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on the surface of the compost and cover with perlite, the white granular material that can be purchased at most garden centres. Then put the seed tray or module tray in a propagator or on a heated mat at 16°C. The seeds will germinate in about 20 days, depending

and overwinter them in a coldframe.Keep the cuttings watered and shoots should start to appear next spring. Leave plants for at least 12 months before transplanting.AdamRemove a 1-2cm sliver of bark from the base of any variety that is shy of rooting, e

I'm sure I'm tempting fate here, so this is a somewhat whispered blog... but my hollyhocks don't have rust.I planted my hollyhocks about eight or ten years ago; some are now nearly as tall as me, but most of them are just half my height. As yet

distraction. Last autumn I stopped watering my begonias and left the plants to die down on their own, thinking their tubers could safely overwinter in pots of dry compost. How wrong I was. I've just tipped some out to replant into fresh compost but discovered

to the inclement summer. Also the general web consensus seems to be that over-wintering types don't keep as well as the spring planted varieties. Oh well, it seems I still have a lot to learn!

anything from 6-12 weeks for the spawn to develop into a tadpole and then into a frog. Interestingly, when we returned to check that the spawn had settled in, other frogs had laid their eggs near by. This is a very good sign as it means that the transposed

down gradually by reducing watering in autumn, then overwinter their tubers to replant next spring.Calla lilies have a tongue-twister of a botanical name: Zantedeschia. They grow from dormant tubers (well I think that's what they are). They need a good

Cuttings taken from new shoots will root easily in spring to provide new plants for flowerbeds or pots. Alternatively take cuttings of your favourite plants in late-summer to overwinter indoors ready for planting or potting in the following season

early in winter before. I’m sure my friendly BBC weather forecaster will provide me with plenty more weather statistics when I next tune in.So, what does this mean for our plants and gardens? Firstly, take very great care walking out into your garden

's still advisable to take cuttings as a back-up, which you can then overwinter.PenstemonIce plants are very reliable in hot, dry positions. Varieties of Sedum spectabile and S. telephium are particularly lovely. The green, domed heads of buds