Innehållsförteckning för April 2021 från BBC Gardeners' World

In the face of constant debate about the ongoing use of peat, both for home gardeners and the horticultural industry, why is the Government not doing more to stop peat extraction and peat imports from the EU? Also, now that the UK is no longer in the EU, how will this affect the importation of peat and how can Britain stop the use of peat and peat-bog extraction? Why has the Government left it to the horticulture industry to self-regulate the use of peat, without imposing tougher regulations. Also, the labelling on peat-free products is confusing, with some manufacturers/suppliers not explicitly stating whether peat is or is not included in a product. Margaret Halstead, Oxfordshire I’ve just read your article Countdown For Peat (January issue) and I wanted to say…

1 HELP YOUNG BIRDERS Encourage the next generation of bird watchers by donating old binoculars or bird guides. These will be passed on to a young person who can’t afford them. bit.ly/BTOdonation 2 NEW WILDFLOWER VERGES New policy will see 300 miles of major motorways and roads created with wildflower friendly verges, using low nutrient soil. Find out more: bit.ly/ RoadVergeWildflowers 3 URBAN BEES Nearly 9 out of 10 grams of urban nectar fed on by pollinators comes from a garden, according to a new study*. Find out more: bit.ly/nectarproduction 4 PLANT AND SHARE Take part in Plant and Share, 19 April-19 May, a Soil Association campaign to encourage people to grow veg and share it with their community. Find out more at bit.ly/plant-and-share 5 SHED OF THE YEAR 2021…

“Growing veg is easy, there may be failures along the way but most efforts will meet with success” When we came to Glebe Cottage, 43 years ago, we were determined to grow some of what we would eat – vegetables and fruit. It wasn’t a crusade, it just seemed obvious that we had the wherewithal in terms of land, time and determination to be able to grow at least some of our own produce. A kind and romantic friend, convinced that our rural idyll would work out, gave us a copy of John Seymour’s, The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency as a leaving present. What a brilliant book; Seymour was so ahead of his time in so many ways, a pioneer of growing your own, addressing climate change and greening the…

Birds, bees and butterflies provide us with a source of wonder and entertainment. How static would our plots be in winter without birds flocking around a feeder? A summer garden is brought to life by butterflies and other insects that repay close inspection. And with an organic approach, which allows nature to achieve its own kind of balance, the build-up of pests really is kept to a minimum, without the need to resort to sprays and poisons. There’s huge pleasure in adjusting our gardens to attract as much wildlife as possible, and while few would claim that a badger digging up the lawn is a wonder to behold, there is a huge amount of satisfaction to be had from discovering that our own ‘wildlife magnets’ have been successful. It is…

■ Canary creeper (Tropaeolum peregrinum) This tender perennial grows rapidly in summer. Keep frost-free in winter. Height x Spread 3.5m x 1.2m Flowers Jun-Oct ■ Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata) Fast-growing annual climber, covering itself in sprays of tubular flowers. Best grown in full sun. H x S2.5m x 50cm F Jun-Aug ■ Chinese dregea (Dregea sinensis) Evergreen climber bearing clusters of scented flowers. Grow in a sheltered spot or indoors. H x S3m x 3m F-Jun-Aug ■ Chinese jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) An evergreen, self-twining climber, well suited to growing in a large container. Grow this perennial in a sheltered spot. H x S6m x 3m F Jul-Aug ■ Scented clematis (Clematis x aromatica) Vanilla-scented purple flowers. Cut the stems down to the ground in winter. H x S2m x 1m…

All eight winning gardens will win a professional photoshoot of their garden and be featured in BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine in 2021-22. The winner of the Judges’ Choice will also win a holiday for two, courtesy of South Carolina Tourism, worth over £8,000, including: ■ Return flights ■ 7 nights in 4* hotels – 3 nights in the historic city of Charleston and 4 nights in the ocean resort of Myrtle Beach ■ VIP gardening experiences and more The winner can enjoy everything the two cities have to offer – from beautiful beaches, carriage rides, museums and glorious gardens. They can also learn about the history of the plantations that shaped the cities, and how it resonates today. PLUS, there will be fantastic prizes for the Highly Commended garden and…

