Innehållsförteckning för June 2020 från BBC Gardeners' World

A friend of mine used to grow more different aquilegias than anyone else I ever knew, in fact he held the Plant Heritage National Collection. The problem was that they’re highly promiscuous. So, in the first ever recorded use of social distancing, in order to keep the seed pure, he grew them all in pots. Then, just before flowering time, he barrowed them individually all over the village, so they were well separated and couldn’t pollinate each other! So you know what will happen if you grow more than one variety: they’ll hybridise and the following year you’ll have all sorts of colours and flower shapes – which can be great! But if you want aquilegias in a specific colour you must grow that colour alone. Even then the bees…

It has been a deadly serious and often tragic time but, humanity being what it is, there has also been a lighter side to the experiences of the past few months. One of the more entertaining aspects of this dreadful virus has been my fumbling efforts to film myself. The BBC deposited a black case outside my door containing a camera and microphone and tripod. The only instruction was that it would be best to set everything to automatic – having correctly worked out that the internal technology was a lot more competent than me. “The tiny buttons were not made for a gardener with hands like spades” The humour is in watching a naturally clumsy man trying to coordinate tripod, camera setting and framing, the tangle of headphones to…

Have your say, Gardeners’ World Magazine, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT or email letters@gardenersworld.com and you could win a prize. Letters or emails submitted may be edited for publication. * Prizes sent to UK addresses only. CROSSWORD ANSWERS (see p144) ACROSS 1 Black spot7 Orla8 Ovaries9 Thatch10 Species12 Molly13 Mossrose16 Leggy19 Savory20 Monarda 21 Lift 22 Stamens DOWN 1 Blossom 2 Azaleas 3 Koi 4 Pests 5 Tomato 6 Blackleg 11 Euonymus 12 Melinda 14 Oxalis 15 Shoots 17 Gorse 18 Years…

1 GO WILD! Do a random act of wildness every day this month with the 30 Days Wild challenge from The Wildlife Trusts. Sign up for activities such as bug hunts and planting wildflowers, at wildlifetrusts/30dayswild 2 HAPPY PLOTTERS Allotment holders feel more positive about how they look, say researchers from Anglia Ruskin University. They found that veg growers at 12 London plots were prouder of their bodies than non-gardeners. bit.ly/body-pride 3 GROW FOR NHS GARDENS Grow fruit, veg and flowers to leave on neighbours’ doorsteps and raise funds for hospital gardens with the Grow to Give campaign, for charity Horatio’s Garden. horatiosgarden.org. uk/growtogive 4 REMEMBRANCE GLADE A new garden has been created at the National Memorial Arboretum, filled with symbolic plants such as silver birch (peace) and Amelanchier canadensis…

While the range of flowering plants that’ll grow happily in some shade is quite large, the choice of edible plants is more limited. In principle, vegetables and fruit grow best in full sun in the UK. However, there are some exceptions. Fruit for light shade Morello cherries Raspberries Victoria plums Plants that tolerate shade in summer Chard Gooseberries Lettuce Rocket Redcurrants/ whitecurrants Spinach Veg that tolerate shade if they get sun for half the day Chives Most brassicas Lovage Mint Parsley Peas Rhubarb Most root crops Runner beans Sorrel…

1 GO TO gardenersworld. com/garden-competition to enter. 2 UPLOAD at least six photos of your garden and tell us how you created it. 3 ENTER before 12 noon on 15 June 2020. If your garden is a winner, we will contact you in June to arrange a date for photography, which must be completed by mid-August. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR At Inspired Villages, your health and happiness is at the heart of everything we do, so retirement can and should be the best years of your life. There are villages in Cheshire, Devon, Hampshire, Warwickshire and West Sussex, all offering a choice of homes that can be adapted to your needs. Each village has its own facilities including a spa, wellness centre, bistro and games room, plus a range of activities…

