‘Kinlough Beauty’ is an exceptionally hardy Primrose from the Primula family. . To maintain vigour divide ‘Kinlough Beauty’ every couple of years or so after blooming. This is when your free plants arise. I have just got nine new healthy plants from one clump. Other primroses can be divided in a similar manner.

Gardeners Tips

• To divide a primrose separate new crowns with some roots from the old root. Pull apart or prise loose with two forks back to back.
• Alternatively take divisions with a trowel whilst plants are still in the ground for more reliable performance.
• Do not split into too many divisions as they take longer to establish.
• Plant firmly in soil and keep moist as new roots are established.
• Kinlough Beauty is a hardy evergreen or semi-evergreen Juliana cultivar with deep green, oval leaves 6 inches long. Plants produce loose clusters of wine red to rose-pink yellow eyed flowers held above a mound of foliage.
• Plant labeling of primrose family can be a bit hit and miss. Read the rest of this entry »

Pelargonium ‘Golden Chalice’

This fancy Pelargonium is new to me. I bought the plant whilst on holiday at a specialist pelargonium nursery in Stokesley Yorkshire.

As you may be able to see the leaves are a maximum of half an inch wide. This earns it the sobriquet of a miniature bi-colour.

The blooms are pink speckled with red and there is plenty of bud. The flowering should continue virtually on checked through out winter growing it as a house plant. Since it takes up so little space, yet has a distinctive form, I may try to propagate from this stock plant and acquire other varieties to make a miniature collection.

More plants die from over watering than lack of water and this is particularly true for African Violets. These blue, pink, white and violet or bi-coloured plants are native to mountainous tropics and need very little water. Here are some gardeners tips to avoid killing your favourite African Violets – Saintapulia.

Watering Tips

• Only water African Violets when the soil is dry and I mean dry!
• Soak the plant with (soft) warm water when it is begging for a drink.
• Let all the surplus drain off. Do not leave any water in the saucer.
• Top or bottom watering are both acceptable but it may be easier for beginners to start with bottom watering to avoid drenching the fleshy leaf stalks.
• Read the rest of this entry »

I have two very good Spirea varieties where I have long since lost the names. This example is a strong flowering mauve and white flowering plain leaved type. The other is a pale yellow leaved variety that has great colour in spring as the leaves start.

How hard was it going to be to identify the plants surely it can’t be too hard. I went to my copy of Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs only to find over 80 species, varieties and cultivars described.

Well the next lesson is that I haven’t even considered my Spirea’s habits and Hillier identified those that flower on this years wood and those that flower on previous years wood – how have they thrived on my random pruning regime?

My first shrub is 6 -8 feet wide and currently covered in blossom on the ends of this years growth. I am going to give it a hard prune almost to the ground in March working on the thesis that it is a bumalda- japonica- douglasii .

Read the rest of this entry »

Kniphofia known as Red Hot Pokers are more usually associated with a spike of Red flowers from coral buds. As part of the lily family ‘Liliaceae’ the are sometimes called Torch Lily.

This variety K. citrina is a stately lemon coloured spire of flower about 3 foot tall. They are good clump forming perennials with narrow strappy evergreen leaves.

Kniphofia combine well with mant shrubs, grasses and Yuccas. They like well drained soil in a sunny position. They can also look good in a mediteranean gravel or paved area.

There are many species and hybrids in yellows , reds and orange. For another yellow try Candelight, Little Maid (AGM) or Atlanta.

For further information or visit a national collection holder consult: Head Gardener Barton Manor, Whippingham, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. PO32 6LB.

AGM varieties to grow

• Kniphofia ‘Brimstone’ Slender spikes of golden-yellow from green buds. Read the rest of this entry »

This is the Royal Horticultural Society symbol for the Award of Garden Merit ‘AGM’. This award indicates that the plant is recommended by the RHS.

Awards are usually given after a period of trial at an RHS garden.