As well as the frenzy of seed sowing, this month, I make comfrey and nettle teas from the new spring growth to use as fertiliser around the plot. It can brew away while my seedlings grow and will be ready in six weeks. The sweetcorn patch-to-be gets a helping of well-rotted compost, in readiness for planting out next month. The pea plants I sowed last month need supports and the canes that I saved when I pruned my autumn raspberries in February will come in handy for this. On the apple tree, I’ll hang pheromone traps to protect it from codling moth. And I’ll watch, as the plot comes to life again.…

1 WHEN planting under glass or outside, tie the main stem to a 2m tall cane or length of vertical twine. Remove all sideshoots now, and continue to do this as the plant grows. ■ TOP TIP Use durable twine that won’t break part way through the growing season. 2 THE PLANT will gain height rapidly – keep removing all sideshoots as they appear. Cut out any competing leaders (these look like very large sideshoots). ■ TOP TIP Snap out sideshoots less than pencil-thick with your fingers, but use a knife to cut any that are larger than this. 3 ON OUTDOOR plants, pinch out the main stem after five trusses have formed (glasshouse plants can climb into the eaves). ■ TOP TIP Remove any leaves that are shading the…

Humaira Ikram Humaira has worked as a garden designer for over 10 years and runs a garden design course. 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 can I use to make a den for my son? Priya Shah, London A MATT SAYS Mark out a narrow winding path through a border, using string and canes or a hosepipe. This could be in the shape of a looping snake to make the space seem larger. You’d then have two ‘alcoves’ going into the border, where you could add a sheltered seat or children’s hammock. Edge the path with low-growing plants such…

Call for ban on artificial grass Pressure is growing for a ban on artificial lawns, hedges and plants after former BBC Countryfile presenter, Julia Bradbury, took to social media after spotting “horrible” plastic hedging outside a new development near her home in London. “We’re in a plastic pollution crisis – we need to get smarter than this,” she told GW. “We need buildings and infrastructure but we also need nature.” “Pollinators simply cannot survive in a plastic environment” Last year, over 11,000 people signed a petition calling for a ban on the sale of artificial grass as “environmentally irresponsible”. Nonetheless, demand for artificial lawns has skyrocketed during lockdown with some companies reporting sales more than doubling last year. “It makes me want to weep,” says Julia. “You’re covering the soil…

“There is little else as satisfying in life – let alone in the garden – as seeing a beautiful plant in full flower or harvest that you have nurtured from seed” I love the fact that the past year’s enforced confinement to our gardens has resulted in so many people growing plants from seed for the first time. All the reports back from this front have the same tone – one of celebration at the elemental magic of the delicate little seedlings, emerging through soil or compost. I know that for many, used to buying their plants individually, half grown or even fully formed, it is a revelation that plants can be created in such quantities and with such ease and that the process of nurturing them through from that…

“Spuds are one of the easiest veg to grow and now is a great time to plant them” Potatoes Although spuds take up a lot of space, they are one of the easiest veg to grow, and now is a great time to plant them. Even those without a garden can grow a few in a large pot or sack. If you don’t have much space, grow early or new potatoes, which take up the least space and are harvested the earliest, so you can reuse the space, perhaps for leeks or salads. They’re good to grow with kids – easy to plant and thrilling to dig up! Lettuce There are so many to choose from, but whether you like mixed, cut-and-come-again leaves, or prefer a whole lettuce, this has…

Low-maintenance lovelies 1 1 x Phlox subulata ‘Early Spring Lavender’ 2 1 x Phlox douglasii ‘Crackerjack’ 3 1 x Saxifraga (Mossy Group) ‘Apple Blossom’ 4 1 x Scleranthus biflorus 5 1 x Thymus ‘Bressingham’ (thyme) 6 1 x Sempervivum arachnoideum ‘Rubrum’ (cobweb houseleek) 7 25cm-diameter zinc bowl, approx £17, from garden centres and home stores If you often forget to water your containers, drought-tolerant, easy-care alpine plants are for you. This group of low, cushion-forming plants forms a charming miniature landscape, small enough to sit on a table where the intricate detail can be easily enjoyed. Trim the phloxes and saxifrage after flowering to leave green pools of pleasingly pattable foliage. Planting your spring pot 1 Choose a container with drainage holes. Fill half to two-thirds with peat-free multipurpose compost,…

