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.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
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.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
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.
Monday, March 10, 2014
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.
Monday, March 03, 2014
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
Monday, February 17, 2014
I swear I saw some blue in the sky over the weekend.
Is there just a small feeling that we are past the worst? Cross fingers and grab the new Availability list http://bit.ly/13KIFzp
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Just dont look out the window.
Settle down, read our new availability list and dream of better times.
Monday, February 10, 2014
You can't blame me. I deliberately didn't say that this year can't be as bad as last year, because I said it last year and I was wrong!
Dichroa febrifuga looks extremely like a Hydrangea macrophylla in leaf, habit and flower. However its USP is that it always has blue flowers and these can be followed by blue berries. It is semi-evergreen but the leaves turn bronze/gold through the winter. The downside is that is not hardy - surviving outside in only the most favoured of sites (which have been rare in previous two winters). Therefore it is best suited to patio culture with winter protection.
Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' needs no introduction as a garden plant, but it is not the easiest of plants to grow. We pot in a less acid compost and they seem happier under light shade (20% netting is what we use). They are ridiculously prone to root-rotting Phytoptheras and whatever measures are adequate for most of what you grow more care is needed with Daphnes. If you can keep the conditions exactly correct and unchanging then there will be no problem but if they get too dry or too wet, or one then the other, the roots will start to rot. The aerial parts of the plant will yellow and although they can survive like this for a long time they won't grow again. We are now successfully overcoming this by drenching with Subdue at critical times - particularly before we start picking from the batch. There are other agents available but do consider using something to keep them healthy, unless you always can keep them unstressed.
Eleutherococcus sieboldii Variegatus is a hardy deciduous, suckering shrub. Its variegated leaves are particularly bright when they first appear fading a little as they mature. The stems are slightly spiny and can eventually reach 2.5m but 1.5m is more normal. Flowers are not significant. It has been known under a variety of names but Acanthopanax sieboldii Variegatus is probably the most well known.
Unlike Eleutheroccus Holodiscus discolor is grown for its flower but it is another completely hardy shrub. It grows as dense multi-stemmed plant to 2m and has small oak-like leaves. The flowers are creamy white plumes, like Astilbe, carried in late spring. Tolerant of hard-pruning.
Chimonanthus praecox is another hardy, flowering shrub which is just finishing flowering here. Commonly known as Wintersweet the yellow waxy flowers are reasonably showy but the scent is what it is grown for, although the still conditions necessary for it to be at its most noticeable have been missing this year. There are named forms but they are slow from cuttings so we raise the species from seed. It is said that it needs a good summer to encourage flowering but our experience is that once a plant starts flowering it will do so every year regardless of the summer (which is just as well).
Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' needs no introduction as a garden plant, but it is not the easiest of plants to grow. We pot in a less acid compost and they seem happier under light shade (20% netting is what we use). They are ridiculously prone to root-rotting Phytoptheras and whatever measures are adequate for most of what you grow more care is needed with Daphnes. If you can keep the conditions exactly correct and unchanging then there will be no problem but if they get too dry or too wet, or one then the other, the roots will start to rot. The aerial parts of the plant will yellow and although they can survive like this for a long time they won't grow again. We are now successfully overcoming this by drenching with Subdue at critical times - particularly before we start picking from the batch. There are other agents available but do consider using something to keep them healthy, unless you always can keep them unstressed.
Eleutherococcus sieboldii Variegatus is a hardy deciduous, suckering shrub. Its variegated leaves are particularly bright when they first appear fading a little as they mature. The stems are slightly spiny and can eventually reach 2.5m but 1.5m is more normal. Flowers are not significant. It has been known under a variety of names but Acanthopanax sieboldii Variegatus is probably the most well known.
Unlike Eleutheroccus Holodiscus discolor is grown for its flower but it is another completely hardy shrub. It grows as dense multi-stemmed plant to 2m and has small oak-like leaves. The flowers are creamy white plumes, like Astilbe, carried in late spring. Tolerant of hard-pruning.
