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General gardening tips and hints

Growing ‘Just Joey’ Hybrid Tea Roses

Growing ‘Just Joey’ Hybrid Tea Roses

Just Joey

I love the formal Hybrid Tea Roses like ‘Just Joey‘.
Just Joey is a hybrid, bred from Fragrant Cloud and Dr A J Verhage. These parents gave the rose glossy green leaves and very fragrant, orange blooms.
Blooms arrive in flushes throughout the season each having 30 petals so they have an open appearance.

Growing Tips

  • Remove old canes, dead or diseased wood and canes that cross, in spring.
  • Cut back the remaining stems by about one-third or a half.
  • As with all HT  roses give them a good feed in spring then every 6 weeks and mulch to keep in moisture.
  • When buying a bare rooted or container plant look for at least 3 strong stems.
  • Soak in water before planting.
  • Just Joey may  occasional repeat flower later in the season but is a slow starter in very cold spring weather.

Description of Just Joey

Growing at School (a Gardening Scheme)

Growing at School (a Gardening Scheme)

Sunflower -Valentine

Gardening is not lesson time but fun time even if you do the growing at school. ‘The ‘RHS Campaign for School Gardening’ aims to inspires and supports schools to provide children with gardening opportunities to enhance their skills and boost their development.’

Quick Result Seeds

  • Sprouting seeds that grow in a jar without any soil.
  • Mustard and cress a salad crop you can grow on a wet facecloth or old sponge.
  • Annual seeds flower for just one year. They can be bought in mixtures containing lots of different plant seeds.
  • Pot marigolds also called Calendula have big seeds,  bright yellow or orange flowers and flower the same year they are planted.
  • Sunflowers are ever popular link
  • Annual seeds from Thompson & Morgan

More about the Scheme

Companion Planting

  • Waitrose, Marshalls, Dorset Cereals and the RHS are promoting a Campaign for School Gardening. The aim is to provide pupils with hands-on learning opportunities in school grounds to grow plants and garden sustainably.

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Liverwort Problems and Cures

Liverwort Problems and Cures

Liverworts are primitive plants that can become a nuisance in plant pots and lawns. Liverworts are related to mosses and can look like slimy Algae.

Liverwort Varieties

  • There are 300 species of Liverwort native to the UK and up to 10,000 worldwide.
  • Thallose Liverworts have a flattened, plate like body, called the thalus, and no leaves.
  • A common thallose is Marchantia which is topped with an umbrella like sexual organ.
  • Leafy Liverworts have two ranks of flattened leaves growing out from a stem and a third under-layer.
  • Instead of bearing regular roots, liverworts anchor themselves with simple appendages known as rhizoids

Liverwort Problems and Cures

  • These plants are a nuisance because they colonise a pot plant and form a crusty surface layer.
  • Liverworts like acidic, moist, shady  conditions so deny them these luxuries where practical.
  • Use free drainage in pot plants especially at the top couple of inches.
  • Liverworts can grow on hard surface and can be treated with acetic or pelargonic acid, (Doff Fast Acting Natural Weed Sprayor Finalsan moss killers)
  • If they infest a damp lawn scrape off the excess and spike to improve drainage. Add lawn sand if desired.
  • Some thallose Liverwort species are aquatic and grow on ponds like flecks of lettuce.
  • Liverworts reproduce by spores or gammea often transferred by water. Water pots from the bottom.
  • Glyphosate and several weed killers will work. Add a few drops of detergent in the water to try to penetrate the waxy surface of the Liverwort.


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How Stratification of Seeds Helps Germination

How Stratification of Seeds Helps Germination

inula

Some seed needs a period of moist cold ‘to break dormancy’ and awaken them into germination and growth.

Many alpine plants, trees and shrubs require exposure to moisture and low temperatures for 30-90 days. This is the conditions they expect in their natural environment and gardeners need to replicate these conditions.

These requirements we call ‘Stratification’.


