January Gardening News
So we turn into another year and it is bound to be as topsy-turvy as the last. This year has certainly been a little testing. We started wet, fried through the middle months and then struggled to move onto to autumn planting when the frost didn’t turn up to knock out summer. The frost did come eventually, delivering three brutal strokes which saw all tender bedding crushed. The weather was changeable through December and really quite treacherous too. Now we ready ourselves for new beginnings. The tidying up can continue and providing the weather is not too harsh we can do some pruning. Restoring order to some of our vigorous subjects and our fruit trees. Honeysuckle and Wisterias can all be cut back now. In the case of the Wisteria, knock back last years growth to three or four buds to encourage flowering and by this reduction ensuring that flowers are not swamped by excessive foliage. If you want to get the best from your Christmas Roses, clip out some of the old and damaged foliage to really show the beauty of this group. Hellebores often have black fungal spotted foliage at this time, so just clip it out. January is a great month for planning, checking seed catalogues for the new and interesting and considering crop rotations to isolate pests and diseases from their prey. Garden centres are now offering seed potatoes and whilst there is no rush, it’s worth shopping early to get the varieties you want. Onion and Shallots are also about and towards the end of the month you can consider planting some out. At the close of 2025, we spoke about planting bare root plants (like hedging) and you are still ok to do this. Ideally bare root plants want to be in the ground by mid March. If you have a bit of warmth available, then the first bedding plants can be sown, with Begonias and Busy Lizzies benefiting from an early start. You can also start a pinch of Summer Cabbage and Cauliflower, but here again they will need early protection. Spring frosts don’t take prisoners. And finally a couple of thoughts, drop a bucket or large pot over rhubarb to force some early stems and keep off the lawn, it will be soggy and tramping across it will cause compaction of the ground, damage to the grass and encourage the moss. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
December Gardening News
Well, we’d muttered about the slow move to Autumn and rolled up to changing the clocks without serious seasonal collapse and then bang it happened. A few stormy days and the leaves tumbled in a confetti shower, the paths became slick, and the lawns smudged if you ventured across them, although it has been amazing to see grass recovering after the blistering Summer. One of the joyous things this Autumn has been the colour of deciduous trees surrendering to the advance of the year. It is one of the bonuses that should be considered when selecting a tree or shrub. If you are considering planting, then the dormant months are good. Here are a few ideas to consider, which will give you a modest sized tree or shrub. Amelanchier, Cotinus and Japanese Maples have all been a delight. The real joy for me though has been the Blueberry. Earlier in the summer, I raved about how well ours had done and how we had a bounteous harvest of fruit. My enthusing must extend now to the Autumn colour of its foliage. It has been magnificent, offering some really fiery colour in its surrendering to the Winter. If you are in the mood for planting, then bare root hedging is now available and is great value if you have need for a defining barrier. With Christmas getting close, pot plants and Christmas trees are everywhere. Do check the calendar before getting carried away. I always feel the need to deliver cautionary guidance at this time. Please don’t be too early with taking in the Christmas tree. If you are buying a Norway Spruce (the old traditional tree) it will be dropping its needles if it is in the house for three weeks. The more expensive Nordman is a different beast and some years will hold up for over a month. Whatever you are buying, try to stand your tree in a sheltered spot in a bucket of water for a day or so and ideally after trimming a slither from the bottom of the stem. And finally, if you haven’t done it, you’ll still get away with a few over wintering broad bean seeds. You can set them straight to the ground, but if the wet continues get a few into pots or trays for planting later. Just keep an eye open for mice, they love them. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
November Gardening News
The early days of October swept through and in Gloucestershire we were nudged by the edge of Hurricane Amy as it headed north. Generally, the days were kind and the bedding plants continued to perform and most notably Dahlias have been wonderful. The colour is changing though, and leaves are falling and so will begin the big clean up. If you haven’t done so already get lifting any bedding that you might wish to keep. The geraniums have been great but will want shelter if you hope to keep them for next year. Having mentioned Dahlias, they too will need lifting or very generously mulching. If you have any Busy Lizzies or Begonias (whilst you will not want to save them all) pot one or two for the kitchen window sill. They will give some extended performance across the next couple of months. The more