LETTUCE Whether it is the frilly types, such as deep crimson ‘Lollo Rossa’ and fresh green ‘Salad Bowl’ or the cos-shaped ‘Little Gem’, I love lettuces for their crispy addition to salads. I’m not a fan of the soggy, rubbery kinds, which is why the non-hearters, picked young, and the crispy ‘Little Gem’ really appeal. Successional sowings are a must. ROCKET Another crop I look forward to. Sow a metre of row at a time, every ten days or so, and you will have a succession of peppery leaves on plants that are less likely to run to seed than those left standing for a long time. Use a pair of kitchen scissors to go over them and snip off the leaves you want. RADISH The secret of producing good…

Did you know there’s a whole garden centre right by your back door? No, this isn’t a shopping-deprived gardener’s fantasy brought on by too long in lockdown. All over your house and garden you’ll find everyday items you can upcycle into gardening staples, from cardboard box plant pots to hazel rod beanpoles. Easiest of all, though, are home-made fertilisers and pesticides, made from just about anything as long as it’s organic. It’s a planet-friendly way to garden, big on recycling, plastic-free, and with none of the high carbon footprint involved in making and transporting chemicals. Over the next two issues we’re sharing our favourite easy, home-made recipes for products that keep plants healthy, banish pests and boost harvests – all using materials you already have to hand. This month it’s…

Gardeners are by nature a resourceful lot. We’re botanists, designers, soil scientists and meteorologists all in one – entry level, maybe, versatile definitely. The past two months have seen us becoming even more resourceful – growing and nurturing despite shortages of even the basics and the gates to our garden centres locked. But we’ve pulled together, swapped and shared, delighted in each other’s ingenuity and thrift, and welcomed thousands of new gardeners to our world (a BIG hello to those here for the first time!). There’s much to like in what we’ve become – more generous, nurturing, thoughtful – propelled, we mustn’t forget, by the saddest human stories that have touched every one of us. Will these habits stick? Many of them, I hope – though I can’t wait for…

Our SowAlong brings together gardeners to share their seed-sowing experiences and get expert advice from the magazine team, via social media. On 10 June, we’ll be answering your questions, giving step-by-step advice on how to sow seeds in June and sharing your pictures. This month we’ll be sowing the free Aquilegia ‘Lime Sorbet’ seeds, a plant that’s an early food source for pollinators and useful in trickier parts of the garden as it doesn’t mind growing in partial shade. Also, by leaving some of the flowers to run to seed in your garden, you’ll have aquilegias for years, producing more seedlings every summer. Both pollinators and you will benefit as we are giving away over 215,000 packets of seeds, meaning that you, your family and neighbours can all get involved.…

The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith RRP £20 Harper Collins UK Gardening has never been so vital for our wellbeing and here, psychiatrist Sue Stuart-Smith demonstrates the transformative effect of nature and gardening on our health. Lucy Hall, Editor Dream Plants for the Natural Garden by Piet Oudolf and Henk Gerritsen RRP £20 Frances Lincoln I read this after visiting New York’s High Line garden and it was such a pleasure to revisit Piet Oudolf’s work. Both authors write with zeal – it’s inspiring. Adam Duxbury, Acting Features Editor Losing Eden by Lucy Jones RRP £20 Allen Lane Lucy meticulously explores the role the natural world plays in our lives; explaining how we need nature and gardening, and how it aids mental health.…

Boston fern Boston ferns are tropical plants with a real wow factor. The impressive leaves (or fronds) can grow to nearly a metre in length and will add a jungle or forest feel to any room. Hang them from the ceiling to let the leaves spill down or place them in a pot on the edge of a shelf to draw the eye. These plants are not only packed full of bold, bouncy foliage, they are also hard to kill, which makes them one of the most popular ferns grown in homes. Originally from tropical forest regions of the world, these plants enjoy semi-shade and good humidity, so keep them away from bright windows to avoid scorching and drafts. They don’t like to dry out, so remember to check the…

The location of the British Isles, with the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Arctic to the north and the land mass of Europe to the south and east, means our weather is affected by a wide range of factors. Additional influences are the Gulf Stream and the high-atmosphere Jet Stream. With more energy in the systems that drive all these factors, the UK is becoming more prone to extreme weather events, according to the Met Office, and as a result many records are being broken. ■ The highest daytime maximum temperature on record (38.5°C at Brogdale in Kent on 10 August 2003) during the hottest summer for 500 years across parts of Europe. Last year saw the hottest July day ever recorded – 38.1°C in Cambridge on 24 July…

