A  bi-­‐monthly  electronic  newsletter  covering  a  number  of  topics  related  to  gardening  and  the  broader  horticultural  

industry  

July and August 2017  

Topical  tips  

• In   July   there   is   still   time   to   sow   carrots   such   as   ‘Nantes’   or   ‘Eskimo’,  spring  onions  and  climbing  French  bean,  e.g.  ‘Cobra’.  

• Take  cuttings  (‘pipings’)  of  pinks  and  carnations  and  root  them  in  a  very  open  (well-­‐drained)  compost.  

• Cut  back  flowered  perennials  (e.g.  lupin  and  delphinium)  to  encourage  a  second  flush  in  the  autumn.  

• Harvest  shallots  and  garlic  –  dry  upside  down  in  the  greenhouse.  • Even  in  August  it  is  not  too  late  to  sow  salad  turnips,  radish,  lettuce  and  

spinach.

 

Ginkgo  biloba    

 

 

 

 

 

The  above  photos  were  taken  at  a  hotel  near  Petersfield.    The  tree  is  Ginkgo  biloba,  the   ‘Maidenhair  tree’.     Ginkgo   are   large   deciduous   trees,   developing   an   irregular,   spreading   crown   with   age,   fan-­‐shaped,   2-­‐lobed   leaves,   and   on   female   trees,   unpleasantly   scented   yellow   fruits   each   containing   a  single  large  seed.  Do  you  have  one  in  your  own  garden?    I  believe  the  best  English  specimen  is  said  to  be  Kew  at  well  over  22  metres  –  it  originates  from  a  1762  planting.    In  Ireland  there  was  a  chemical  project  where   farmers  were  being  asked  to  grow  Ginkgo  as  a  crop  to  extract  ginkgolides  (extracted  from   both   bark   and   leaves)   for   the   treatment   of   Heart   Disease.     The   Irish   company   is   called   Cara  Industries   and   it   is   a   bulk   pharmaceutical   manufacturer   based   in   Little   Island   Industrial   Estate   in  County   Cork.     These   days   I   believe   that   it   imports   the   Ginkgo   products   from   other   countries.    http://www.carapartners.ie/aboutus.html  

Gardening  anecdotes  and  questionable  humour!  • All  gardeners  know  better  than  other  gardeners.  -­‐    Chinese  Proverb  • When  gardeners  garden,  it  is  not  just  plants  that  grow,  but  the  gardeners  themselves.  -­‐  Ken  

Druse  • New  gardeners  learn  by  trowel  and  error.  • Finally:  

I'm  a  gardener  and  I'm  OK    I  sleep  all  night  and  I  plant  all  day!    

I  dress  in  grubby  clothing,  and  hang  around  with  slugs.    Oh  I'm  happy  in  the  garden    

With  dirt  and  plants  and  bugs  .  .  .    (to  the  tune  of  Monty  Python's  "I'm  a  Lumberjack")    

Plant  of  the  month  1  –  Delphinium  and  Consolida,  (Larkspur)    

Most   gardeners   will   think   of  Delphinium   as   being   perennial   and  Consolida  as  being  annual  species  –  both  with  the  common  name  of  larkspur.     However,   genetic   studies   have   shown   that   Consolida  (Larkspur)  actually   'sits'  within   the  genus  Delphinium.    There  are  over  320   species  of  Delphinium   coming   from  northern   temperate  areas  through  to  the  tropical  African  mountains.    The  delphiniums  familiar   to   gardeners   as   stately   herbaceous   perennials   for   the  backs   of   borders   have   a   complex   background   but   most   include  parentage   from   either   or   both  Delphinium  elatum   (upper   picture  by   Hanson)   and   D.   grandiflorum   (lower   picture   by   Sydenham  Edwards).    There  is  a  National  Collection  of  Delphinium  which  is      show-­‐cased  in  the  garden  of  the  Temple  Newsam  estate  by  Leeds  City  Council,   the   collection   holders.   There   is   a   wealth   of   cultivars   to  choose   from   –   with   well   over   1000   results   when   one   searches   for  Delphinium  on  the  RHS  Plant  Finder.    Although  there  are  a  wide  range  of   flower  colours  across  the  genus  –   from  white  and  yellow  through  red   to   violet   and  blue,   the   flower   colour   that  most  people   associate  with   these   stately   plants   would   arguably   be   an   intense   blue.     The  colours   in   the   flower   petals   are   due   to   anthocyanin   pigments,   with  different   species   and   cultivars   having   different   constituents   in  varying  amounts.    Society  of  Chemical  Industry  Horticulture  Group  2016    

 

 