garden debris you can get to the compost heap the better but do be mindful of the fact that vermin enjoy the warmth of the heap and I have already had rats to attend to. You can include a bit of pruning in the tidying plan, with fruit trees and roses coping with a restorative trim, clipping out the dead, broken or overcrowded growth of trees and shrubs. Keep it gentle, you are just protecting the integrity of plants if the weather turns rough. Check out supporting structures too, rickety trellis, canes and tree stakes all want to be stable. I am still playing with a few salad bits from seed (if you like radishes, try a few in a large pot with a bit of shelter, they romp. The big deals on the vegetable front now are the Aquadulce broad beans and garlic. You certainly need to crack on with the beans, they will sulk a bit once the ground becomes cold and soggy (but they are certainly worth the trouble). Garlic benefits from late planting, the bulb deciding it’s time to grow, once it has had a bit of cold. Cloves grow well in slightly lighter ground and are easy. Just break off the cloves from the bulb and pop them in pointed end upwards. In the flower borders you can still be planting bulbs and pansies. And finally, bare root hedging will be available in the coming days and if you are after a hedge, bare is best and cheapest. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
October Gardening News
A slightly more interesting month and we did eventually see some rain too. It was a strange pattern and most days I found myself putting on extra clothing, then needing to strip off only to find half an hour later, I was scurrying around to find a raincoat. I found the rapid shortening of daylight quite sad. The sun had deceived me I think and suddenly autumn was upon us, with darkness sweeping in by eight. Still, another few weeks and we can turn the clocks back. The rougher weather did knock the gardens too and many things just surrendered; we were able to tease a last handful of beans last week. So, the month ahead looks set to be one of repairing and tidying as well as restoring and replanting. Garden centres are full of autumn bedding with good stocks of pansies, violas and the like and of course there are plenty of bulbs. On the vegetable front you can planting autumn onion sets for over-wintering, as well as garlic bulbs. Probably the most exciting thing to get on your radar is that the end of the month you can be planting Aquadulce Broad Beans for the spring. If you like broad beans, then don’t miss this one, early beans are a treat. Overwintered plants don’t tend to suffer with blackfly. Some winter veg plants are still around, and perpetual spinach is certainly worth the space. If you are intending to leave ground empty, then have a go with green manuring. You just broadcast seed on to the ground and then dig in the plants in the spring to improve soil fertility. It’s cheap, it’s fun and it is worth the trouble. These crops are more interesting than bare ground too. I have mentioned the repairs and probably could have focussed entirely on them, three hundred words could have posted on the lawn. It is getting a bit late for sowing, but for a week or two you can still put down a dusting of grass seed to fill out patches. Just scratch the ground with a rake and sprinkle it on. Germination will depend now on the kindness of the weather and major repairs are best left until spring. And finally, one of the highlights of a very hot year, has been to witness the glorious success of our Blueberry which has been prolific. I am about to plant another. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
September Gardening News
Dry, dry and yet more dry. Have I really opened every article across the past four months with anguished mutterings about the lack of rain. It really has been quite extraordinary and how things have struggled. I have two Silver Birch trees in the garden, that look so sad, the tops fried and the lower leaves surrendering, indeed there is a confetti drift of fallen leaves wherever you look. The crops have had a real struggle too, with the fruit and grain harvests all looking light. It will change though and as is nature’s way, will deliver some surprises and no doubt some bounteous moments. Having made a decision to plant more French beans last month, we are already being rewarded. We now stand on the edge of autumn, and a new season beckons. When the weather does turn there will be plenty to do and garden centres are bursting with offerings for September planting. The winter pansies and violas are about as are autumn Chrysanthemums and these can be planted as spaces are freed up. These autumn Chrysanths have become very popular in recent years, but it is worth getting them early to get the best from them. They don’t really enjoy very severe cold, when they are blooming, they are quite spectacular though. Keep an eye open for wallflowers and other over wintering bedding, September is a good month to settle these things, allowing a decent root formation ahead of winter. There are also plenty of bulbs around now, with everything from crocus and snowdrops through to daffodils and tulips all teasing with the promise of a colourful spring. I will once more be committing my money to the tulips, having visited the Dutch Tulip fields in April this year I just have to have more. On the vegetable plot find space for Spring Cabbage and for Japanese over wintering onion sets (which are great value and deliver early). Its still worth playing with a bit of late salad and if you to extend that grab some seed for Winter Density lettuce. And finally, If you have managed to hold on to any summer bedding, especially in containers just keep them fed and watered. They could perform for at least another six weeks. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