Methods of Stratification

  • Seed can be sown in January or February and left outside in the UK. Then depending on the species they can be brought into a temperature of 65-70ºF to germinate.
  • Mix the seed with some damp sand, vermiculite or small amount of damp peat. Place in a plastic bag and put the bag into a fridge for 6-8 weeks. Check for signs of germination (sprouting) by looking through the plastic bag.
  • Seed which then fails to germinate should be left outside for another winter. Sometimes they need two cold spells before germinating. Never give up as  seeds want to grow and are programmed to help the species survive.
  • Alternatively, the seed may be sown in small pots filled with moist soil and then the whole thing enclosed inside a plastic bag before placing inside a common refrigerator.
  • Juniper, Cotoneaster and some other species need a period of warmth followed by a cold stratification. So they are best sown in warmth for upto 3 months then placed in a fridge for 3-8 weeks.
  • After undergoing the recommended period of stratification, the seeds are ready to be removed and sown in the nursery bed for germination.

Stratification Tips

  • Use of a fungicide to moisten your stratifying peat or vermiculite will help prevent fungal diseases. …

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Sustain Your Sustainable Garden

Sustain Your Sustainable Garden

Green Island Garden

To coin a phrase ‘Sustainable Gardening is for Life not just a passing fancy’. It is easy to drop sustainable gardening when it gets tough but here are a few tips to help you stay the distance.

Composting

  • Good compost contains huge, free food resources and conserves moisture in the soil. You know you could do more.
  • Save money on fertilizer by adding Comfrey leaves to compost bins to boost nitrogen content.
  • Do not put animal and fish bones on the compost heap but you can crush and bury these bones.
  • Wormeries and worm bins will eat food waste and produce good soil conditioner.

Water Conservation

  • It is more popular to save water when the drought starts but the wise gardener has already got solutions in place. But me more  Butts.
  • Harvest water, it saves money if you are on a meter, even grey water is of use.
  • Use drought tolerant plants such as Alpines and Mediterranean plants.

Recycle, Repurpose and Reuse

  • Pruned stems can be used as plant supports and cut logs can go in a wood pile.
  • Various bits of packaging can be used as planters.
  • Reuse plant pots or donate them to charities who sell plants and are always asking me for contributions.
  • Stones from a rocky part of the garden can improve drainage in another or be used to create a soak-away.

Encourage Wildlife

  • Log Piles and brash piles save landfill and help insects and fungi.
  • Companion planting can attract particular pest predators.
  • Wild life encourages a natural balance in your garden.
  • Leave areas of lawn unmown or create natural garden areas.

golden acre green roof

Green roofs are sustainable food, water and heat resources, read about Harlow Carr

Extraordinary Leaves in Pictures

Extraordinary Leaves in Pictures

Book Cover
Extraordinary Leaves by Armytage and Schrader is available from amazon.

The horticultural industry put most of it’s effort into flowers, trees and shrubs. Leaves however appear on all most all these plants and repay close inspection.
As this book Extraordinary Leaves shows there is an amazing world out there for those who look closely and want to find new visual and sensual experiences.

Leaves

Ptilostemon casabonae
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Top Ten Violas to Grow

Top Ten Violas to Grow

Viola self sown

Violas are more than just small pansies in fact Pansies are just over blown Violas. They are both in the family that also includes many species of Violets, Violas and Violettas.

Benefits of Violas

  • Many varieties and colours to select from without being overwhelmed by choice.
  • Masses of small flowers from spring / summer that virtually cover the plant.
  • Sweet scent on many varieties particularly the blue and purples.
  • Perennial habit on most varieties but annual varieties also set viable seed.

Viola profusion

Top Ten Viola Selection.

