lift and separate

Cheap and easy ways to propagate plants..

Bergenia cordifolia rhizomes were cut into one inch lengths and placed in a tray of peat free potting compost six weeks ago. Here we see good evidence that they have 'taken' with healthy young leaves showing.


Broken stems of Sedum spectabile were placed into compost after the clumps had been lifted and separated. They are looking good after only one month.

Native primroses (Primula vulgaris) will finishing flowering over the coming weeks. Here, I split one small plant into four at the weekend and have placed the newly divided plants into the polytunnel (hoophouse) to give them a chance to develop strong roots before planting out.

Finally, seed of our native honeysuckle (Lonicera pericyclemenum) was collected in August, separated from the juicy flesh of the berries on sheets of kitchen towel which was laid in a tray of compost. Here a strong young plant is two inches tall but has a few more weeks of nurturing before we make a decision on whether they are strong enough for planting out.

rhs members' seed scheme 2012

As a child, my letter to Santa would be written and then posted up the chimney, borne upwards by the heat from the coke fire.
Always with the promise that, if I was good, the jolly fat man would deliver presents from my list on Christmas morning.

Those days are far behind me, but eager anticipation awaited my letter to the Royal Horticultural Society before Christmas. Seeds from some of our favourite plants collected in the RHS gardens. Surely, it doesn't get more exciting than that?

So, we went through their catalogue and ticked the packs of seed we were hoping they would grace us with in the New Year. And just as with the approach of Christmas morning, the time seemed to drag.....

But waiting on the door mat today, as we returned from a long weekend visiting gardens in Cambridgeshire, was a fat envelope with packs of seeds!!

I just can't wait for March when we can get them planted!!!

rhs members' seed scheme 2012

When I finished work, Judith and Roger paid for me to join the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

I must recommend membership to you!

We have enjoyed visits to Tatton Park and Wisley on the back of this. We have also enjoyed the magazine  ‘The Garden’ - easily the best gardening magazine I’ve seen.

Then they toss in their members’ seed scheme in which you can order 20 packets of seed collected by RHS staff in their wonderful grounds. Only £12!!

So, last night we ploughed through the booklet and ordered online today. What is just so wonderful is seeing some of our favourite Wisley plants like Giant Inula's (photo) and Phlomis Russeliana on the list. Talk about being a kid in a sweetshop!!! I can’t wait for January to arrive!!!
 

First Choice Seed list:

115 Briza media (common quaking grass), H., ornamental grass, 1m.

120 Deschampsia cespitosa (tufted hair grass), H., ornamental grass, 60cm.

127 Sporobolus heterolepis, H., ornamental grass, orange-gold autumn colour, to 80cm.

129 Stipa tenuissima (Mexican feather grass), H., ornamental grass, 80cm.

139 Agastache rugosa (Korean mint), H., rose or violet, 1.2m.

154 Aquilegia chrysantha (golden columbine), H., yellow, 1.2m.

203 Digitalis ferruginea (rusty foxglove), B. or H., yellow-brown, to 2m.

210 Eryngium agavifolium, H., green-blue, to 1m.

211 Eryngium bourgatii (Mediterranean sea holly), H., bluish, 60cm.

232 Gillenia trifoliata (Bowman's root), H., white tinged purple, to 1.2m.

249 Inula magnifica (giant inula), P., hairy stems bearing golden yellow flowers, 1.8m

256 Knautia macedonica, H., dark red, to 1m.

261 Libertia formosa (Chilean iris), H., white, 90cm.

269 Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese cross), H., pink or red, 1m.

287 Nepeta parnassica, H., white, 30-60cm.

300 Peucedanum verticillare, B/P., large umbels of small greenish- white flowers, to 3.5m.

301 Phlomis russeliana (Turkish sage), H., yellow, 60-90cm.

349 Thalictrum flavum subsp. glaucum, H., yellow, glaucous foliage, to 2m.

359 Verbascum phoeniceum, H., purple and pink shades, 60-90cm.

362 Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver's root), H., white or pale blue, 1-2m.

Alternative Numbers list: (In Order of Preference)

322 Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica, H., pink and white, 1m.

212 Eryngium pandanifolium, H., evergreen, sword shaped silver grey leaves, purplish-brown, 4m.

213 Eryngium planum (blue eryngo), H., steely blue, 90cm.

124 Melica ciliata, H., ornamental grass, to 1m.

286 Nepeta grandiflora, H., blue, 60cm.

seed collecting 2011

Seed collecting has proved a fascinating new craze and my box of collected seed is bulging!

Each seed is distinctly different and fascinating to look at closely.

Seed of the cowslip (primula veris) looks round and black as it is shaken from the dried seed pods, but magnified it looks more like gravel as you can see. Cowslips have simple flowers that long-tongued bumble bees especially can enjoy. We will sow the seed in drills on the allotment and then transplant the seedlings to their new home in places where the ground is more moist.

We've collected the majority of the seeds, but indulgent friends have also contributed.

Here's my list (in no sort of order) so far.....

Common name	Latin name	Habitat	Notes
Bluebell	Hyacinthoides non-scripta	Woodland	For broadcasting in woodland
Yellow scabious		Garden	For sowing in drills
	Aquilega	Hedgerow/garden	Broadcast along hedgerow
Weld	Reseda lutiola		Broadcast along hedgerow
Foxglove	Gigitalis purpurea	Woodland/hedgerow	Broadcast in woodland and along hedgerow
Red Campion	Silene dioica	Woodland/hedgerow	Broadcast in woodland and along hedgerow Sown in trays and planted out as plugs
White Campion	Silene alba	Woodland/hedgerow	For sowing in drills
Bladder Campion	Silene vulgaris	Woodland/hedgerow	For sowing in drills
Welsh poppies	Mecenopsis cambrica	Garden	For garden
Welsh poppies (orange)	Mecenopsis cambrica	Garden	For garden
Opium poppies	Papaver somniferum	Garden	For sowing in drills
Californian poppies	Eschscholzia californica	Garden	For sowing in drills
	Camassia (white)	Meadow/garden	For sowing in drills
Ox eye daisies	Leucanthemum vulgarae	meadow	For adding to meadow mix
Pot marigold ‘Art shades mixed’	Calendula	Garden	For broadcast in garden and in orchard
	Phacelia	Garden	Broadcast in orchard
Cowslip	Primula veris	Meadow/garden	For sowing in drills
Greater knapweed	Centaurea scabiosa	Meadow edge	For sowing in drills
	Astrantia	garden	For sowing in drills
	Stipa gigantea	garden	Tray sown For sowing in drills
Bee orchid	Ophrys apifera	Meadow/hedgerow	Broadcast in grass along hedge
Yellow (Hay) Rattle	Rhinanthus minor	Meadow/grassland	Broadcast in grass along hedge
Honeysuckle	Lonicera pericyclemenum	Woodland	Tray sown
Parsnip		Vegetable garden
Field beans		Vegetable garden

As I've said before, the ecological assessment of the site disappointingly noted that there was nothing of particular interest.

Our aim is to increase the overall biodiversity by first of all increasing the range of plants in site. None of the above occur on the site at the moment. If we can raise many of them to maturity, and continue to add insect friendly plants, in years to come we should have increased the floral diversity considerably.

Left - ox-eye daisy (leucanthemum vulgarae) is a beautiful 'pioneer' species of grassland occurring early in a  meadow's life. Its simple flowers are typical of the kind that invertebrates find most useful. This year was an exceptional one for ox-eye daisies and they flowered in profusion from May to late July. This seed will be added to a meadow mix and will hopefully be broadcast in the autumn.