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News

MERCURY ARTICLE 9th February (week 6)

TASKS FOR THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

Help gladioli to flower early by sprouting some corms in the greenhouse. Place single layers of corms in a shallow tray I full light and keep at 10°C. Once the shoots appear they can be planted out next month.

If your winter pots and hanging baskets are looking a little sad, perk them up with a good watering containing a general purpose food. Replace any dead plants with some fresh primroses or flowering bulbs.

If the frost has loosened and lifted plants around the garden, firm the soil around them by gently treading round them.
Sow seeds of begonias and coleus in seed boxes and place in a propagator or heated greenhouse at 16°C until the seedlings emerge. Once large enough to handle, prick them out into 3 inch pots and grow them on in normal cool house temperature.
Thin climbers such as solanum by removing any weak growth and shorten or pinch out the tips of main shoots.

IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Sow some early carrot seed such as Early Nantes in light, fertile soil, in a cold frame and they should be ready in June. Keep the frame closed until they have germinated.
If the weather is dry and not too cold, sow a first batch of parsley seed in the open. Choose a damp, shady spot.
Plant some shallots if you haven’t already done so – leave the top third of the bulbs showing.
Dig over the vegetable patch and incorporate some lime to sweeten the soil for growing brassicas later in the year – this will help club root from developing and also improves a heavy clay soil.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

The crocus family is very large with some 80 species and many varieties but the Dutch hybrids flowering now are the most popular. They have large goblet-shaped flowers emerging from the ground and growing to a height of about 4 inches. The colours range from blue and purple to yellow and white with many variations in between. They grow from a corm and once the flowers have faded the narrow leaves continue to grow. They grow well in pots and can be added to planted containers for winter and spring colour. Once they have finished flowering they can be planted in the ground and will continue to emerge for many years. They thrive in sun or shade and will tolerate any garden soil.

GARDEN SOCIETY NEWS & EVENTS - New members are always most welcome.

Hanbury & Draycott Gardening Club is meeting at 7.30 on Monday 13 February in the Memorial Hall when Ken Whittaker will be talking about Seasonal Dos and Don’ts.

Jean Draycott is giving a talk entitled The Restoration of Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens to.Shenstone Gardening Guild which is also meeting on Monday at 7.30 in the Cooper Room, and to the members of Burntwood Gardening Guild who meet on Tuesday 14 February at 7.30 in the Memorial Institute.

The Lichfield RSPB Group also meets on Tuesday in St Mary’s Centre at 7.30 to hear a talk entitled Up the Okavango from Charlie Brown.

For more information and advice, contact Diana Muir at The Plant Plot, Western Bypass (A51), Lichfield WS13 8JA; telephone 01543 262805; email info@theplantplot.com; or visit www.theplantplot.com
Follow us on twitter.com/theplantplot

MERCURY ARTICLE 2nd February (week 5)

TASKS FOR THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

Prune back summer flowering clematis which includes the viticella group. Clip back hard and they will make rapid new growth in the spring to carry flowers later in the summer.
Plant up lily bulbs in to pots – five to a large pot will give a fine show. Use deep clay or ceramic pots to provide extra stability for the tall flower spikes that will eventually emerge.
Clean the pile of pots and seed trays that are lying around – wash them out with a general household disinfectant, rinse in clear water and store them away ready for the spring.
Apply a mulch of composted manure or bark around the borders and to rose beds to a depth of 2-3 inches but take care not to cover emerging bulbs.
Check that the greenhouse is clean and in good repair – replace any broken or missing panes of glass to prevent strong winds from destroying it.

IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Continue to pick any vegetables that have survived the weather such as Brussels sprouts, leeks and cabbages, as you need them.
Cover the crowns of rhubarb plants with up-turned buckets or forcing jars to encourage early growth. Lift and divide any large, congested clumps.
If you wish to grow tomatoes in a cool greenhouse during April then sow some seed now into seed compost and maintain at a temperature of 16° C on a windowsill.
Propagate mint using the long, rooted runners that lie just below the surface of the plant. Dig them, separate the runners from their parents, and plant them out in their own rich, moist soil. If you wish to contain the plants (as they do go rather mad!) then plant them into pots and plunge the pots in to the ground.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

A strongly growing evergreen shrub which is at its best now is the Garrya elliptica or silk tassel bush. It produces grey-green slender catkins up to 9 inches long which drape the bushes during January and February, and has glossy, wavy-edged dark green leaves. This is a valuable plant for any garden as it is fast growing, up to 12 feet high and wide, and flourishes in sun or shade. Try it towards the back of a sunny shrub border, against a wall or as a windbreak. When it has finished its display, the dark foliage makes a lovely foil for summer flowering shrubs. Garden care is easy – just cut back dead or straggly branches in the spring. As it grows well against a wall it is a useful plant for a north facing wall where few evergreen plants will grow. It is not particular about the soil type but enjoys a free-draining, humus-rich soil.

