Innehållsförteckning för November 2020 från BBC Gardeners' World

If you’re strolling down the street and you notice an interesting foliage shrub you don’t recognise in somebody’s front garden, the chances are it’s a pittosporum – they’ve sort of crept up on us. Once thought too tender for many gardens and grown mainly in cities and suburbs where the climate is a little milder, our winters have become less murderous and hardier varieties have been introduced, so they’ve steadily become more widely available and more popular. And deservedly so. These are easy-to-grow evergreen shrubs for sunny sites. The well-branched Pittosporum tenuifolium is the most widely grown species and it’s the foliage that is the foremost feature. Its slender, black twigs carry small, wavy leaves, which can be purplish, bronzed, creamy, silvered or variegated, and among them small, dark, honey-scented…

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. ACROSS 1 Crataegus7 Acer8 Mangetout9 Iris10 Oldrose12 Scales15 Tender19 Elatior21 Beth22 Leafmould24 Kiwi25 Ace 26 Ready DOWN 1 Compost 2 Awn 3 Anemone 4 Gloves 5 Sativa 6 Nerine 11 Don 13 Charmer 14 Sir 16 Egeria 17 Dahlia 18 Regale 20 Inula 23 Day…

Thick root cuttings such as acanthus, anchusa and Oriental poppies 1 Detach a few chunky pieces of root either by delving into the soil or by digging up the whole plant. With a sharp knife, cut the roots into 5cm pieces, making sure you keep the end closest to the crown of the plant uppermost. The simplest way to do this is to lay them out on the table, and as you cut them, keep them all the same way up. 2 Push them vertically into regular compost, keeping the crown-end uppermost. I like to use a module tray, giving each one its own compartment so that, when the cuttings are ready to be potted on, their new roots are not disturbed. Having covered the surface with sharp grit, water…

Wellington boots are an essential part of every gardener’s wardrobe, allowing you to garden all year round no matter how wet and muddy it might be under foot. A basic pair will protect you from rain, damp grass and soggy leaves, but there are now hundreds of different styles to choose from, with a range of features to suit every job and to keep your feet warm and dry no matter how extreme the weather. Throughout 2020, the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team tested a range of full-height wellies, ideal for keeping you dry right up to the knees. We wore them in our gardens and beyond while carrying out a range of different gardening tasks, in all weathers. How we tested We looked at the following criteria, with equal…

Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire Former home of Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust founder, Sir Peter Scott, this idyllic location on the Severn Estuary is a haven for wildlife, with ponds, salt marshes, reed beds, pastures and trees, helping you get closer to nature. Book at wwt.org.uk/visit/ discounts. Select ‘Slimbridge’ and enter code GARDEN Open daily, 9.30am-5pm (last admission 4pm) Moors Meadow Garden, Herefordshire This enchanting hillside garden is managed organically, and its seven peaceful acres are home to a wide range of birds, including owls, skylarks and woodpeckers, as well as creatures such as badgers, hares, stoats and weasels. Book at moorsmeadow.co.uk Open by appointment only Pensthorpe Natural Park, Norfolk This family-friendly nature reserve has four beautiful gardens, nature trails and a wildflower meadow. Enjoy Piet Oudolf’s stunning prairie garden, the…

As the air gets cold, my chicory plants may look frost bitten but their hearts will have sweetened, ready to harvest. Another group of vegetables that tastes delicious after being kissed by frost are brassicas, which include the cabbages and cauliflowers that are now coming into their own. The celeriac that are being sheltered by the cabbage cloche are ready to turn into steaks or a fragrant mash. With winter on the horizon, it’s soup season and the first of my homegrown leeks will ensure that my vegetable broths taste delicious.…

Microgreens Microgreens are proof that, no matter how little space you have, anyone can grow something for their dinner plate. Microgreens are young plants that are harvested when they’re between 3 and 5cm tall, either when the first seed leaves have unfurled or when the next ‘true leaves’ have emerged. These nutrient-dense little leaves are quick and easy to cultivate and a great option for those with very little space to grow plants. With just a small seed tray, a little compost, seeds and a bright windowsill, you could be harvesting your own microgreens within a month! All plants that produce edible leaves can be grown as microgreens, and basil, dill, radish, mustard greens, coriander, chard, broccoli, beetroot, rocket and peas work particularly well. ■ Timing Microgreens can be grown…

