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.
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.
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| Gernaium |
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| 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’.
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| Gertrude Jekell |
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| Golden Celebration |
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| Iceberg |
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| Arthur Bell |
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| Message |
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| Gertrude Jekell |
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| 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.
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| hosta |
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| aquilegias |
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| white radishes - with H.G.'s foot! |
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| courgettes |
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| 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.
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| Piri piri |
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| 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.
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| 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.
