Garlic spray

John’s Recipe for Garlic spray 

1 x Bulb Garlic 
1 x Litre of water 

Crush the garlic bulb, add to the water + boil for 5 minutes. 

After cooling, strain the liquid and store in the fridge. 

Dilute the solution 1 tablespoon per litre and spray the plants and surrounding soil.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012s1qx

Montana Elizabeth first Flower of the season

Montana Elizabeth first Flower of the season

Spotted the first flower in bloom on my Montana Elizabeth Clematis this morning I will up date this page in a few days time when there are more flowers out

Ville Du Lyon

Dont Always Trust The label

As I have previously mentioned Clematis come in 3 Group's. I wanted to get a new Clematis so I picked up this Ville De Lyon. On the front of the packet it states that this Clematis is Group 1 However it's actually a group 3 plant. meaning instead of pruning at the end of flowering you prune early on in the season around February cutting the plant to about a foot from the ground and it starts to grow back from fresh each year. 

Further reading on the web Here and Here Show that this Clematis is a Herbaceous Variety that should be cut very low either in late autumn or early spring. The flowers appear on new growth. The flowers start off early in the season (fairly large rather like my champaign Clematis) and get smaller through out the season. 

As the plant grows the lower part tends to go brown and woody and loose all its foliage so its a good idea to grow the lower part hidden by or through a rose as a companion plant. I have added a picture to show the flowers type. This is not in my garden. This is another good article worth a read

Ville De Lyon has Red to Purple flowers with a pink bar, a profusion of flowers which last most of the summer. So for me I am looking forward to having something that flowers latter in the season than my other two Clematis

Summer planting

Summer Planting

I would like to get some more colour into the Garden this summer so I have decided to add some large flowering plants that I can also use as cut flowers for the house.

Dahlias are tender plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae, and are native to Mexico. Their flowers range widely in size, color, shape, and number of petals, making dahlias among the most diverse flowers, with thousands of varieties.

Dahlias are heavy feeders and require plenty of water and fertilizer. Feed weekly with a liquid fertilizer until flower buds appear and be sure to keep soil moist. Dahlias are sensitive to drought and may not bloom if they are allowed to dry out. Mulch around the plants to retain moisture. Remove spent flowers to encourage continued blooming.

As Dahlias need a lot of feeding I have some Manure that I am going to dig into the Beds Now in preparation for the planting in about a months time. I need to get some stakes to put in the ground as well for tying the dahlias to.

Siberian Iris (Blue King)

 'Blue King' _ 'Blue King' is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with linear, strap-like, grey-green leaves and erect stems bearing deep purple-blue flowers with yellow markings in late spring and early summer.Grow in most soil that is preferably moist but not waterlogged. In drier soils, dig in well-rotted manure before planting and apply as a mulch each spring.

Iris sibirica 'Blue King' (Siberian iris 'Blue King') will reach a height of 0.9m and a spread of 0.4m after 2-5 years.

To aid establishment, water Siberian irises once a week during hot, dry weather. Water when needed for at least one full growing season.

Plants seldom bloom the first year after planting. Siberian irises should be blooming well by the third or fourth year. They will eventually form large, well-established clumps.

    Hemerocallis

Daylily is the common name for plants of the genus Hemerocallis /ˌhɛmɨroʊˈkælɪs/.^[1]Daylily cultivar flowers are highly diverse in colour and form, as a result of hybridization efforts of gardening enthusiasts and professional horticulturalists. Thousands of registered cultivars are appreciated and studied by local and international Hemerocallis societies.^[2] Hemerocallisis now placed in family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, and formerly was part of Liliaceae (which includes true lilies).

 Mulching plants with shredded leaves or other light organic matter goes a long way toward ensuring moisture retention.

I am really looking forward to seeing how these plants turn out. So later in the season I will post some pictuers to show you how they did.

My Herb Garden

Herbs

This is my herb garden I have 2 pots of Mint which have 3 types of mint in them. Apple mint, Spear mint and a Lemon mint (or lemon balm).

Lemon balm

Lemon balm, also known as balm or balm mint and not to be confused with bee balm, is a perennial herb in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to center-southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. It grows to 70–150 cm tall. Wikipedia

Scientific name: Melissa officinalis

Higher classification: Melissa

Rank: Species

Apple Mint

Mentha suaveolens, apple mint, woolly mint or round-leafed mint is a member of the mint genus Mentha that ranges through southern and western Europe and the western Mediterranean region. Wikipedia

Scientific name: Mentha suaveolens

Higher classification: Mentha

Rank: Species

Spearmint

Spearmint or spear mint is a species of mint native to much of Europe and southwest Asia, though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation

Scientific name: Mentha spicata

Higher classification: Mentha

Rank: Species

I have just invested in some curley parsley, rosemary, thyme and lemon thyme.

Parsley or garden parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a species of Petroselinum in the family Apiaceae, native to the central Mediterranean region (southern Italy, Algeria, andTunisia), naturalized elsewhere in Europe, and widely cultivated as a herb, a spice, and avegetable.

Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary, is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs.