Chimonanthus praecox is another hardy, flowering shrub which is just finishing flowering here. Commonly known as Wintersweet the yellow waxy flowers are reasonably showy but the scent is what it is grown for, although the still conditions necessary for it to be at its most noticeable have been missing this year. There are named forms but they are slow from cuttings so we raise the species from seed. It is said that it needs a good summer to encourage flowering but our experience is that once a plant starts flowering it will do so every year regardless of the summer (which is just as well).
Not everything we grow is reliably hardy, but our gardens
would be the poorer if we did not try and grow things that are on the edge.
Australasian plants can come from colder climate than we experience here, but
it will be drier. Also Phytopthera cinnamoni which is one our most
common root-rotting pathogens does not naturally occur in Australia and the
flora has no resistance to it. Therefore the secret of success is to keep them
dry on the nursery and recommend well-drained planting positions. We offer a
good range of evergreen labiate shrubs - mint bushes - mostly Prostanthera
but also Westringia. The most well known are P. cuneata which is
small-growing with slightly lilac flowers and P. rotundifolia with lilac
flowers and we have a variant of this. P.r. Rosea which is a pinker
shade of lilac. Then there is P. Poorinda Ballerina with larger pale
pink flowers, while P. Poorinda Petite (small leaves, not small plant)
has strongly coloured lilac/purple flowers as does P. 'Mint Royale' TM. P. 'Badja Peak' also has purple flowers and is particularly
floriferous. P. ovalifolia Variegata
is white variegated with small leaves and lilac flowers though it does not
flower as readily as the rest. Westringia 'Wynabbie Gem' has more
leathery, narrow leaves and pale lilac flowers. From similar habitats is Kunzea
'Badja Carpet', a low-growing myrtle with typical white flowers and small
leaves.
Itea 'Henry's Garnet' has two seasons of interest. In
summer it has long panicles of white flowers and then it has red autumn colour.
It is hardy and will grow to 2m. Unlike I. illicifolia it is not difficult as a
nursery plant.
Zauschnerias are small but vigorous grey-leaved
shrubs with bright red tubular flowers.
Z. 'Ed Carmen' has wider leaves while Z. 'Dublin' has more showy
flowers. These are Californian in origin but can overwinter here in a
well-drained position.
Look out for our surplus stock plant list - coming soon.
Tuesday, February 04, 2014
In a world of Availability lists.
In a world of availability list's our contribution fights for it's rightful position, with steel grit and a little smile it wishes to lay itself before you. All you have to do is decide whether you can help it. go too http://bit.ly/13KIFzp to find out.
Monday, February 03, 2014
Wanted dead or alive
WANTED - I need to build a polytunnel around 40' long and between 12' and 14' wide. I only really need the hoops as I can make everything else but the ridge pole and ground pipes would be handy. If you anything that might do please let me know, and how much you want for it. This if for veggie growing, not the business.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Sun, Wind, Rain
Sun, Wind, Rain, Order from Jackdaws new Availability list. Sun, Wind, Rain, Order from Jackdaws new Availability list. Sun, Wind, Rain, Order from Jackdaws new Availability list. You get the idea.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Owww Availability
Spring is starting to coil up ready to burst forth. Theres no better time to get your nose into our new availability list
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Yesterday was Newsletter day and today is Availability list day
So after yesterdays new year resolutions we're back today with a brand new Availability list. Get it whilst its hot.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Resolutions
I don't really make New Year resolutions but this year I am determined to keep up writing a monthly newsletter through the year. What we try to do is grow an interesting range which is not the same as that of other liner producers (yes, really no Heuchera, no Cordylines) but that does mean that it is not easy for you to know what to choose from our offering and so the main purpose of the newsletter is to give you facts to inform your decisions.
The amount of information available on the web has expanded so greatly that you can almost always find something about a variety but is it correct? I mainly write from our experience of the plants and I can point you towards accurate information and images, but please be careful not to infringe copyright if you want to use any images for your own purposes.
