Innehållsförteckning för December 2020 från BBC Gardeners' World

When botanist Carl Linnaeus established the genus geranium back in 1753, he included a wide range of plants. Later, some of them were seen to be so different that they were split off and given a genus of their own, pelargonium, but we carried on calling them geranium anyway. It’s the same with amaryllis. Again, Linnaeus originally coined the name to include a wide range of plants. Some of them were later split off and called hippeastrum, but we continue to call them amaryllis. However, at this time of year we could only be referring to one group – the flamboyant and oh-so-easy-to-grow windowsill hippeastrum. Once seen mainly as an emergency last-minute Christmas gift, hippeastrums are available everywhere from garden centres to mail-order firms to garage minimarkets, but here’s the…

CHRISTMAS QUIZ ANSWERS WORD WHEEL 1 Suggested words (not comprehensive): finer, frank, infer, infra, knife, oaken, reran 2 Korean Fir WORD SEARCH Brodie, Almond, Hedera, Norway, Raisin, Ginger WINTER WONDERS Helleborus niger, Nandina domestica, Clematis cirrhosa, Daphne odora STEP BY STEP There are several possible solutions, including: star sear fear feat feet fret free tree SPOT THE DIFFERENCE The right-hand picture lacks the following: pattern on the shoulder of Arit’s jumper; wall basket; metal on horizontal fence strut; yellow flower in near container; red flower in far container; the logo on the watering can. NUT CRACKER Chestnut (12,18,23,25,16,10,7,16), Walnut (19,4,3,10,7,16), Brazil (6,17,4,1,2,3), Cashew (12,4,25,18,23,19), Almond (4,3,20,15,10,8),Hazelnut(18,4,1,23,3,10,7,16) CROSSWORD Across 1 Nordmann Fir5 Dates7 Cashew9 Erica10 Sunset11 Brussels13 Elms15 Pieris 17 Moss 19 Kale 20 Eastern 21 Pear Down 1 Nutmeg 2…

✓ Do rake up fallen leaves from deciduous trees to turn into leafmould. Don’t be tempted to just leave the leaves where they fall – fragile plants in your borders will get smothered and lawns will get patchy. ✓ Do stack the leaves in a simple container, such as four wooden posts hammered into the soil with wire mesh sides. You can also make leafmould by stuffing leaves in plastic bags, but it takes ages for them to rot down. x Don’t give up if you have no trees in your garden. The local council is often happy to give away bags of collected leaves as roads are cleared of debris in autumn. x Don’t bother shredding oak, beech or hornbeam leaves, as these will break down rapidly without help.…

There are usually lots of little bits left over from making a wreath. Rather than waste these materials, why not create other smaller decorations that can be used in the home or as handmade gifts? We make mini wreaths, following the same basic steps as for larger wreaths. Door decoration Using some thin ribbon, we hung a mini wreath on a door handle. This adds a little burst of Christmas cheer in an unexpected place. YOU WILL NEED Vine, thin piece Florist wire (0.35mm thickness) Ribbon, thin piece Hops, dried Rosehips Conifers Thyme, dried Gift wrap Using a mini wreath to decorate a present adds a personal touch. We wrapped the gift in recycled fabric then tied it with natural twine, before tying on the wreath. YOU WILL NEED Vine,…

Royal Botanic Gardens, Head into the Pinetum to immerse yourself in winter greenery and towering redwoods. Stroll into the Palm House then down Syon Vista for a long stretch to the Thames. The restaurant and cafés will be serving hot meals and drinks. Book at kew.org and enter code gardenersworld Open daily, 10am-3pm (except 24 and 25 Dec, last entry 2pm) Leonardslee Lakes & Arrive early to watch the mist rise over the seven lakes, explore the Victorian rock garden, and take in the sheltered valleys and their waterfalls. Follow up with a delicious high tea or meal in the Michelin-starred restaurant. Book at leonardsleegardens.co.uk Open daily (except 25 Dec), 9am-4pm (last entry 2.30pm) Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh Wander around 70 acres of beautiful landscape with a view of the…

A lthough it is quiet on the plot now, there’s still plenty to harvest. My visits this month will be fewer and farther between compared with the rest of the year, but with every visit I am taking collards, leeks, mustard greens and winter cabbages, with bunches of herbs like parsley and coriander tucked into the trug, too. Even my lunchboxes hold winter salads such as endive, rocket and ‘Winter Density’ lettuce, which are growing in the unheated greenhouse. The green manures I grow, to protect the soil from erosion through the winter months, also add a lushness to the plot. But I experience a glum feeling at this time of the year – I blame the lack of sunshine! To get me motivated, I start planning the new varieties…

