Winter jobs in the polytunnels and greenhouse

Posted on 3rd December 20233rd December 2023 by WestcountryNurseries

Winter jobs

Much tidying in the tunnels this month has produced packets of discarded seed so I have now sown them all and optimistically hope some at least will be viable and productive. Our lupins will be available in spring next year with which we have won gold medals at Chelsea. I love winter flowering clematis – the cirrhosa types like Freckles and Guernsey Cream and of course Clematis armandii ‘Appleblossom’ and Clematis armandii ‘Snowdrift’ are perfect clematis for flowers in late winter, evergreen too. Winter Beauty is still my favourite.

Eryngiums are great for vivid splashes of blue in your garden such as Big Blue. Spring flowering Pulmonaria are also ready to plant out and make great groundcover.

We have lots of new flowering grasses always useful for architectural impact and Astrantias such as Florence. Dierama also do well if planted now and given plenty of time to establish.

Summer flowering clematis can be planted now along with Angelica gigas an interesting plant for late summer flower

We have plenty of flowering perennials available to fill those awkward spaces including our famous Lupins

Horticultural Hygiene

Plants We need to keep things clean and weeded more – such a lot of pests and diseases can be kept at bay by simple horticultural cleanliness.

Repotting

Many of the plants need repotting and fresh compost to improve their chances of flowering well next year. Some hardwood cuttings are also possible of Buddleja, Lonicera and Cissus. Longwinded but worth it.

Enjoying the great outdoors

Despite the chilly temperatures I have enjoyed the peace and solitude of being in the polytunnels. Even on the bleakest days I am conscious of the birds singing in the willows. I still get a thrill from seeing seeds germinate and seedlings grow into young plants.

New post and rail fencing and enclosing the cherry and apple trees from nibbling donkeys!

Compost trials

I have been trying some green manures for my lupins. I am optimistic this will also be beneficial for clematis, the dieramas and thalictrum.

It seems sieving the compost is even good for seeds.

It is a lot of work!

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all the jobs to do but I am getting there and find I have not lost my love of plants. This, at aged 61 is a great comfort. Even now the flowers of Schizostylis Major are still going strong.

Agapanthus

Agapanthus Big Blue is still doing well and has plenty of chunky roots. I find they quite enjoy being pot bound!

The gauras such as Belleza has unusual cerise flowers which are still blooming now

Sculptural plants

Stipa gigantea or ponytails will continue well into the winter and look marvellous if frosted. All grasses come into their own in winter even when the flowers have turned beige.

Christmas wreaths

Everyone seems to be offering courses in wreath making.. I have had a go at a few myself and as we have so much willow here perhaps it might be something to offer next year.

Clematis flowering now

All the winter clematis are now in bud or flowering – clematis . Winter Beauty now has waxy white bell-shaped flowers either out or in bud.

Wishing you all a lovely Christmas

Once the year is out the long winter will be upon us but hopefully your seed catalogues will fill you with optimism and my seedling lupins will throw up some new colours.

Gardening tips. Cover any greenhouse solonoids with agrifleece to protect from frost.

Take hardwood cuttings and sow some annuals directly into the soil.

Make some leaf compost with all those fallen leaves.

When sowing seed – try covering the finished trays with holly leaves as the mice don’t like the prickles!

#goldmedals #chelsea #plants #garden #seeds #seedlings #lupins #clematis #dierama #thalictrum #schizostylis #agapanthus #gaura #stipa #autumn #spring #anemones #colour

Winter blues

Posted on 4th January 20234th January 2023 by WestcountryNurseries

Cold weather at last

At last we have had cold weather. It was unnatural to have such high temperatures in November although I appreciated the warmth. Flowers like dahlias which should have been long-dormant were still providing gorgeous colour. That is until winter swept in with a vengeance.

Winter arrived suddenly

Ice, snow and temperatures of -10 arrived in a chilly blast. They killed off the whitefly and other pests. The cold weather put a stop to the last of my summer blooms. And it encouraged the final leaves to fall off the trees.

But then they outstayed their welcome. It continued to be cold and icy. With the cost of living crisis many felt unable to put their heating on and it was a shivery run up to Christmas.

It is British to moan about the weather

But, we’re British. We like to moan about the weather. As long as you are in the right clothes cold weather is fine. I love walking in the snow under cloudless skies. I prefer cold and crisp to damp and wet any day.

Hope 2023 will be good

Here we are in 2023. I hope it is going to be a good year. Hopefully we won’t lose another monarch or have three different prime ministers but I am not making any predictions.

New Year Resolutions

I have however made some resolutions.

