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BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Expert’s choice CampanulasCampanulas For several years, my now 15-year-old grandson has wanted to learn Latin. He’s just mad about languages. Unfortunately, it’s not offered as an option at his otherwise excellent school. But, thinking on the subject of campanulas, I was reminded of when I was training at Kew Gardens in London. The staff training officer, who at the time just happened to be a certain Mr Alan Titchmarsh in the earliest days of his horticultural career, came up to me one day with a flower in his hand and said: “What do this flower and that,” – he pointed to a tower on the other side of Palm House Pond – “have in common?”. He was astonished that I knew the answer! The plant was a bellflower – that was the…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Have your sayLive and let grow I recently realised that every year I spend many hours working in the garden but never sitting and appreciating it. This year, I intend to take a different approach. What brought about this change in attitude? A trip to the garden centre and seeing a box of ridiculously priced wildflower seeds. It dawned on me that every year Mother Nature presents me with hundreds of these wildflowers, which obviously love my soil. They don’t cost me anything in terms of either money or time, and yet I spend hours and effort removing the offending ‘weeds’ and in their place put something else, which invariably fails to thrive. I realised that I could still have a beautiful garden but for far less money than usual and with…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Over the fenceBorrowing from other cultures is commonplace in garden and planting design and, despite a controversial past, I believe there is an important place for it, moving away from thoughtless cultural appropriation towards cultural collaboration – a consensual exchange for mutual benefit, which amplifies the donor culture, preserving its history and honouring its origins. RHS Bridgewater’s Chinese Streamside Garden, designed in collaboration with Manchester’s local Chinese community and horticultural experts from China, is a good case in point. This doesn’t ignore how the UK’s enviable horticultural expertise and rich design style came about, whereby landed gentry, scientists and adventurers scoured the world for fresh ideas, relics, curiosities and exotic plants, often with little regard for the equity of trade – or, in the case of colonising empires, any trade taking place…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 20242 for 1 Gardens Coming up rosesCastle on a cloud Visit Powis Castle, near Welshpool, to see its famous rose-coloured ramparts perched atop billowing cumulus-shaped yews. Italianate terraces cascade downwards from the lofty castle heights, while roses climb around the elegant balustrades and classical-inspired sculpture. Don’t miss the Edwardian Arts and Crafts bothy, with its richly planted rose border. Whether up on the terraces or in the gardens below, the scent of summer blooms hangs in the air as if trying to drift up to the fantastical castle on high. ENTRY OFFER Offer not valid on bank holidays or event days. For opening times, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/powis The plot thickens Coughton Court, near Alcester in Warwickshire, has a special place in English history owing to its involvement in both the Throckmorton plot to assassinate Elizabeth I and…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Enjoy 3 issues for £5SUBSCRIBE USING OFFER CODE GWNP624 Visit buysubscriptions.com/GWNP624 Call 03330 162123* and quote code GWNP624 Free UK delivery Money back guarantee Worldwide delivery Secure online payments SAVE 32%on the shop price Offer ends 20 June 2024 † This offer is only open to new UK Direct Debit customers subscribing to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. The closing date for this offer is 20 June 2024. You will pay £5 for 3 issues; your subscription will then continue at the rate of £27.60 every 6 issues – still saving 32% on the usual shop price. We reserve the right to reject or cancel subscriptions at any point if the customer has previously cancelled their subscription during the trial period for that magazine or any other magazine in the Immediate Media portfolio. Prices are…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Your greenhouse guide toA fruitful summer“The greenhouse is a great place to grow fruit and vegetables from around the world that taste as they should – packed with flavour” I’m not sure there are many things better in life than opening a greenhouse on a midsummer’s morning and being hit with the aroma of ripe tomatoes. I love to take a moment and breathe it in, and am instantly transported back to times spent in my Nan’s greenhouse as a kid. Over the years, my little protected growing space has also become a kind of