GARDEN SOCIETY NEWS & EVENTS - New members are always most welcome.

Streetly Horticultural Society is meeting at 7.45 in The Community Centre on Foley Road on Tuesday 7 February to hear a talk entitled Choice Gardens of the Midlands from Dr John Page.

Also on Tuesday, Hammerwich Gardening Guild is meeting at 7.30 in the WI Hall when members are asked to bring along any small antiques ‘You Show me Yours’.

Lichfield Wildlife Group meets on Wednesday 8 February at 7.45 in St Mary’s Centre for their AGM and talk on Wildlife of The Staffordshire Moorlands and Back to Nature from Peter Durnall.

Hints Garden Guild members meet on Thursday 9 February at 7.30 in the Village Hall for a talk from Jean Draycott about the Restoration of Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.

The Plant Plot Reward Scheme

We have recently updated our free Plant Plot loyalty cards as a thank you to all our customers. You will now receive one stamp for every £10 spent and once your card is full (6 stamps in total) you will receive a £5 Plant Plot gift voucher.

Don’t worry if you have an old loyalty card, you will still be able to use it and claim your rewards. If you don’t already have a Plant Plot loyalty card, ask in store today.

MERCURY ARTICLE 26th January (week 4)

TASKS FOR THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

Keep an eye on any planted winter containers removing any faded flowers and leaves from the pansies, violas and primroses. Check that they have sufficient watering, especially if they are hanging baskets or pots against the side of the house.

Plant out roses – either pot grown or bare rooted – as long as the ground is suitable. Sprinkle some Rootgrow friendly fungi around the roots as you plant them to encourage robust and healthy root growth. No further feeding should ever be needed.

Clear any debris from the tops of non-shrubby plants in the borders, taking care to tread between the plants, but avoid any emerging bulbs. Lightly fork over the soil between the plants and turn over any annual weeds.
Keep house plants warm and supplied with as much light as possible. Water sparingly as most house plants are killed by over watering, especially during the winter months.
Check that structures such as pergolas and arches are weathering the winter winds and not in need of any repair. If they are weak or wobbly then a heavy snowfall may bring them down.

IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Plan your new herb garden during this dormant time and choose a new sunny, south-facing position – a gently sloping site is ideal. Buy your seeds ready for spring sowing.
Place cloches over strawberry plants for an early crop as this will encourage them to grow and protect them from the worst of the weather.
Sow some lettuce seeds on a warm windowsill or in a heated propagator – move them to a greenhouse once they have germinated.
Feed plum, damson, peach and nectarine trees with a general purpose fertiliser such as Growmore or fish, blood and bone.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

A stunning plant at this time of year is the Witch Hazel or Hamamelis. Spidery flowers appear on leafless branches during the winter months and provide a highly-scented show of colour. The narrow-petalled flowers are in shades of vivid yellow, bronze and gold. After the flowers the hazel-like leaves appear which turn an interesting orange and rust colour in autumn. The plant is a hardy deciduous shrub which prefers an acid soil which is moist but well-drained and thrives in sun or partial shade. It needs a fair amount of space as it will grow to about 10 feet high and wide, but needs very little attention.

GARDEN SOCIETY NEWS & EVENTS - New members are always most welcome.

Stonnall Gardeners Guild meets on Wednesday 1 February at the Youth & Community Centre at 7.30 when Chris Hollingsworth will be testing members with the Annual Quiz.
Colton Village Produce Guild members meet on Thursday 2 February at 7.30 in the Village Hall for a talk from Sylvia Martin about The Kitchen Garden.

