³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Q – I attempted edibles for the first time this year.Ìý What can I grow over winter please?

Ìý

Bunny – Broccoli. Brussel sprouts or kale maybe.Ìý Watercress is quite good. Chervil and coriander too.Ìý

Ìý

Anne – Salad rocket.Ìý American land cress is a great winter salad plant.Ìý Really you need to sow in August though.Ìý You could try broad beans (‘Aquadulce Claudia’) and Pea Meteor.

Ìý

Q – My ‘Victoria’ plum tree isn’t bearing fruit; why?

Ìý

Anne – It is only three years old so it should be ok – maybe it’s just having a growth spurt.Ìý Feed it with high potash and then mulch over in spring.Ìý That should help.

Ìý

Bunny – It could be bullfinches taking the buds.

Ìý

Matthew – My plum tree produced one plum this year. My ‘Beurre Hardy’ pear produced one pear too.Ìý Not a great year for them.

Ìý

Q – What can you recommend to go around our new wildlife pond?

Ìý

Anne – Bog flag iris.Ìý Meadowsweet.Ìý Purple loosestrife.Ìý

Ìý

Bunny – Get coir rolls and pin them round the edge of the pond liner and that will help cover the liner up nice and quickly.Ìý Have marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris).Ìý

Ìý

Matthew – Structural planting is important.Ìý Salix britzensis (a willow).Ìý Cornus (stem-coloured Dogwoods).Ìý Flaviramea is a vivid green variety.Ìý Sanguinea too - often called ‘Midwinter Bonfire’Ìý

Ìý

Anne – Water Mint – you can make mint sorbet from it!

Ìý

Q – I have Kaffir Lilies that are in full flower – how and when can I move them?

Ìý

Anne – You’re talking about (Schizostylis).Ìý They are really easy to move and you can move at any time.

Ìý

Q – If I leave my Begonias in their hangers and overwinter them in the garage will they produce a good display again next year?

Ìý

Matthew – Because of their fleshy stems they’re not the easiest to get through winter.

Ìý

Anne – The textbook would recommend taking them out of the basket – I’ve never tried leaving them in.

Ìý

Bunny – It’s not a big job do take them out. I would do it now and then get them in fresh compost next year.

Ìý

Q – What’s the best way to store tulip bulbs in order to use them again next year?

Ìý

Anne – You want to leave tulips to fully die back… but if you can’t leave them till then move them to a trench somewhere they can.Ìý Dry them off on racks in a cool, airy place and then you can leave them.

Ìý

Bunny – They will never be as good as the first year I’m afraid

Ìý

Matthew – You could plant them overly deep (5-8x the bulb’s size) in the first place – so they’re below the roots of what you’re going to plant next.

Ìý

Q – When is the best time to scarify a lawn?

Ìý

Matthew - Autumn

Ìý

Ìý