Welcome to my potting shed! This is the column where I’ll share all my gardening hints and tips – and I’ll try to answer any queries you may have.
Q Are there any tomatoes that will grow outdoors in Scotland? – Moira Wallace, Cupar.
A Cherry tomatoes are much more forgiving of our weather than standard toms, but you still have to give them the sunniest, most sheltered spot in the garden and ensure they don’t dry out.
Tidy up phormiums, removing dead
foliage and snipping off leaf tips that have been damaged by frost.
Q I’ve taken over an allotment that’s infested with mare’s tail. How do I get rid of it? – Ian Anderson, Rutherglen.
A Spray with a glyphosate-based weedkiller, cover with heavy black polythene or just hoe it off when it appears. None of these methods is foolproof and you might have to try a combination of all three.
Snip off a few hellebore flowers and
float in a bowl of water indoors to appreciate their beauty.
Q I’ve lost countless plants in a corner of my garden where the soil is permanently wet. Is it worth trying to grow anything there? – Liam Forbes, Perth.
A Choose plants suitable for pond sides and marginal areas. Candelabra primulas, arum lilies, flag irises, gunnera and many other lovely, leafy plants will relish these conditions.
Mark congested clumps of snowdrops
for dividing as flowers begin to go over.
Q What’s the fastest way to screen off my compost heap? I don’t want to use a fence. – Brian Morrison, Biggar.
A Willow cuttings, inserted into the ground, will take root and form a natural barrier. You can even weave them together for a more decorative effect.
Sweet peas, sown indoors, should be
moved to a cool position as soon as they start to sprout.
Q I need to remove a large ivy to carry out maintenance on my shed. What’s the quickest way to do this? – E. Mollison, via email.
A Simply cut through the vines, just above the stump, and leave to die back before removing. The ivy will resprout but by trimming it regularly you can prevent it from getting out of control again.
Sow trays of radish and beetroot seeds
to harvest as microgreens.