I will try to make time to enjoy my garden. Sometimes it seems we are so busy we don’t have the luxury of just sitting and admiring all our hard work. This year I want you to join in me in taking time out. Sit back and appreciate your garden.

Grow my own

One of my resolutions last year was to grow more of my garden flowers from seeds I had harvested. I carefully collected seeds from astrantias and placed them in envelopes. In the spring I planted Roma which has large, silvery pink flowers. They germinated well and gave me a fabulous display. The butterflies loved them.

In the spring I took cuttings of Campsis radicans ‘Flamenco’. I grew them on and now have vigorous new plants which gave me brilliant red flowers from July to September.

Plan for the future

In these winter evenings I like poring over catalogues, planning future planting. This year I want to plant some new clematis. I fancy Empress. It is an early large flowered pink clematis. I will also go for Michiko which is one of the earliest varieties and has almost pure white flowers.

I will plant more lupins too. Pale pink Blossom, purple Blacksmith and white Polar Princess will all look lovely together.

Signs of spring

As I write this it is dark and cold but there are signs of spring. Bulb tips are poking through. A cherry has started flowering, the earliest it has ever done so. I bet it was shocked by the freezing weather.

Stay warm and keep the bugs at bay. There is a nasty cold going round which has knocked out me and my neighbours. Still at least it is the first cold we have had for three years.

Gardening tips

Keep an eye out for the tips of spring bulbs which will soon be emerging. Water overwintering pots in the greenhouse sparingly once a week. Plan next summer’s purchases with our 2023 catalogue. Rake up any fallen leaves.

#cold #warmth #dahlia #colour #chilly #blooms #trees #christmas #damp #garden #flowers #seeds #astrantia #Roma #campsis #clematis #lupins #bulbs

Warm winters

Posted on 24th November 202224th November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

My garden is confused

My garden doesn’t know what season it is in.

Summer flowers are blooming

Summer flowers are still blooming. Leaves have turned every shade of orange and red. Some have dropped but others are clinging on. Tips of bulbs are peeping up in the flower beds. At the same time there are still clouds of white flies on my brassicas. What is going on?

I’m not complaining. I am delighted I still have dahlias. I know they will only last until the first frost which surely can’t be far away. Until then, Bishop of Llandaff continues to show off its resplendent, red blooms. Roxy still has luscious magenta flowers.

Salvias still flowering

Salvias and verbena are also flowering. Verbena Lollipop has clusters of lilac flowers. The velvet red flowers of Salvia confertiflora continue to provide much-needed colour. We are really in a topsy turvy world.

Some winter flowers are also out. Clematis urophylla winter beauty is putting on a fantastic display. It has evergreen foliage and white bell-like flowers which nod delightfully in the wind.

The cyclamen are in full flow. We have carpets of pink, Ruby Strain and white Album.

Christmas preparations have started

Cyclamen in full flow

I’ve started my Christmas preparations already. An enormous box of fat balls has been bought. They will soon be filling the bird-feeder wreath on my gate. I will decorate it with pyracanthus berries too.

I’m already eyeing up ivy, bergenia and euonymus for the wreath for my front door. The scarlet leaves of euonymus Red Cascade will be fabulous.

Plants are on my present list

My Christmas present list consists of plants. I have enough socks and smellies. Plants are a much better gift. And they will last a lot longer. This year I want Santa to bring campsis, brunnera and melianthus.

I will also be giving plants. Lupins will feature heavily. This year my nearest and dearest will be receiving Blossom, Blacksmith and Melody.

Gift vouchers suit everyone

If I can’t think of the perfect plant, I will give gift vouchers. That way they can choose whatever they want.

Getting ready for winter

I have been getting everything ready for winter. Tender plants have been brought into the greenhouses for protection from frost. Perennials have been pruned. There is only spinach, sprouts and parsnips left in the vegetable patch. The lawn has hopefully had its final cut for 2022.

Wishing you a happy Christmas and a successful New Year.

Gardening tips –Order seeds and plants for next year. Open greenhouse doors on dry days to encourage air circulation. Continue to rake up leaves and store to provide a free mulch for next year.

#season #summer #bulbs #dahlia #salvia #verbena #winter #clematis #cyclamen #Christmas #bergenia #euonymus #campsis #brunnera #melianthus #lupins #gift vouchers #perennials

2021 over and out

Posted on 23rd December 202121st October 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Glad to be rid of 2021

A year ago I thought 2021 couldn’t be any worse than 2020. How wrong I was. Covid, the bug that never gives up continued to disappoint.

One by one my friends and family have been pinged, isolated and cancelled. Events which were postponed for a year have been put off for another 12 months.

