December Gardening News
Each month’s musings begin as the last, a confounded outpouring as once again the shape of seasons is disrupted. Once upon a time, we would catch a couple of big frosts at the end of September and would set about repairing and replanting, removing bedding plants that had performed all summer long. Today those bedding plants are still holding on. I have busy lizzies and geraniums under my porch still showing good colour. In sharp contrast, many summer vegetables surrendered early. I think that Runner beans had the shortest run ever, with the dry summer really knocking them about. Of all the vegetables the cherry tomatoes have been my most successful. A name to note for next year is the variety Romello, which has been both prolific and tasty. The return of a drop of rain served to revive and boost some things and certainly under the protective canopy of netting the autumn and winter greens all like fleshy and promising. As we move on into December, there are still a few bits to tackle. Bulbs can still go in and the firm bulbs like crocus and tulips will certainly deliver for next spring. Broad bean seeds will still germinate for over wintering and if you have a bit of protected (though not necessarily heated) space, then winter lettuce is worth the trouble. If you can find them, then a few plants will give you a head start, or alternatively kick off a bit seed on a windowsill. Arctic King and Winter Density are both quite reliable. This month you can continue to plant bare root plants too, with raspberry canes and bare root hedging still in plentiful supply. With plants having moved into dormancy, this is not a bad month for pruning. The guidance is to prune modestly, with the intention of restoring order, so vigorous plants like climbing roses and wisteria can be brought to heel, as can many shrubs. Try to keep on top of the fallen leaves, rake them off from lawns and borders, either putting to the compost heap or bagging to gently break down. I have just tipped a barrow full into the bottom of two planters. The leaf mould will be greatly enjoyed by my spring planting. And finally, explore the seed catalogues and plant lists for 2023. As always, new adventures await and there some real delights to be discovered. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
November Gardening News
Who switched the lights off? The turning of the seasons marked by the changing clock is always dramatic. It is amazing how just one hour brings about such change. Gardening opportunities have to be snatched at and with autumn now in full swing, there is much to do. The real priority being to get the house in order. Shrubs, roses and trees will all benefit from a light clipping, especially these that are new plantings, were boisterous weather will rock them disrupting root settlement. Herbaceous plants can be cut back with debris being removed for composting and keep on top of the leaves too, which are coming in cascades. Just keep the place tidy and remove hiding places for rodents and pests looking to lockdown for the winter. Extend the cleaning to indoor spaces too and if you have produce in store protect that if you want to keep it. Quality check as well, potatoes and apples will all need to be visited to remove rubbish. This year hasn’t been bad for fruit, and this is a good time to pave the way for clean crops next year, slapping on a bit of grease or a grease band around the stems of fruit to confound pests seeking winter refuge. If you have it in mind to do some planting then new trees and shrubs can be introduced this month and bare root hedging will become available soon. If you are planning a hedge, then bare root plants are cheap and reliable. If you find some just get them planted quickly, they will dry out if out of the ground for too long. There is still time to complete the planting of winter bedding this month and bulbs can also go in. I always think November is a good month for tulips, there are a tough bulb and we don’t look for them to perform until April so they have plenty of time to root. And finally, make sure that any pigeon protection netting is well anchored.The days will get rougher and it can be soul destroying to see protected crops wiped out in a matter of hours. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org The Staverton and Boddington Harvest Supper. A delightful evening, which once again saw our community coming together at Boddington Manor. The food was good,the quiz testing and the company lively. A huge thank you to all who worked to bring the event together and to all who attended and enabled us to record a profit of £536.00. It was lovely to have Father Joe with us too. And everyone was pleased that he found a space in his busy new schedule.