Take mint root cuttings Knock a mint plant out of its pot and tease out some roots to make root cuttings. You can do this to bulk up your supply of mint next summer or rejuvenate old plants. Choose the thickest roots and cut them into 5cm sections. Lay them on the surface of a pot or tray of loam-based compost, firm then cover with a layer of vermiculite or compost. Water then place on the greenhouse bench. Shoots will appear in a few weeks. WATCH videos and get more tips at gardenersworld.com/herbs Don’t forget Look out for signs of slug and snail damage, especially in an unheated greenhouse Check sweetpea seedlings are not being nibbled by mice Remove any remaining shade paint from the glass as plants need maximum…

The garden is probably not looking its best this month, as it slowly dips under the protection of winter’s duvet, only to reveal itself again in the spring. Weeds, bare branches and fallen leaves need a tidy up, but corners of the garden can be left a little wild with piles of twigs or leaves to protect wildlife. November should be seen as the month when you start to protect plants and structures. It is the perfect time to stand back and look at the bare structure of the garden. Colder temperatures, strong winds, heavy rain, sleet or snow are not uncommon during November, and when deciduous trees, shrubs and hedges begin their dormancy, you can start renovation pruning. Bare branches make it easier to see what needs cutting back.…

While 2020 has been memorable for all the wrong reasons, it has also been a time of positive firsts for many of us. Forced by circumstances to break out of our routines, as a nation we’ve tuned in to nature, smelt the roses and got growing. Our gardens, however small, have given us opportunities as never before – and you’ve risen to the challenge! In launching our 2020 Gardens of the Year competition at the height of lockdown, we had no idea what we’d discover. And then… your entries flooded in. We’ve had the highest-ever number of entries, and each of the 1,000 plus submissions have been rich with stories of imagination, transformation and passion. We’ve read and enjoyed every entry, spent hundreds of hours ‘meeting’ you through your photos,…

“If we really want to nurture this lovely world, we all have to work together to protect it” Talk to any environmental botanist trying to identify the plants most at risk from extinction and they will tell you that the biggest problem is not identifying the plants they know about – but the unknown, unnumbered species being burnt, bulldozed, built over and obliterated by man in the name of agriculture and commerce. It is the unknown unknowns that are the greatest worry. Our planet’s biodiversity is being reduced and diminished daily and yet the vast majority of us don’t know it is happening. To put the losses into context, botanists ‘discover’ about 2,000 new species every year. The implication of that is there are tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of…

Hardy annuals can be sown in autumn in the same way as in spring, either broadcast directly onto the soil or undercover. If they are big seeds – calendula, sweet peas or their ilk – they can have a compartment in a module all to themselves and be planted out in spring as soon as the weather warms up. To give them the best possible start in life, they can be potted on into recycled 9cm pots. Annuals with smaller seed can be sown sparsely in trays and pricked out during the winter. All winter seedlings need as much light as possible. Water sparingly to avoid damping off and other fungal problems, and prick out promptly. Topping with grit in all these cases, whether with seed or cuttings, helps drainage…

Graptopetalum This chic house plant thrives on neglect. Graptopetalum filiferum, also known as leatherpetal, can survive periods of drought, making it the ideal house plant if you have a habit of forgetting to water. Its pale green leaves grow in a perfect rosette, and its neat, compact shape is pefect for displaying in a stylish cover pot that deserves to be seen and shown off. This succulent originates from Mexico and southwestern USA, but will bring an easy elegance to your windowsills – see recommendations on p45. Once mature, this plant will produce spikes of flowers in spring, and fine tendrils will grow from each leaf. Tolerant of dry spells, it only needs watering every couple of weeks during summer, and once every few months in winter. Water just enough…