  1. Viola Tiger Eye with deep yellow petals and black veins radiating from the centre.
  2. Viola Scentsation lives up to it’s name with bright yellow scented flowers.
  3. Viola hybrida Rose Shades is bushy, compact and free flowering in various rose shades. Each bloom has an attractive yellow eye and darker whiskers, plus the bonus of a sweet fragrance.
  4. Viola Meteor is a compact form suitable for hanging baskets and containers.
  5. Viola Friolina will trail for up to 3 feet and is available in yellow, blue, orange, white or bi-colours.
  6. Viola x williamsiana Singing the Blues is an annual in several shades of blue.
  7. Viola Amber Kiss looks great in the catalogue but I have yet to try grow this semi double golden Viola.
  8. Viola x wittrockiana Jolly Joker with purple outer petals and orange inner petals has become a firm favourite.
  9. Viola x wittrockiana Water Colours Mixed F1 is another popular variety in pastel shades.
  10. Viola sororia ‘Albiflora’ is hard to track down but is a small white flowering species with purple whiskered petals.

Many of these seed and plant varieties are available from Thompson & Morgan Other suppliers include Gardening Direct or your local nursery.

Yellow Violas

Growing From Seed

  • Germination is not easy and some experience is useful.
  • Sow December to March or July to September on the surface of lightly firmed, moist seed compost in pots or trays.
  • Exclude light by covering with paper for 2 weeks.
  • Germinate around 65-70 °F too high a temperature prevents germination .
  • Overwinter late sowings in a coldframe then plant out the following spring.
  • Easy to grow on and care for.

Viola profusion

Pansies Violas and Violettas The Complete Guide from Amazon.

Description of Violas

  • Half-hardy annual or hardy perennial
  • Flowers in  Spring and Summer.
  • Green fleshy, leaves are heart shaped with jagged edges.
  • Ideal for  border edges, containers, patios and hanging baskets
  • Height  3-10 inches dependant on variety

Wikipedia lists over 200 species of viola for further exploration.

A Viola odorata national collection is maintained at groves Nurseries in Dorset where this cultivation guide can be found.

More pictures from Google

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Book Cover

Viola Photographs and Species

Violas and Violettas

Ilkley 002

Viola palustris
Viola palustris by pastilletes CC BY-SA 2.0

Viola riviniana
Viola riviniana by Jörg Hempel CC BY-SA 2.0

Viola uliginosa_3
Viola uliginosa_3 by amadej2008 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Bog Violet

Viola ocellata Western Hearts-ease
Viola ocellata Western Hearts-ease by davidhofmann08 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum Mountain Violet
Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum Mountain Violet by davidhofmann08 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Plants for Dry Gardens

Plants for Dry Gardens

French lavender

Hosepipe bans and talk of drought conditions turns gardeners minds to plants that can still thrive in those circumstances. I have suggested several types of plant to consider in the lists below.

Mediterranean Originated Herbs and Oil Producers

  • Lavender has pungent foliage and makes a scented oil. The dried flowers retain scent indoors.
  • Rosemary and Thyme are both herbs that will survive hot dry conditions. The sun even makes the flavour stronger.
  • Oregano or Origanum laevigatum is blooming fine in my herb bed. The deep pink flowers are a bonus to the aromatic leaves.
  • Other aromatics that will do well in dry conditions include Sage and Achillea.

Silver Leaved (sun reflecting) Plants

  • Pinks and carnations have fine thin leaves so they do not desiccate easily.
  • Santolina with fluffy yellow pompom flowers are good dry spot shrubs.
  • Cistus is a family of flowering shrubs that has developed an oily leaf to protect against water loss.
  • I like the silvery Sea Holly Eryngium giganteum which is a good doer in the dry spots.

Cistus Albidus …

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Growing Inula and Inula Varieties

Growing Inula and Inula Varieties

Big, bold and brassy 3 reasons to love growing Inula

Inula

What is Inula

  • This is a yellow flowering, herbaceous, perennial that grows 3-4 feet tall in my garden. The leaves are large, gently serrated and light green.
  • The flower stalks have up to seven daisy like flowers on firm stems. Support in high winds.
  • Inula is very attractive to bees and hoverflies.
  • The flowers go brown in the centre once they have been fertilized.

Inula Varieties

  • Inula magnifica grows in most soil conditions and is good near a pond.
  • The pygmy Inula acaulis has rosettes of narrow 1.5″ leaves and golden daisies 1″ or more across.
  • Inula hookeri is a clump-forming perennial with hairy self supporting stems and large, spidery, yellow, daisy flowers.

