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Sown now in the greenhouse, dahlia seeds will produce young plants ready to plant outdoors in late May to flower this year. Seed companies sell a range of quick-growing bedding strains that are suitable for growing this way. You can also use this method for sowing seeds saved fro...

enjoyed it. They're juicier than ever.My first apples to ripen are 'Ellison's Orange' in mid-September, and this is one variety that really must be eaten straight from the tree. When you do the apples are crisp and juicy, but sadly they don't stay in good

to bursting with my plants, taking advantage of the safe hiding place under the polythene the plants were growing through.On top of this, the gorgeous mass of yellowy-orange azalea flowers is now no more, having been blown and bashed by the storms.I shall

flowers and in shades of orange to burnt amber, but to me a sunflower should be brilliant gold.In the past I've often left the old sunflower heads on the stem to ripen and set seed, providing home-grown bird food. However, many new varieties lack pollen

. 'Ballerina' - soaring orange T. 'Negrita' - beetroot coloured T. 'Queen of the Night' - dark and truly gorgeous T. 'Anthraceit' - flowers like the backsides of turkeys (but prettier) T. tarda - early and peppery scentedI could go on for ever but it would

above), a glorious Clivia miniata. I had one many years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed its stunning display of bright orange trumpets, but this one was different. Among a selection of Clivia with broad green strap-like leaves was one plant with light

, their foliage is perfect; there's no hint of the telltale raised orange-brown pustules on the undersides of the leaves. Hollyhock rust is caused by the insidious fungus Puccinia malvacearum and only affects hollyhocks and mallows. The fungus overwinters

spathes. Some of the latest introductions carry deep, almost black spathes, while those in bright or burnt orange look really striking.

to time. There's a flash of yellow around April when a brimstone flitters quickly by. Then I'll see the occasional holly blue or orange tip, plus some cabbage white butterflies. Even they've been visiting less frequently.The wet weather must have played

Technicolor Dreamcoat, but not if you are trying to coordinate colours more tastefully.'Mignon Rose Shades' is the only variety I've found that I can plant with confidence, where red, yellow, orange won't pop up among the pink. With a regular dead heading now