Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2020 i BBC Gardeners' World

Visit... As autumn gardens beckon you to visit, save £££s with our 2 for 1 entry card and guide, valid across the UK. Order yours for just £6.99 incl. p&p at magsdirect.co.uk/ gwmay20 Watch… Follow Monty’s video guide to planting a layered pot of bulbs and shrubs for winter-spring colour, on gardenersworld.com/ tulips-evergreensinpots Save… Our award-winning app lets you read GW on the go. Save 50% at bit.ly/ GW-digital . Find us in the Readly app on Apple or Google or with a monthly subscription to Apple News+ Save even more... Subscribe in print today and receive two years for the price of one. You’ll get each issue delivered to your door PLUS enjoy exclusive content and money-saving offers. See page 26.…

From when we first pick flowers, crawling across the weedy lawn on our hands and knees, daisies grab our attention. With well over 32,000 species, daisies vie with orchids to be the largest plant family of all and the classic daisy flower – a golden centre surrounded by ray-like petals – is instantly recognisable, even before we can walk. But with dahlias, the majority of varieties that we grow have abandoned that simplicity in favour of double flowers that have more impact but usually less elegance and which are less instantly appealing to bees – collecting pollen is hard work when the flowers are crowded with petals. And there’s another thing. Double flowers packed with petals are, well, heavy and collect moisture so, after rain, the stems arch over under…

The other day I was interviewed – via Zoom, of course – by someone writing a book about space. Not your astronautical space, but the type that is all around us – what space is and means, and what influence and effect it has on the way we feel and live our lives. He was talking to lots of different people about this for his book and my niche in his scheme of things was, unsurprisingly, gardens and space. As I thought it through, it made me realise how this amorphous, vague notion is so central to our idea of gardens and how we use them. We tend to think of space as what we can measure – the size of our gardens. In this country, if you have, as…

Dig out the dying If any plant has given up the ghost, its stems are weak and thin and its centre woody with no signs of life, it may be time to say goodbye and have a fresh start. Even division may not save it and it would be counter-productive to take cuttings since they’re best taken from strong, healthy young shoots. If it is a herbaceous plant, it shouldn’t be too difficultto take it out cleanly but with shrubs and trees this may prove more challenging and it is really important to remove all the roots to ensure they don’t transmit disease to other woody plants.…

Elephant ear Create a feeling of calm and, hopefully, bring yourself some good luck by adding a dwarf elephant ear plant to your home. The glossy leaves of Alocasia cucullata are likened to the ears of elephants, hence its common name. Also known as Buddha’s hand, it is believed the leaves wave good luck into wherever it is placed, and for this reason is grown in Buddhist temples in south-east Asia, where it originates from. In the wild, elephant ear plants can grow up to 7m tall, but a dwarf variety growing in your home isn’t likely to get much bigger than 1m. It looks best placed with other luscious-leaved house plants, such as monstera (Swiss cheese plant). This fast-growing plant will reward you with fresh new foliage if grown…

Place tracing paper over the sketch you made of your garden. Initially focus on simple shapes rather than specific plants and avoid getting bogged down in detail. As you build your layers, think in groups of plants, not in ones or twos. Plants in nature grow in clusters, with a few single plants set a short distance away. Mimic this to get a sense of flow and rhythm with your planting. Once you’re happy with the overall shape of the planting, use the following steps to work on the specifics, but don’t rush it. Try several versions, laying new pieces of tracing paper over your drawing until you’re happy with the result. As you apply plant names to the shapes and forms, revise the details, looking at the contrast between…

“String out summer harvests well into autumn by leaving peas and beans in the ground” The nights may be drawing in and the tang of autumn is on the air, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Even in winter, my veg garden is busy feeding me and my family, so I’m still down on the plot every day, pottering about happily, tending to my veg and keeping everything ship-shape. In this new series, I’ll be showing you how to make the most of your veg garden in the off-season. So over the coming months, wrap up warm and come outside with me and we’ll fill the kitchen cupboards with hearty, nourishing fresh food even when there’s frost outside. Right now, I’m busier than ever as I have…

Apple scab Some people say you ‘eat with your eyes’ but grow-your-own enthusiasts know that taste is what really matters. We often have to cut out parts of our produce that have been damaged by pests or diseases. But it’s worth it for the flavour, which usually beats anything the shops can provide. And, so it is with apple scab, a nasty-looking fungal disease causing cracked and corky spots on the fruits. These spots are generally only skin deep, so they can be cut out and the apple eaten raw or cooked. Commercial growers spray against scab; their fruits need to look attractive to the consumer. Apple leaves are also disfigured by scab with brown blotches, and may fall early. Scab fungicides are no longer available to home growers of…