Still I will not be pessimistic. I am determined 2022 will be better.

New Year’s Resolutions

I have made some New Year’s Resolutions. Usually I don’t bother but I feel I should start January as I mean to go on.

Resolution number 1

Don’t put off things which need to be done. If there was a prize for procrastination I would win it every time. I have a ‘to do’ list and it is disappointing to see some tasks appear on it for the third year in succession. My motto will be ‘just do it now’. Like paddleboarding!

The first thing I will do is sit down with my Westcountry Nurseries catalogue and plan what to plant in my garden. I definitely want some new plants.

Resolution number 2

Grow my own. I don’t just mean runner beans and courgettes. I want to collect more of my own seeds and grown my own plants from cuttings. I have made a start on the seed collection. Last autumn I carefully shook seed heads of my astrantias and placed them in envelopes. They are now in my seed tin ready for sowing. Florence is unusual as it has lavender pink flowers. The butterflies love it.

In the spring I will take cuttings of Campsis radicans ‘Flamenco’. It is a good climber which has brilliant red flowers from July to September.

Resolution number 3

Be bolder with colour. Throughout lockdowns and covid isolation I have found joy in my garden. The plants have kept me grounded. I will now experiment more with colours to bring even more joy. I am looking at geraniums. Plenum has gorgeous double purple flowers.

The best providers of colour are lupins. Masterpiece is a rich purple. Red Rum a superb rose red. And, Manhattan Lights is purple and yellow. Whatever colour you are after there is a lupin for you.

Resolution number 4

Keep on top of weeds and pests. I always try to do this but rarely succeed. 2022 will be different.

Resolution number 5

No more peat based compost. I have nearly given up peat based compost but sometimes, especially with supply chain shortages it has been hard to get an eco-alternative. This year I shall be more organised and ensure I always have plenty in stock.

Gardening tips

Water overwintering pots in the greenhouse once a week. Plan next summer’s purchases with our 2021 catalogue. Rake up any fallen leaves. Keep an eye out for the tips of bulbs which will soon be emerging.

#catalogue #newplants #seeds #astrantia #colour #geranium #bulbs #cuttings

Freedom..

Posted on 25th November 202121st October 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Hoping for a more normal Christmas

I am hoping for a more normal Christmas this year. Last year’s lockdown was terribly disappointing and frustrating.

Let’s hope we can meet up, go to the pub and maybe even attend a party.

Plants make the best gifts

Christmas is a time for giving. Sometimes though it can be very difficult to find something which people need and want. One way round this is to give plants.

I always try to give plants which suit the recipients’ gardens. And, I love receiving plants in return.

Lupins are top of the list

A nephew with a small shady garden will be getting epidemium. A niece has just moved into a new house with a walled garden. She will be receiving Campsis Radicans Flamenco which will cover some of the bare bricks. I know she will love its brilliant red flowers.

Top of the list for presents are lupins. This year some of my nearest and dearest will be receiving Masterpiece, Manhattan Lights and Red Rum.

Gift vouchers are great

For those with gardens I am not very familiar with I shall give gift vouchers. That way they can get what they want.

Ready for winter

Out in the garden I have been getting everything shipshape for winter. Perennials have been pruned. Tender plants have been placed in the greenhouses for over wintering. The vegetable patch only has sprouts and parsnips left on it. I gave the lawn a (hopefully) last cut at the beginning of November. Now I need to tackle the fallen leaves before they rot. And then it will be onto the hedging. There is always something to do, even in the coldest, darkest months.

Still some colour

There is still some colour. The hedgerows are full of berries. The philadelphus is flowering. Its delicate white blooms give off a delicious scent. The Clematis urophylla ‘Winter Beauty’ is also flowering profusely. Its small nodding white bell-shaped flowers should keep doing from now until March.

There is also cyclamen. Hederifolium ‘Album’ is pure white. I

No more virtual events

In the village things are getting back to normal. We have a proper Christmas Fayre rather than a virtual one to look forward to. The Christmas nativity will be performed inside in front of an audience. Last year it was a walkthrough version in the churchyard. It was very cold. The carol singers will also be out and about. But they won’t be knocking on doors. Instead they will sing at pre-arranged outdoor venues.

Wishing you a happy Christmas and a successful New Year.

Gardening tips – Open greenhouse doors on dry days to encourage air circulation. Continue to rake up leaves and store to provide a free mulch for next year. Order seeds and plants for next year.

#Christmas #gifts #vouchers #pruning #winter #colour #gardens #cyclamen #clematis #lupins #plants #epidmedium #campsis