Material Predominantly natural rubber but can also be PVC or leather and suede Kick spur An extra spur of rubber on the back is a useful aid for getting the boot off Heel Gives extra grip but also helps support the arch of the foot for added comfort and to relieve strain on the back Lining Can increase warmth and comfort. Cotton, quick-dry jersey, neoprene or leather are the most common Calf adjustment A built-in adjustable strap at calf level helps boots fit a range of leg sizes Sole A deep grip or cleats will help boots to stay anchored on slippery surfaces and in mud How to look after your wellies Always clean your boots regularly, preferably after every use, but especially when they’re very muddy. Wash them with…

Many UK gardens are now open to visitors, however, most have special measures in place, including pre-booking and restricted visitor numbers. Q Check before you travel Opening details for gardens listed in our 2 for 1 Entry Guide have changed since publication, so contact the garden before you plan your visit. Note that some gardens have additional restrictions in place and a few have temporarily suspended use of the 2 for 1 Entry Card. For more ideas of where to go, visit gardenersworld. com/2-for-1-gardens Q Online directory We are unable to keep all the 2 for 1 garden pages of our online directory up to date, however, we will publish the most recent status that we receive from the gardens on a weekly basis. Go to gardenersworld.com/ 2-for-1-visit-status Q Order…

Garlic ‘Caulk Wight’ This hardneck variety grows well in cold, wet winters. And you can look forward to plump, flavoursome cloves next June. How to Plant cloves in the ground, or in a large pot, in a sunny spot, 3-4cm below the surface, with the pointy end upwards. Parsley ‘Flat Leaved’ This is a wonderful herb for adding freshness to winter dishes. Just a few pots of parsley on a windowsill or in the greenhouse will keep giving you fresh leaves into winter. How to At this time of year, seeds are tricky to germinate, so it’s best to buy plants. If you have pots of parsley in the garden, bring them under cover now to keep them cropping. Harvest as and when required. Raspberry ‘Autumn Bliss’ From August until…

QUICK SOLUTIONS Keep some fleece and a few bricks handy to cover tender crops when frosty nights threaten. Hold the fleece down with the bricks. This covering is enough to protect against light frosts and faster to put in place than cloche tunnels in an emergency. VISIT gardenersworld. com/fruit-veg for more advice on growing your own Grow rhubarb Dig some well-rotted manure into the ground to prepare a site for growing rhubarb. Rhubarb does best in a sunny position in soil that offers good drainage. Pot-grown plants or dormant crowns split from established clumps of rhubarb can be planted now. Make sure the growing tips of the fleshy crowns are well above the soil surface once they are firmed in. Resist picking the young stems of new plants for…

A record-breaking 1,003 of you entered this year’s competition. Now it’s time to reveal the winners! Watch behind-the-scenes footage of the judging process and see more of the fantastic gardens of our eight finalists at gardenersworld.com/garden-competition where you can also vote in our People’s Choice award – discover the winner next month Meet the judging panel Alan Titchmarsh “This year’s entries are the best we’ve ever had. There’s something to inspire, whatever your style” Kate Gould “Often, gardens are full of ‘stuff’ people want. But it’s uplifting – here the plants are the stars” Diarmuid Gavin “This is quite simply a great bunch of gardens. There’s nothing here I didn’t like” PLUS PREVIOUS WINNERS This year we invited our two most recent winners to take part in the judging: Frank…

Best for Light Use Brakeburn Sausage Dog Wellies £44.99 Attractive and comfortable, these simple wellies are easy to wear. They’re great for lighter gardening work in spring and summer. Best All-Rounder Hunter Original Tall Wellington Boots £95/£100 These classic boots proved to be comfortable, with excellent support, and were strong and sturdy enough for all garden tasks, as well as walking. Best Men’s Heavy Duty Skellerup Red Band Knee Boots £65 They may lack good looks, but make up for this with a generous fit, hard-wearing soles with excellent grip, and strong, sturdy comfort. Best Women’s Heavy Duty Muck Women’s Greta Max Work Boots £120 Light, supportive and comfortable, these hard-wearing boots keep your feet warm and dry through even the most demanding task. Best for Wider Leg Shapes Aigle…