Thymus citriodorus (Lemon thyme or Citrus thyme) is a lemon-scented evergreen mat-forming perennial. There has been a great deal of confusion over the plant's correct name and origin. Recent DNA analysis suggests that it is not a hybrid or cross, but a distinct species as it was first described in 1811

Thymus vulgaris (common thyme, garden thyme or just thyme) is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern Europe from the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. Growing to 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall by 40 cm (16 in) wide, it is a bushy, woody-based evergreen subshrub with small, highly aromatic, grey-green leaves and clusters of purple or pink flowers in early summer.^[1]It is useful in the garden as groundcover, where it can be short-lived, but is easily propagated from cuttings.^[1] It is also the main source of thyme as an ingredient in cooking and as an herbal medicine.

Clematis Update

I said in a previous post that i thought the big petaled Clematis was a Viticella 'Venosa Violacea' but I managed to find a sliver of the label 

So here is an update about this plant it turns out that this one is a group 2 plant originated in Japan c1980 it is a hybrid cross of 'Star of India' and 'Crimson King' it grows to between 2.5 - 3 meters so the extra wire mesh that I have put up for it is not needed.

I have found lots of information about it here and on the same web site I have found some more information about the Montana Elisabeth here This site has links for just about every Clematis so it is well worth a visit also they have a lot of information about the nurseries or botanists who raised the hybrids. I have found that people can get very passionate about Clematis and i can really understand why.

Clematis

Clematis

In My garden there are 2 types of Clematis. This one with large flowers is my favorite I took this picture on the 8th of June last year. I have forgotten the name of this one I think that it might be a Viticella 'Venosa Violacea' The petals are such a vivid colour 

The other type that I have in the Garden is Montana Elizabeth. I will put up some photos of this one when it flowers this year. We have had these plants for a few years and they are well established the labels have got so brittle that as you can see from the Montana Elizabeth it cracked just from turning it over.

Clematis come in 3 Groups based on flowering time and habit.

Group 1:  Early Flowering species and their cultivars, including the Montana groups. These flower from last seasons ripened stems.

Group 2:  Early Large flowered Cultivars Bloom on short current seasons stems 

Group 1 and 2 are sometime known as 'Old Wood' flowering Clematis. 

Group 3 Late flowering large flowered species that flower on current seasons growth

If you grow Clematis you will need to know which Group yours fall into when it comes to pruning. 

Prune at the following times;

• Pruning Group 1: Prune mid- to late spring, after flowering and once the risk of frost has passed
• Pruning Group 2: Prune in February and after the first flush of flowers in early summer
• Pruning Group 3: Prune in February

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=109

It is possible to raise new plants from seeds. I am trying this at the moment with no success at this time but I will keep you informed if this changes. or by Layering this involves taking an active stem. cutting half way into it and holding the wound open then leaving this compost until the wood roots. when this happens you can remove the cutting from the main plant as an established new plant.

https://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=97

Strawberry Planter

Strawberry Planter

I mentioned in a recent post that I was planning to use an old pipe that I found as a strawberry planter. Someone I know who is a bit of a mentor to me said that the pipe would be to thick so it wouldn't allow the soil to heat up quickly enough and he said that he had an old strawberry planter that I could have. 

It took a fair while to fill the planter and nearly all my compost but I am so happy with the results and so too are my strawberries. This also means that the area of the garden where the strawberries were is now available for planting.

When I moved the strawberries from the bed I ended up with more than I was able to use in the planter so  I was able to plant them around the base of the planter next to the new Herb bed that I will talk about in another Post.

Iris Harmony

Iris harmony

So excited just been out into the garden and my first Iris Harmony has just flowered. Didn't it look beautiful. Just 2 days ago it was just a few leaves sticking out of the ground. 

I should have made more notes about where they were planted. I planted 10 in the back garden which means there should be 10 in the front garden planted by the chrocus but nothing has come up on that side of the house.

Planting schedule

Just finished my planting schedule. Really excited

Striking Red (40 Bulb collection)

Striking Red (40 Bulb collection)

Picked up these bulbs the other day. I have placed them in a corner of the front garden. I think they are going to be rather striking. They are going to provide some nice color from May till the first First Frosts. I'll Provide pictures later in the year. I am really looking forward to seeing the freesias as I used to work in a greenhouse farming these for Export to England the smell was awesome. I hope that I can get some cut flowers from these as well.

Common Name:	Garden anemone 'Hollandia', Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) 'His Excellency'
Botanical Name:	Anemone coronaria (De Caen Group) 'Hollandia'
Exposure:	Full sun and shelter
Hardiness:	Zones 8-10
Height:	Full grown height 25 - 50 cm
Color:	Red
Bloom Season:	May to June
Bulb/Plant Size:	Bulb size 3/4 cm
Number:	26

Common Name:	Freesia
Botanical Name:	Freesia
Exposure:	Full sun
Hardiness:	Zones 4-8, elsewhere lift in fall and store indoors
Height:	Full grown height 25 - 50 cm
Color:	Red
Bloom Season:	July - August 3 - 4 months after planting
Bulb/Plant Size:	Bulb size 4/5
Number:	6

Common Name:	Gladiolus Traderhorn
Botanical Name:	Gladiolus Traderhoen
Exposure:	Full sun
Hardiness:	Zones 8-10, elsewhere lift in fall and store indoors
Height:	48-60" tall
Color:	Brilliant scarlet with a white center
Bloom Season:	July - September averages 75-80 days from planting
Bulb/Plant Size:	14+cm, exceptionally large
Number:	8

summer time bulbs 75 pack

Summer time Bulbs 75 pack for £1. 

