AUTUMN - PLANNING FOR SPRING!

27th SEPTEMBER 2020 NORTH YORKSHIRE.

The very cold North Wind has stamped AUTUMN on the garden with night temperatures falling below 3 degrees. It’s been a funny old Spring and Summer really.  The attention to detail in its horticultural progression has been exemplary in the ‘Isolation’ of Lock Down from late March until Mid August – just the HG and myself to tread the boundaries of our small territory and manicure every flower and blade of grass.  Must say the results have been splendid and sanity preserved.

The Geraniums and Fuchsias which were overwintered in the Greenhouse proved a boon and a source of numerous cuttings – managed around ninety Geraniums in various colours and forty Fuchsias in twelve varieties, which filled quite a few Tubs and Baskets

Below - geraniums in a trough, and just a few fuchsias!

As the physical contact with the outside world has been ‘NIL’ everything has had to be generated from within the abilities of what was available after he 16^th March (Lockdown Day). Re-use of all potting compost from last year with addition of any fertilizer remaining from last year suddenly became the planting ‘Norm’ and residual amounts of seed in old packets (some ten years old) became the basis of 2020 planning.

The surviving Dahlias from last year all proved to be ‘White Cactus’ (last year’s Bishop of Llandaff and Danish Flag just disappeared) but have enjoyed a magnificent show from late May till now (and first frost presumably). Awarded five First Prizes and two ‘Best in Show’ awards on my morning ‘Judging’ Inspections. All in the mind as ALL Shows were cancelled – but it does keep the plants’ spirits up to know they are appreciated for their efforts. The Fuchsias are still in full flower and will be good for Christmas (unless it snows). Cuttings from both these great supporters already taken and growing on for next year.

A very pretty bedding dahlia

Dahlia White Cactus

The Winter Pansies were still in full glory in March so with careful cutting back and coaxing are still going strong and giving colour to the Cordyline tubs, hanging baskets and window boxes – many of these plants are now three years old (that’s the best of Global Warming!). The packet residue and collected seeds from last year’s plants proved very beneficial in the Nasturtium stakes- must have managed to grow on well over two hundred plants so very colourful and expansive show in all quarters of the garden.  Now collecting seeds for next year and trying to note their parents' colour on the collection packets so next year’s planting may be better ordered.. (Head Gardener says "you must be joking, they have all gone into the same box!")

Below a few pansies and nasturtiums still carrying on!

Last year’s Begonias have also returned and have given a perfect show, the trailing Red Begonia has been especially praised. The Sedums have proliferated in the summer heat – yes it has been very sunny and warm during May, June, July and first half of August – and are now a rich deep Terracotta Pink. These, together with the red berried Cotoneasters and yellow berried Pyracanthus, give a seasonally Autumn base for October.

Below Begonias trailing red and vibrant yellow

Sedum in their autumn glory - the bees and butterflies love them

Yellow berries on the pyracantha

Roses, as always, have been beyond reproach. The mild start to the year encouraged early growth and the first blooms were out in late April, as all the Rose are repeat flowering varieties the summer garden has been full of colour and bountiful scents, and they will certainly flower until the first frosts arrive – just keep dead heading daily and feeding every fortnight (a benefit of being ‘Locked Down’ - plenty of time for a daily ‘Dead Head’)’

Below just a few of the many roses still blooming

Remember Me

Joie de Vivre 

Dancing Queen

Golden Celebration

That's Jazz

Olivia Rose Austen

Summer Sky

Super Trouper

Gertude Jekyll

In the search for seeds in early April a box of envelopes containing seeds dating back to 2010 came to light. Much had become dust but a few residual seeds remained. These include various Courgettes, Tomato, Purple Bean, Squash, Dahlia and Canna Lilly. Planted the lot and around fifty percent germinated into viable plants. Tomatoes were ‘Gardeners Delight’ and ‘Black Cherry’; both produced a good edible crop. Courgettes and beans have been eaten and the ‘Green Patti Pan’, ‘Butter Nut Squashes’ and ‘Eight Ball’ Courgettes are still trying hard to ripen. The Canna Lilies are 400 mm high and just might flower this year but will definItely bloom next year – so never throw any seeds away (You never know when the next ‘Pandemic’ will arrive).

Developing courgettes

Canna lily "seedling"!

Tomato Gardener's Delight ripening nicely

Purple beans (great flavour, but become green when cooked)

The Hanging Baskets have triumphed this summer with daily watering and weekly feeding – many of last year’s baskets were simply replanted with most of the background Ivies etc left in situ – minimal supply of ‘Potting Compost’ available – the results have been amazing, much greater growth and profuse flowering of the ‘Annuals’ (Petunias, Impatiens, Lobelia, Bidens, Bacopa).

Below a few of the hanging baskets when in full bloom - now replanted and waiting for Spring

Having plenty of time available in late Spring, the tubs of flowering bulbs, Tulips, Daffodils, Iris etc’, were emptied with care before replanting with summer bedding and the retrieved bulbs were cleaned, dried and stored.  These have now been replanted in refurbished ‘Old’ compost, the tubs topped off with ‘Winter Flowering Pansies’ and are in place in the garden for the Winter and Spring flowering.

Have even managed to collect the Hellebores from last winter, planted on for the summer resting months and now planted out for the Winter show of flower.

And the Head Gardener's pride and joy, Hydrangea Paniculata has been spectacular this year

So, sitting in state of exhaustion in the ‘Potting Shed’ contemplating a new supply of logs for the Winter Stove – that must be my ‘Lock Down Mate’ and Head Gardner about to surprise me with hot Coffee and a few words of Horticultural Wisdom.

