GARDEN NOTES

Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot in October

Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot

VISITING A RURAL PLANT FAIR recently, I was pulled up short by one of the stallholder nurserymen gently chiding me. I was asking about a particularly delectable-looking plant and when he told me its name, I thanked him and said I would look it up. “Well, you can search for it online if you like or you can just ask me – I’m here, I grew it and I can tell you everything you need to know about it,” came his slightly miffed reply. I bit my lip with embarrassment, but who could blame him? While we have all come to rely on online advice, there is actually nothing to beat hearing it straight from an expert.

Specialist nursery growers are a great resource and deserve our devotion. Many struggle to make a living and yet without them the range of plants available to us would be much poorer. If you are looking for independents, try searching at independentplantnurseriesguide.uk and britishplantnurseryguide.co.uk, and see rareplantfair.co.uk and planthuntersfairs.co.uk for events where independents will be exhibiting.

I come away from shows and plant fairs laden with purchases but my (justifiable) excuse is that I winkle out unusual things. This year’s haul included some neonpink dahlias and a startling red crocosmia called ‘Hellfire’, which is even redder than ‘Lucifer’. Both are still packing a punch.