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Q – We’ve got asparagus frons in our allotment – how should we nurture them over the winter?

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Pippa – Asparagus benefits from a winter mulch.Ìý Look out for asparagus beetles and get rid of them before mulching.

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Matt – The mulch will protect the crowns

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Anne – Then keep them free from weeds

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Q – My daughter would like to grow a cactus from seed.Ìý Can you recommend a good variety?

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Anne – ÌýRebutias or Mammillarias are good to go for because they are quite quick.Ìý Get a free-draining seed compost, sow in spring and put it on the windowsill.Ìý Another option would be Lithops (actually a succulent but great to grow).

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Q – How long after the potato tops have died back can you leave them in the ground before lifting?Ìý I’ve got ‘Charlotte’s’ and ‘Northumbria Delights’.

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Pippa – No hard and fast rule.Ìý Depends on slug population.Ìý I try and lift asap because I have lots of slugs in my heavy clay soil.Ìý ‘Charlotte’ potatoes don’t get slugs too badly, so I left them longer last year.

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Matt – If you leave them they’re just taking up space when you could be planting something else

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Anne – Some varieties change flavour the longer you leave them.Ìý Worth experimenting a bit.

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Q – When should you mulch an herbaceous border?

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Pippa – Depends why you’re mulching.Ìý I would do a bit in both winter and spring.

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Matt – I would leave the stems on the top over winter and then cut that back and mulch just before they start to grow again

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Pippa – Penstemon would benefit from a winter cover

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Anne – Alstroemerias and Dahlias too.Ìý But I would mainly do it in the spring.Ìý I would only avoid if you were wanting to show off your Hellebores and Snowdrops.

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Feature:

Sage

Hyssop

Lemon Verbena

Liriodendron

Magnolia

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Q – What tree can you recommend for a 30ft (9.1m) square, enclosed, east-facing garden? It takes extremes of heat and gales.Ìý It will be in a large raised bed.Ìý

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Matt – Arbutus unedo.Ìý

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Anne – I was thinking of Elaeagnus ‘Quicksilver’.Ìý

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Pippa – Tamarisk.Ìý I might try an ornamental Hawthorn.Ìý

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Q – I am down-sizing to a roof terrace.Ìý What fruit and vegetables can I grow?

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Pippa – You can grow just about any vegetable in containers.Ìý Peppers would be good.Ìý Beans, carrots, beetroots, salad crops.Ìý I wouldn’t try brassicas or sweetcorn.ÌýÌý 45cm width and 45cm depth (18 x 18 inches) would be a good size container.

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Anne – Try the French bean Jimenez.Ìý Borlotti beans too.Ìý The Shiraz Mangetout.Ìý I would also try herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary and oregano.Ìý Fresh mint in another bed.

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Matt – Go for fresh-tasting crops.Ìý Patio peaches and apricots would be good too.Ìý Try Hestia in pots.

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Q – I want to create a small wildlife pond in my garden.Ìý Suggestions please.Ìý

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Anne – I’d put a liner in to get the sloping edges which will entice wildlife.

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Matt – I’d go down to about 2ft (0.6m) and then go for native plants

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Pippa – If you go down to 2ft (0.6m) then you’ll help avoid the water warming up in the summer and the ‘pea souper’ effect that afflicts a lot of shallow ponds.Ìý Try and incorporate planting shelves to get different levels.

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Q – Could you suggest plants for a balcony or for indoors that will help purify the air?

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Pippa – Boston Fern and Spider plants

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Anne – Peace lilies.Ìý All indoor plants are good at removing indoor pollutants

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Matt – Mother-in-Law’s Tongue.Ìý

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Anne – Get some containers and put a mixture of plants in.Ìý For example, a Calathea, a Piggyback plant, and a fern.Ìý

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