October Gardening News
Where do the days go? This topsy turvy month has just flown away. Rain teased and brushed the ground, leaves quietly tumbled surrendering to drought and imminent autumn. It has been a strange summer, with many plants just not realising their potential. I have dahlias that have dithered about flowering and some things that just didn’t bother. I have had some good sunflowers though and have been thrilled with my planting of the new dwarf variety Lemon Cutie, which will certainly be on the list for next year. On the vegetable front, I managed a handful of runner beans, caterpillars mauled the cabbage and rats stripped the sweet corn. Still, it’s time to move on. We have had a bit of moisture in recent days and there are bulbs and winter bedding to get planted. There’s plenty of choice too, everywhere you look there are pansies and violas of every colour and habit, with some varieties raised to cascade. They are perfect for baskets and containers. Look out for the Wave and Teardrop series, which are both vigorous and free flowering. As usual you are going to find other autumn bedding like wallflowers, sweet William and forget me nots and the autumn chrysanths are looking stunning this year. As you tidy up your summer leftovers, salvage any tender plants that you hope to hold for next year. Dahlias, Cannas and some fuchsias will all be better for being spared full winter exposure. If you have space and fancy fruit trees or bushes or indeed an ornamental tree, most places have good ranges this month and as plants move to dormancy it’s a good planting time. In the vegetable garden, as you free up space, get in some over wintering onion sets and garlic, then towards the end of the month plant your broad beans. There is no urgency, planted too early they will grow tall and flimsy then struggle to overwinter. And finally, this hasn’t been a great year for fruit although the plums were ok, apples and pears struggled to make weight. Confident in the knowledge that next year will be different, give your trees a light prune, knocking out overcrowded, crossing or broken growth and then slap some grease around the main stem. There are pests looking to over winter on your trees and the introduction of grease or a grease band will thwart their advance up your tree keeping them clean for the spring. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
September Gardening News
Well, that was a test was it not? A sunburned, desiccated landscape stretched in every direction and little could be done to offer respite to the shrinking ground. Watering became a tease for the garden, with moisture returning to the air almost as it left the tap. We talk of memories, of past meteorological calamities, but my goodness this one has been testing. Everywhere you look plants are struggling and in woodland settings where competition is fierce there is heavy leaf fall already. Thus far produce is light too, the runner beans have barely made it up the sticks and quite a number of varieties have rushed to seed. My lettuce has not hearted choosing instead to create colourful yellow mops of flower. Pests have made themselves known, with generous numbers of aphids and caterpillars of every hue. There is always tomorrow though, the weather will turn and rather ludicrously we sit on the edge of autumn and the next planting season. So, let’s brush off the dust and get ready for the next bit. As we move into September, we can fill the gaps in the vegetable patch with winter and spring cabbage. The variety Wintergreen is worth a go. It’s not a particularly hearty cabbage, but it is quick, you can still run in some seed and its hardy and can be fit for the table in 60 days. You can still plant out some perpetual Spinach and this month Japanese Onion sets will be available and ready to plant. They have become very popular. If you are after salad, there are still lettuce and hardy over wintering varieties will be along shortly. You can get away with sowing radish and spring onions too. White Lisbon onions and Globe radish will both work. On the flower front, all of the hardy autumn bedding will be out, with plenty of pansies and violas and then of course there are the bulbs. As space becomes available they can all go in, just get them planted at a reasonable depth. If they are too close the top the squirrels will find them. Keep up the dead heading and harvesting of any summer survivors, they may yet give a late surge. And finally, do some repair work, prune out some of the drought damage and consider the need for lawn patching. Grass seed takes well in late September. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
August Gardening News
Well, things warmed up a tad in July didn’t they? We deliberated on the ethics of pouring water onto the garden, we bucketed the bathwater and dropped house bricks in toilet cisterns to reduce the flush, but despite our best-efforts things crisped and many things ran swiftly to seed. Onions were very quick to bolt, and other plants chased in close behind. My poor old beetroot has taken a real bashing, so next week I shall try my luck with a late sowing. I shall run out a channel and thoroughly water the line before sowing the seed. Late sowing into the ground, particularly in a dry season will require regular and gentle watering with a rose, but with care good results on many roots can be achieved. If you are going to do some sowing, perpetual spinach and spring cabbage will be worth a go. Do look for the word perpetual on the packet, leaf spinach is now very popular as a salad item, but does not offer the cut and come again opportunity offered by its hardier cousin. On the vegetable front, you can still consider (for fun) potting a few potatoes for Christmas. Just drop two or three close to the bottom of a large pot, cover them with a few inches of compost and continue to cover as the shoots push upwards. Put the pots into a sheltered position as autumn moves in and providing, they have a bit of water along the way, you’ll have a taste of new spuds at Christmas. Garden maintenance is important throughout August, with the regular dead heading of flowering plants ensuring a constant replenishment of summer colour. A bit of liquid feed will liven plants considerably. Where shrubbier plants have finished with flowering, dead head to preserve the stamina of the subject. Lavender, Santolina and Buddleia will all be grateful. Don’t prune hard at this time, the removal of dead heads is your goal and brutal trimming, especially onto old wood can be very damaging. Within days garden centres will be rolling out their autumn offerings and shelves are already filling with winter pansies. The bulbs are arriving too and whilst there is no great panic with many subjects, if you fancy Nerines or autumn crocus then get shopping. And finally, watch out for end of season spoilers, if we get rain, there will be blight about and the pigeons will pay new attention to luxuriant greens. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