Anne Swithinbank A keen fruit, vegetable and houseplant grower, Anne was formerly the glasshouse supervisor at RHS Garden Wisley. James Wong Botanist, broadcaster and writer, James loves to grow unusual, edible and medicinal plants from around the world. Bob Flowerdew Bob is an organic gardener and has designed his garden to produce lots of veg, fruit and cut flowers. Q My plot gets no sun from October to February – help! Teresa, Devon A JAMES SAYS I’m very jealous – you have the perfect site to grow my favourite group of plants. Woodland species are adapted to low light conditions and will love your mild Devon climate and sheltered site. Add that to the extra rainfall you get in the South West, and you’ll be able to create a magical…

Our gardens in September are a little like that moment in a great party (remember those?), when everyone’s kicked off their shoes but are still up for a dance! We’re winding down, but not running out of steam. And while our flowers keep throwing the best shapes, it means September gardening gives us the best of both worlds – with summer’s pomp still strutting, yet all the excitement of a new season ahead of us. This moment of peak glut and glamorous flowers has also the irresistible lure of box-fresh bulbs, seductive seed packs and cooler days for long-term planting. But if you do nothing else this month (perhaps your party has already peaked?) then go big on bulbs! They’re every gardener’s friend, delivering a big impact from such a…

HOT TOPIC Examining our colonial past I’ve been inspired by some recent events within this country. As a mixed-race man I’m truly grateful for Monty’s article that started “History is written by the victors,” (The Full Monty, August issue). Monty (and Gardeners’ World Magazine) I salute your bravery and may others follow your lead! Joe Irons, by email Bravo! Thank you for highlighting our colonial past and how our sense of (white) entitlement has justified our exploitation of both people and nature. May we never again commandeer nature’s largesse without examining the short-and long-term impact on indigenous communities and the environment. You have my profound gratitude and admiration for having the guts to tackle this culturally embedded issue head on! Veronica Korczak, by email I didn’t expect to see a…

1. Dig up a clump The ranunculus is a spring flowerer, and disappears from June onwards, re-emerging next spring. It’s dormant now, making this a really good time to divide it. Many of these plants have substantial roots, so be sure to dig up the whole root ball. 2. Wash the roots Shake off surplus soil – if you have the sort of soil that’s shakeable – and immerse the root ball in water, washing off the rest of the soil to give you a clear view of what’s happening and where the roots want to divide themselves. 3. Pull apart Ease the roots apart gently, making sure that each piece you detach has a growing tip and an embryonic bud at its heart. Some plants, such as gentians, form…

Summer is winding down, but there’s no need to say goodbye to profusions of flowers just yet, even in a shady garden or space. There are lots of shade-loving plants that are looking their best right now and planting a pot is the perfect way to give dull areas in your garden an instant lift. While we often use annual plants in pots, the array of perennials in these projects will come back year after year to brighten up your garden. All these pots will thrive in dappled or partial shade and will look good until at least the first frosts. Bright and dark ■ 5 x Cyclamen ‘Neon Pink’ ■ 2 x Heuchera ‘Black Beauty’ ■ 1 x Hydrangea macrophylla, pink ■ 1 x Japanese lace fern (Polystichum polyblepharum)…

1 Enrich your soil with organic matter, so that it can better hold onto moisture in dry spells. Lay a 5cm deep mulch on damp earth in spring, to conserve moisture and keep down weeds that will compete with your plants for light, food and moisture. 2 Use decorative mulches such as pebbles to make sure that the ground around specimen plants does not dry out so quickly. 3 Create a dense covering of foliage with your planting. This will deflect the sun’s rays from the soil’s surface. Plants are happy in company and the more foliage your garden contains, the more environmentally friendly it will be. There is no joy to be found in gazing on a sea of grey dust. 4 Install a trickle irrigation system rather than…

September is a time of abundance in the vegetable garden, with lots to harvest. But it’s also a time when many of your plants are running out of steam and setting seed. Rather than this being a bad thing, your plants are providing you with next year’s veg seeds – for free! It’s quick and easy to save seed from commonly grown vegetables, such as peas, chard and lettuce. It’s environmentally friendly, and I’ve found saving my own seed benefits wildlife too, attracting birds like goldfinches to our garden to feed on the ripening seed heads – there’s always plenty left for us. When saving seeds, choose strong, healthy parent plants without any signs of pests or disease. You can also select for desirable traits, for example, saving seeds from…

The autumn and winter pruning seasons are just around the corner. Herbaceous perennials are almost ready to cut back, trees and shrubs need pruning and for most of these tasks secateurs will be your go-to tool. There are three main types of secateurs: bypass models, which are best for softer, greener growth; plus anvil and ratchet secateurs, which are the types you need for pruning now and in the months to come.. Anvil models have a blade that’s sharpened on both sides and cuts like a knife, pushing through a stem or branch onto a ‘cutting board’ or block. Less effort is required, and they can cut thicker stems than bypass pruners, up to 25mm in diameter depending on the model. But they can crush stems, so work best on…

