In Gardeners World episode 19 2015, Carol Klein continues her journey across the nation in search of amazing plant combinations. In this episode, she is at Logan Botanic Garden near Stranraer, famed for its colourful, exotic borders.
Joe Swift drops in on a street in Bristol as the residents prepare to be judged by RHS Britain in Bloom. And Monty Don shares a wealth of ideas on how to keep your garden looking top-notch all summer long.
Gardeners World episode 19 2015:
Late-flowering clematis
Monty has a beautiful selection of late-flowering clematis in his Jewel Garden, with his favourite being Clematis ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’. We asked a clematis specialist to give us his top five varieties for fantastic colour at this time of year. Peter Skeggs-Gooch and his family have been growing clematis in the UK for more than 25 years and these are his suggestions.
Sow dwarf French beans
If you haven’t got round to sowing any dwarf French beans yet, it’s not too late! They are a great gap-filler, enjoy the warmth at this time of year and are easy to grow. Sow seeds 5cm (2in) deep, 10cm (4in) apart in rows spaced 30-45cm (12–18in) apart. With luck, beans planted now should be ready to harvest in September.
Support autumn-fruiting raspberries
Autumn-fruiting raspberries are starting to bear fruit. It’s not necessary to give them a permanent support as the canes are sturdier than their summer counterparts, but if you tie them in, they’re less likely to sprawl all over neighbouring plants.
Cut back thyme
Once thyme has finished flowering, it’s a good idea to cut it back hard. This will ensure it doesn’t get too woody and will keep providing fresh, tasty growth for the cooking pot. Always ensure there’s some new growth at the point at which you cut, as the plant doesn’t always rejuvenate from old wood.
