September Gardening News
September is upon us. What delights will this one hold? Traditionally it’s the month that marks the turn of the season, but the muddle of the last month has had me wondering which season we are changing. August was a mish mash of a month, delivering all that meteorology has to offer. We had some blistering heat, some torrential storms, some cool nights and winds to take your head off. Things kept growing, but there were casualties, half of my underdeveloped Bramley apples are on the floor and (because I neglected to put up a trap in April), the Plum moth has wrecked what plums were there. They look as though they have peppered by a shotgun, the exit route of escaping maggots apparent on every fruit. I am also waging war against the Cabbage White Butterfly. A female can, in a short time lay around two hundred eggs and these she will spread about in clusters of twenty or so . Within two weeks the caterpillars are out and voraciously chomping through all available brassicas (that’s the cabbage family including sprouts and kale). We have been netting and spraying with Grazers (a spray that works as a good deterrent…until we get heavy rain). On dry days we see some very sulky butterflies struggling to find a place for their brood. Spraying hasn’t deterred the snails, who have also brought chaos and have messed up my beans. For all of that it has been fun and some of the flowers have been wonderful. I have a fantastic display of mixed sunflowers and modern varieties offer great colours. I have also had success with Mirabilis Jalapa (grown from seed). It is actually regarded as a perennial, forming a tuber at the end of it’s first season. It flowers in the year of sowing and displays flat trumpet like flowers in a range of jazzy colours. Check it out, it’s a bed filler and very jolly. September sees garden centres full of bulbs and winter pansies, together with wallflowers and autumn chrysanthemums. As spaces appear, fill your gaps. There is no rush, stock will be around for at least another eight weeks, but earlier planting will allow good root development and should ensure some winter colour. And finally, if you have space in the vegetable garden, onion sets and shallots will all be available soon. Don’t rush for Broad Beans though, it’s too early! Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
October Gardening News
That was the summer then and whilst the heat still lingers lightly, there is a real smell of autumn now. The night is sweeping in early and every day there is rubbish to clean up in the garden. The summer has been great for the gardener, with strong performances from so many things. The bedding has been stunning, and most vegetables have performed. Nature has of course repeatedly demonstrated it’s might, and we have had to wrestle with blackfly, caterpillars and a good raft of fungal issues, but on balance I thought things were good. The winter vegetables look promising too, with Sprouts and Purple Sprouting well on and Kale already being harvested. Where spaces appear in the vegetable plot we can be popping in over wintering onions and shallots, as well as garlic. Then towards the end of the month Aquadulce broad beans can be direct sown. They are worth the trouble and will bring an early crop to the table. If you have potted any potatoes for Christmas, bring them in against the side of the house. They will enjoy the shelter and the longer they grow the better the result. In the coming days there will be plenty of green waste, so tidy up your compost heap and if you feel particularly energetic strip it down to harvest this year’s compost and start again. Any recent garden waste can be introduced to the restart. The raking out of freshly made compost is very special and the material is perfect for digging into borders to give them a lift. The clearing and cleaning will also be happening in your flower borders too. Perennials want cutting back, tired bedding wants removing and overgrown plants can tied or tidied. Then you can commit to replanting. The winter bedding can all go in, so pansies, violas, wallflowers as well as sweet Williams, forget-me-nots and bellis daisies can all be planted. Make sure of some bulbs as well. There are some good bulbs to be found and as well as the usual daffodils and tulips, take a look at things like Alliums. The ornamental representatives of the onion family are very showy, offering border displays punctuated by bright drumstick heads of flower. And finally, as part of the big clean up, check fruit trees and consider greasing their stems to deter over wintering pests. Top fruit (apples, pears and plums) have all attracted the attention of pests this year and grease is the first step towards managing the 2021 visitor. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
August Gardening News
And then it was August. Completely bonkers, testing, amazing, uplifting and surreal. There are so many things that one could say about this extraordinary period and whilst it has at times been tough, I have had fun. The oft mentioned ‘playing’ has been at the heart of my journey and has reminded me of all that delivered me as a kid to gardening. I do hope that you have found the time to play too. Generally speaking, gardens have never been so good, though I must record that the rain came at the right time. Everything lifted and was refreshed. There was a cost of course, the weeds enjoyed the rain, the black fly have been dreadful and the pigeons hungry. The humidity is bringing in disease too, with many fungal conditions making themselves known. In particular there has been a lot of mildew and I think we will need to keep an eye out for blight. These things are not easy to combat. Thinning foliage to improve airflow can make a difference, but chemical applications need to be used as a prevention rather than as a cure. Around