ free growbag with more compost.
seeds I sowed a few weeks back got
off to a good start but threw up a few Ageratum ‘Blue Mink’
growing well
surprises as they did so.
(cid:81) Among the smaller ‘Blue Mink’
seedlings were some much later
plants that quickly outstripped them.
(cid:81) When I pricked out the Ageratum
Kew weed (Galinsoga parviflora) was an
and moved them into individual
unexpected bonus in the seed packet
modules, I took a photo of the
interlopers and sent it to AG’s trouble-
shooter John Negus for identification. (cid:81) Apparently they provide nectar for
4
(cid:81) He said: “It looks like gallant soldier bees and other insects so I am Water the plants well and keep
or Kew weed (Galinsoga parviflora) keeping a few of the plants and will their soil damp to maintain
that was introduced to Kew Gardens in add them to our wildlife area, making healthy take-up of essential
1796. It has funny little yellow and sure I get them out before they ripen nutrients. Feed weekly with a liquid
ure white daisy flowers.” as they are said to be prolific seeders! tomato feed.
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28 MAY 2022 AMATEUR GARDENING 7

Your
Gardening Week
with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes
Yellow rattle helps weaken grass so
wildflowers can get established
Little flowers are
great for pollinators
Growing a wild
lawn
(cid:81) The first
step towards
Last summer our wildflower lawn looked
creating a
amazing so we’re hoping for the
wildflower
same this year
Cowslips bought as meadow is to
plug plants
stop feeding
Plants such as clover
Care of wild and tamed lawns your lawn, as
bring the bees
wildflowers do
best on poor soils.
Ruth looks at our swards at the end of No Mow May
S
(cid:81) In autumn, introduce plants such
O here we are, at the end of No unmown for longer where you can grow as yellow rattle that weaken the
Mow May and I’m wondering slower-growing and larger species such existing grass, making space for
how your lawns are looking? as field scabious and oxeye daisies that wildness. In spring, sow a wildflower
Have you continued to cut the produce nectar later into the year. seed mix that is suited to your soil
grass or have you left patches of it to Apart from mowing a path up the (there are lots available online) and
grow wild – and if you have, what’s middle and around the edges so we can buy a few wildflower plug plants.
been growing there and have you access the borders, we leave our lawn to (cid:81) Once your wildflower area starts
noticed a difference in the number of grow wild each summer, then scythe it to get established the rest of the
insects and birds visiting your patch? down in early autumn. garden will see the benefits.
According to the nature charity The result is a rich meadow full of (cid:81) Increased numbers of pollinators
Plantlife, which started No Mow May, colour and insect life; the grasshoppers will help your plants to thrive and
cultivating just a small patch of lawn as a make it sound like a sewing machine with them will come the insect
wildflower spot can be of immeasurable factory and the grasses are visited by a predators that prey on pests.
benefit to insects. wide range of butterflies and moths. (cid:81) Garden birds, hoverfly and
The ideal mowing regime is to create I appreciate that this approach isn’t for ladybird larvae, beetles, wasps and
a ‘Mohican’, leaving a short patch with everyone, but would urge readers to spiders all do their bit to keep pest
quick-growing varieties such as daisies, leave just a little patch to grow wild, for numbers down.
speedwell and clover plus an area left the benefit of nature and gardeners alike.
Step
Four summertime jobs for a ‘kept’ lawn
by step
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1 2 3 4
Grass growth slows in If you fed your lawn in Use a weed puller or Nematodes bought from
d summer so don’t be spring it should be fine lawn weedkiller to tackle (cid:27)greengardener.co.uk
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edit tempted to over-mow as until autumn. Feeding during broadleaf weeds. Never use ((cid:9) 01493 750061) are a good
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s slightly longer grass looks hot weather and dry spells a general weedkiller as it will way of dealing with pests
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unl more lush than a close crop. can scorch the grass. kill the grass too. such as leatherjackets.
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28 MAY 2022 AMATEUR GARDENING 9
Your
Gardening Week
with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes
A happy hipp!
Cutting back a pulmonaria that
is started to flop outwards
over other plants
Hippeastrum’s astounding revival
Knapweeds may flower
again in summer
Pulmonaria is an The hippeastrum is now
y important food almost as tall as me!
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Early-flowering perennials
WELL, we weren’t expecting that!
In autumn 2020 I potted up a
hippeastrum bulb to add some
Cut them back for shape and more blooms, says Ruth
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exotic glamour to the house during
ARLY-FLOWERING perennials They will soon spring back into shape the dark days of winter.
such as pulmonaria and as the neat clumps they were originally It grew wonderfully and produced
knapweed are the harbingers and may even reward you with a second two sturdy stems,
of better weather and help lift flush of flowers. each around 2ft
the spirits. They are also an vital source Knapweed and pulmonaria both love (60cm) tall
of nectar for early bumblebees, which our soil and they self-seed prolifically all bearing pretty
really is their more important role. around it, even in the lawn. I like to trumpet-shaped
But now they are starting to fade and unearth and replant these generously- flowerheads.
flop outwards, looking straggly and given offsets wherever gaps have After
unkempt so it’s time to get them back appeared in the borders. flowering I
It has stunning,
into shape. All you need to do is remove They will soon bed down, grow and deadheaded the unusual flowers
faded flower stems and any leaves that flower – the pulmonaria next spring and plant and let the leaves
are starting to look tatty. Then feed with if I’m lucky, the knapweed will put on a and stems die back and placed it on
a granular fertiliser and water well. second show later this summer. a cool shelf in an unused bedroom.
In autumn 2021 I began watering
Step again and feeding but nothing
Feeding and moving
happened until a few weeks ago
by step
when fresh leaves started to poke
through the compost. I fed and
watered and placed the plant in the
warm, light living room.
And then things definitely started
to happen! Our hippeastrum
produced just one stem and a few
leaves but wow, what a stem!
1 2
Deadhead and cut away tatty Feed the plant with a granular I’ve had to move the plant off a
foliage, especially if it is diseased fertiliser such as Miracle Gro All table and onto the floor as it was
(this plant has powdery mildew). Purpose, fork it in and water well. threatening to topple over – and the
flowers at the stop of the stem are at
my eye level!
The hippeastrum is flowering
beautifully and throwing out more
leaves so I shall keep feeding and
watering then let the greenery die
back and replenish the bulbs.
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dit 3If you need to relocate offsets, 4Replant at the same depth as they I’ll replant it in a slightly larger pot
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s carefully dig them up, keeping as were growing before, firming down in the autumn and see what it
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unl much soil as possible around the roots. the soil afterwards. Water generously. decides to do next year!
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10 AMATEUR GARDENING 28 MAY 2022