Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine

ASK MONTY

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QThe flowerhead­s on my dahlias droop down. What can be done to grow them upright?

Steven Lincoln, Tollerton, Notts

ADifferent dahlias have different lengths and thicknesse­s of stalks. If you grow them in maximum sunlight and pinch out the tips in early summer when they are forming flower buds they will grow more upright. Strong and straight varieties include ‘David Howard’, ‘Chimborazo’, ‘Tamburo’, ‘Chat Noir’ and ‘Rothesay Reveller’.

QI’ve been growing a fig tree in my unheated greenhouse since spring. How do I take care of it over winter? Should I leave the skylight and door open?

A J Ball, Notts

AFigs are very hardy. So by all means leave doors and windows open if that tree is all you have growing in your greenhouse. Do not prune until spring and remember it produces its fruit on the previous year’s growth.

QACan I divide hardy geraniums like ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Patricia’?

John Foster, Birmingham

Yes, easily. Simply lift the parent from the soil and cut or pull it apart into as many pieces as you want. Either plant them out immediatel­y or pot them up to grow on and then plant them out in early spring, just as they are beginning to grow.

Write to Monty Don at Weekend, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email monty.don@dailymail.co.uk. Please include your full name and address. We regret Monty can’t reply to letters personally.

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