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

SPRING - BRING IT ON

29TH MARCH 2018 NORTH YORKSHIRE

Have been waiting for better weather for last six weeks. There has been snow, lots of it as predicted from the Eastern Steppes, accompanied by strong easterly winds, again straight from the ‘Steppes’. Amazingly low temperatures, minus 10 degrees C (with wind chill down to minus 25 degrees) ensured majority of days spent in the Potting Shed by the stove.

Garden covered in a blanket of snow

The Green House has proved a major asset in the last couple of months (now has two electric heaters to ward of the night frost so expect an enormous electricity bill for the frost free winter care); everything growing furiously in the raised temperatures. Planting seed in late January always seems the best plan until the seedlings need potting on in early March and the garden weather and overnight temperatures can act as the ‘Grim Reaper’ by the end of the month. So every square inch of space in the ‘Glass House’ is occupied by burgeoning bedding plants almost ready for planting out into baskets and tubs.

A Very full Greenhouse

The art of pricking out seedlings will soon be lost with the ever increasing selection and low cost of nursery grown plant plugs. With a packet of Geranium F1 Hybrid Seeds costing £3.49 for twelve seeds (that at the best will give 75% germination), the offer of ’20 Geranium Plug Plants’ for £3.99 delivered seems a bargain. However there is always one prevision, when ordering in January for April delivery always take note of the quantity ordered and proposed arrival date otherwise the protected under glass space will be stretched to breaking point if there is the chance of frost at Easter.

Not much room left in here

So, with the expectation of 40 Geraniums, 40 Fuchsias, 40 Bizzy Lizzies, 60 Lavender, 60 Petunias,  plus a generous and tempting offer of a further 144 bedding plant plugs for £1.99 (when order is over £40) all arriving during the first three weeks of April,  let us hope the ambient temperatures are clement.

The Lilly bulbs, Dahlia tubers and Begonia corms planted in late February are all showing signs of life It will be interesting to find out if the colours indicated are correct after ten years of local market purchases in Portugal where everything seems to turn out Orange, whatever colour is chosen. Delphiniums, sown from seed - success rate 15% - bought as small plant plugs 100%, are coming along and the Hollyhocks and Russell Lupins, from seed, are over abundant in their fecundity. Nicotiana, French Marigolds, Echinopsis, Foxgloves, Lobelia and Nemesia  are all similarly afflicted.

Delphiniums and Echinacea putting on a spurt

Dahlia tubers sprouting among the seedlings

As you will appreciated from the above, this is going to be the year of the English Country Garden, with every fragrance and every colour represented I forgot to mention the Sweet Peas, Phlox, Aubretia, Knifofia, Pansies, Nasturtiums (six varities), Roses, Clematis etc etc. and NO VEGETABLES. The anticipation of those halcyon days of summer makes the biting ‘Prairie’ winds of North Yorkshire all worthwhile.

Nasturtiums just waiting for the right moment

Meanwhile, lots of flowers of the tougher variety are blooming in the garden - and in the house.

Pretty violas in the hanging basket

These crocuses have been in flower for weeks and survived the blizzards!

Hyacinths scenting the conservatory

Daffodils and tulips brightening up a windowsill

There would seem to be some movement from the kitchen door (bell not working still frozen), Yes it’s the HG, in full ‘Arctic’ Survival Kit, carrying restorative quantities of invigorating Coffee for the Potting Shed Exile.

 Must look appreciative and pull up another stool in front of the glowing stove.

Must dash, see you soon

Stuart.

FESTIVE THOUGHTS

8^TH DECEMBER 2016 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL  

  

Sharp morning on the Belvedere, not quite freezing but feels cold in the light easterly wind, sky azure blue and the atmosphere ‘Gin’ clear with just a touch of dampness. These sparkling December mornings are one of the many bonuses of living in the Beiras of Portugal. The weeks prior to and during Christmas are usually bright, clear and dry, significantly different from the grey, wet, foggy and cold days frequently experienced in the North of England as a precursor of the miserable  weather that settles on the whole of northern Europe in January and February.

Thoughts of the Festive Season invariably preclude the enthusiasm for manual labour in the garden. It has always been a good time to hang up the strimmer and give the tools a well earned rest. A gentle brushing of leaves and the application of the power washer is sufficient to spruce up the  terraces, patio and paths for post Christmas Lunch preamble (nothing worse than slipping on wet leaves and ending up with a sprained ankle for the  evening’s entertainment). The Autumnal chill has almost removed most of the wonderfully coloured and vibrant leaves, the Diosperos trees are resplendent with large orange and translucent fruit, their gaunt branches etched onto the sparkling clear sky (pity their fruit never tastes as good as it looks).

  

Autumn colour of the wisteria against the 'gin clear sky'!

The Diosperos (Kaki, Persimon) redeems itlself every autumn with its wonderful colour

Removed all the broken, dead and diseased branches and whips from the orchard fruit trees (not pruning just tidying up as with little or no fruit last year do not wish to discourage any fecund attitude now dormant in the new buds). Most roses, if not in bud and flower, are now cut down by two thirds until the full prune in late February (when the first feed is due). Geraniums and fuchsias  cleared of ‘sticky out’ bits and the rampant flowering vines, Wisteria, Solanum, Rambling Roses, Orange Brazilian Campsis, have all been cut back for their winter rest and recuperation.

Fuchsia and geranium flowering bravely on

Even in Winter the garden still gives of its best, amazing quantities of sweet peppers (California Wonders) and chilli (Jalapeno, Cayenne, Ring of Fire and Piri-Piri) are being picked daily. Now enjoying young tender leeks (planted in September) and a vast selection of green, red and brown leaved lettuce (still planting twenty plugs plants from market every two weeks so they may take over by April).

Sweet peppers ripeining in the December sunshine

Still "hot" food to look forward to from these Cayenne Peppers!

Still lots of colour from the Primulas, Pansies, late Geraniums, Cyclamen and the Tulips have decided to show their ‘tips’ (so continuity guaranteed) and lots of cuttings growing away with ‘gay’ abandon.

Mini Cyclamen just coming into its own

Little pansies/violas gradually filling up the window box

Primulas will keep going until the spring

Other plants surprisinginly also still giving us flowers in December:-

Angel's Trumpets (Brugmansia) Ringing in the Festive Season

Nasturtiums self-seeding everywhere

Clematis Jackmanii giving us it's swansong for 2016

And, of course, there will be oranges for months to come!

Potting Shed stove is performing well today, well stoked and the log basket full, two chairs available so no bell required, coffee served by HG and new seed catalogues being perused in depth (HG has some very good ideas for next year’s planting) will keep a positive attitude to this spectacular thoughts to  ensure liberal coffee supply during next year.

 Happy Christmas and a wonderful horticultural New Year –

 must dash into January,

Stuart