call 0844 2485383

Garden Ideas, Advice, Help and Information blurb goes here if you want it

Thompson & Morgan: Andrew Tokely's Weekly Gardening Blog

picture of andrew tokely

With the weather forecast set to be wet and windy this weekend and through next week, it’s time to batten down the hatches and get on with the few jobs that can be undertaken.

One important job will be to check that the posts and stakes for trees and shrubs are secure. Check the ties, making sure they are supporting the tree but are not too tight. Others to check will be fence posts and panels, as well as securing vents of greenhouses and coldframes. With all this done, hopefully this extreme weather will pass safely and your garden will still be intact.

dahlia-cut-back

Dahlia Cut Back For the Winter

Last week saw the first sharp frost of autumn and this put an end to the dahlias in the garden. As all the dahlia foliage has now been blackened, these plants can now be cut down to the ground. The tubers can then either be lifted and placed upside down in a frost-free greenhouse to finish drying off, or if the tubers are established like mine, they can be left in the ground with a mulch of compost to help protect the tuber from frost throughout the winter.

If you followed my advice a few weeks ago to plant prepared Hyacinth bulbs in pots and place them in the dark to force on for Christmas flowering, then they should now be checked regularly. Make sure the pots do not dry out as this can affect the root development and the quality of the flower. Once you can see the flower spikes nestling among the leaves, remove the pots from the dark and place in a light position. This usually happens approximately eight weeks from the planting date.

sweet-peas-pinching-out.2

Pinching Out Sweet Pea Tops

The Sweet Peas that were sown in October are growing well and already have 2-3 pairs of leaves, so they are ready to have their tops pinched out. By pinching out the tops, the plants will be encouraged to produce side shoots, and in turn produce more flowers next year. If you didn't sow your Sweet Peas in October there is still plenty of time to sow them in a little warmth from January onwards. T&M offer a wide range of colourful and fragrant Sweet Peas to choose from.

One job that can be done whatever the weather is to care for your houseplants. Many of my glossy leafed houseplants such as Rubber plants or Dipladenia have attracted dust over the summer months. These can now have their leaves cleaned with a damp cloth or leaf wipes, as this will allow more light to get through to the plants during these dull winter days, which will assist their growth. Where possible I will also be moving these houseplants to a light south-facing window during the winter months, so they can take full advantage of any sunny days we may get.

fuchsias-cut-back-3

Cut Back Fuchsias in Pots & Flower Pouches

My Fuchsia baskets and Flower Pouches have been spectacular this year but, alas, all good things must come to an end. These have now been cut back, had all the foliage removed and been placed in my cool frost-free greenhouse for the winter. These will gradually burst back into growth in the early part of next year and reward me with some new growth that I can use for taking some fresh cuttings for next year's display.

In my parents' garden there is a wonderful clump of Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica). As a rule these are usually quite frost hardy but I always think it is best to play safe and give the plants some winter protection. I simply give these plants a thick mulch with straw to protect the dormant crown (centre) of the plant. However, plants that have been grown in pots will be moved into a cold greenhouse or against a wall where they will get some protection.

cabbage-kilaton

Cabbage Kilaton under Protection Net

Finally this week, I have been enjoying my Cabbage Kilaton - the club root resistant cabbage. These were sown in early May, planted out once large enough under a protection net to keep off the pigeons and have now produced some really hard hearts that taste delicious. This is one vegetable that all the family likes eating, including my two children. Kilaton is so sweet you can even munch on it raw whilst preparing it for Sunday lunch.

Listen to Andrew on BBC Radio Suffolk on Saturdays between 8.00 and 9.00am.