retreat, and it opens up a world of edibles, with even a small greenhouse making it easy to grow favourites such as tomatoes, chillies or cucumbers. It’s a great place to raise fruit and vegetables from around the world that…4 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Designing for wellbeingWater The giver of life. Having a water feature in your garden is multidimensional. It reflects light, which can be magical on a sunny day. It also attracts wildlife – even a little dish of water becomes a bath for smaller birds. Or you could choose to introduce a fountain, so that the noise of outside life is washed away in its sound. Social spaces Wellbeing can be enjoyed with others, and making good memories is so important. With this in mind, consider having a cooking station, or a games area. Think about how you would like the garden to include your loved ones. Happy, thriving plants Choose plants that make you happy. They need to suit your site and then they will thrive and add so much vibrant energy…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Stina’s top rose-growing tipsPruning and training Pruning is best done in late winter to early spring – in London that means January and February, before any new growth gets going. Roses are pruned to keep them in good health and vigour, to maintain a nice shape and, crucially, to encourage lots of fresh growth and flowering. The plants will respond with tons of fresh shoots that will appear in just a week or two. Training the shoots to be horizontal encourages more flowers. Growing in pots There are lots of roses that grow happily in pots – good news for gardeners who are short of space. Be sure to choose a generous-sized pot to give the roots plenty of room and to hold enough compost to keep a hungry rose happy. My container…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024It’sshow timeJoin us! 13-16 June 2024 NEC Birmingham Inspiration | Expert advice | Shopping | Entertainment We can’t wait to reveal the Show Gardens, Beautiful Borders, garden experts, nurseries, exhibitors and great features to inspire you this summer. Join us there and you’ll be sure to go home with a head full of ideas and arms full of shopping, plants and kit. See you there! VISIT bbcgardenersworldlive.com for more info and to book tickets A duo of showstoppers for you Adam Frost’s headline ‘Chef’s Table’ Show Garden will be full of flavour, with inspiration and a side-serving of foodie stars in drop-in talks and demos. Plus, we’re combining expertise with energy in one, as top designer Pip Probert brings The Viewers’ Garden to life, inspired by fans of BBC2 Gardeners’ World.…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Echinacea collectionSAVE £5 PLUS FREE plant food This Echinacea Lakota Collection offer includes one plant each of Lakota Red, Lakota Rose and Lakota Yellow. Each variety brings its own unique charm to your outdoor space with a mixture of soft, warm and vibrant tones. These robust perennials are not only a feast for the eyes but will also attract butterflies and bees, adding life and colour to your garden. Perfect for borders, beds or containers, the Echinacea Lakota Collection is ready to make a statement with minimal effort. Don’t miss this opportunity to brighten your garden with these captivating blooms. Height x Spread 60cm x 45cm Flowers Jul to Sep ◼ 3 garden-ready plants (1 of each) in 7cm pots £18.99 SAVE £5 PLUS FREE plant food (25g)(420456) 3 EASY WAYS…1 min
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BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024ON TEST Portable barbecuesWith the sun out and the temperature rising, it’s time to fire up the grill and turn your garden into a space for relaxing and entertaining – and thanks to compact table-top and portable barbecues this is possible no matter the size of your outside space. Designed for use on a stable surface, whether that be a patio table or the lawn, these neat grills take up little room in use and storage, but provide enough cooking space to feed a small family or a few friends. They’re available for use with either gas or charcoal, and are much easier to set up and clean than their bigger cousins. These barbecues are geared towards portability, too – many have handles for easy lifting and some come with handy bags for…10 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Your wildlife monthYou may spot… Long-tailed tit, Carduelis carduelis The long-tailed tit has blush, black and white colouring and a long tail, longer than its body. Usually seen in small family groups, it has a bouncy flight and a ‘deet-deet’ call. Common in parks and gardens, it eats invertebrates, particularly the eggs of moths and butterflies, and will visit garden feeders for peanuts and suet. In spring, males and females pair up and spend three weeks building an intricate domed nest in trees or hedges, using lichen and cobwebs, lined with thousands of feathers. The female will