Cistus x bornetianus 'Jester' is not a new plant but comes from the same breeding programme as a number of other varieties with names beginning with 'Je.....' (of which we also offer Jessabel which has purple-blotched, pink flowers). Jester bears profuse numbers of pale pink flowers and it scores over similarly coloured plants in its habit which is an attractive rounded bush with silvery leaves - not as spreading or brittle as 'Silver Pink' or as upright as 'Peggy Sammons'. The flowers are bigger than those of C. Grayswood Pink' which is a good choice for a larger planting. For more on Cistus go to the site for former NCCPG collection holder Robert Page, www.cistuspage.co.uk
Lonicera purpusii and L.p. 'Winter Beauty' are well known for perfuming the winter days (when it is not raining). New to our list is another, more delicate looking, winter flowering honeysuckle, Lonicera elisae, which has lovely hanging white tubular flowers. It is hardy and attractive in foliage through the summer also. The story of its introduction can be found on www.bluebellnursery.com.
Nymans Gardens is our nearest National Trust garden and so we are always interested in varieties that were selected there - not that they are customers because of the NT's ill-informed views on peat. Forsythia suspensa 'Nymans' is a selection with very dark first year wood which contrasts well with the large soft yellow flowers. Although it can be kept to garden size it is purported to be able to grow into a small tree - which I am setting out to prove (or not).
Our range of Figs is, I am sure, the largest in the wholesale trade. Although in the garden fruiting is not always easy to achieve they are also attractive foliage plants, fulfilling the need for large leaves. The size of leaves can be increased by annual hard stooling (but this will reduce the fruiting to nil). 'Brown Turkey' is the most popular variety as it is the most reliable to fruit (it is universally said) but 'Brunswick' is more attractive having deeply lobed leaves. 'Adam' has particularly large leaves (useful for well-endowed men), while the other varieties have different fruiting characteristics. We are very pleased to be finally offering Ficus 'Panachee' which holds its green and yellow striped fruit upright like little hot air balloons. Since the variety pre-dates hot-air balloons and is grown in France did it give the Montgolfier bothers their idea? For reliable information www.readsnursery.co.uk.
The amount of information available on the web has expanded so greatly that you can almost always find something about a variety but is it correct? I mainly write from our experience of the plants and I can point you towards accurate information and images, but please be careful not to infringe copyright if you want to use any images for your own purposes.
Cistus x bornetianus 'Jester' is not a new plant but comes from the same breeding programme as a number of other varieties with names beginning with 'Je.....' (of which we also offer Jessabel which has purple-blotched, pink flowers). Jester bears profuse numbers of pale pink flowers and it scores over similarly coloured plants in its habit which is an attractive rounded bush with silvery leaves - not as spreading or brittle as 'Silver Pink' or as upright as 'Peggy Sammons'. The flowers are bigger than those of C. Grayswood Pink' which is a good choice for a larger planting. For more on Cistus go to the site for former NCCPG collection holder Robert Page, www.cistuspage.co.uk
Lonicera purpusii and L.p. 'Winter Beauty' are well known for perfuming the winter days (when it is not raining). New to our list is another, more delicate looking, winter flowering honeysuckle, Lonicera elisae, which has lovely hanging white tubular flowers. It is hardy and attractive in foliage through the summer also. The story of its introduction can be found on www.bluebellnursery.com.
Nymans Gardens is our nearest National Trust garden and so we are always interested in varieties that were selected there - not that they are customers because of the NT's ill-informed views on peat. Forsythia suspensa 'Nymans' is a selection with very dark first year wood which contrasts well with the large soft yellow flowers. Although it can be kept to garden size it is purported to be able to grow into a small tree - which I am setting out to prove (or not).
Our range of Figs is, I am sure, the largest in the wholesale trade. Although in the garden fruiting is not always easy to achieve they are also attractive foliage plants, fulfilling the need for large leaves. The size of leaves can be increased by annual hard stooling (but this will reduce the fruiting to nil). 'Brown Turkey' is the most popular variety as it is the most reliable to fruit (it is universally said) but 'Brunswick' is more attractive having deeply lobed leaves. 'Adam' has particularly large leaves (useful for well-endowed men), while the other varieties have different fruiting characteristics. We are very pleased to be finally offering Ficus 'Panachee' which holds its green and yellow striped fruit upright like little hot air balloons. Since the variety pre-dates hot-air balloons and is grown in France did it give the Montgolfier bothers their idea? For reliable information www.readsnursery.co.uk.
Angelica 'Ebony' is a short-lived perennial that will
give a striking accent wherever its is planted. Fully herbaceous it grows to
1.5m (RHS say less) with glossy purple leaves and huge heads of pink
flowers. If purple cow-parsley is
popular with designers (which it strangely is) then this will have them falling
off their drawing-stools.