August Gardening News
My goodness what a test! June has proved to be truly extraordinary, with dangerously high temperatures, forcing us into a pattern of daily watering, just to keep things alive and most days in the shadow of threatened hose pipe bans. Many plants in spite of our best efforts have stood still and you can’t help but wonder about the harvest. At this time, the plan must be, if you see it, pick it and get it eaten. Things are growing tough and many things are already considering surrender, I have seen onions, garlic and leeks all going to seed. The tomatoes are not too bad, but here too careful management of the watering is essential. Untended, blossom end rot will spoil fruit (look for hard brown callouses on the bottoms of tomatoes) and watering as a catch up will often cause fruit to split. If you are feeling brave then there is still veg to plant, Water the ground ahead of planting and then water an arc six inches out from your plantings to encourage roots to search. perpetual spinach and spring cabbage are worth the trouble and if you want to play with some seed, then set out some dwarf French beans. I am a big fan of french beans and they do come up quickly. On the flower front, as was the case last year, begonias, geraniums and busy lizzies are all coping wonderfully with the conditions and if you find yourself looking for fillers, winter pansies and violas are already about. This early they will make some substantial plants, which will over winter. Keep an eye in the coming weeks for biennials too. Sweet William, Forget me not, Bellis daisies and the ever-faithful Wallflowers are all good fillers. August also heralds the arrival of the bulbs and as usual we are spoilt for choice. I never fail to find real joy in the magic on offer. Get underway in the early days of the month by planting Autumn crocus bubs and Nerines, which are a bit special. And finally, if you are looking to plant something interesting and worthwhile this summer, seek out a Blueberry bush. I have to say I was slightly sceptical about the likelihood of success, but ours, planted in a large pot full of ericaceous compost has been wonderful and across the last two Summers has been prolific and laden with tasty, good sized fruit. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
Free Talk – Adam Alexander – Diary of a seed saver
The Brown Jug, Monday 1st September 2025 7pm In this entertaining and informative talk Adam Alexander takes us on a journey around the world as he tracks down rare and endangered, but above all, delicious vegetables to grow, save seed from and share. Along the way he includes tips and tricks for saving seeds of many of the varieties he loves to grow and why when we save seeds from our gardens we build resilience into future planting. Visit his website at https://theseeddetective.co.uk This meeting will be held in The Brown Jug, Bath Road, Cheltenham, starting at 7 pm. This is an open meeting so members and non-members are invited to attend. The Brown Jug very kindly let us use the function room for a reduced rate. Please support us and them by buying a drink. Raffle tickets will be on sale, to be drawn at the end of the meeting and will cost £1 per strip. See What’s on for more details.
July Gardening News
The Summer arrived without too much fuss and no frost to speak of. Where we committed to keeping plants alive, things have grown albeit slowly and gardens do show potential, indeed through June I visited some delightful gardens on the Open Gardens Scheme. The curse of the early part of June was the dry, the rain teased and the clouds it seems opted for Red Sea moments, parting over Gloucester only to rush past us to the north and south. For me one of the highlights of June has been the amazing performance of the Ermine Moth caterpillar, which has been everywhere. A voracious feeder most regularly found colonising trees, it strips plants almost completely of leaves and all under a veil of white silken web, all of this in a rush and without much warning. If you have spotted trees and hedgerows covered in webbing the Ermine caterpillar has been the culprit. The plants will recover without spraying, so don’t get trigger happy, just marvel at the ingenuity, that web is just to ward off predators. The month ahead is going to be very much about maintenance, feeding, watering, dead heading and harvesting, just to encourage our gardens to give of their best. You can also be doing a bit of pruning, especially on subjects that have romped. Rambling Roses and some honeysuckles have been particularly boisterous. Whilst on the rounds do watch out for the need to tie or support plants too. If you are in the mood for seed sowing, then this is the month for biennials (that’s subject that normally take two seasons to come up with the goods). Wallflowers and Sweet Williams will be top of my list, but forget me nots, Brompton stocks, foxgloves and hollyhocks are all worthy of consideration. Look at Verbascums too, particularly compact forms, they are a delight. On the vegetable front, continue with salad sowing, perpetual Spinach and try a handful of Runner Bean seeds, which will extend your harvest. If you want veg plants, hardy winter cabbages will do well. (Savoy and January King). Next month will see garden centres offering spring bulbs and if you get a dull day, do check out new varieties. And finally, after a dry start, potatoes have been slow to put on weight, so be as patient as you can in lifting earlies, everyday will see the crop bulk up. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
