Gardeners Tips

At the Early Spring Show

Your Fuchsias should be coming along quite nicely now.They won’t be in the condition this exhibition variety ‘Pink Fantasia’ was last month for the Spring show but soon you can be winning prizes.

Seasonal Tips for Growing Fuchsias

• The upright bush Fuchsias still need pinching out to encourage the development of extra branches.
• Bigger pots may be necessary for those that have roots showing out of the bottom of the pot.
• In the North of England I find it is still too early to be hardening off the Fuchsias but during the day they get plenty of fresh air and some liquid feed at the end of the day in the drying breeze. I will increase this by moving them outside during the day so they can get used to buffeting by our climate.
• Hardy Fuchsias have been a little slow this year but they are now beginning to show some leaf.
• Fuchsias should be kept moist not sodden to avoid flower drop – a good mulch will help.
• It is not too late to buy Fuchsias from your garden center. The larger the plant the more they will charge and there is still time for you to grow the plants and get a great flowering display in September without paying for big plants right now.

The National Chrysanthemum Society displayed this Yellow Orinoco Early Spray Chrysanthemum at the Harrogate flower show last month. It only begins to hints at the great variety of Chrysanthemums that can be grown with it’s vibrant colour combination of Yellow on Red.

Personal Top Tips

• As a beginner grow only a limited number of types and varieties. The Cushion varieties or pot mums grow well in pots and borders and can be bought in rooted plants of 6 in May for growing on.
• Spray chrysanthemum give a good return for the effort.
• Look after the plants by watering and feeding regularly. Chrysanthemums, like me, do not thrive on neglect.
• Give taller growing plants lots of support. The stalks can be easily broken and you can loose a lot of flowers from damage.
• Follow a diary of action so you know when you plan to ‘stop’ (pinch out) or ‘pot up’ your cuttings and plants.
• Grow for picking and floral arrangements Chrysanthemums last well in a vase and demonstrate your gardening skills.

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What seeds would you buy and plant to encourage Bumble Bees into your garden?

Here is a quick seed list as a reminder

• Borage,  Red Clover, Phacelia,

• Verbena Bonariensis,  Nigella, Agastache anisata,

• Larkspur , Cornflower,  Rudbeckia Cherokee Sunset,

• Antirrhinum Royal Bride,Thyme,

• Corn Poppy,  Marigold and  Chamomile.

Thompson Morgan have a 3 for 2 offer on some seeds at the moment.

Spring is well underway but I must take care of my blossom on the Victoria plum. It looks fantastic at the moment and speaks of a good crop this summer but a nip of frost just now would be a real let down. Plums are prone to frost damage and as I am prone to eat Plum jam I will try protect this tree and its blossom.

As the tree has grown above a safe picking height I will trim the upper branches later in summer when the danger of silver leaf disease is much lower.

To augment my plum crop I planted a Czar plum (see below) at the beginning of 2008 and it is showing a very upright habit. This I will encourage into a bowl like shape to get air and light into the centre of the tree for future years. At the moment the rhubarb is a bit too rampant under the plum so I think it will have to come out .

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