The AGM is intended to be of practical value to the home gardener. It is awarded therefore only to a plant that meets the following criteria:

• It must be available in the UK
• It be of outstanding excellence for ordinary garden decoration or use
• It must be of good constitution – the award includes a hardiness standard – H4 is hardy through out the UK
• It must not require highly specialist growing conditions or care
• It must not be particularly susceptible to any pest or disease
• It must not be subject to an unreasonable degree of reversion in its vegetative or floral characteristics

Though growing conditions and plant types may vary, the purpose of the award is always the same to highlight the best plants available to the home gardener. Plants of all kinds can be considered for the AGM, including fruit and vegetables but excluding non native Orchids

No limit has been placed on the number of plants that may hold the award at any one time. In groups that include many cultivars, standards have to be set especially high if the AGM is to offer helpful guidance to the gardener. The award can be removed.

You can search for AGM plants at RHS sites. Detailed trials reports are usually published and this links to a recent carnation report.

The Kiro LonKirok ‘was recommended for an AGM by the majority of the members present 6:1. The recommendation was proposed due to the outstanding quality of the flowers, the vibrant colour, form and its ability to provide flowers throughout the year together with a clove scent.’

‘Florence Franklin on the left was not recommended for any awards although it produced flowers for most of the year the flowers were small and the plant appeared to be reverting to Ann Franklin from which it sported.’

Failure to get an award should not prevent anyone from attempting to grow the plant. You may be able to teach the committee a thing or two

I grow mixed nasturtiums in the top of a wall. They trail down but can be encouraged to grow up twiggy supports to cover unsightly areas although they tend to trail even if planted on the flat.

Gardeners Tips for Nasturtiums (Tropaeolium)

• Plant in poor soil they will put on a lot of leaf if the soil is too rich
• The leaves, buds, flowers and seed can be eaten. The peppery taste adds good flavour to a salad.
• If left Nasturtium seed profusely and return  year after year.
• Seeds are large and can be planted individually by children.
• Try Indian chief with dark leaves or the newer double Tropaeolum majus.

Osmanthus is an attractive genus of evergreen shrubs. The leaves are holly like with a leathery texture and spikes. The young leaves are red or purple and this is a variegated example. This variety O. hetrophylus is slow growing but can make a dense hedge or small tree. The flowers are sweetly scented in autumn.

Other Varieties

• Osmanthus delavayi growing 6 foot tall and wide with fragrant white april flowers
• Osmanthus yunnanensis ‘New Zealand Holly’ a fast growing large shrub with olive green leaves with flowers that can be a bit of a let down.
• Osmanthus americanus ‘Devil Wood’ a bit tender

What is your favourite fruit?

Currants

From the Ribes currant family I prefer the Red currant for making pies. However I also grow Black currants R nigrum for the intense flavour. They bear fruit from new shoots made the previous year so prune some old wood in winter.
I have not tried White currants but they are similar in cultivation to Red currants and need little or no pruning.

Soft Fruit

• I have just planted a new bed of strawberries. My previous attempts were in a shady place and didn’t excell. This time I have tried a variety called Loran plus a dozen plants from my brother in law type unknown. The plants have had three wet weeks to get established and by the end of next month will be ready for the winter rest.
• Raspberries were not brilliant this year but made 18 jars of jam. Many of the canes are up against a hedge and therefore short of water much of the year so I am content with the result.
• It is a long time since I grew Loganberries and I pick wild blackberries again for pies

Also grown under the name Gay Feather or Blazing Star. The spikes may look like feathers but are a quite robust 1-2 feet tall. They flower blue, purple or white. I prefer a compact form like Kobold which requires no staking.

Gardenerstips on Liatris spicata

• Plant 4-6 inches apart in clumps of at least 10 bulbs for maximum impact. These wer planted singly and are just bulking up.
• The soil must be well drained over winter to stop the bulbs from rotting.
• Fully frost hardy
• Full sun to part shade Liatris species are used as food plants by butterfly and are magnets for insects particularly in late summer.
• Good for cut flowers and drying
• As a general rule divide a plant furthest away from its bloom time. So I would divide liatris in spring.