British  Peppers  in  the  Lea  Valley  The  British  pepper  nursery  ‘Valley  Grown’  is  expanding.    Last  year  their  glasshouse  space  increased  to  a  total  of  circa  10  hectares  (25  acres).    In  the  next  few  years  it  will  even  expand  further  to  15  hectares.  ‘The  demand  for  British  produce   is  growing  significantly’,  says  spokesperson  Clive.    Based  about  35  miles  north  of  London  the  UK  grower  is  situated  in  the  Lea  Valley.    The  glasshouse  nursery  was  set  up  in   2003   by   brothers   Vince   and   Jimmy   Russo,   who   already   had   their   own   trading   company   known  Valley  Grown  Salads.    Now  the  nursery  is  doubling  its  size  to  10  hectares  as  the  market  is  asking  for  more  British  produce,  so  they  have  decided  to  expand  to  fulfill  that  demand.    The  new  greenhouse  will  be  divided  into  four  departments,   including  the  service  area.     It   is  being  glazed  with  tempered  glass  with  a  light  transmission  of  91%.    In  the  hope  that  it  works,  this  video  clip  shows  pepper  production,  not  in  the  Lea  Valley  but  in  West  Sussex    -­‐  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt9OG5HOQUE#action=share  

Diary  dates  • 4th  to  9th  July  -­‐  RHS  Hampton  Court  Palace  Flower  Show.  • 19th  July  -­‐  Fruit  Focus,  East  Malling,  Kent.  • 19th  to  23rd  July  -­‐  RHS  Flower  Show,  Tatton  Park,  Knutsford,  Cheshire.  • 23rd  &  24th  September  -­‐  Malvern  Autumn  Show.    • 3rd  &  4th  October  -­‐  RHS  London  Harvest  Festival  Show,  Lindley  Halls.  

 

 

Quinces  and  Medlars  Bunny  Guinness  wrote   that  quinces  and  medlars  are  her   two   favourite   trees   for  smaller  gardens  as  they  deliver  so  much  and  improve  year  by  year.    She  planted  four  quinces  in  her  front  courtyard  and  all   the  main   rooms   of   the   house   look   out   on   them.     Apparently   every   year   someone   in   her   family  notices  the  beauty  of  the  young,  almost  silvery  leaves  and  the  pure,  pinky  white,  papery  bowl-­‐shaped  flowers.    Bunny  has  pruned  the  spreading  form  of  the  trees  into  rough  goblet  shapes,  which  become  more  charismatic  as  the  years  pass.    She  writes  that  ‘perhaps  the  best  moment  is  when  the  trees  are  hung  with  golden,  pear-­‐shaped  fruits  in  autumn.    In  winter  they  also  hold  their  own  with  their  spreading  branches  and   their  peeling  grey  bark’.     She  used  the   variety   Cydonia   oblonga   'Portugal’.     It   has   supposedly  the  best  flavour  but  is  a  relatively  light-­‐fruiting  tree.    These  quince   are   quite   different   from   the   shrubby   “japonicas”   –  really   Chaenomeles   japonica,   the   Japanese   quince  which   is  grown   for   its   bright   orange-­‐red   flowers   and   small   fruit,  which  are  also  used  for  jellies.    Quinces  come  from  the  Near  East  and  apparently  arrived  here  in  1275.    They  were  prized  for  their  culinary  properties  and  were  typically  preserved  in  honey.     In   England   quinces   are   now   used  mainly   for   jams  and   jellies   and   adding   a   few   pieces   into   an   apple   tart   or  sauce  gives  an  extra  dimension.      

Featured  garden  –  Hinton  Ampner,  a  garden  of  views  and  vistas  by  Jenny  Shukman  

Hinton  Ampner   is   a  National  Trust   property  with   a   c.20th   garden,  not  far  from  Winchester.    Ralph  Dutton,  who  proceeded  to  have  the  house  rebuilt   in  a  neo-­‐Georgian  style,   inherited   the  estate   in  1935.    The  original  house  was  late  Georgian  but  altered  in  Victorian  times.    Dutton   then   designed   a   garden   to   fit   the   style   of   the   house.     The  resulting   garden   sits   beautifully   in   the   peaceful   chalk   downland  setting,  with  views  from  the  south  front  of  the  house  over  terraces  and  a  ha-­‐ha.    The  terraces  on  the  south  side  extend  the  full  width  of  the  garden,  creating  vistas  to  each  side.    

 

 

A  formally  bedded  area  exists  to  the  east  of  the  house.    The  terraces  to  the  south  are  planted  with  a  range  of  shrubs,  herbaceous  plants  and  bedding  plants.      

To  the  north  of  the  house  is  a  very  productive  walled  kitchen  garden.    This  has  only  been  opened  to  the  public  in  recent  years,  having  undergone  restoration.    Some  wonderful  old  espalier  fruit  trees  add  character  to  the  garden.    