usually lay one clutch of up to eight eggs. Both parents share feeding duties when the chicks hatch, and unpaired relatives might also chip in. Encourage long-tailed tit* by growing native plants for butterflies and…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Hassle-free harvestsOh June – summer is here! I love to sit outside and write on days like this, stretching my arms up in the comforting breeze. Warm days are at last upon us and, more importantly, warm evenings on which to sit out and enjoy the fruits of our labour. Why not flavour cold drinks and co*cktails with herbs like rosemary and lavender for a botanical twist to go with a delicious salad, picked fresh from your plot? On the 20th of the month it’s the summer solstice – the longest day of the year for us in the UK. Days shorten from here on, but only slowly at first, giving us the warmest evenings for the next few months. This is a time of very little sowing, giving you a…5 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024SAVE 15% ON SPRING BULBS◼ Tulipa ‘Annika’ Three blooms per bulb of a soft pink that darkens to fuchsia. Height x Spread 15cm x 10cm Flowers Mar-Apr 10 bulbs £6.90NOW £5.86 ◼ Allium ‘Lucky Balloons’ Multiple stems, with large soft-pink globe flowerheads. H x S 50cm x 20cm FMay-Jun 3 bulbs £7.65NOW £6.50 ◼ Narcissus ‘Tickled Pinkeen’ Pretty pastel-yellow and orange. H x S 35cm x 15cm F Mar-Apr 5 bulbs £3.75NOW £3.19 ◼ Fritillaria ‘Early Fantasy’ Delicate sunset-like tones. H x S 80cm x 15cm FApr-Jun 1 bulb £6.50NOW £5.52 ◼ Iris ‘Blue Note’ Deep purple-blue flowers, one of the first to appear in the year. H x S 15cm x 10cm FFeb-Mar 20 bulbs £4.80NOW £4.08 ◼ Tulipa ‘Pink Star’ A peony-flowered tulip in shades of rosy pink and coppery-apricot. H x…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Your Subscriber Club LoungeJoin us 13-16 june 2024 NEC Birmingham Welcome I’m looking forward to welcoming you to your exclusive Subscriber Lounge at the show. As well as being a great place to rest your legs and enjoy refreshments (all with a great view of the main theatre), there’ll also be special sessions with your favourite GW presenters, the chance to ask us your gardening questions and the opportunity to check out some of our Best Buy gardening kit. I’ll be popping into the Lounge throughout the show, and will be joined by lots of colleagues from the magazine, so do say hello if you get the chance. It’ll be lovely to see you there! Subscribers will be able to relax in the exclusive Subscriber Club Lounge, supported by Woodland Trust. Grab a…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024GREENHOUSESTEP BY STEP Repot aubergines Aubergines should be ready to be moved into their final containers this month, and the fresh potting compost will provide plenty of nutrients to help them start fowering and fruiting. They’ll put on lots of bushy growth in the warmth of the greenhouse, so a strong root system is vital for support. Give the plants plenty of space, as the top will bush out and bear fruit on the sideshoots. Add a cane to support the fruits too. Water the plants every day and add a liquid feed once a week. 1 CHECK that your aubergine plant has rooted out to the edge of its current pot before repotting. Choose a 30cm-diameter pot for the final stage of growth, to allow room for the roots…4 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024YOUR PRUNING MONTHBalmy and long sunny days precede the height of summer in the garden. Once the day length reaches its pinnacle, late-summer performers start to form and open their buds. Now, then, is a fantastic time to finish off staking any herbaceous plants that are flopping, or better still those yet to form weighty flowers, before they have started to stoop under the load. Any spring shrubs that have finished flowering, such as ornamental currants, deutzia, spirea and broom, are generally best pruned now, giving them the rest of the summer to recover and form next year’s flower buds. Start pruning evergreens and members of the Prunus genus (apricots, plums and cherries), but don’t remove too many forming fruits at this point. May and June are very similar in terms of…4 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Gardeners’ Question TimeQ Will next-door’s goat willow strangle my plants? Caroline, by email A MATT SAYS Goat willow, known botanically as Salix caprea, is extremely vigorous and shallow rooted, and can be a nuisance on both wet and dry soils. When the plants start to produce seed, they are prolific self-sowers, too. While they have biodiversity value, it is a very common species and not one that I would want near building foundations, or in an ornamental garden. The shallow roots will forever be in competition with your plants in the summer months for food and water, and if the tree is allowed to grow freely it will most certainly cause some ‘heave’ around your hard landscaping. I’d be pretty sure in suggesting that it would have