Did you get all your bulbs planted this autumn before the weather turned cold? If you didn’t, don’t panic — I have been known to plant bulbs in a mild spell on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Day, although this year I managed to get all of mine planted by mid-November — almost unheard of! If you don’t expect to see mild weather or bare ground before spring, and still have some … [Read more...] about Forcing bulbs and dreaming of spring
Bulb
4 fabulous ways to harvest homegrown garlic
Healthy, homegrown garlic can be enjoyed in four wonderful ways — as young or mature bulbs, scapes and greens. Incredibly easy to grow, this superfood even deters pests from the rest of your garden, and if you let a few plants flower, the stunning spherical blooms help to support our struggling bees. How to grow garlic To grow garlic, plant large cloves in fall. Buy local … [Read more...] about 4 fabulous ways to harvest homegrown garlic
Time for more Martagon lilies
I nearly drove off the road when I passed a neighbour’s garden this week and spied something tall and dangly. It was a cluster of four-foot (1.2-m) stems bearing speckled, pink downward-facing Martagon lilies (Lilium martagon). The flowers resemble butterflies in flight and are good enough to fool the local red admirals that pay them some attention. I’ve never seen a lily I … [Read more...] about Time for more Martagon lilies
Time to order snowdrops
Although summer is still upon us, it’s time to consider snowdrop orders. Snowdrop bulbs are susceptible to drying out once lifted from the ground, and require early planting if they’re to survive. Early orders for these delicate bulbs will help us get them safely planted by the end of September. Those in-the-know about the ways of snowdrops can tell you that the later the … [Read more...] about Time to order snowdrops