 

The   site   of   an   old   Tudor   manor   house   now   has   an   orchard,   framed   by   box   hedging,   generally  immaculately   cut!     In   between   the   hedging   wild   flowers   flourish   in   the  meadow   planting.     As   a  contrast,   there   is   some   effective   ‘cloud   pruning’   in   a   yew   hedge   further   to   the   north,   leading   to  another   ha-­‐ha   with   sheep   grazing   in   the   fields   beneath.     This   was   not   such   a   peaceful   scene   in  previous  times  as  it  was  the  site  of  a  Civil  War  battle  -­‐  the  Battle  of  Cheriton  in  1644.      

This  garden  may  not  be  as   famous  as  some  other  National  Trust  properties  but   it  has  great   interest  from  both  the  design  and  planting  aspects,  and  is  well  worth  a  visit!    https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-­‐ampner    

From  the  Editor’s  bookcase    The  Vegetable  Gardener’s  Guide  to  Permaculture.    Christopher  Shein  with  Julie  Thompson.    2013,  Timber  Press.    ISBN  9781  6046  9270  9.    RRP  is  £16.99  but  it  can  be  found  at  discounted  prices.    This  book  is  well  worth  reading  as  it  covers  a   wide   range   of   fruit   and   vegetable   crops,   and   growing  methods,   as   well   as  illustrated  design  ideas  for  a  range  of  garden  size.    

Plant  Heritage  The   History   of   Plant   Heritage   -­‐   formerly   known   as   the   National   Council   for   the   Conservation   of  Plants  and  Gardens   (NCCPG),   the  organization  adopted   the  name  of  Plant  Heritage   in  2009.     It  was  founded   as   a   registered   charity   in   1978   to   combine   the   talents   of   botanists,   horticulturalists   and  conservationists   with   the   dedication   of   keen   amateur   and   professional   gardeners,   Plant   Heritage's  aims  are  to:    

• encourage  the  propagation  and  conservation  of  cultivated  plants  in  the  British  Isles;    • encourage   and   conduct   research   into   cultivated   plants,   their   origins,   their   historical   and  

cultural   importance   and   their   environments;   and   encourage   the   education   of   the   public   in  cultivated  plant  conservation.  

Through  its  membership  and  the  National  Collection  Holders,  Plant  Heritage  seeks  to  rediscover  and  reintroduce   cultivated   plants   by   encouraging   their   propagation   and   distribution   so   that   they   are  grown  as  widely  as  possible.    Plant  Heritage  works  closely  with  other  conservation  bodies  as  well  as  botanic   gardens,   The   National   Trust,   The   National   Trust   for   Scotland,   English   Heritage,   The   Royal  Horticultural  Society  and  many  specialist  horticultural  societies.  There   are   very   many   Local   Groups   within   the   Plant   Heritage  network  such  as  the  one  covering  Hampshire  and  the  Isle  of  Wight  -­‐  http://www.nccpg.com/In-your-area.aspx At   our   local   part   of   that  website   it   states   that   “we  also  run  a  smaller  (plant  fair)  event  on  the  first  Sunday  in  September.    This,  as  in  previous  years,  will  be  held  at  Meon  Orchard.    In  addition  to  being  able  to  visit  a  fascinating  garden,  we   will   be   organising   a   number   of   plant   stalls,   where   specialist  nurseries  will   be   offering   some  of   their  most   interesting  plants.      Teas  with  home-­‐made  cakes  will  be  served  all  afternoon.    Open  2pm  to  6pm,  under  the  National  Garden  Scheme,  the    event   is   free   to   Plant   Heritage   members   and   children.  Members   of   the   public   and   members   guests  £4.Event   Location:   Meon   Orchard,   Kingsmead   PO17   5AU.   1.5   miles   north   of   Wickham,   Turn   left   at  Roebuck  Inn.  Meon  Orchard  is  well  signposted  -­‐  see  NGS  signs  -­‐  from  the  A32  and  Wickham.    If  you  wish  us  to  circulate  additional  information  and  event  reminders  to  you  electronically,  but  we  do  not  have  your  Email   address,   please   send   this   to   Doug   Smith   at  doug.smith@btinternet.com.     For   other   information  please   email   any   of   our   committee   –   details   are   on   the  Group   Contacts  page   and   on   the   back   of   our  Newsletters.”  There  is  also  a  Facebook  link  for  local  Plant  Heritage  news:  https://www.facebook.com/plantheritagehampshireandisleofwight?ct=t(Plant_Heritage_June_e_newsletter6_5_2016)#      Plant  Heritage  is  based  at  12  Home  Farm,  Loseley  Park,  Guildford.    GU3  1HS.    01483  447540    info@plantheritage.org.uk      