July Gardening News
Well, we slipped through June without a scratch, the gardens were all planted up early as is still the norm in years of Royal celebration and the weather was ok. There was a curious undulation in temperatures almost on an hourly cycle, we would see changes that had temperatures rising and then crashing. The wind stayed keen and the rain, erratic, but things grew. The roses have put on a splendid early show, with Irises and peonies reaffirming themselves as my early summer favourites. I continue to marvel at the way nature can just sling together the most unlikely colour mixes and conjure something so joyous. Thus far pests and diseases have not caused too much havoc, although the snails did show up to maul our hostas and the pigeons have been about, though their attempts at raiding our greens thus far have been thwarted by netting. The first early potatoes are being lifted and are looking pretty good. The released space will allow a line of winter cabbage I think or perhaps some leeks. You will still be alright to continue salad sowing too. Small quantities of lettuce, radish, spring onions and beetroot will all still perform. If you are still looking for colour there seems to be plenty of bedding still about, with some larger plants bringing immediate life into dull spots. To get the best of what is already there, keep up with the tidying, dead heading and harvesting, occasionally rewarding plants with a spot of feed. Liquid tomato feed is a cheap and easy to apply all-purpose fertiliser, offering most of what the plant is looking for. Flowers love it. This month you can also be taking on a bit of pruning, blackcurrants can be repaired after fruiting and wisteria will be glad of a tidy up. Many early perennials can also be cut back and some like lupins will be encouraged to deliver a second display. The main issue is to discourage the production of seed, which is very draining on the plant. I slipped up though, with my rhubarb which decided to bolt, throwing a terrific plume of flower in a very short time. The seed of rhubarb is very viable and whilst the stem wants removing the seed will often grow like cress. And finally, there are still things that can be sown and this month I will sow spinach, which is a great extra winter vegetable and easy to grow. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
June Gardening News
Another curious month. May just rolled in and out again. Nothing particularly dramatic to flag up the crossing from spring to summer. As gardeners we see May as the turning point, the demarcation that allows a confident march into safer times for planting. Through the earlier days we watch over our shoulders for treacherous turns and murderous frosts. This year, May went fairly smoothly, there wasn’t perhaps quite enough rain, but neither was there blistering heat and many early plantings have made rapid and quite luxuriant growth. I have seen some magnificent potatoes. Thus far the pest and disease problems have been light, though humidity has brought a dusting of white powdery mildew to a few plants, including my honeysuckle. Fungal conditions can be eased by air movement and the removal of a bit of foliage, or a thinning of crowded growth can help. I am not a big fan of sprays, but fungal control can be managed with spray and at this time it is worth considering it for roses, where early intervention can hold up mildew and black spot. Where planting is concerned, generally the month of June is a bit of a free for all, it now being safe to plant out seasonal bedding and vegetable plants. There will be plenty of stock around too. Most subjects will grow with vigour after a splash of water and even late plantings will catch up. If you are after sprouts and purple sprouting, late varieties want to be in, especially if you want sprouts for Christmas. Sowing of seed can continue too, with the opportunity to line up the next salad crops including lettuce. Small regular plantings of these items will reduce wastage too. As gardeners we are constantly looking ahead and already, we can be sowing for the autumn, with winter pansies and wallflowers all benefiting for an early sowing in a cool corner. With planting done, the priority becomes maintenance. Watering, feeding, harvesting and dead heading will all encourage good extended performance. Don’t over do the feeding and watering, the plants do need to be encouraged to work a bit. And finally, there has been something of a revival in the rose market and not just because of varieties named ‘Happy Anniversary’ and ‘Golden Wedding’ but because they bring a cascade of colour. If you fancy revisiting roses, this month they are showing their colours and selection is easy. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
May Gardening News