Picked up 75 Bulbs for £1 Still not sure if this is a bargin or not. let me explain the  pack contain.

12 * Peacock Orchid Acididerthera Flowers July - October
8 * Gladiolus "Priscilla" Flowers Flowers July - October
25 * Liatris Spicata Flowers August - October
30 * Oxalis Dappei Flowers July to September

Nearly half the pack is 4 leaf clover. Wood Sorrel, and Sorrel can bolt and take over your whole garden so i will have to keep my eye on it. The pack comes with nearly no information so bellow is a summery of the information i have managed to glean from the net. I am excited about some of these plants

Common Name:	Acidanthera murielae, Abyssinian gladiolus
Botanical Name:	Gladiolus callianthus
Exposure:	Full sun and shelter
Hardiness:	Zones 8-10, elsewhere lift in fall and store indoors
Height:	12" To 24"
Color:	White, Purple
Bloom Season:	Mid Summer, Late Summer
Bulb/Plant Size:	14+cm, exceptionally large
Number:	12

Common Name:	Gladiolus Priscilla
Botanical Name:	Gladiolus Priscilla
Exposure:	Full sun
Hardiness:	Zones 8-10, elsewhere lift in fall and store indoors
Height:	45-60"
Color:	Flowers have a flush of bright rose over white and creamy highlights
Bloom Season:	Mid to late summer, averages 70-75 days from planting
Bulb/Plant Size:	16+cm, exceptionally large
Number:	8 huge bulbs

Common Name:	Dense Blazing Star, Kansas Gay Feather
Botanical Name:	Liatris Spicata
Exposure:	Full sun
Hardiness:	Zones 4-0,
Height:	2 foot
Color:	Purple/ Lavender Flower
Bloom Season:	Early Fall; Fall; Late Summer; Summer
Bulb/Plant Size:	12-12cm
Number:	25 bulbs

Common Name:	Oxalis Iron Cross, Good Luck Plant
Botanical Name:	Oxalis deppei
Exposure:	Full sun to light shade
Hardiness:	Zones 8-10
Height:	10"-12"
Color:	Rosy pink flowers and foliage with purple cross-shaped markings
Bloom Season:	Flowers in 10-12 weeks from planting
Bulb/Plant Size:	4/5 cm bulbs
Number:	30 bulbs

Time for an update as we are nearly at the end of September. The Oxalis was the first to come out and has been fairly constant throughout the summer. The display in the front garden was far better than the one in the back garden. but under the porch didnt start off too well see the note at the end of the page

the Liatris Spicata has just finished flowering. It didn't start until late in the season but did look fantastic. I will try to add some photos when I get the opportunity at a later date. 

Gladiolus Priscilla only a few came up but they did look fantastic. 

and finely Gladiolus callianthus. I think that they made a mistake in packaging as I had Red Gladioli come up where I thought that the Gladiolus callianthus had been planted. and a few of those came up then dissapeared in a matter of days. still not sure why. I think that the front garden under the porch might have been a bit too dry. I might have to reduce the bed that side next year but maybe make it wider as it was so narrow everything seemed squashed in there this year

My Spring Bulb collection is starting to come up

Spring Bulbs

Spring Bulbs are an easy way to get colour into the garden. I picked up a whole load of Crocus plants at the end of the planting season for only a few pounds. These are all starting to come through now. I would say that the new bulbs are about 4 weeks behind some of the more established bulbs. I hope to get some pictures when the rest of them have come up.

45 bulbs to start the season off.

16 * Crocus Vernus "Flower Record" 8-12cm tall

20 * Iris Reticulate "Harmony" 10-15cm tall

10 * Chrocus  Golden Bunch 8-10 cm tall

All of these flower Febuary to March but are running about 4 weeks late due to late planting

and to accompany them Tulips and Daffodil's 

8 * Tulip Late Mixed 40cm tall
8 * Daffodil Cheerfulness 40cm tall
Both of these flower April to May and although they were planted at the end of December I think that they will come up on time.

on top of these new purchases there are a lot of bulbs already in the ground from previous years which have already started to put on a good show

Edging the beds

Edging the beds

Yesterday I had a great day off I was able to get out into the garden and edge my beds. I think that they look so much better now. I have used boards from an old pallet. These are untreated boards so I'm expecting them to only last a couple of years

I have used them to join 3 beds together which I think is going to work a lot better. Anyway time to leave for work.

More Info on Planting Zones UK

I found a really interesting page about Planting Zones in the UK. Definitely worth a look

http://www.gardeningzone.org/content/content.php/hardiness-zones-uk/