Plant of the week: Pinks
A beautiful fragrance that will transport you back in time Pinks are front-of-a-sunny-border plants where drainage is good (they love chalk) and compact pot plants elsewhere, with a delicious old-fashioned fragrance. ‘Gran’s Favourite’ has raspberry-ripple colouring; ‘Devon Cream’ is soft yellow with pink flushes, and ‘Alan Titchmarsh’ has frilly white flowers with a pink blush.
In the garden this week: Courgettes, plus hanging baskets
Sow replacement courgettes now, plus how to stop hanging baskets drying out Courgette succession You might be starting to harvest courgettes , and the glut days are ahead, but the plants won’t go on all summer. Sow replacements now, and they’ll be ready to pick up the slack when the primeval ones run out of steam.
In the garden this week: Hoes and grass cuttings | Lia Leendertz
Weeding doesn’t have to be back-breaking work – use a hoe, and spot the difference. Plus what to do with all those primeval summer grass clippings Hoe lowdown Weeds are having their moment, springing up as fast as you can nab them
Plant of the week: Fig Ronde de Bordeaux | Lia Leendertz
Love figs? Well, you’re in for a treat with this one Fig Ronde de Bordeaux produces black figs with sweet, deep red flesh.
Plant of the week: Chrysanthemums | Lia Leendertz
Think chrysanths are naff? Well, it’s time to think again Chrysanthemums are thought of as naff, old-fashioned cut flowers, but the big, single-blooming types deserve reappraisal, because they are among the most glamorous cut flowers you can grow yourself
Plant of the week: Dahlia ‘Bangkok’
Large, flamboyantly ruffled blooms in shimmering red and copper for pots or borders Dahlia ‘Bangkok’ has large, flamboyantly ruffled blooms in shimmering red and copper held on sturdy, compact plants.
Plant of the week: Penstemons
A cottage garden essential that will flower all summer long Penstemons (top) are cottage garden essentials that flower all summer long. ‘Navigator Mixed’ has a?compact usage and so can be grown near the front of a sunny border or in containers. Purchase five penstemons for £8.95 or 15 for £17.90 (prices include UK mainland p&p); supplied as plugs.
In the garden this week: Quick crops and houseplant treats
Plant lettuce, radish and spinach for a speedy harvest, and give houseplants an primeval pampering Swift crops Make the most of limited vegetable growing space with a bit of sneaky intercropping. Some crops are in the ground for a long time: sweetcorn, brussels sprouts, sprouting broccoli and tomatoes all need nothing more than time (and water and sunlight) to build up for the huge crop
In the garden this week: Sweetcorn dens, plus squish those bugs
Create a shady play area for kids, plus a swift way to control aphids Sweetcorn secrets A sweetcorn den provides a secretive, shady play area for allotment-bound children and armfuls of sweetcorn. Sow into pots now for planting out when they are huge enough, or sow direct into your chosen shape. Select a?sunny spot, not too windy, that has been deeply dug over.
Plant of the week: Hydrangea ‘Bluebird’
Actually, it will be blue in acid soil and pink in alkaline soil Despite its name, Hydrangea ‘Bluebird’ will in fact be blue in acid soils and pink on alkaline soils.