April swept through, delivering a festival of blossom, Magnolias trumpeted with pomp and the confetti of cherry blossom held teasingly everywhere. The daffodils and tulips held on, whilst bluebells picked up the excitement and popped up everywhere. With each new day leaf bud appeared and soft lime growth unfolded to announce that spring was here. There were occasional mischievous frosts, but nothing so brutal as to discourage. With the arrival of May, everything in the garden clamours for our attention. The grass needs cutting, the bulbs need dead heading, the potatoes need earthing up and the borders offer space for spring planting. Bedding plants are everywhere and many can now be planted out, the less hardy items like busy lizzies and begonias will need to be watched (in case of late frost) but most things will recover from a cold nudge. There are plenty of new introductions to look out for and this year the demand for Sunflowers will be big, with some striking new introductions grabbing media attention. Most notable is a variety called ‘Lemon Cutie’, which is short, multi stemmed and Lemon in colour. When I first saw it I thought it was a spider chrysanthemum. Sunflowers have become very popular as a cut flower and many of the new introductions are shorter and multi-stemmed (and indeed multi-coloured) If you didn’t get to try them last year then do look out for hardy Gerberas too. I planted some and they performed right through until autumn. With so many bedding plants being offered in pots these days now is a good time to put together a hanging basket. With a bit of planning, you will have something to hang out the day after planting it. There is plenty to play with in the vegetable garden too, with most summer vegetable plants available now. Everything from lettuce to kohl Rabi with cabbage, cauli and even sprouts on offer. Tenderer items are available too and in the days ahead you can be setting out beans, marrows, cucumbers and courgettes as well as tomatoes, aubergines and peppers. Have an eye to the night temperatures as late frosts can upset some of these plants. A bit of fleece will often be enough if the temperatures are dropping. Of course, if you have a greenhouse or conservatory the tenderer things will be fine. And finally, keep sowing successions of salad crops and carrots. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
April Gardening News
Was there really a month of March? I think that I must have lost it somewhere, I guess that I was just too busy to notice it’s passing. I remember the tease of new buds and the rush to get my pruning finished, I remember the blooming splendour of Magnolias everywhere and wondering if, as last year a sneaky frost would spoil the spectacle. I remember too the first run over the lawn, the cough and splutter of the machine, chomping off six months of growth. That first cut is brutal and there is real joy as nature addresses mans savagery and restores order. In my case bare patches were highlighted and there is still time to sprinkle seed and bring about some repair. I will just scratch the gaps with a rake, sprinkle some seed and then tramp it in. April’s a great gardening month, the clocks have changed and the extended light brings new enthusiasm. The buds are popping everywhere and life is returning. The tulips are standing tall and poised to open and summer bulbs are being popped in to bring August colour. I have some new Gladioli to drop in and introducing Eucomis. It is an interesting subject to consider, it looks exotic with stems carrying pineapple like crowns of creamy flower and it isn’t difficult. The bulbs can be dropped in at about four inches and they will just get on with it. I am tucking into summer bedding sowing now too, with some bits going straight to the ground and others onto the windowsill. Almost any flowers can be sown this month, but consider the placement, some subjects will need to be protected initially. In the vegetable garden planting continues too and all of my spuds will make it to the ground in the coming days and I have some cabbage and lettuce plants to pop in. I am going to have a play with some vegetables in flower pots, there are a good range of seeds available for small space gardening, you just harvest smaller. Most seed companies are now offering a range and from previous experience I can report that carrots in pots are great. Ideally sow your choices into 10 or 12 inch pots. And finally, this year I am encouraging people to have a go with Sunflowers. It’s a small gesture, but the Sunflower is the National flower of the Ukraine and I want to display my support. Seed is very cheap, make a statement and find a space. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
March Gardening News
Another month gone already, nothing particularly dramatic about it, no stormy punctuations, just a very mild grey block of time, a chilly wind and just enough rain to disrupt. Whilst there have been a few cold nights, it’s been the mildness that has brought the greatest confusion. The squirrels have kept busy, the magpies have been ripping twigs from trees for nesting and buds everywhere are swelling. This week when the sun smiled on us for a few hours, folk were starting their lawn mowers. As we move into March and the days lengthen gardening can start in earnest. I am busily trying to finish off pruning and have one or two bigger plants to try and move. Any day soon the sap will surge and plants will want to get going, so I cut and move in the knowledge that nature will swiftly bring repair to my disturbances. I may even find space for a few more bare root raspberry bushes too. (if you are buying anything bare rooted then you do need to get it into the ground smartly). This week I will be getting some more seed underway and last months sowing of lettuce and cabbage has already been transplanted. Keep the sowing light and regular especially with salad items, you just don’t want fifty ready on the same day. If you want to try celeriac then get it sown or you’ll finish the season with golf balls. Hold off with tender vegetables unless you have good, protected space. If you have that protection, then Tomatoes and Chilli’s can be started but it is too early for the cucumber and marrow families. As the days advance and towards the end of the month you can be getting some potatoes into the ground. At this stage don’t worry too much about the chitting, once in the ground un-chitted stock will soon catch up. If none of that appeals then you can be sowing a few flower seeds. It’s a good month for broadcasting some of the hardier annuals straight into the border, if the ground is clean. All of the cottage garden favourites can be scattered, cornflower, love in the mist, larkspur, candytuft and linaria will all take a hold quickly. And finally I am introducing a few more summer bulbs to the border. For sentiments sake I have some gladioli to put some bold height in and have eucomis and tigridia to bring a bit of exotic splendour. Check out bulbs. Happy gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org