In Gardeners World episode 13 2019: at Longmeadow this week Monty turns his attention to the tender annuals he has grown from seed, including climbers and sunflowers and plants out beans for a bountiful summer harvest. Nick Bailey celebrates the rhododendron, one of our most colourful spring flowering shrubs and, on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, we meet a WWII veteran who has planted an orchard for peace to commemorate those who lost their lives during the war.
Also in tonight’s programme Carol Klein, Frances Tophill and Joe Swift travel to Derbyshire to bring us the floral highlights from the RHS Chatsworth Flower Show.
Gardeners World episode 13 2019
Starting a perennial border
Planning a border is one of the most exciting aspects of gardening. You may like to create a crescendo of colour over high summer, or a more staggered season of interest from late spring to late autumn. The choice is yours; our list will help inspire you.
With such a wide range of perennials to choose from, the task may seem insurmountable. Our list should well help with ideas for plants for specific conditions as well as giving a guide to flowering times. Some may start flowering earlier than the month indicated, depending on season, area and situation. Similarly, others may continue blooming well into the following months. In a mild autumn, colour could be maintained through to October.
Transplanting vegetables
Unless sown directly into their final positions, sooner or later, young vegetable plants have to be set out in the soil. This a crucial stage when the plants are vulnerable to stress from cold and drought, and also vulnerable to birds, slugs and other pests.
How to plant a Rhododendron
Choose a site with dappled shade in sheltered conditions. Avoid deep shade beneath other trees. Most rhododendrons will tolerate a more open site if sheltered from cold, drying winds. Dwarf alpine species will tolerate full sun provided the soil does not dry out. Avoid frost pockets and sites exposed to early morning sun.