self-sown itself there, and if…13 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Tales fromTitchmarshEven in the benign world of gardening there is a grave danger in making hasty pronouncements. (Which is pretty rich coming from someone who writes the back page in this magazine: a page which is often awash with – dare I say it? – prejudice, opinions and advice.) Mind you, it’s been going on a long time. I clearly remember coming home from my first week at work – and probably later on, too, when my horticultural education was well under way – and telling my mother what she was doing wrong in the garden. My wise old mum simply smiled and said “Oh…”, then asked me what I wanted for my tea. She knew then, as I do now, that there is more than one way of growing a…4 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024WelcomeOne of my earliest gardening memories is helping my grandad to weed his rose beds. They contained nothing but roses, apart from a neat row of aubrieta lining the smartly clipped lawn, and keeping the bare soil between the bushes weed-free was of paramount importance. I was about five at the time, and the task felt like a monotonous chore, far removed from all that I love about gardening today. My grandad was a gardener of his time and, despite nearly 40 years having passed, I love roses as much as he did – even if I grow them in a very different way. There’s no bare soil in my garden and my roses are combined with other plants to create a more jumbled look. That’s not to say roses…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024FREE*mixed digitalis collection for every readerWORTH £23.97 Add height and colour with these gorgeous foxgloves. The collection includes one plug plant of each variety. Digitalis ‘Candy Mountain’x 1(main image) Rose-pink tubular blooms. Height x Spread 1.4m x 45cm Flowers Jun-Jul D. Apricot Beautyx 1 Apricot-pink fowers. H x S 1.2m x 40cm F Jun-Jul D. ‘Camelot Cream’x 1 Big-impact blooms. H x S 1m x 45cm F May-Jul D. ‘Alba’x 1 Lights up darker spots. H x S 1.2m x 60cm F May-Jun D. ‘Elsie Kelsey’x 1 Distinctive speckles. H x S 1.2m x 40cm F May-Jun D. ‘Summer King’x 1 Strawberry-rose bells. H x S 70cm x 30cm F May-Jun D. ‘Dusky Maid’x 1 Red and yellow shades. H x S 60cm x 35cm F May-Jul D. luteax 1 Spikes of lemon bells. H…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Digging deeperBorder biosecurity raises plant health issues With Britain’s appetite for live plant imports reaching a record high – up 71 per cent since 1999, and worth more than £758 million in 2022 – our island ecosystem has never been more vulnerable to pests and diseases from overseas. To help counter the threat, new biosecurity border controls were due to be introduced on 30 April as part of the Government’s five-year Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain, which launched in January last year. Without strict measures in place, the impact on Britain’s biodiversity and the financial implications for the horticultural and gardening industries could be devastating. “Since 1990, more than 20 serious tree pests and diseases have been introduced, which are wreaking havoc on our wildlife populations and stripping our landscape…5 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Container of the monthA drought-tolerant summer pot This display, brimming with heat-loving plants, is an ideal solution for those wanting to be more economical with their watering or planning a worry-free holiday. Plants such as Salvia nemorosa offer lasting colour without the daily watering demands of typical bedding plants. Adding culinary herbs like rosemary and sage provides scent, making this pot perfect for a sunny position near a door, where brushing against it will release a delightful aroma. The delicate Convolvulus flowers give a charming surprise when they open in bright light. Trailing at the front, helichrysum will grow vigorously even in the smallest pot. When the plants outgrow their container, ensure they continue to thrive by transplanting them to a sunny spot in the ground. TOP TIPS WE USED ➊ Helichrysum ‘Goring…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Dianthus barbatus ‘Sooty’WhenI see foxgloves starting to set seed, it reminds me that it is time to get going with biennial seed sowing. One of my favourites, Dianthus barbatus (Nigrescens Group) ‘Sooty’, falls into this category. Seeds sown now will grow leaves and build up their rootball during their first year, to then burst into flower from late spring the following year. Dianthus ‘Sooty’, commonly known as a sweet William, has dusky, chocolatey-maroon flowers that have a light scent underpinned by dark-purple washed green leaves. An all-round delightful plant that’s popular with pollinators, it makes a great cut flower lasting for up to two weeks in a vase. Also, before they fully open, the fuzzy flowerheads make a good filler in hand-tied bunches. Sweet Williams seem to fall in and out