MERCURY ARTICLE 19th January (week 3)

TASKS FOR THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

Sow some geranium seeds in a propagator or on a windowsill to give a good early display in the year.
Winter prune wisteria by cutting back to within 3 inches of the old wood on all young shoots not needed to increase the size of the plant.
Check that any fuchsia or pelargonium cuttings taken in the autumn are healthy – remove any leaves which show sign of mildew and discard cuttings with diseased stems.
Tidy up the alpine bed or rockery before the plants start to grow. Remove any fallen or dead leaves and fork over the spaces between the plants. Sprinkle the surface with fine grit to help retain moisture and stifle weeds.
Bring in any planted containers of bulbs for indoor flowering as they show buds.

IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Buy your seed potatoes of the early varieties and start them off by chitting (sprouting) them in a cool, light place. Place the potatoes in a single layer in a shallow box (egg boxes are good for this!) and watch them shoot.
In a sheltered spot, sow some peas – use a round-seeded variety such as Avola which is hardier. Plant in a trench 6 inches wide and 1.5 inches deep, spacing the seeds 2 inches apart in 2 rows, zig-zag fashion. Fill in with soil and cover with cloches if they are available.
Continue planting fruit trees and bushes if the soil conditions are suitable (not frozen or water-logged).
Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries such as Autumn Bliss by cutting back all the canes to just above ground level.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

The first of the bulbs to flower in the year and give promise of the spring to come is the snowdrop or Galanthus. This year they are flowering especially early - just like everything else! There are several species and numerous varieties of snowdrop which vary in height from 3 to 12 inches and which can give a succession of blooms from November to March. All have the dainty snowdrop shape with nodding white and green flowers- some varieties are double-flowered - held above a slender stem and grass-like leaves. Once planted, they will flower for many years if left undisturbed. If you need to move them, dig them up just after flowering before the leaves have died back and re-plant 2-3 inches deep. They prefer moist soil in a lightly shaded spot.

GARDEN SOCIETY NEWS & EVENTS - New members are always most welcome.

There are 2 meetings on Wednesday 25 January: Etching Hill Garden Guild is meeting at 7.30 in The Village Hall to hear John Davis talk about Photographic Memories and Yoxall Gardening Guild members meet at 7.30 in the Village Hall to hear a talk from Michael Herbert on The Restoration of Trentham Gardens.

Lichfield City Gardening Guild members meet on Thursday 26 January at 7.30 in St Michael’s Church Hall for a Social Evening.

MERCURY ARTICLE 13th January (week 2)

This is the perfect time of year to give your garden a much needed tidy up. Whilst January isn’t the time of year when your garden looks its absolute best, it will always look better for a little care and attention. Making time for your garden should be at the top of your new year’s resolutions!

TASKS FOR THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

Clear paths of moss and leaves – leaving them is unsightly and a potential slipping hazard
Check that your greenhouse insulation and heating are in good working condition
Think ahead to the planting season and begin a list of desirable vegetables, herbs and soft fruits you’d like to grow – by having a timetable of sorts you’ll be able to plan ahead and not miss the perfect sowing time (we have a growing chart that helps with this on our website)
Keep an eye on your coldframe, make sure you cover it if necessary to protect from frost (carpet or fleece is ideal)
Remove leaves from the base of alpines so the damp doesn’t kill them off
Enjoy the fresh air as we move through January, so far it seems to be being quite kind to us in terms of temperature – it’s perfect for brushing away the cobwebs and looking forward to some productive, positive gardening in 2012

IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Start to force rhubarb either with a forcer or large pot. Tip: the heat from horse manure packed around your rhubarb is a sure-fire way of speeding up the process!
Sow some early crops – you can grow radishes, beetroot and lettuce on your windowsill or greenhouse – why wouldn’t you?
Check your fruit trees – protect with netting, ensure all ties aren’t too tight or broken and avoid pruning stone fruits in the winter to allay the risk of introducing diseases
Harvest leeks, sprouts, carrots, parsnips and cabbages (it is definitely a great time of year to make a hearty, healthy soup!)
You can still plant garlic if you haven’t already

PLANT OF THE WEEK

The Viburnum is one of the prettiest, most delicate plants that you’ll see this time of year. White flowers sit on plum coloured stems accompanied by tiny black berries – what a colour combination! There are also many other varieties and colours of this large deciduous shrub but they all have their showy flowers, berries and fragrance in common to make them a popular addition to any garden.

