Surplus Stock plants

Rather later and shorter than usual our surplus stock plant list. As always these are priced to clear and therefore we do have to consider the delivery cost. It will generally be fine if we are already delivering to you with our own transport.

Another great weekend.

Another great weekend, and for many a return to hand watering. Make it more exciting, water something interesting. for lots of ideas see our availability list.

Keeping intruders out or encouraging Brimstones in.

Heptacodium miconoides is  a hardy vigorous large shrub which can also be grown as a small tree. It has fragrant panicles of white flowers, similar to Clethra, in late summer which are followed by persistent reddish sepals.  As a tree it will reach 6m, but it can be contained by pruning.

Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteovariegata' is also a hardy shrub, although it gives the impression of being tender. Strikingly white variegated it makes a dense shrub to about 3m, doing better when it has some shelter from the wind - by a hedge or wall or simply other plants. Flowers are insignificant but occasionally small red berries are carried, supposedly turning to black.  Tolerant of clipping, but not hard pruning. It has very little in common with Rhamnus frangula 'Asplenifolia' which has among the most cut leaves of any garden plants, giving a lovely textural contrast. It has reliable golden autumn colour and as a form of a native plant it a food plant for Brimstone butterflies. To 3m.

It won't be long before Ribes speciosum is in flower, when its small pendulous red flowers often cause it to be thought to be a Fuchsia. It is a auckering, semi-evergreen that needs support and thrives against a wall reaching up to 5m. On the nursery it needs some winter protection but once planted is hardy enough to survive for many years. It is very prickly and has dense growth so could be used as a form of intruder discouragement by growing it around windows. Tolerant of clipping and hard pruning.

In similar vein Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' is a plant that can be killed by temperatures below about -10C when in pots but seems hardier in the ground. Much sought after, it is a deciduous, thornless climber with clusters of small, double, primrose yellow flowers in late spring/summer. How big does it grow? The RHS sys 8-12 metres but I know of a specimen that is considerably taller than that covering four storeys of a stately home which also demonstrates that is hardy. We have propagated from this specimen and are testing it for hardiness in case it is a different clone. The unfortunately named Rosa banksiae var. banksiae is the white form.

We planted Ostespermum Lady Leitrim in the autumn of 2011 and it has survived the cold of one winter and the wet of the next so it does seem to be tough. It has large, white (sometimes pink-tinged) daisy flowers that open and close with the sun. Pink Osteospermum jacundum has not survived, but it is a lovely, and popular, plant.

Evil Weevils

Although I am not qualified to advise about the use of pesticides I would like to explain the current situation on vine weevil control and what we are doing to make sure we are supplying non-infested plants and what you can do to keep them that way. Two things are certain; vine-weevils have not gone away and we will never again have a golden bullet that will control them easily.  Regulatory issues mean that Vinil will not be coming back and the  current restrictions on neo-nicotinoids mean that there is very little choice and no product that will work all year round outside. We use Met-52 and as we grow everything under protection the compost temperatures will remain high enough to work throughout the period when eggs may be hatching. As yet we have seen no larvae but that could because we have been clear for so long and there is the possibility that a problem could develop. Therefore we watch for adults, or the signs that they are around and spraying to control them is an option.  We also check the crops for larvae. In the event of finding any then we will have to resort to nematode treatment and unfortunately this is going to become more of a regular procedure if you are growing outside. Met 52 does not last more than one season, and nor does the remaining permitted neonicotinoid, so you cannot rely on the compost volume of the liner still having vine-weevil killing contents and as eggs are laid close to the main stem this is the danger area. Using Met-52 in your compost will not be a sufficient control if you have adults present and some additional treatment will be necessary. And, by the way, if you think that this is an untenable situation and somebody will have to sort it, you are wrong. Government and regulators do no give a tinker's cuss about the viability or survival of ornamental horticulture. I shall now get down from my hobby horse and write something nice about plants for tomorrow.

How was that for you?

What a lovely weekend, particularly in contrast to what we have been through. I hope you are busy and we look forward to receiving your orders, and to help you along we have our what a great weekend updated availability list.

The First Law

I just finished reading the First law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, Its really good if you like that sort of thing. The availability list on the other hand is always excellent and a new one is out now. Find it here