Take cuttings of flowering shrubs Cut the thickest straight stems of this year’s growth on deciduous shrubs like viburnum and weigela, to make hardwood cuttings now they’re dormant. Trim the cuttings to approx. 15-20cm, leaving a bud at the top and the bottom. They will root easily in a sheltered spot in the garden. Add grit to the soil and bury two-thirds of their length. They’ll be rooted by late spring and can be left to grow, then moved next autumn. VISIT gardenersworld. com/propagation for more advice on making new plants Look after Christmas plants Put your Christmas pot plants in the right place to help them last for the whole festive season and beyond. Azaleas, Christmas cactus and cyclamen can go somewhere cool and light. Snip out flowers…

s we count down the last days of this extraordinary year, I know we’ll all have reasons, positive or painful, to remember 2020. In nature, new life so often comes from adversity – and as gardeners, we’ve seen this in action and connected with others through shared experiences. While shortages of plants, compost and seeds couldn’t stop us growing, we welcomed millions of new gardeners to the pleasures of nurturing a patch of ground, however small. And, as Monty observes in his review of 2020, our gardens have nurtured us as much as we’ve cared for them – as witnessed by the stories we share from entrants to our Gardens of the Year competition. Each reveals how gardening in 2020 has restored a vital balance in turbulent times. It’s becoming…

The days are short and the weather grim. As I walk up through the garden to open the greenhouses and let out the chickens, I have the choice of slipping on the paths or squelching on the grass. The Jewel Garden is hunched and humiliated into submission. No words will salvage anything from the Writing Garden and the Paradise Garden is anything but heavenly at this time of year. This is not entirely unexpected – in fact, the bright, cold, crisp days are the unexpected treat that all too rarely lights up midwinter. The less-heralded curse of climate change, aside from drought, flood, storm, melting ice caps, dying coral reefs and a thousand other catastrophes, are the succession of mild, grey, wet days strung like malevolent beads on winter’s thread.…

The danger for the environment with Monty’s approach [to ban peat] (The Full Monty, November issue) is that it will make gardening less accessible for the new and inexperienced gardener. That will have the effect of them stopping gardening to find an easier hobby. The result is that gardens will be paved over (look at the reduction in the number of front gardens over the last 10 years) and those with just a balcony or windowsill just won’t fill them up with plants. That has a detrimental effect on the environment. If newcomers get into gardening it becomes addictive – people start to grow their own crops and experiment with growing systems and all the things Monty advocates. But don’t take away the simple route in and make gardening an…

oya For a lush, jungly look in your home, you need foliage pouring over the edges of shelves and cascading from hanging planters. And why settle for leaves in just one colour, when you could have three? The glossy leaves of Hoya carnosa ‘Tricolor’ are variegated green and cream, with a pink flush, and hang from pink stems. The stems can be trained up wires or allowed to trail. Grown in a bright spot, it will sometimes produce pinkish-white, sweetly fragrant flowers. Originally from subtropical forests in south-east Asia and Australia, where it climbs up trees, it’s easy to grow – its thick, waxy leaves allow it to cope with neglect. And it’s easy to propagate, so once you have one, you can make lots more to fill your home…

There is nothing more special than making your own natural festive decorations. We love to forage for seasonal materials and to incorporate some of the bounty we have harvested and dried throughout the year. Our gardens can offer up a surprising amount of greenery even in winter, and keep your eyes peeled when you’re out for a walk – but don’t gather plants from protected sites. Look for ingredients that will hold their shape as they dry out, so your wreath will last. You can also buy dried flowers, berries and seedheads from florist suppliers to add a sparkle to your decoration. By using foraged ingredients and avoiding plastic waste, you can celebrate the season in a planet-friendly way – plus, many of the elements can be reused next year,…

With the festive season upon us, get the kids involved in making tree decorations – for indoors and outside. These ideas are easy to create with under-10s, although older children can enjoy making the designs more elaborate Pine cone reindeer decorations This cute reindeer decoration ticks a number of boxes for keeping the kids busy over the holidays. From taking them on woodland walks to forage for pine cones and twigs, to sorting them and assembling them once back at home – there’s plenty to spark their imaginations and create a herd of Rudolphs. You will need: Pine cones Twigs A pack of self-adhesive googly eyes A pack of red pom poms Washable PVA glue Paint brush Cotton/ribbon Scissors Step 1 Take your pine cone and attach a pom pom…

Even though winter has kicked in, I can dig up a few carrots, which are tucked under straw I use to keep the ground and roots from freezing. I’ll also snap off a few Brussels sprouts to add to my pickings. My family have requested their favourite soup, so I’ll lift a leek or two to make that, and snip off a few curly kale leaves to sprinkle over the top. A handful of strikingly coloured chard stems are a welcome sight in a light saag paneer curry. And, as I thin out my ‘Senshyu’ onions, the seedlings will be an aromatic addition to salads.…

These patio fruit trees have been bred specifically for their dwarf habit, making them ideal for growing in large containers. Apple ‘Golden Delicious’ (10395) Cherry ‘Sylvia’ (10442) Pear ‘Conference’ (42025) 1 plant in 9cm pot £15.99 OR 3 plants in 9cm pots £24.99 SAVE £22.98 (KB7556) 0844 573 6054* quote code TM_GW42 thompson-morgan.com/TM_GW42 Ts&Cs Offer closes 14/01/2021. Items despatched from December 2020 onwards. All offers subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties if necessary. Regretfully we are unable to ship live plants to the following postcode areas: HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3. *Calls cost 7p/minute plus your network access charge. Phone Lines open 9am-6pm 7 days a week. £4.99 P&P payable.…