June Gardening News
May delivered relentless heat, a dryness that rolled on and on and whilst many were encouraged to buy and plant early, opening the ground required a crowbar and having introduced plants to the earth a lively watering regime was essential. If good attention was given, plants did grow and by the second week of May, I had Tomatoes standing in flower and three feet tall and some good greens really on course for ten-week cropping (achievable by quite a number of Summer Cabbage varieties). You have had to have your wits about you if you have planted salad crops, Lettuce came to good heart in no time, but within days were bolting. The management and continuity of salads has very much been about little and often. This has applied to Salad roots too, Radish, beetroot and spring onion have worked well when sown regularly and modestly. The sowing of salad can still feature across the next two months. Just keep harvesting as soon as things are close to maturity. Across this month, with total confidence we can be planting marrows, courgettes and squashes, but do give them space. If you haven’t found space already then do get in some beans. Runners and French will all romp and are bounteous in their cropping. There will be something for all spaces, with both forms available as bush of climber. If space is very tight, then dwarf French are a good bet. You will still get seed for all types to take easily. Garden centres are awash with summer bedding and herbaceous plants at the moment and if your looking for four months of colour,there good plants to be found. Once again this year I will be using quite a few geraniums, both bedding and herbaceous, all of which seem to have great drought tolerance and will perform in sunshine and shade. Pest and disease problems have not been too onerous thus far, but the pigeons have been testing. I watched a pair the other day ripping young growth from a fruit tree and all to build a nest. And finally. If you fancy a garden visit with a difference, then do check out Showborough House Gardens, which are just north of Twyning. It is a delightful garden and filled with sculpture to suit all tastes. Admission is free and it is open Thursday to Sundays, but only until June 15th. See https://www.showborough.com/. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
May Gardening News
And so to business? The month of April did nothing too dramatic, though the ground did stay very dry through the early weeks and the wind remained chillingly treacherous. Things did start to grow and the Cherry blossom was all that I had wished for, quite spectacular. Anyone venturing out of Cheltenham on the London road will have found the trees on the corner of Hewlett Road stunning and so graceful. As we move into May, confidence rises and Garden Centres burst at the seams with Spring bedding and Vegetable plants. It is time to play and whilst there are plenty of traditional plants about, the real joy should be in trying new and different. So, look out for Tomatoes with unexpected colour, for Chilli’s and Peppers as well as Kohl Rabi and Celeriac all of which are about as plants and will bring new flavours to your dinner plate. On the flower front look out for the much-extended selection, in size and colour of Petunias and a very pretty series called Angelonia (which has become a personal favourite) . This plant throws spires of flowers in shades of pink and blue and is delightful. Cuphea is another plant to watch for. I remember growing the Cigar Plant as a kid, the maturing bush covered in red tubular flowers tipped with yellow (as though alight).The modern offerings are a huge contrast and I suspect will become increasingly asked for. Do watch the weather and step carefully with your planting, the frost can still arrive unannounced across and can be merciless. In my youth I lost a commercial batch of Marigolds on the 7th of June, wiped away never to recover. As always, there is plenty of repair and tidying to do, especially with the Spring bulbs finishing. Hold off scalping leaves for as long as you can bear. In the sunlight they continue to create food to store for next year. On the subject of bulbs, you can still be planting summer varieties and garden centres will get twitchy about clearing stock, so there are bargains about. Late plantings always catch up and even Dahlia tubers will put on a show come August. And finally, continue successional sowing of vegetable seed. All the salads can be topped up and for a bit of spectacular joy, broadcast a few flower seeds straight into the borders. Try Eschscholzia, I will say no more. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org