■ Polypodium vulgare This compact fern is extremely tolerant of a variety of conditions, from dappled sun to shade, and dry to moist free-draining soils, making this British native perfect for a wall planter. ■ Aubrieta Part of the brassica family, these trailing plants form blue, purple, burgundy or white flowers from mid-spring across the surface of their trailing stems. ■ Uncinia rubra This compact evergreen grass carries beautiful burgundy and rust tones – combine with plants that have blue or grey leaves for a striking contrast. ■ Succulents For a low-maintenance wall planter, drought-tolerant hardy succulent plants such as sedum and sempervivum are easy to establish, and will thrive in a super-sunny spot. ■ Lettuce In a bright spot, a wall planter is ideal for quick-growing edibles such as…

Bridport is a busy town near the seaside in Dorset that’s famous for its antique shops. Lorrie Orawe is in the antiques business herself, but has found the time to create a stylish and calm garden that acts as buffer from the world outside her window. Step off the pavement and through her front gates and you’re transported into a secret garden sheltered by tall palms and surrounded by topiary hedges. A bubbling water feature, a meandering path and clever repeat planting all combine to trick your senses into believing you’re in a much grander garden. We found out how Lorrie made this tiny space feel full of interest, yet remain a haven of calm for her and her partner Michael. “This is a very complete garden – I just…

Cucumber ‘Marketmore’ This AGM outdoor variety produces plentiful crops of crisp fruit, even in poor seasons. How to Sow seeds on their side in small pots on a windowsill or in a greenhouse. When all risk of frost has passed, harden off and plant out in a sunny, sheltered spot. Provide supports and pinch out the tip after seven leaves have formed. Water regularly and feed with tomato feed. Parsnip ‘Hollow Crown’ This is one of the oldest parsnip varieties still in cultivation. It produces long roots, with a sweet flavour after they’ve been ‘frost kissed’. How to Sow seeds direct in an area that was manured early the previous year. You can also add sand to improve drainage, depending on your soil type. Sow seeds in drills and lay…

Every month the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team expertly reviews popular gardening tools and products. From gloves and spades to pressure washers and hand trowels, our testers put them through their paces to see how they fare. We research the market thoroughly and all our testers are experienced gardeners who use the tools just as you would, in the garden under a range of conditions. We rate everything according to a strict set of criteria and in each review we pick our outstanding winners. These are given our coveted Best Buy award and whether it’s according to price, situation or user, they are always voted the best by all testers and are only the products that really stand out. To help you get kitted out for the gardening year ahead…

“Named varieties can be bought online for as little as £7.50, but can quickly sail up to the £100 mark and beyond if you are gripped by snowdrop auction fever” “When the fun stops, stop,” says the slogan on those TV ads for online gaming sites. I shudder as I conjure up Dickensian images of a debtors’ prison and of children sitting around a bare table wondering where the next meal is coming from on account of irresponsible parents gambling away their earnings. It is hard to believe that such heartbreaking images could be brought to mind simply by buying snowdrops from an online auction site, but that, I am afraid, is the bald truth of it. You see, that’s the thing about auctions, whether they are in a saleroom…

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything”Shakespeare STAR OF THE MONTH Prunus ‘Kanzan’ Some of you may be more sceptical and pessimistic but, without further ado, here we have the indisputable proof that better times are on our doorsteps. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the essence of springtime in one wonderful sugar coated image. A great gossiping gathering of gloriously garish cherry blossom fluttering in the spring breeze like a thousand sprites dressed in candy floss. This is a great tree for a medium sized garden: the flowers are followed by fresh leaves which are a bronzy colour when young, and turn well in the autumn. Everybody needs a blossom for a pillow. Prune in summer if you need to maintain shape. Plant with lots…