the garden the maintenance issues are key and harvesting is of real importance, leaving produce on the plant, blocks the way for the next pick and takes energy. So, keep crops picked and keep flowers dead headed to extend the season. Keep planting too. On the vegetable plot, we can still be sowing salads, extending the range to bring in mustard, endive, rocket and corn salad. We can still sow spinach and spring cabbage. There are still vegetable plants around and late sprouts and purple sprouting will still come through. Bulbs are arriving in garden centres and whilst there is no great urgency, the best ranges are there to buy in August. Certainly get organised with Hyacinths if you want to try your luck for Christmas. Pot them, water them and get them into a cool dark place to start the journey. They focus on growing roots when starved of light and will be ready for light after ten to twelve weeks. And finally, try taking some cuttings. Many bits of shrubs as well as geraniums and fuchsias will root now. Break a few bits off and give it a go. By the end of the month we shall see the first of the winter pansies. The year rolls on. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
September Gardening News
So, that was summer then? What a strange month August proved to be, a real mish mash of unpredictable weather, that knocked over and knocked out. It tucked into everything above three feet, pushing over canes and cages and tumbling immature fruit. Not that the fruit issue worried me too much as pests have been active and every apple seems to have been visited by Codling moth grubs (the holes in the fruit announcing the departure of the overfed). Most things can be repaired though and the season of summer vegetables and flowers extended, with a prune, a bit of feed and the repair of support arrangements. Clip off the broken and damaged, even take out the tops of peas and beans and they will bounce back. Put your heel around winter veg to see it into the autumn. Sprouts and sprouting in particular will not deliver if they don’t have a firm hold. Have some net on hand too as the pigeons are already watching the domestic crop. Many gardeners are ready to move on and as we move into September, winter pansies and violas are back, as are many over wintering bedding items.Planting them now will set them up for a good performance through the darker months. There are some great autumn chrysanthemums and cyclamen around too and these will bring colour up to Christmas. Shelves are full of bulbs and it is worth buying this month whilst there is plenty of choice. Check out the labels when you buy, it is possible to create successions as varieties of many bulbs flower at different times. You can for example buy Daffodils and Tulips which are early, mid season and late flowering. So you can have colour from February to late April. If you like your bulbs it is worth the time. On the vegetable front, we are back in to the bulb season too, with Japanese onions, as well as shallots and garlic all appearing. You may still find a few greens about and it is worth trying your luck with Spinach, Chard and spring cabbage all of which can bring something else to the winter plate. And finally if you have space and nothing to do with it, then have a go with green manures. This is a range of vigorous plants, raised from seed which will quickly cover and smother the ground. The plants can be turned into the ground in the spring and as the name suggests improve it’s fertility. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
June Gardening News
May rolls away, a muddled month, disrupted by Bank holidays and frost. Gardening confidence stayed high and lively throughout though, whilst on a daily basis, we (growers) tripped in and out covering and protecting as the teatime news indicated another after dark crash of temperature. It was all very wearing, the tease of nature changing it’s mind. As we move on into June we can proceed almost without caution, planting out the tenderer vegetables and bedding with the confidence that it will perform. So Marrows, Squash and cucumbers as well as beans can all be put out. Begonias and Busy Lizzies too. I had amazing results from tomatoes outdoors last year, with a harvest that carried through to the end of September. Find a warm sheltered corner and providing you keep up the watering you will reap the harvest. If you are modest with feeding you will even end up with something that tastes like a tomato. Do try and pop in a few herbs this year to compliment your veg, Basil is easy from seed and brings something special to chopped tomatoes and Coriander is great for adding an exotic tang to stews and curries. To keep your herbs rolling, pick off any flowers that might appear. These two plants surrender quickly to the call of the afterlife once they have flowered. Once the borders are planted its all about maintenance, grubbing out weeds which are spurred by your watering, feeding and tidying contained plants and regularly running the mower around. Remember to support tall plants, many grow quickly this month and without help will tumble and break. Tread the ground around taller items, especially winter vegetables which have a long journey ahead. Your efforts now will ensure a robust future. Sprouts in particular get very top heavy. Whilst it always seems silly to be talking about sprouts, there are other plans to be put in place for the seasons ahead. Wall flower seed can be sown now to get robust plants for the autumn as indeed can winter pansy and viola seed. Just find a bit of light shade to give seedlings a chance and you will be set when the summer closes. And finally continue to sow salad bits, they will all come quickly and give a succession that will supplement the summer Barbeque. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
December Gardening News