Sort containers Stack your pots in size order to make sowing and potting easier this spring – once stacked, they’ll also take up less room. Check them for cracks or splits. Keep cracked terracotta pots as they can be bound with wire to extend their life a bit. Don’t forget Regularly remove dead leaves from overwintering plants to prevent rots and moulds taking hold Only water plants sparingly this month as growth will be slow Check heat and ventilation Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of your greenhouse. In winter, unheated greenhouses will still warm up in the sunshine and may need ventilation. Some greenhouse heaters have thermostats so that the temperature can be automatically controlled. Whichever system you have, ventilation is still key to controlling fungal disease at…

Gardening gloves not only help to keep your hands clean and dry, they also prevent blisters, and protect against thorns, nettles, sharp stones and even soil bacteria. So, although some people choose not to wear them all the time, the simple fact is there are some tasks you just can’t do without them. Plus, recent developments in gardening glove design make them much easier to wear. There’s a huge number of gardening gloves on the market. They’re available in a range of designs and materials, and with a host of features, from latex grip and bamboo fabric for that second-skin feel, to thermal layers and waterproof mesh that provide much-needed warmth and comfort when the garden is wet and temperatures have dropped. To discover which gloves coped best with the…

Best for winter use Stihl ThermoGrip, £7.50 Thick knit with a waterproof latex coating, these gloves will keep your fingers warm and dry through the colder months – and at a great price. Best for light work Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre, £4.99 These great-value gloves are comfortable, breathable and have a snug fit. Just the thing for light, fine work all day. Best for heavy-duty work Clip Gloves Shock Absorber, £14.99 Extra padding on the palms protect hands when digging or heavy pruning. Wrist strap and spandex back ensure a good fit. Best for everyday use Clip Gloves General Purpose, £16.95 These well-fitting gloves are ideal for general weeding, pruning and mowing. Sturdy, breathable and comfortable. Best for wet-weather work Gold Leaf The Dry Touch, £20.95 Made from soft water-repellent…

There’s a good reason why I have fond memories of house plants – they take me back to the 1970s – to my grandparents’ house and the old Swiss cheese plant we had at home. But things have really moved on since then, and I’ve been amazed to watch a house plant revival in recent years. Evidence now shows that indoor plants are good for our health and wellbeing and, with winter weather leading to more time inside, why wouldn’t you grow a few? They come in all shapes and sizes, so there really is something for everyone. Some have wonderful, architectural foliage, while others reward us with beautiful flowers. And, bar a few exceptions, most are not too needy. If placed in a well-lit, draught-free spot with a reasonably…

You can make all of the wreaths on these pages using the same basic technique, just add different decorative elements. We’ve used lengths of dried vine as the base for these wreaths, as an eco-friendly alternative to florist’s foam. They’re easy to bend into shape – soak the vines in a bucket of water for a few hours before you start construction to stop them snapping when you bend them. If you can’t find dried vine, you can buy ready-made vine wreath bases. 1 BEND THE VINE into a circle to work out the size you want, then cut to length; 1-1.5m makes a good size wreath. Twist the vine around itself once or twice to give it a circle shape. Using a reel of wire, tie the vine together.…

Gooseberry ‘Invicta’ Bred in the UK, this is a high-yielding and mildew-resistant variety that is delicious cooked into puddings and jams. How to Bare-root plants can be planted from November to March, when the plants are dormant. Add plenty of organic matter to the soil before planting, especially on poor ground. Cooking varieties will tolerate shade, but dessert types need plenty of sun. Alfalfa microgreens These tiny plants can be grown densely in a small container on a windowsill. Packed full of nutrients, they’re great for perking up winter salads. How to Soak seeds for 8-12 hours in fresh tepid water, drain and place seeds in a sprouter or a large jar. Over 2 to 3 days, rinse and drain seeds until germination occurs. Harvest when shoots are small, no…

Put up bird feeders Feed birds to keep them healthy over winter so they nest in your patch and help with pest management next season. Use a variety of feeders to provide seeds, nuts, grains and high-calorie foods such as fat balls. Place the feeders high up and away from any cover where predators like cats can wait to pounce. Keep the feeders clean and top them up regularly. VISIT gardenersworld. com/wildlife for more advice on caring for wildlife Plant new fruit trees Dig a hole to the same depth as the roots of your new fruit tree but twice as wide. Fork the bottom of the hole, add some garden compost, then water. Provide a support, such as a stake if you’re in a windy spot. Hold the…

Honey fungus myth busting Honey fungus is well known, but some facts about the disease might surprise you. Not just one species, several different ones gather under the fungus genus Armillaria – some very damaging to garden plants, others less so. While honey-coloured toadstools gave this disease its common name, it might be in your garden without you seeing them. Armillaria toadstools differ quite a bit and not all honey-coloured toadstools are Armillaria. You can identify honey fungus by spotting other symptoms on your plants – cracked and bleeding bark, a smell of mushrooms low down, or small, pale leaves, premature autumn colour and plant death caused by decaying roots. When infection sets in, the mycelium (fungal tissue) makes a white mat under bark and bootlace-like ‘rhizomorphs’ may be seen…