Gardeners Tips

Originally orchids were mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas and that is why they are foremost in our thoughts as indoor and houseplants.
What is less well known is that many orchids can also grow in areas where the temperature falls to -20°C.

One type of winter-hardy orchid from Thompson & Morgan is Cypripedium. They protects themselves by staying underground in winter but in spring the shoots appear above the ground and start flowering after just three or four weeks.

• There are dozens of Cypripedium varieties which all have a spectacular inflorescence.
• The Cypripedium flowers annually in May and June.
• Cypripedium are named from the Dutch after a woman’s shoe.

How and Where to Grow Orchids in your Garden

• The plants prefer a sheltered and shady spot but love the morning sun.
• A north wall is a good spot but orchids also perform well in a border with shade from trees and shrubs.
• They like a sandy soil, and combine excellently with ferns or little Hosta varieties.
• Dig a hole and plant into moist soil.
• If necessary, make the structure of the soil around the hole looser with sand or clay granulate.
• When you plant your orchid directly in the garden, take care that in the first year that the spoil does not dry out.
• After flowering, the plant makes new shoots and settles in its new spot.
• Orchids do not need much fertiliser.
• When the orchid has got a good spot in your garden it will last for many years.
• After flowering it seems that the plant stops growing but under the ground it is making new buds anb roots.

Seasonal Tips for Outdoor Orchids

• When resting, orchids are resistant to very low temperatures.
• However, when the shoots start to grow, late-night frost can cause damage.
• When late-night frost is predicted damage can be prevented by putting a bucket or big plant pot upside down over the plant and removed in the morning.
• During the first year in particular you must keep an eye on night frosts because the plant has not yet acclimated to the climate in your garden.
• In autumn the leaves of the orchid die off and the plant starts its winter rest.
• The old dead foliage can be cut back to 5 cm above the soil.
• Take care that you do not damage the new shoots when removing the old leaves or when weeding.
• Do not cover the plant with peat but some old dry leaves are fine.
• Often the tips of the new shoots are already visible
• The plant can resist low temperatures and cold helps to start sprouting in spring.
• In spring the plant sprouts again and under good circumstances produces even more shoots and therefore with more flowers. The cycle of the plant now starts again.

With thanks to Garden Orchids a trade supplier of Orchids.  The pictures not necessarily Cypripedium are from their stand at the  Glee show Birmingham 2011.

Further information from the Hardy Orchid Society   -   or  Cypripedium Varieties in pictures

You do not only want home grown vegetables when they are in mid season with all that a glut implies.
With some planning there are some vegetables that can be available most if not every month of the year.

There is a cabbage for harvesting at all times. Sow indoors or outdoors depending on the variety. Plant out 6″ apart and get 10 good heads in a 10 foot row.

Radishes are another ’12 monther’. Sow under cloches for late autumn and winter pickings.

Swiss Chard is a plant that will stand outside all year. Sow in May and pick on through.

Salad leaves are also good Jan-Dec but homegrown lettuce tend to be in short supply in January and February.

Spinach, Broccoli and Leeks miss out in January and February. Parsnips let you down in early summer but Cauliflower just about cover the full year.

There are many reasons to grow one of the nations favourite fruit & here are our five with a bonus five health benefits.
There are many ways to grow Strawberries and here again we offer five tried and tested tips.

Reasons to grow Strawberries

1. They taste better when picked fresh as a result of your own efforts.
2. Strawberries have many healthy properties.
3. Jam made from strawberries and particularly wild strawberries is a top conserve.
4. Plants can look ornamental and still produce a good crop.
5. By selecting a range of varieties you can eat strawberries from May to September.

Health Benefits

1. Your daily need for vitamin C is covered with only 25 calories of sweet juicy fruit.
2. Strawberries have health benefits that include cholesterol lowering properties and contain elligic acid reputed but not yet proven to fight cancer.
3. Ignoring cream (if you must) then strawberries have half the calories of an apple and a quarter of a banana weight for weight.
4. Strawberries are rich in manganese essential for controlling blood sugar levels and enhancing memory.
5. Eating strawberries is a comforting peace enhancing activity.

The Best Tips for Growing Strawberries

1. Select the best varieties from a good nursery.
2. Remove runners to channel energy into fruit not new plants.
3. Mulch with straw or strawberry mats to conserve moisture and keep fruit clean.
4. Feed with high potash feed when the first flowers appear. Check for cultivation tips.
5. Force strawberries to produce fruit early and beat the imports. Lift crowns at the end of January and pot up in John Innes No 2. Water well and keep in a cool well lit greenhouse or cold frame.

Best UK Varieties

1. Royal Sovereign is a mid season variety that can be forced in 5” pots in a cold greenhouse for an early crop
2. Cambridge Vigour is a very good cropper of sweet aromatic fruit.
3. Ellana is used by jam makers and on some pick your own farms.
4. New varieties have been bred for the patio and hanging baskets like ‘Sweet Success’
5. Honeoye is an early fruiter with shiny deep red fruit. There are many more varieties to select from Thompson Morgan

How do you Use Organic Compost

1. Good compost mixed in with soil improves the condition, texture and water retention .
2. Put compost in a planting hole for new trees and shrubs it helps to give them a good start.
3. Compost around plants and trees acts as a mulch to conserve moisture and protect from frost.
4. Feeding nutrients back into the soil particularly for heavy feeders like Dahlias, Onions or Runner Beans is one of the main uses of garden compost.
5. Suppressing weeds can be achieved by mulching with compost.

Preparation with Compost

1. Replace the soil in the greenhouse where tomatoes have been grown.
2. I have just made a new bed for next years Sweet peas from lots of home made compost.
3. Mix garden compost with leaf mould and grit for a container of cuttings mix.
4. Make your own seed compost mix with loam, compost, leaf mould and vermiculite
5. Compost recycles waste, reduces landfill and carbon dioxide emissions whilst saving you money.