“It is always worth looking at which plants are thriving in your local area” Given the seaside conditions of this garden – pure sand instead of soil, exposure to strong, salt-laden winds and the very low rainfall in our region – it was imperative to choose plants that could cope well and are adapted to these conditions. I first looked at the native plants growing on the beach below and to see if I could use them in the garden, for example, Armeria maritima (sea thrift), Silene maritima (sea campion) and Crambe maritima (sea kale). I knew that they would be low-maintenance survivors and would create the relaxed, beachy feel that Sophie and Nick were after. Before deciding what to plant in your garden, it is always worth looking at…

• Mow in peace Our Best Value Buy in March, this cordless mower is ideal for small lawns. With great features for the price, it’s light, quiet and emission-free. £199.99, amazon.co.uk • Outdoor barometer Plan gardening jobs whatever the weather. Made from powder-coated steel, choose from three colours. £40, gardentrading.co.uk • Memory foam knee pads Wearable memory-foam kneelers to keep his knees comfy and dry, whatever the job. £14.99, burgonandball.com • Snip-happy secateurs Our Best All Round Secateurs in January, these Japanese bypass pruners have hardened-steel blades and an excellent cutting action. £42, niwaki.com •Dutch hoe Our Best Buy in April, this horseshoe-style hoe will help Dad weed without straining his back. £34.99, burgonandball.com • Portable wood-fired pizza oven A portable, wood-fired oven for budding pizza chefs. Cooks authentic pizzas…

What’s not to love about June? The days are getting longer and temperatures are rising, which is the perfect combination for growth and prosperity in the garden. With the summer solstice this month, we have plenty of light-filled hours to work with in our outside space. The focus for June pruning needs to be on those shrubs that flower on the previous year’s growth. They will be reaching their floral crescendo, but after the flowers have faded, they can be pruned. This will give enough time for new growth and flower buds to establish this year. Leaving it too late may mean sacrificing next year’s flowers. Evergreens such as Viburnum tinus or holly can also be pruned now. With so much to do in the garden it can be easy…

A lot of ‘firsts’ happen on my plot in June. There’s the first sighting of colour, bursting forth from sweetpea blooms between spring-sown vegetables and perennial herbs – all announcing that summer is finally here. But the ‘first’ that really puts a smile on my face is harvesting the first handful of autumn-sown broad beans. That’s followed by digging up the autumn-sown garlic, and then there is the popping open of young pea pods and enjoying the fresh sweet taste of what’s inside. Absolute bliss! There’s also a bustle of bee activity around the flower buds of my summer raspberry canes and strawberry plants – a sign that a fruity harvest is soon to come. All these first appearances also mean I need to start giving my flowering plants (both…

LOOK OUT FOR Slug damage Seedlings are tasty for slugs living underground. To control these slimy pests, try watered-on nematodes, ferric phosphate pellets or placing beer traps next to vulnerable plants. Sow foxgloves Sow foxgloves in pots now to grow on and plant exactly where you want them to flower in the borders next spring. Foxgloves will self-seed very well in the garden, but this pot-grown technique gives you more control of position and variety. Sow the tiny seed mixed with horticultural sand onto the surface of moist compost and germinate in a well-lit spot. Plant out tender flowers Bed out the last of your tender plants, now that the frosts are over and night temperatures are consistently warm. The most temperature-sensitive flowers, such as lantana, lemon verbena and zinnias,…

Shoot-tip cuttings Take shoot-tip cuttings from hydrangeas now and they will root relatively easily. There’s something wonderfully generous about hydrangeas, they’re stalwarts of the mid-to late-summer garden and all the more welcome for that. They’re also relatively easy to multiply by cuttings. Their succulence makes the job a delight if done in June, when the shoots are firm but still quite soft. Choose healthy non-flowering shoots , so you don’t sacrifice any blooms. Take care not to make your cuttings too large; once removed from the parent plant, they will have to support themselves before roots form, and the smaller they are, the less they are likely to dehydrate. Once rooted they can be potted up individually and grown on before being planted outside next year. This method also works…