The doors close on the autumn, slammed at the finish by fierce winds and torrential storms that swept in from nowhere and were gone in an instant. There were gentle moments too, when warm yet watery sunlight stroked the land and persuaded the lawn to keep growing. Growth has stayed lush this year and in spite of the ferocious heat of mid-summer has turned out fairly well. The potato crop is a bit light, but most other crops have done reasonably and anyone who tried sweet potatoes this year will be smiling. After several years of feeling that I had wasted money, this year there was a harvestable crop. So once more we move into the reflective days, when we can take stock and ponder over next years plan. Racks fill with seed, potato lists are out and new varieties tease. There is much promise in the winter garden and as you travel around take note of how evergreen foliage and winter flowering plants have their say. The space can be totally rejuvenated, when plants hidden by summers bounteous show are given the stage. In my own garden I have Viburnums (both Tinus which is an evergeen flowering variety and Bodnantense ‘Dawn’ , flowering on naked wood) as well as winter honeysuckle (Lonicera Purpusii) and the fabulous Mahonia Charity with it’s scented golden spires. These plants complimented by the strong evergreen foliage of Eleagnus ( I have two ) the stand out bark of the Cornus and the lobed glossy leaf of Choisya all bring new life to our view. Then of course there is the Holly, I have Golden King, a smooth edged golden form that is robust, bold and very manageable. If you find yourself looking check out these families (there are dozens of different forms). If your garden is in need of a wake up, treat yourself. At a more practical level, the tidying continues, make any adjustments you may wish to make to combat rodents, secure doors and structures and should you have a working greenhouse, then consider the possible need to insulate or heat. Light pruning can continue in the borders and check supports and firm planting s with the boot. Cast an eye over any green stuffs too, consider netting as there is something very frustrating about loosing your sprouts to pigeons a week before Christmas. And finally…………Have a good Christmas. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
May Gardening News
April bounced along, in fact it flew once Easter had arrived. The late Easter was the starting pistol and we had the benefit of a few weeks of light evenings ahead of it to prepare. So many people use it as the start time for gardening, so there were many lined up for the charge and since that weekend trading has been lively. I say late Easter but in fact not as late as it can be, The date is determined by the first Full moon of the spring and in 1943 it didn’t happen until April the 25th in 1943. Anyway, it is all systems go now. The last of the spuds can go in, we can run successions of vegetables, keeping pinches of lettuce, radish, spring onion and beetroot going, pushing in summer cabbage and would you believe even planting sprouts. The real joy these days for me is that the supermarkets have introduced so many new vegetables. Well, not perhaps new but better publicised. Celeriac, Kohl Rabi and Flower Sprouts to name just a few. Celeriac is a long winded grow, but Kohl Rabi is a doddle and quick. As the month advances tomatoes, beans, marrows, courgettes and cucumber can all be put out. In the case of Tomatoes and Cucumbers watch out for late frost and be prepared to cover them with something overnight and if your garden is naturally cold then leave them in until the last week of the month. Beans and Peas in fact can be sown straight to the ground if you haven’t got plants (they germinate very quickly at this time). Try to give all plants space if you can, aphids and white fly are already busy and they are disturbed by the breeze. Of course all the bedding is about too and as with the veg, most things can be planted out. Here too there is a cautionary note, so do watch the night temperatures. Dahlias, Busy Lizzies and Marigolds don’t like frost much. I remember loosing every Marigold I had to a very late frost in the first week of June. And finally, look out for Chillis and heritage tomatoes. There are Chillis everywhere and even if you are not a fan,they are very decorative. The heritage tomatoes take you back to the ‘olden days’ when tomatoes really tasted and they certainly worth a space. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
November Gardening News
The wind rattles around the place, but the leaves strewn across the ground, welded by autumn dew are unmoved and await our attention. The clocks have fallen back and early darkness (for many) makes the foray a weekend activity. The temperature has dropped too. Fireside warmth compromises the commitment of many would be gardeners and there is so much to do. This year the cleaning up looks like being a major undertaking, all vegetative growth has been luxuriant. There are tumbled stems of perennials collapsed in borders, mildewed heads of summer flowers to dispose of, enormous Dahlias to dig up and the skeletal remains of Peas and Beans to clear. Untidy and unruly growth on trees and shrubs need clipping back, as do the roses. Nothing to brutal, just a repair and holding position to see us through the winter. There is a certain amount of general housekeeping to consider at this time too. If you are considering cleaning trees then grab up some winter wash and some grease to knock of over wintering pests. Get some disinfectant or Jeyes around work benches, staging and green houses and if you are considering over wintering plants consider a smoke bomb or at least be on a watch for whitefly, which just seems to keep going throughout the year and are grubby little beasts. It’s the time for some planting and fruit trees and