GARDEN GURU

Q My wife was given a peace lily by the funeral director after her father’s passing. It hasn’t flowered in several years, despite increasing in size. What are we doing wrong? Tim Stables

APeace lilies (Spathiphyllum wallisii) are houseplants that prefer a slightly shaded spot with a minimum temperature of 15C. Never let compost dry out and feed monthly with tomato fertiliser from late autumn to early spring. Feed fortnightly from then on.

Q We would like to grow cranberries so we can make our own sauce next Christmas. Which varieties do you recommend? Alex Waldman

AThe only cranberry I have ever grown is Vaccinium macrocarpon ‘Red Star’, whose trailing stems carry lots of tart red berries – I planted several under a blueberry bush in a large pot. Sadly, it isn’t that readily available, so go for ‘Pilgrim’ or ‘Earliblack’, whose shiny, dark fruit ripen from early autumn onwards. Plant in acidic soil or ericaceous compost.

Q I’m worried about my forsythia, which has developed weird, flattened shoots. What has happened? Jane Roebuck

AThe unsightly growth is caused by a genetic mutation known as fasciation. This can hit many plants but forsythias seem particularly prone. It doesn’t impact on the health of plants, so either live with affected shoots or prune them out.