“I have been combing through the RHS trials at Wisley,” says Sarah, “and I’ll
be using some of the winners of AGM awards, and growing those for the public
to see. Particularly with common plants, such as basil or courgette, I think
it is important for people to see which varieties stand up well to the
climate, or have disease-resistance built into them.”
For gardeners without the luxury of a heated greenhouse, she says, there are
other good options for winter displays under glass.
“Many succulents are cold-tolerant, as long as they do not get too wet – ideal
for growing in unheated glasshouses. There are plenty, for example, that are
hardy down to five degrees. Some primulas can be good, too, for a really
attractive winter display.
“Veg-wise, there are lots of salads, herbs and small vegetables that are
cold-tolerant: coriander, winter hardy lettuce, corn salad. You just need to
make sure that you have the growing requirements for your variety – easily
found on the internet now – and you’re off.”
Of course, Sarah’s preparations are affected by the weather. “We haven’t had a
cold winter so far, but there has been plenty of rain. In December we had
eight inches, when we usually have four. If there is more rain and it stays
reasonably warm, then I would worry that it could be good for diseases.
Especially if your drainage is poor, root rot and things like that can set
in.”
Another gardener keen on staying indoors at this time of year is Tom Hart
Dyke, who has thousands of plants under cover at Lullingstone Castle, in
Kent. He says that winter is the ideal time to bring in some unusual plants
for display in their pots, rather than just as cut flowers.
Cacti and other succulents grow under cover at Lullingstone Castle
“When nothing’s going on outside, I like to show things off indoors,” says
Hart Dyke “They stay for a couple of days, or up to a few weeks.
“They can dramatically add to a room. It could be succulents, or some of the
cyclamen are superb at the moment, especially alongside some of the really
early-flowering hyacinths. And if you can find plants with great scent, that
livens up an indoor display no end.”
At this time of year, foliage is key, he adds. “Our blue butterfly bush,
Clerodendrum myricoides ‘Ugandense’, from east Africa, is awesome, as is
Plectranthus Mona Lavender. This plant was developed at the Kirstenbosch
Botanical Gardens in South Africa. It has gloriously deep, rich purple-red
tones to the underside of the leaves, and long-lasting flower spikes.
“Meanwhile Helleborus lividus, from Majorca, has amazing mottled foliage. You
have to be careful with temperature. They last much longer if they’re kept
at around 10C. It’s not a problem at my house, which is freezing, but be
careful with the central heating.”
Alongside these, he suggests a few cut sprigs. “Witch hazel has a delicious
scent, with spidery yellow flowers on naked stems. Sweet box (Sarcococca)
has a great scent and lovely glossy lanceolate leaves. Finally there is good
old Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’.”
In terms of caring for plants growing under glass, Hart Dyke says ventilation
is more important than watering. At Lullingstone, Hart Dyke’s World Garden
contains more than 8,000 species from all over the world, with many grown
under cover.
“Even if you just have a couple of cheap fans whirring away, it can help
reduce mould and other diseases. I’m also clearing dropped leaves and
finished flowers, cleaning the cutters, keeping things tidy and hygienic.
They are simple tasks, but easily forgotten. I’m not pruning too hard,
though, because you get mould.”
In short, whether you are looking for an indoor display or simply to keep your
plants going through the winter, there is plenty to be getting on with.
If you have any time left over, perhaps you could pray for the rain to stop.
West Dean Gardens is open from February 1 (01243 811301; West
Dean). Lullingstone Castle the World Garden is open from April
(01322 862114; Lullingstone
Castle).
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