bare root hedging are all coming available, as are Raspberry canes. The moving of such items is best in early dormancy and as the leaves fall so they become safe to plant or transplant (if you have existing plants to move in the garden) , their relocation going undetected. You will still get away with planting overwintering bedding and bulbs,but do get cracking whilst there is a little warmth left in the ground. As the month rolls on (and I say this every year) the value is in Tulips, which are very resilient to cold. On the vegetable front, it’s broad bean time and Aquadulce beans planted now, should overwinter and deliver something good, early and rather special next year. If you have a cold frame or glasshouse you can still plant out winter lettuce (the hardy types will do well) find plants if you can though, the seed takes forever this late. And finally, protect you brassicas. The wind is bumping tall vegetables around, so walk the row and firm the ground beneath cabbage, sprouting and sprouts. Make sure your netting is well fixed too, the pigeons don’t miss a trick. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
June Gardening News
Was it me, or was that a quick month? Perhaps it was the Bank holidays, or maybe it was the rocket launch, the release of the pent up energies of thousands of gardeners. It certainly hasn’t been a bad month, a bit of a mish mash punctuated by one or two teasing frosts, but we have been able to get on. As we turn into June, with confidence, we can really go for it. Anything we haven’t yet planted we can now. All of the bedding can go, even those tender bits (that some cynics offered at Easter) can now be planted. I have really enjoyed the bedding season this year. It has been tough, with everything being everywhere, with smaller gardens and greater interest in permanence, but has made me look hard at what is available. I have commented before that the adventure is key to this journey and as gardeners we have been offered a playground this year. Growers generally have had access to exciting fresh material. Much is still there to buy, so if you have space or perhaps have yet to start, do shop around. There are more earthy Petunias, cheery Cosmea , stunning Nemesia, sun kissed Osteopermum, the list goes on and the adjectives do little justice. Find space and bring new life to your summer. Of course if you are ahead of all of that, well, you can always sow next seasons Wallflowers and biennials, you could even put in a packet of winter flowering pansies. Mad isn’t it? the constant advance and the preparation for the next season. On the vegetable front, the potatoes will be well up (do keep banking them up if time permits, it does increase the yield). Runner Beans, Marrows and Tomatoes and most of their relatives can go into open ground, salads can be repeat sown and you should be harvesting you first cabbage soon. Where the greens are concerned, late vegetables can be introduced as space permits, so that means January King, late sprouting, Brussel sprouts and kale, will all settle quickly, but do be watchful, there are caterpillars and pigeons around. Keep up together with light weeding, maintain watering and feed containers, a god season promises. And finally, the roses are about to put on their annual display, the bushes are well budded. Last year many plants suffered with Black Spot and Mildew in the summer, so you may want to consider a precautionary spray with some suitable fungicide. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
May Gardening News
What a crazy month that was, no sooner here than gone. I think that the Easter punctuation allowed extra days to pass by. It has been a fairly kind month and things have wanted to grow. The new leaf appeared across the landscape and suddenly we were into the growing season. As we move forward into May, the gloves come off and the workload becomes as big as the energy permits. We could be out there all day every day and still find work. This is the gardening month and in commercial horticulture the one when we do our business. Even those that would not normally bother are persuaded. The activity of our neighbours serves as the spur. Pots and borders can be planted, baskets fixed and displayed and we can still sow seeds. The new warmth encourages germination and clearer light accelerates the growth. We need to keep half an eye on the overnight temperatures, but careful policing and gentle hardening off of new plants will see most things safely through. I will hold back with Marrows, Cucumbers and runner beans for a day or two, but will hope to have the lion’s share of the work done by the end of the month. As always, I will be playing with a few new bits and pieces, definitely trying out some of the latest petunia varieties. Petunias have lost their way in recent years, but some of the new forms are a delight and hold much promise. There are black, lime and a couple of dirty bicolors as well as some delightful fringed forms, all of which are much more weather resilient that of old. There is also good interest in old fashioned snapdragons. I grew up with this plant and it is lovely to see it back in vogue. It is a tough old plant and great value for money. The history of our site runs back in my family to 1947 and the Antirrhinum was the first item on our first ever list. In the vegetable garden, everything looks good, although the nets have had to go on to keep off the pigeons again. The green stuff generally looks great and I am already onto my third sowing of salad stuff. Salad crops are great fillers and can just be run between rows of the long stay crops without disturbing them. And finally, on the subject of long stay vegetables, in two weeks, I will be planting Brussel Sprouts out. Happy Christmas…………………..sorry Gardening. Enjoy. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org