How does gardening help you? I think getting a break from all this (Covid-19). I don’t mind if it’s raining, I just stick my wellies on, it’s nice to get out into the fresh air and take your mind off it for a while. It takes you away from what has been a scary and frightening time – it’s definitely kept me sane. I only started growing my own food last year and there is something really fantastic about thinking, I’ll just go outside and get a chilli or some herbs when cooking. I haven’t ever met a horrible gardener, although you do sometimes get a grumpy one, but usually it’s only because something’s gone wrong in the garden! Describe your garden to us It’s by a river, so we…

INTO TRAYS Sow tiny seeds, like delphinium and campanula, into trays. Place in your palm and tap gently to scatter evenly over compost. Cover thinly with sieved compost. Once true leaves appear, prick out. INTO MODULES Medium-sized seeds such as French beans, zinnias and calendula, are best grown in modules. Simply poke a hole in each and drop the seed in, pinching the compost over to cover. INTO SMALL POTS Large flower seeds, like cobaea, ipomoea and cosmos, can be grown in small pots to avoid being repotted often: just sow as you would into a module. Pots made out of newspaper can be planted directly into the ground. INTO LARGE POTS Larger pots suit fast-growing plants like sweet peas or sunflowers. Make two holes, 1.5cm deep, in each pot…

1. GO TO gardenersworld.com/garden-competition to enter 2. UPLOAD at least six photos and tell us how you created your garden. Choose photos that show areas of your garden, not individual plants. And we’d like to see a photo of the garden before you transformed it, plus a photo of you in your garden. 3. ENTER by midday on 14 June 2021 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 Just like you, Jordans Cereals is proud of looking after its outdoor spaces. That’s why the Jordans Farm Partnership was launched: a unique collaboration between Jordans, The Wildlife Trusts, LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) and The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Through the…

“Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have apples, strawberries, runner beans, tomatoes and much more besides” Spring is here at last. The first bumblebee queens are buzzing from flower to flower, freshly emerged from a long hibernation and starving hungry. Red mason bees are coming out of their tunnels and searching for a mate. If you are lucky, you might glimpse in your garden the butter-yellow of a brimstone butterfly, or the splash of white and orange of a passing orange-tip. As colourful harbingers of spring, they are a sign that warm days and sunshine are ahead, the sight and sound of these insects gladdens the heart, but these creatures are also enormously important. Without pollinators, 87 per cent of all plant species on our planet would set few or no seeds.…

There are plenty of great reasons to grow crops in pots, whether you are lucky enough to have a big plot to play with or growing on a balcony or in a courtyard. I keep pots of lush, baby-leaf salads near the back door, where I can nip out barefoot to snip a super-fresh bowlful for lunch. Herbs in pots, including seven different mints (which run rampant if grown in the ground), line the steps to my gate. There’s a big tub of strawberries on the deck, and my blueberries are in pots of ericaceous (acidic) compost, too – I couldn’t grow them otherwise, as they’d hate my chalky soil. Crops grown in containers demand more care than those in the open ground, though. So this month I’m sharing my…

In my lifetime, spring has shifted its best moments from the first weeks of May to April. That intoxicating mix of delivery and promise that comes with the blossom, tulips and electric green of the emerging foliage sings through the month like a heavenly chorus. Climate change might have shifted the seasons, and pose the greatest challenge that humanity has ever known – but it has not really changed the local, day-to-day weather, and April can still be frosty and cold. But the soil is warming up and it is a good time to drop in flowering plants to fill gaps in this season’s planting. The writing garden in April is dominated by the ‘Thalia’ daffodils and the summer snowflake, Leucojum, but the lovely white Lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘Alba’ holds its…

This month 156 Gardeners’ Question Time The BBC Radio 4 experts answer this month’s pick of readers’ queries, including: ■ Making a sensory border for kids ■ Deterring rosemary beetles ■ Growing seed without a greenhouse Pricking out Full of hope, you sowed your seeds into one container, they germinated into beautiful strong seedlings and now you’re hoicking them out of their comfortable compost to replant them in another pot. It may seem like a strange thing to do but, however odd it might appear, pricking out is a satisfying job that will give you thriving seedlings, more robust than any you have left behind in the seed tray. There are several reasons why this works. When you scatter seeds, some germinate too close together, others not at all.…