Plant leeks – create a shallow trench, with a trowel or dibber, and water well Thin root crops, pulling leaves, not stems, earth up slightly and water Direct sow remaining annual seed mixes no later than the middle of the month Hoe beds regularly when it’s dry and sunny Divide clumps of Iris sibirica after flowering Keep mowing the lawn regularly to encourage it to thicken up Apply liquid fertiliser to rapidly green-up a lawn that looks tired Clip small items of topiary, but only if you’re sure that no birds are nesting in them Yemove weeds and algae from ponds with a net or stick. Vlace them on the side before composting so creatures can return to the t pond fo get Edge the lawn to give it a…

Matthew Pottage Matthew is the curator of RHS Garden Wisley, the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society in Surrey. Matt Biggs Matt trained at Kew and has been gardening professionally for more than 30 years. Pippa Greenwood Pippa is one of the foremost experts on pests and diseases. She gardens using organic methods. Q Which plants are best for an unheated conservatory? Elaine Brown, South Wales A MATTHEW P SAYS I find plants of borderline hardiness are best for unheated conservatories, like yours. The physical structure protects them from frost, they can cope with cool temperatures and escape excessive wet, which can often contribute to winter deaths. If you have space, try the lovely New Zealand tree fern Dicksonia squarrosa, which is more compact than the outdoor species we…

Neil Miller Hever Castle & Gardens, Kent What’s your favourite rose? ‘Buxom Beauty’ with its large bright pinky mauve blooms and mind-blowing scent. How do you use roses in your garden? The roses at Hever are planted en masse, with more than 4,000 in the Walled Garden – they provide a real wow factor from June until the end of September, and fill the air with their scent. One piece of rose-growing advice? For a beautiful display feed, feed, feed – they get very hungry. I talk to them, too! Austin Lynch Millgate House & Garden, Yorkshire What’s your favourite rose? Rosa helenae – it’s been the centre piece of the garden for 40 years. It’s a giant climber, and has great berries and perfume. How do you…

HOT TOPIC Taking stock and sharing it I loved what Monty had to say about being more self-reliant and taking stock of what we actually need during this uncertain time (The Full Monty, May issue). Having been unable to purchase the seeds I wanted to sow this spring, I rummaged in the shed in search of old seed packets, and found plenty of sugar snaps and courgettes. Meanwhile, I managed to purchase onion sets and seed potatoes online, but far more than I actually needed. So, I created a ‘going spare’ table outside my house to safely share seedlings and other items with neighbours. I’ve been delighted to see people take them and I’ll certainly continue to share my spares in the future! Amy, Cheshire A yes-yes for lawns I…

Rodgersias Rodgersias are undervalued – as well as feathery flowers, their leaves are architectural and change colour and texture through the growing season. If you have any in your borders, split a mature clump and add a small plant to a container. Combine it with Lamium ‘White Nancy’ and Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ for a shade-loving display. Informal annuals, and biennials such as foxgloves or sweet rocket, also team well with rodgersias. Rudbeckias Easy-to-grow annual rudbeckias bloom on and on, in rich fiery hues. ‘Rustic Dwarf’ is the ideal leading character, so if you haven’t yet sown your free seeds from our April issue, do it now. Then combine it with vivid orange tithonias and nasturtiums to create a tropical hot-spot in a big container. If you only have smaller pots,…

Battery-powered You’ll find battery options for virtually every type of light. They don’t produce the brightest light, but they are good value and quick and easy to install. I like to use them as a finishing touch for a summer party. Not all battery-powered lights can be left out in all weathers so check instructions. Solar-powered Solar lights come in all shapes and sizes – from spotlights and path lights, to fairy lights – and the quality has much improved over the years. Some lights have solar panels built-in and others have a separate panel wired up to the lights – the latter usually means a brighter, better light. Mains-powered Mains-powered lighting provides the strongest, most reliable light source, and the biggest choice of effects. A certified qualified electrician must…

