yardz

HERB POTS

 
I've at last sorted out growing the basic culinary herbs in my yard. By planting sage, rosemary and thyme in these simple terracotta egg pots, I've got all the herbs I need within a controlled area where they are not going to overgrow anything and also look decorative. The pots are nestled next to a sheltering wall so they should come through the winter weather without too much trouble.

EASY MADE HANGING GUTTER GARDEN

A very simple vertical garden that is easily made from bits available from your local DIY store. Check out construction details on www.livingwallart.com 

www.livingwallart.com/do-it-yourself/hanging-gutter-garden/

TOWER GARDENS _ THE ANSWER TO GROWING IN SMALL SPACES

The Tower Garden from www.mytowergarden.com is a patented vertical food production system that is perfect for yards,balconies and roof gardens. In the Tower Garden I think at last we have found a practical, well designed sytem that makes vegetable growing easy for non gardeners who haven't got much space.

The system works on hydroponics. The plants are not grown in soil or compost but are grown in a recycled solution that contains all the nutrients that they require. The Tower will grow twenty plants that will mature in a fraction of the time that soil grown plants do.

The system is not available in Europe yet but I will be looking out for its launch here.

 
 

CROCOSMIA LUCIFER - BURNING THE SUMMER SKY

Crocosmia Lucifer must be one of the brightest red flowers available to us. Its grown from small corms that you can buy dry in spring or you can buy established plants ready to flower. Planted in a sunny position they soon increase in size and always reward you with a multitude of flowers in late June and July.

 
 

SPIDERS IN THE BED

 

 
Spider plants, Chlorophytum comosum, are usually grown as houseplants, decorating many a kitchen windowsill. They can though be grown outside with summer bedding, their variegated spiky leaves contrast well against bright bedding plants such as geranium.

The only problem is that they do not like damp cold weather so it can be a risk if we have a poor summer.

SWINGING THE BLUES

 
Sometimes taking a risk pays off. I planted these blue petunias in my hanging cones about six weeks ago when the weather was really good not  thinking that there would still be a risk of frost. Luckily I got away with it and now they are looking great. I have not planted trailing varieties as I find in our windy conditions they can get broken in summer storms.  

WHITE SWAN AT CHELSEA

 

The superb Anenome White Swan was voted Plant of the Year by the RHS at the Chelsea Flower Show last week. Its a new introduction that should be available in garden centres next year.

This is a low growing anenome that has large pure white flowers with a blue reverse, It flowers from spring through into summer and would make a great container plant in a semi shade situation. 

LONG LASTING ASTRANTIAS

 
Astrantia major Roma is a great plant for containers. It will flower from now until September if planted in semi shade or at least not full sun and deadheaded regularly. It only grows to about 70cm high. Astrantias have always been popular with flower arrangers as they make excellent cut flowers. 
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HARD GRAFT FOR TOMATOES

Tomatoes used by gardeners are usually grown from seed but commercial growers for many years have grown 'grafted' plants. These are tomato plants that are grown on stronger rootstocks than would normally grow on the variety of tomato that they grow. This year these 'grafted' tomatoes, called Turbo, are available to gardeners from www.suttons.co.uk.

They are more expensive than normal tomato plants costing around £3.99 but the benefits outweigh the cost. The plants are much larger and more vigorous, they are more pest and disease resistant and they crop a lot better. They will also perform outside well.

They are available in three varieties- Conchita, a cherry tomato, Dasher, a small plum tomato, and Elegance which has standard size tomatoes. 

MINI CLEMATIS FOR INSIDE OR OUT

These mini Clematis Flora are available from www.dobies.co.uk. They are great for pots inside or out. Use them as houseplants then once flowered cut them back and grow them outside where they will flower all summer. They are available in a choice of three colours.