Viburnums are often grown as hedges, screens, or filler plants and their attractive berries attract birds and other wildlife. Many species keep their blue, red, black, or yellow berries into winter, making them attractive throughout the year. Viburnums bloom in mid to late spring. Plant height ranges from 5 to 15 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety.

Most Viburnums prefer a site with full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. Some species tolerate wet soils – ask for advice if you’re unsure before planting. Prune to remove dead, diseased or broken branches anytime.

MERCURY ARTICLE 5th January (week 1)

Look forward to a new year in the garden – it’s more armchair then physical gardening at this time of year but on any brighter and drier days get out there and work off some of the excesses of the holiday period.

TASKS FOR THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

Recycle your cut Christmas Tree by shredding it and using for mulching or adding to the compost heap. If you have a pot grown tree then take care when moving it from a hot house to the chills of outside – give it a few days in a cooler spot such as a porch or conservatory to acclimatize before moving it into the garden.
Take stock of your houseplants – many are given as gifts at Christmas so maybe it’s time to throw out or refresh some of your old ones. If re-potting isn’t possible, take some cuttings and start some new ones. Group your houseplants together and spray them with water to create a humid atmosphere to combat the dry air of central heating – most houseplants like to be misted.
Draw a plan of the garden and see what changes you’d like to make – perhaps the vegetable plot needs to be bigger, the lawn needs re-shaping to accommodate more flowers or shrubs, screens need to be erected to shield an eyesore or an area of quiet contemplation needs to be created.
Choose which flowers you’d like to grow this season – try a different colour scheme or some new varieties of your much-loved plants. Refer to the internet and magazines for the latest trends and news.
Create a bog garden if condition allows - an ideal method is to convert an existing garden pond, or add a bog area to the edge of a new pond. Use the same pond liner underneath the bog garden to create waterlogged conditions. Pierce the liner and add a layer of gravel placed in the bottom to allow for some drainage, so that conditions are waterlogged without pooling.

IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN

Wash propagators with warm soapy water and then sterilize them. Check that thermostat settings work satisfactory using a maximum - minimum thermometer. Check all propagators that contain young plants every day and wipe off any condensation.
Seed potatoes are available now and first early varieties can be started to chit in a cool but frost free, light environment.
Grow some cress or sprouting seeds on the windowsill – so quick and easy to grow and great to add to salads.
Traditionally onion and shallot sets are planted at the end of December for harvesting on midsummer’s day – a few days won’t make much difference. There are plenty in store to choose from.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

There are few indoor plants that create such an aura of elegance as orchids. Their exotic flowers last for weeks or even months and therefore make them excellent value for money. Most orchids prefer to grow out of direct sunlight and many grow on trees in their natural habitat, taking moisture and nutrients from the air. There are many types of orchid but the two main types which are readily available are phalaenopsis and cymbidium. Phalaenopsis is the most common and is also known as the moth orchid. They have broad, thick glossy green leaves and the flowers, borne on arching stems, are generally pink or white although there is an increasing range of colours. They grow well throughout the year and like a light and humid spot – a bathroom or kitchen is ideal. They only need re-potting every 2 or 3 years and don’t worry if the roots are outside the pot – spray the whole plant including the roots to water them and feed regularly. Cymbidiums are larger plants and have long, strap-like leaves which bear numerous flowers on a single stem. They flower in early spring and benefit from a period outside in the summer. They also like to be pot bound so only re-pot every 3 or 4 years. Feed with an orchid fertiliser throughout the year.

GARDEN SOCIETY NEWS & EVENTS - New members are always most welcome.

Saturday 7 January: Colton Village Produce Guild is meeting at 7.30 in The Village Hall on for their Annual Social, as is Etching Hill Garden Guild also meeting at 7.30 in The Village Hall for a Party.
Draycott & Hanbury Gardening Club is meeting on Monday 9 January at 7.30 in the Memorial Hall for a talk about Orchards & Fruit Growing from Mr M Swales.
On Tuesday 10 January Cannock Wood & Gentleshaw Gardening Club meets at 7.30 in Cannock Wood Village Hall to hear Mr Wood talk about Thatching and the Lichfield RSPB Group meets at 7.30 in St Mary’s Centre for their monthly meeting entitled Views From the Hyde, presented by Allan Heath.
Hints Garden Guild meets on Thursday 12 January in the Village Hall for a talk entitled Back to Back from Clive Katz.