of…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Summer greenhouse guideGood watering and irrigation The first thing I do when I enter my greenhouse is check the dampness of the soil by pushing a finger down into the compost. If it feels dry, I water – in summer, this is usually every pot, every morning. I have a topped-up container of water in the corner of the greenhouse to help keep the air reasonably humid and avoid the need for continuous damping down. To reduce water-loss from the bottom of pots I use capillary matting on bench surfaces – ideal for bush tomatoes, chillies and aubergines – and work larger pots of cordon tomatoes into the damp gravel surface of my greenhouse floor. It’s also worth setting up a hosepipe line and drip system connected to a simple electronic timer…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Plants for health and happinessMovement Grasses are the perfect plants to catch the breeze and create movement and flow in a garden. Try Stipa calamagrostis ‘Allgäu’ among the borders. It’s drought tolerant, too. Structure Evergreen plants are the constant backbone and support within a garden, letting the perennials shine. I like Pittosporum ‘Golf Ball’ domes to anchor the garden in the quieter months of winter. Taste and nutrition Growing your own food is good for your gut, and herbs are easy! While you enjoy the calming effects of lavender in cakes or as a tea, you can relax knowing the pollinators are having a feast of their own! Try Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’. Seasonal change Observing the transitions of plants helps us to embrace change. Why not try bird cherry, Prunus padus. It has…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Dramatic agapanthusSAVE £21 These beautiful African lilies will create a dramatic display in your late summer and autumn garden. Striking, large, rounded clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers stand tall on sturdy stems. Excellent as cut flowers, they will make an interesting addition to vases in the home and last up to two weeks once cut. Plant in groups in containers or as a feature on your patio or balcony. Hardy perennials, they are also suited to coastal gardens and will happily cope with salty sea breezes. ‘Black Magic’ may need some protection in winter. Height x Spread 60-80cm x 50-60cm Flowers Jul-Sep ◼ Agapanthus ‘Black Magic’ 1 plant in 9cm pot £16(K05515) ◼ Agapanthus Poppin’ Purple 1 plant in 9cm pot £14(K22375) ◼ Agapanthus Twister 1 plant in 9cm pot £15(K11068) AGAPANTHUS…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Indoor plants, outdoor treatsA house plant doesn’t always have to fly solo. Many indoor plants with similar growing needs can be mixed together, just as you would with outdoor plants. Your displays can be cutting-edge and creative – and, above all, long-lasting and very easy to maintain. Furthermore, some of the tougher, more durable types will also be super happy growing outside over the summer months. You can add a whole new dimension to your patio or balcony when you change up your petunia plugs for a few cuttings of pothos! Here are a few fresh ideas that blur the lines between indoor and outdoor growing, and are bound to get you looking at your house plants in a whole new light. Tropical vibes This colourful summer pot could rival any typical garden…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Garden craft with kids“Getting children involved in sowing, planting and even wild crafts will ensure a habit of being outdoors is built for life.” As a mum of three, teacher and forest school leader, I’ve always been passionate about getting children outside. I remember my childhood flowerbed so fondly – a little square patch, blooming with brightly-coloured hopes and dreams. I aim to inspire similar memories of being in the garden for my own children. The natural world is a playground (and classroom) for little minds, and I’ve delighted in watching their love for the outdoors blossom over the years. Here, I’ll show you how we use flowers to design clothes, build a beautiful hanging home for invertebrates and reuse waste products to grow food. These are just some of the nature-based activities…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Bug hotelPollinators need all the help they can get and creating a bug hotel is the perfect project for a happier garden. Invertebrates need shelter and safe places to lay their eggs or pupate. By including a variety of options in your bug home, you will support the widest range of creatures, from crawling insects to solitary bees. The materials used are important, too. Stick to natural items that mini-beasts are familiar with, and that naturally help to regulate temperature. Avoid materials such as metal and plastic. You will need Small terracotta or natural clay pot Thick twine Wide paper straws Scissors Thin bamboo canes Secateurs Natural raffia or straw Also try ■ Decorating your bug hotel with chalk