■ gardenersworld.com/climate-change – for lots of useful advice on plants to grow and techniques to cope with our changing climate, and how to reduce your carbon footprint when gardening. ■ Committee on Climate Change – theccc.org.uk for more on Net Zero and reducing UK greenhouse gases. ■ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – ipcc.ch to find out about the United Nations’ body for assessing the science related to climate change. ■ Cet Jffice – metoffice.gov.uk for information on the causes and effects of climate change, and the UK’s extreme weather events. ■ Royal Horticultural Society – rhs.org.uk for advice on water-wise gardening and adapting gardens to cope with climate change. You can also read Gardening in a Changing Climate and Gardening Matters: urban gardens. ■ United Nations and Climate Change…

TOMATOES AND FRENCH MARIGOLDS French marigolds – those small orange tagetes – give off a powerful root exudate (secretions) which, when the marigolds are planted in the same soil as the tomatoes, will help to ward off pests. It is important that the two share the same growing medium, rather than just being grown side by side. Basil, too, is said to attract pests that would otherwise feast on the underside of tomato leaves, but then I quite like my basil without whitefly, too! BEANS AND NASTURTIUMS Anyone who has grown broad, French and runner beans knows just how attractive the tops of the plants are to blackfly. This pest also loves nasturtiums, so planting nasturtiums among broad, French and runner beans will encourage the pests to latch on to…

Pea ‘Hurst Green Shaft’ A popular old variety, grown as a maincrop, that can produce up to 11 sweet flavoured peas per pod. How to Direct sow in a well watered, flat-bottom trench 5cm deep; space rows 75cm apart and space seed 7cm apart. Provide plant supports for tendrils to attach to and climb. Once flowers set, water regularly. Winter Cabbage ‘January King 3’ A reliable cropper for winter harvests, producing solid green heads with a red tinge. How to Sow direct outdoors or under protection in modules. Protect against slugs. Finally plant out up to the top two sets of leaves. Plants benefit from a layer of well-rotted mulch, applied in late summer. Radicchio ‘Palla Rossa’ A deep coloured crunchy addition to a salad or a stir-fry. Can also…

Houseplant holiday Move some houseplants into the garden for the summer. Place them in a sheltered spot and, unless they are succulents that require a lot of light, make sure that they’re not in direct sunlight. Cymbidium orchids do particularly well if treated to a summer holiday in the shade outside. Summer rain is really good for all plants but don’t rely solely on that for watering. In fact, because of the drying effect of air movement, you may need to water more than before. Space out the remaining plants in the greenhouse while there’s room. STEP BY STEP Streptocarpus cuttings Make leaf cuttings of streptocarpus. Plantlets grow and root from tissue that has been damaged at leaf veins. Be careful to put the cuttings in the right way up…

Feeding plants Apply fertiliser now to keep your plants healthy and give them the strength to provide a top performance for the rest of the summer – you’ll harvest more from your veg, too. Granular fertilisers or mixtures like blood, fish and bone meal can be added as one dose to the compost or soil around the plant, and will last for several weeks. Put on some gloves, then sprinkle the fertiliser around the base of the plant by hand. Rake it in, then water to release the nutrients into the soil for the plant to take in. Specific preparations for acid-loving plants are also available. Alternatively, use a regular dose of liquid feed when watering. This allows you to target the plant feed based on growth stage and vigour.…

Do you want a few very large sweet pea flowers with long, straight stems or plenty of smaller blooms, albeit on more wayward stems? Competitive growers favour the former as the blooms are perfect for a show vase. They achieve the large blooms by using the cordon method of growing, which restricts the plant to one main stem – similar to cordon tomatoes. This channels the plant’s energy into a few flowers at the top. You keep removing all side shoots once you’ve selected the main stem, plus any tendrils. Apical dominance (where a plant’s main central stem is dominant) comes into play here. With the hormone, auxin, gathering at the tip of one shoot, it grows strongly, eventually getting too tall for the cane it’s tied to. Most of…