Over the years we have offered a lot of seed-raised Dierama
hybrids but their variability was such that we became too embarrassed to
continue and now only grow species from seed. To get the stronger colours we
have started propagating by division and Dierama 'Guinevere' is the
first to be a available in quantity. It is strong growing with white flowers.
'Miranda' (lilac) will be available later this year and 'Merlin' (wine red) is
coming along. We also have a new purple selection of our own.
Just room to say that Aster frikartii 'Flora's Delight' is a pink (in the right light) selection which like the better known A. f. 'Monch' is resistant to mildew.
Just room to say that Aster frikartii 'Flora's Delight' is a pink (in the right light) selection which like the better known A. f. 'Monch' is resistant to mildew.
Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Happy New Year
As 2014 kicks off to a wet and windy start it is time to be positive about the year to come and the availability is available for those of you who feel like a little bit of work. Orders will be processed in the order that orders are received as usual.
We are not raising our prices for 2014 but we are introducing a charge which is a contribution towards the ever more challenging delivery costs. This will basically be £12 per trolley delivered, with a cap of £50 per delivery. Charges for boxed deliveries will also increase.
As a consequence of leaving prices unchanged (and other discussions we have had with customers about the value of a printed catalogue) we are not posting out a new catalogue to everyone, but will be e-mailing a list of new items and a more detailed explanation of the changes to our delivery terms. We will be preparing a new catalogue during January and if you would like a printed copy (particualry if you cannot find the 2013/14 version) posted to you please let us know. It will also, as before, be available from the website as soon as it's complete.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Happy New Year
Nick
Current availability list is here
We are not raising our prices for 2014 but we are introducing a charge which is a contribution towards the ever more challenging delivery costs. This will basically be £12 per trolley delivered, with a cap of £50 per delivery. Charges for boxed deliveries will also increase.
As a consequence of leaving prices unchanged (and other discussions we have had with customers about the value of a printed catalogue) we are not posting out a new catalogue to everyone, but will be e-mailing a list of new items and a more detailed explanation of the changes to our delivery terms. We will be preparing a new catalogue during January and if you would like a printed copy (particualry if you cannot find the 2013/14 version) posted to you please let us know. It will also, as before, be available from the website as soon as it's complete.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Happy New Year
Nick
Current availability list is here
Friday, December 13, 2013
Availability Christmas time
Essential Christmas reading is here: http://bit.ly/13KIFzp Get your Jackdaws Field Nursery current availability list, Relax, forget Christmas stresses and order some plants.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Fun Fun Fun
A new Availability list http://bit.ly/13KIFzp Why not have some serious fun and take a look?
Friday, September 06, 2013
Offer's!!
After another difficult year I am sure that for many of you the last
thing you have the money or space for is more plants, but for some it
has not been so bad and a little good weather could see some gaps
appearing on the beds. If that is the case for you then please
consider our special offer of 12.5% discount on new orders for
delivery in September or October. The list has never had such a wide
range available at any time of year so there is plenty to choose from.
There is no fixed minimum quantity for this order because I don't see
why it should be limited to larger businesses, but orders need to be
placed in the spirit of the wholesale trade, and all due invoices will
need to paid for you to take advantage of this offer. The discount
cannot be applied to orders that we have to send boxed by carrier.
Collection and COD discounts still apply, but annual discounts do not.
thing you have the money or space for is more plants, but for some it
has not been so bad and a little good weather could see some gaps
appearing on the beds. If that is the case for you then please
consider our special offer of 12.5% discount on new orders for
delivery in September or October. The list has never had such a wide
range available at any time of year so there is plenty to choose from.
There is no fixed minimum quantity for this order because I don't see
why it should be limited to larger businesses, but orders need to be
placed in the spirit of the wholesale trade, and all due invoices will
need to paid for you to take advantage of this offer. The discount
cannot be applied to orders that we have to send boxed by carrier.
Collection and COD discounts still apply, but annual discounts do not.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Ahhh late August.
Late August is a great time to take a serious look at our new availability list. Its tantalizing and wonderfully relaxing range of liners will really compliment the time of year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)