Prune your trained fruit Reduce the length of the newest shoots on trained forms of apples, pears, redcurrants and gooseberries. Cut them back to leave about five leaves and any fruit on the new growth. These spurs can be cut back further in the winter. If you are training new plants, the new growth at the tips of the framework can be tied in now to lengthen and establish the main shape of the plant. Pruning at this time reduces the vigour of the tree and so helps to maintain its restricted shape. WATCH videos for advice on pests and diseases at gardenersworld.com/problems Pick kale leaves Pick some kale leaves from plants that have been growing all summer. Harvest just the outer leaves to keep the centre in growth. Weed…

Help plants through winter Kirsty Wilson is a supervisor at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and a presenter on BBC’s The Beechgrove Garden A tender plant won’t survive winter outdoors in the UK, as it’s sensitive to frost and cold temperatures. Some plants are killed by just a light frost, while others can cope with long periods of low temperatures or harsh frosts. Some are killed by the combination of winter cold and wet weather. Understanding a plant’s hardiness (how it copes with low temperatures) will help you select the right plants for your garden and ensure you know whether they need to be brought indoors during the colder months. Q Which plants need winter protection and how can I provide it? Any plants that aren’t hardy, which includes tender…

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Have your say, Gardeners’ World Magazine, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT or email letters@gardenersworld.com CROSSWORD ANSWERS (see p136) ACROSS 1 Cotinus 7 Turkey 8 Roots 9 Edward 11 Linnaea 13 Mildew 16 Scorch 19 Ecology 20 Summer 21 Ovata 23 Lawn and you could win a prize. Letters or emails submitted may be edited for publication. * Prizes sent to UK addresses only. 24 Age 25 Agave DOWN 1 Corylus 2 Thorn 3 Nyssa 4 Stream 5 Trowel 6 Pear 10 Downy 12 Nordmann 14 Ipomoea 15 Dionaea 17 Chusan 18 Herbal 22 Axe…

Planting up your container is an easy, fun and create process. Follow these simple steps to make sure that your pot provides the right conditions for all your plants to thrive and that you arrange them in the best way to show them off to full advantage. 1 ENSURE your pot has drainage holes. Place it in its final position, as it’ll be heavy to move when full. Fill it to two-thirds with a loam-based peat-free compost or John Innes No. 3 to support your plants for longer. 2 WATER all your plants, so their compost is thoroughly damp before you remove them from their pots. Then start planting the tallest plants at the back – in this case, the beautyberry and the pennisetum. 3 ADD the mid-height plants –…

All of these will need watering to establish their roots when newly planted, but they are then well equipped to fend for themselves in dry weather. BUDDLEIA Great for butterflies and a stalwart of the summer garden, buddleia is so self-sufficient that it thrived on London bomb-sites after the war and can grow on the pure gravel of railway embankments. Prune it hard back each spring. Flowers Jul-Sep Height x Spread 3m x 5m CISTUS The sun roses are wonderful plants, with leaves that are often downy and flowers that seem to be made of tissue paper. They will grow to around waist height and can be lightly clipped after flowering in early summer to keep them youthful. FJun-Jul HxS1m x 1m ERYNGIUM Fat roots ensure that the sea holly…

You will need Soil-testing kit Tape measure Paper Tracing paper Lead and coloured pencils Pencil compass Circle template Ruler (scale if possible) Plant books and catalogues (as many as possible) • Understand your soil. It’s the most important thing in your garden, yet we take it for granted. The quickest way to assess your soil is by using your hands. You’ll be able feel and see if it is clay, silt, sand, chalk or lime loam – a simple test that doesn’t cost a penny. • Work out the soil’s pH (acid, neutral or alkaline) using a basic DIY soil-testing kit from your garden centre. Soil types can vary around the garden, so test it in several places to get an accurate picture. Most plants will grow either side of…

How I wish my plot always looked as it has over the past two months – full of colour from my flowers, fruit and veg. Sadly, but thankfully slowly, the plants are starting to look a little exhausted, as I pick the last of the summer crops. Harvesting sweetcorn always brings a smile to my face, though, as I snap the ears from the plant and peel back the leaves to reveal its juicy, yellow kernels. Potatoes are a favourite of allotment growers, and my main crop varieties have been growing well over summer. Now, as I cut off all the leafy growth and stop watering, I’m confident that in a couple of weeks’ time I’ll have a good harvest – the perfect accompaniment to all the hearty stews that…

Tomatoes Squeeze the seeds and flesh from a ripe tomato into a bowl and leave for a few days until the mixture begins to ferment. Stir into a jar of water and save the seeds that sink to the bottom, rinsing them thoroughly before placing in a warm spot to dry. Tomatoes can cross-pollinate, but are most likely to grow true to type. Also try tomatillos, Cape gooseberries Peas When I’m picking peas, I often find a few dried pods, hiding under leaves, that I’ve missed. These are great to harvest for seeds. Remove pods when they begin to rattle, shell the peas and dry them for a few days in a warm place. If frost is forecast, bring pods inside to dry. Peas are generally self-pollinating, so should produce…