Poison  in  the  garden  -­‐  be  careful!  All   gardens   are   full   of   poisonous   plants,   but   I  would   be   very   sorry   to   be  without   foxgloves,   lupins,  laburnum  and  all  the  rest.    I  can't  be  the  only  one  who  has  grown  plenty  of  Ricinus  as  a  magnificently    

vigorous   and   ornamental   annual   which   positively   looks   like   a   shrub.    Regarding   monkshood,   some   readers   may   remember   the   debate   over   this  plant  a  couple  of  years  ago  when  a  gardener  died  after  handling  it.    It  was  all  over   the  papers.    What   they   tended   to   ignore  was   the  verdict  at   the   inquest,  which  was  open.    None  of  the  expert  witnesses  felt  that  Aconitum  napellus    

 

 

 

could  be  proved  to  be  the  cause  -­‐  it  grows  in  many  gardens.    It  was  suggested  in  the  press  that  gardeners  should  'think  seriously'  about  wearing  gloves  before  handling  it.    I'm  not  sure  how  much  serious  thinking  is  required  before  making  that  decision.    It   may,   however,   be   worth   recalling   what  William   Robinson   wrote   in   the   second  edition  of  The  Wild  Garden  in  1881:  Some  of  the  Monkshoods  are  very  handsome,  but  all  of  them  virulent  poisons;  and  bearing  in  mind  what  fatal  accidents  have  arisen  from  

their  use;  they  are  better  not  used  at  all   in  the  garden  proper.    Agatha  Christie  plots  using  poisonous  plants  included:    

1. Castor  Oil  Plant  (Ricinus  communis)  -­‐  The  House  of  Lurking  Death  2. Foxglove  (Digitalis  purpurea)  -­‐  Appointment  with  Death,  Herb  of  Death,  Postern  of  Fate,  

Crooked  House  3. Hemlock  -­‐  Five  Little  Pigs  4. Deadly  Nightshade  (Belladonna)  -­‐  The  Cretan  Bull,  The  Caribbean  Mystery,  The  Thumb  Mark  of  

St.  Peter  5. Monkshood  (Aconitum  nepallus)  -­‐  4:50  from  Paddington,  They  Do  It  With  Mirrors  

An  old  gardening  tip  -­‐  did  you  know?  The   following   text   was   taken   from   ‘Adam   the   Gardener’   in   the  Daily   Sketch   dated   July   14th   1946.    “Outdoor  grown  tomatoes  are  (especially)  subject  to  troubles.    One  of  these  is  the  liability  of  the  fruit  to  split.    This  cracking  is  caused  by  the  skin  getting  hard.    On  being  watered,  the  skin  cannot  expand,  and  so  it  splits.    Prevent  this  spoiling  of  the  fruit  by  never  allowing  plants  to  get  dry.    When  watering,  give  half  a  gallon  per  plant.”  

Plant  of  the  month  2  -­‐  Salicornia  europaea  –  Marsh  Samphire  

There  are  two  types  of  samphire  -­‐  marsh  and  rock.    However,   it   is  only  marsh  samphire  (Salicornia  europaea)   that   is  widely   available.     It   is   related   to   the  beet   family   and   is  often  known  as   glasswort  from  its  former  use  in  soda  glass  manufacture.    It  is  found  near  the  sea,  but  thrives  in  estuaries  where    

 

it   colonises   wetland   areas   rich   in   mineral   and   trace   elements.     Marsh  samphire   has   vibrant   green   stalks,   similar   to   baby   asparagus,   with   a  distinctively  crisp  and  salty  taste.    It  can  be  used  raw  in  salad,  though  it  tends  to  be  very  salty  so  it  is  more  often  boiled  or  steamed  for  a  few  minutes.    It  is  said  to  be  at  its  best  in  July  and  August  as  it  can  become  very  tough  and    

woody.    Buy  bright  fresh  looking  samphire  with  no  signs  of  wilting  as  you  need  it  as  it  doesn’t  keep  for  long.    Wash  it  thoroughly  under  cold  running  water  and  then  steam  it  over  a  pan  of  boiling  water  for  a  couple  of  minutes  and  serve  with  melted  butter.    

Feedback,  articles,  ideas  and  letters  please  

The  Editor  would  like  to  include  as  much  local  gardening  and  horticultural  news  as  possible  in  future  editions.     For   example,   news   of   forthcoming   events   such   as   open   gardens,   pictures   taken   in   your  garden,  questions,  articles  etc.    My  name  is  Mike  and  I  can  be  reached  at  hallrainbow@btinternet.com  -­‐  if  you  e-­‐mail  me  please  include  the  word  ‘Wickham’  in  the  header  of  your  message.    Thanks.