Keep Gardening and STAY SAFE –

must dash,

see you soon even if it’s only in ‘VIRTUAL REALITY’!

Stuart

A 60 THOUSAND HITS CELEBRATION - THANK YOU!

23rd MAY 2020

This is the year for Clematis – planted eighteen (bought very cheaply from my favourite Supermarket two years ago) in various shades of purple.  It would seem to be the base colour for 90% of the genre, although the expert growers seem to see every shade from white to darkest red in their catalogue descriptions. Here are a number of pictures taken yesterday – make your own description of the actual colours. Always remember, if tempted to plant Clematis, that they take at least two years to get reasonable flowering results and, if they seem to expire after planting out, just give them a chance. The prospect of coming back to growth is more than 50/50.

We think this is Mrs Cholmondley

galloping Montana

semi double Montana

unknown

unknown!

pale purple Montana

deep purple clematis through a variegated hebe

white montana

Pansies – planted for winter colour late August last summer – were replanted and fed well in late March.  Being in ‘Isolation’ due to Covid-19, there were very  few plants for the replanting of tubs for this summer season. These plants have proved magnificent supporters of the ‘Stay at Home’ policy and, as these photos show, are really pulling their weight in supplying much needed garden colour.

window box of pansies

just violas

lovely pansies and violas

tub of pansies with cordyline

basket of violas

pansies in a pot

basket full of pansies

The alyssum, lobelia, petunias and nicotiana sown with trepidation from very old seed (dated 2014 to 2016) have triumphed over the geriatric state and after potting on, are now growing and flowering in this year’s ‘Pandemic’ tubs, troughs and hanging baskets. These, together with the over-wintered in the greenhouse, geraniums, fuchsias and their numerous on-growing cuttings, form the basis of the cost free container planting (in re-cycled potting compost) this summer. Ingenuity is said to be the ‘Mother of Invention’ and also a considerable relief to the pocket.

Gernaium

Geranium from last year

Roses are well ahead of their usual schedule due to the mild winter. Climbers and bush roses are well into their first ‘flush’ of bloom – the three earlier feeds have  worked wonders and watering every two days ( it's been very dry for last month here) is really increasing the growth, budding and flowering. The glorious golden yellow of ‘Arthur Bell’ and ‘Golden Showers’ complimenting the exotic perfume and perfect pink of ‘Gertrude Jekill’.

Gertrude Jekell

Golden Celebration

Iceberg

Arthur Bell

Message

Gertrude Jekell

golden showers

The recycling of hanging baskets has added a certain ‘frisson to their replanting this spring.  Most of the baskets had ‘over-wintered’ in situ, the ivies acting as a insulator to the minimal frosts and chilly mists. Having little compost available, the baskets were hollowed out, filled sparingly with a well fertilised growing media of old composted grass cuttings, blood fish & bone, plus a sprinkling of Growmore, and replanted. See the early results from these photos.

The small herbaceous border, planted earl last year, has taken off with a vengeance this year. Hostas, delphiniums, bush roses, aquilegias, euphorbias, hardy geraniums, astilbes, iris, etc. are all in full growth with great vigor – feeding and copious watering should keep this going until next October.

hosta

aquilegias

the herbaceous border

On the culinary front, the prolonged gardening agenda enabled by the ‘Lock Down’ has even allowed for the resurrection of the herb garden. The much neglected pots of thyme, rosemary, dill, chives, mints, parsley and basil etc have been cut back re-planted and fed, re-positioned in a sunnier spot in an old and very large fish kettle (able to cook a twenty five pound Salmon). This has breathed new life into the ‘ensemble’ of fragrant delights and has further enhanced the repertoire in the kitchen of the Head Gardener – must be kept happy to ensure continued coffee supply!

the herb garden

From the cornucopia of old garden seeds, there were a number of varieties last grown in warmer climbs over four years ago in Portugal. Tried many of the courgette seeds and, from around fifty planted, managed to germinate two ‘Eight Ball’ and two ‘Italian’ plants (which are still growing and about to have their first flowers). Five varieties of cucumber failed, but ‘Burpless’ from 2015 produced three plants (now planted). Some purple runner beans are currently trying to germinate, as are four rows of round Italian carrots. The long white radishes’ grew very well and quickly, and are currently being consumed in salads with the amazingly prolific spicy Oriental leaf seed mix planted, on the off chance of success and now growing in three grow bags and square plastic tub and have been harvested – cut and grow option – five times for fresh salads and stir fries. The mixture includes Pat Choi, Rocket, Lambs Leaves, Mizuma, plus two unknown red leaf varieties.

white radishes - with H.G.'s foot!

courgettes

mixed salad leaves in a storage box!

Three Tomato seeds (Gardeners Delight) and two ‘Black Cherry’ tomato seeds germinated, and are now showing early signs of first flowers – and the seed packet suggested ‘Best before 2015’, so might see if we can get some seed from Egyptian Tombs for next year! These plants, together with some Green Peppers (California Wonder) , Cayenne and Piri Piri, conclude the successful plundering of the forgotten old seed packets.

Piri piri

Tomatoes in the greenhouse

The Begonia tubers, dried off last Autumn and replanted in March,are planted out for lots of late June till October colour, and the five zantedeschias, sent from Chelsea Flower Show by my daughter last year (alas no ‘Chelsea’ this year) are well in growth and getting ready to take on their coloured ‘bracts.

zantedeschia 

Must get back to the ‘Watering’ – sun and wind certainly desiccate the tubs, baskets and troughs, and that sounds like the ‘Tinkle’ of Coffee Cups emerging from the patio door

 must dash, see you soon.

Stuart.