Rewilding of public spaces and farmland is vitally important to conservation, but we also need to support native species and provide rich habitats in our own gardens. Now is the time when the year is beginning to wind down and the garden and all the creatures in it are doing likewise. But far from a time when we can stop, this is exactly when we need to start working. This ensures that come the springtime, when things get in full swing and the animals are busy scurrying around, collecting grains, pollen and laying eggs, we don’t run the risk of disturbing them. 1 CUT WILDFLOWER MEADOWS once the seeds have all appeared and matured. If you do this before the seeds have formed then you won’t have any wildflowers the…

Brr… chilly days and even colder nights – November, I’d be lying if I said I was glad to see you. But before you throw any hard frosts over my carrots, which are still in the ground, I’m going to cover them with straw for protection. And before the ground gets too cold to work on, I’ll be planting out the last of my hardneck garlic cloves. There’s also plenty to harvest this month – I’ll be picking the first of my leeks, along with Savoy cabbages, cauliflower and curly kale, which will keep me in fresh produce from now until spring arrives. This year, I’m also growing winter radishes – daikon and black Spanish radish – to add heat and spice to my winter dishes. In the greenhouse, I’m…

“Some winter vegetables, including kale, parsnips and sprouts, actually get sweeter when it’s frosty” Gardeners are never happier than when grumbling about the weather, especially in winter. There’s such a lot of it, after all: when it’s not raining, it’s blowing a gale, or everything’s frozen. Plus, climate change is bringing the increased threat of extreme weather events, which can leave us feeling powerless. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to abandon the veg plot until next spring. I have lots of crops that are still in the ground and, with just a little protection, they will keep me and my family in fresh harvests right through the winter and beyond. So this month I’m showing you how to get the veg garden winter-ready before the worst weather hits. Some…

Blackcurrant ‘Ben Connan’ Produces large berries and makes a neat compact bush. Gooseberry ‘Invicta’ Excellent when cooked but sweet enough to be eaten fresh when ripe. Pink Currant ‘Gloire de Sablon’ French variety producing translucent pink currants. 3 plants (1 of each) £27.85 (RRP £34.85) SAVE £7 (CUR902) Please add £8.95 P&P www.PomonaFruits.co.uk/GW11GCP Terms & Conditions: Plants are supplied bare-rooted. Offer closes on 31/12/2020. Offer is available to UK mainland only. Delivery is from late November/December.…

Plant a tree When considering climate change and any big campaigns underway to green the planet, it’s easy to forget that the environment begins just outside our back doors. First established in 1975, National Tree Week runs this year from 28 November to 6 December and every one of us can do our bit by planting at least one tree that suits our particular situation. Bare-root trees are planted when they are dormant – between November and March; though this is also a good time to plant pot-grown trees. Do your homework and find a tree whose ultimate height and spread will suit your garden and which will thrive in your soil. Give your tree a stake if it is of sufficient height to be buffeted by winds, and make…

STEP BY STEP Test your soil’s pH balance Measure the pH of your soil with a home test kit, which you can buy at garden centres or online. Nutrient availability is affected by pH, so should be a factor in plant choice. It’s useful to know the pH for new borders or on the veg plot where you regularly add material that can change the pH of soil. Take soil samples from just below the soil surface at rooting level. 1 DRY your soil sample on some paper for a day or two before testing. Pour soil into the test tube up to the marker given in the instructions provided with the kit. 2 CHECK the instructions again and add the right amount of soil indicator liquid – the…

Christine Walkden Garden writer Christine appears on BBC1’s The One Show. She is also a lecturer and tour leader. 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 Which flowers can I start now for wedding in July? Alicia, by email A BOB SAYS I wish luck you , as it can be tricky to synchronise growing and flowering times with a specific date. I strongly suggest you grow the most important flowers in three batches, some planted in full sun, some in shade and, for those well suited, a third lot in tubs that can be moved…