Colin Evans

From dirty-handed to green-fingered?

The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show may well have been very wet but it was worth every muddy step. This year's theme was based on getting children not only to take an interest in gardening but to get them out into the garden and get them sowing seeds which can be grown, harvested and eaten at the end of the growing season.

Not a lot about water conservation, hose pipe bans and irrigation systems this year though. I wonder why?

As always, the show was about new varieties of plants, and there were many, though I have to confess my favourites are always the roses.

Rosa 'Munstead Wood' is named after the house in Surrey of the famous horticulturalist, Gertrude Jekyll.

It's deep crimson large flowers have that old fruity rose fragrance and are borne on a very broad bushy plant which has good disease resistance.

Colin: "Pink rather favours roses".

Another of my favourites at the show is another Rose called 'Skylark'. Pink rather favours roses, and this English rose is a good example with its semi double flowers.

The fragrance is light with a hint, we are told, of musk and tea with a hint of clove and apple pie. Very technical this Rose growing is these days, and I note in the technical handout that this variety is ideal for planting amongst other shrubs or perennials towards the front of a mixed border.

Now, if you have never had good results growing roses you should give them another try, especially these two because you may well be surprised at your success.

Go on, dare to be different, plant some roses.

If you have a garden with very poor soil you can do no better that to plant one of the many varieties of Elderberry.

Sambucus Nigra 'Black Lace'

Sambucus Nigra 'Black Lace' is a new type which has won much acclaim over the last three years because it not only looks good in most positions but it will fill a space and blend very well in most borders.

'Black Lace', as its name suggests, has very dark purple stems and leaves which supports very small delicate dark white flowers throughout the summer.

This easy shrub will take to hard pruning in the winter and will reward you with fresh new growth in the spring.

Delphiniums

If you remove the old dead heads from tall plants such as Delphiniums, Foxgloves and Lupins the chances are they will flower again this summer especially if they are well fed.

Let the seeds distribute onto the ground if you are happy to have new plants anywhere in the borders next year, but if you want to plan where they grow then simply shake the fresh seed int some pots and put them to one side.

Check the pots from time to time to ensure they are not dry and in a while you should have some seedlings emerging. Pot on into lager pots when the seedlings are big enough to handle and plant out in the borders in spring.

Strawberries

To regenerate new strawberry crowns, take new runners and peg or wire them into small individual pots filled with multi purpose compost.

Leave for about two months and by then the new crowns will have rooted into their pots and you can then severe the new crowns from the mother plants.

It is best to grow each Strawberry crown for now more that three years and this method is a great way to ensure new plants are always available and that you get some good quality fruits.

A feed high in potassium is advised at the base of this years fruited plants.

Grapevines

Grapevines should be checked over for signs of pests and diseases especially as the weather being hot and wet is giving rise to many fungal diseases, especially grey mould and mildew on grapes.

Thin out some of the leaves and if the vine is heavy with developing fruit then cut some of them out to encourage better quality Grapes. If fungal disease is spotted then spray over with Bordeaux mixture which can bought at the garden centre.

Happy gardening!