<b>Inula

Propagation and More

Growing Juicy Red Strawberries

Growing Juicy Red Strawberries

Strawberry flowers
Strawberry plants are cheap and easy to grow. Strawberries can be picked from spring to autumn if you choose the right varieties.

Make a Strawberry Bed

  • Mark out a rectangular plot, 10 feet square will produce a reasonable crop.
  • Dig over the ground and add 2-3 buckets of organic matter per square yard.
  • Buy plants in September or April that are guaranteed disease free
  • Plant in rows 16″ apart, water and keep watered until the plants are established.
  • A board around the edge of the bed makes it look tidy.

Strawberries from florida


Growing Strawberries

  • When fruit appear put straw or black polythene under the fruit to keep slugs off and the fruit clean.
  • Birds may want to feast on your strawberries so put some string or netting across the bed.
  • Plants will crop for 3 years but start off a new bed to maintain continuity.
  • Runners should be removed or they will sap the strength from the plant resulting in less fruit.
  • To avoid disease don’t plant strawberries where peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes have been grown.

Tips. Strawberries do not need much feeding but do need plenty of water when fruiting.

strawberry blossom

Tips for Early Strawberries

  • Strawberries are symbolic of an English summer and Wimbledon in the middle of June. But, if you can grow strawberries to crop in May and late April, they will definitely be appreciated even more. They will also help avoid paying for more expensive supermarket strawberries.
  • To Grow early strawberries, the first thing is to choose the right varieties. ‘Royal Sovereign’ and Cambridge Favourite are two excellent varieties suitable for early forcing.
  • Pot the strawberry plants and bring them into a warm greenhouse. From march they will spring into growth and with sufficient light and water can be cropping from as early as late April. It is important that they are in a position to receive full sun. However, in the height of summer, plants under glass may need protection from scorching.
  • Another alternative is to place fleece over outside strawberries. This can be an easier way of forcing the flowering season.
  • Strawberries will also benefit from regular watering, good ventilation and feeding at the appropriate time.
  • As soon as the plants start to flower, cut off the runners to keep the energy focused into forming fruits.

Cultivation Tips

If you are looking forward to picking your own strawberries – congratulations. If you haven’t got around to organising a Strawberry bed but want too then here are some cultivation tips to help you.

  • Plant out healthy plants in August or September to give them chance to develop good roots and strong crowns before the soil gets cold.
  • Prepare the ground at least 2 weeks in advance removing all perennial weeds and couch grass. Incorporate well rotted compost to help retain moisture.
  • If your soil gets water logged or is heavy clay try growing Strawberries on the top of a soil ridge so the roots don’t rot.
  • If the leaves are a bit yellow it could be the sign of calcium deficiency so add a bit of lime to the soil.
  • Use plastic sheeting under the plants rather than straw to keep fruit clean and protected as it helps absorb heat and also controls weeds.
  • After 2 seasons the plants need replacing with new stock. Grow these on from runners that you have rooted yourself. Strawberries are easy to propagate this way.
  • If not rooting your own runners cut them off in May or they will sap the strength of the plant

Give it a try from purchased plants or donated runners juicy strawberries are quite easy to grow. Here are some varieties that you may wish to try.

  • Royal Sovereign can also be forced in 5” pots in a cold greenhouse for an early crop
  • Cambridge Favourite is a very good cropper
  • New varieties have been bred for the patio and hanging baskets like ‘sweet Success’
  • Flamenco will crop over a longer period
  • Any variety in a plastic strawberry barrel needs careful watering at all levels of the barrel – take care

If you want all your strawberries to be the same size and colour – If you want perfect strawberries everytime – then buy from a supermarket where they have been irradiated and homogenised.

For White Strawberries read about Pineberries an American hybrid strawberry that fruits white with red seeds.

Credit
Strawberries from florida by Dudus Maximus CC BY-NC-ND 2.0