My gardening Diary
MONDAY There has never been so much bindweed in a couple of beds, and though it’s very localised, it’s a shock to see it. If you cut its stem low down, you can pull it from the top without damaging the foliage or flowers of the poor plant it has chosen as its host.
TUESDAY Collecting seed from ammi. There are some benefits to sowing too early. Although they’ve finished flowering and we’ve had to sow again (fifingers crossed they’ll flower for the end of September), there’s masses of seed to collect from the first batch.
WEDNESDAY Checking that our nerines, on the south-facing side of the raised beds, can see the light of day. It has been such a ‘growing’ year and some plants have made voluminous growth, so less vigorous individuals have been swamped here and there. To flower well, nerines need sunshine to ripen their bulbs.
THURSDAY Filming at Rosemoor. Sedums are our plant of the month for September and we couldn’t find a finer collection than in this beautiful RHS garden. September is an important time for late-hatched butterflies and sedums are a real favourite with them.
FRIDAY We haven’t had as much time as we’d have liked this year to grow perennials from seed but one tray of seedlings from a dark crimson form of astrantia, with stems of the same colour, are now ready to be po ed on. It’s always worth seeing how they develop, sometimes they’re even more exciting than their parents.
SATURDAY How long does mint take to grow from li le divisions? A few big plants were split earlier and they’ve filled their half-litre pots, but if they’re divided again will it be weeks or months before they make new growth? Ironic really, most gardeners worry about how to control their mint but we want more of it for the upcoming wedding!
SUNDAY Planting out foxgloves. Staggering seed sowing and po ing on means that some plants are ready to go out now. A few of the white form Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’ are destined for Alice’s garden but most of them will grace shadier areas under the beeches on the other side.