pens or bright thread ■ Hanging bug hotels in different spots and…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Choosing a portable barbecue◾ Which fuel: gas or charcoal? Both of these fuels have their pros and cons. Gas barbecues are quick to light and heat up, and offer a consistency of heat that you don’t get when cooking on charcoal. They‘re also easy to control, with simple burner dials, and produce little smoke when cooking so they’re kinder to your neighbours. But they’re heavier than charcoal-fuelled grills, plus you have to factor in the expense of the gas canister and regulator if one isn’t included. Cooking on a charcoal grill produces that distinctive smoky flavour you simply don’t get with a gas barbecue. It’s also more versatile, offering a radiant heat that allows you to sear quickly, as well as the ability to slow-cook food indirectly. However, they can be trickier to…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Bite-sized bountiesWhat a lovely time to be harvesting – early strawberries, gooseberries, young beetroots and asparagus are all trug-to-table this month. After a slow start a few years ago, I’ve mastered growing strawberry plants by the back door and along the borders, providing an abundance of fruit. With hay strewn underneath, we’ve evaded most slug damage, too. Strawberries are going into everything – baked into almond cakes and the easy clafoutis recipe overleaf, macerated with sugar then blitzed into a purée for co*cktails (I reckon it’s time for the strawberry daiquiri to come back into fashion) or simply dipped in good dark chocolate. If, as happens to my mother-in-law, you have friends dropping off too many punnets of strawberries, you might try Kitty Travers’ wonderful strawberry ice cream recipe from her…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Growing guideVisit GardenersWorld.com/what-to-do-now for more advice on the best crops to sow and plant this month, and how to do it SAVE ON BEETROOT ‘BOLTARDY’ Produces deep-red, globe-shaped roots with a superb sweet flavour and tender, ring-free flesh. Perfect for roasting, pickling and slicing for salads, the baby leaves can also be harvested through the season to use in salads. 20 postiplug plants £9.99£6.99 SAVE £3(KC7405) suttons.co.uk/SUSGW21 or call 0344 326 220* and quote code SUSGW21 Items despatched from June 2024 onwards. Offer closes 15 July 2024. Contract for supply of goods with Suttons Seeds, Poplar Lane, Ipswich IP8 3BU. Subject to availability. Full terms and conditions available on request. UK only not including N. Ireland, with restrictions to specific postcode areas. *Calls cost 7p/minute plus your network access charge.…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024FLOWERSPlant out indoor-sown annuals Now there’s no risk of frost, move young annuals grown from seed in pots into their final flowering position. Water them first, pick off any damaged or yellow leaves, and pinch out the tip of single-stemmed plants to encourage bushy growth. Use a trowel to plant into the border, then firm back the soil with your hands. Thoroughly soak the soil using a watering can close to the ground. Then add a mulch of garden compost around the plant to keep the soil moist while it roots into its new home. Prune tall verbena stems Verbena bonariensis is a border favourite, due to its long-lasting purple flowers and tall, airy habit. To stimulate more sideshoots and therefore more flowers, trim back the tall upright stems. Reduce…4 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024BACK TO BASICSTake cuttings of alpines Many plants are easy to grow from cuttings, especially spring-flowering, creeping alpines and low-growing rock-garden plants such as arabis, aubrieta, aurinia and alyssum. Now that they’ve finished flowering, their young shoots make ideal cuttings. Look for strong shoots with foliage in good condition. Snip off your selected shoots and put them straight into a polythene bag with some moisture to keep them fresh. If you need to delay planting until the following day, put them in the salad draw of the fridge overnight. Trim the stem to about 3-4cm long and if there are already some tiny roots sprouting from it, keep those, as they’ll help to speed up establishment. The cuttings should root in quickly and may be ready for potting on or planting out…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024SAVE ON CLEMATIS CLIMBERSClematis ‘Kokonoe’ tower pot collection This climber is ideal for a patio, with rich, violet-purple flowers that emerge as singles and turn double as the season goes on. Group 3, so easy to prune – just cut back to 10-15cm above ground level each year. Height x Spread 2m x 1m Flowers Jun-Sep ◼ 1 plant in 9cm pot and wooden-barrel-effect tower pot £33.98£15 SAVE £18.98(KF9106) Clematis ‘Taiga’ tower pot collection Clematis ‘Taiga’ produces countless blooms throughout summer over a canvas of rich green foliage. Its compact habit makes it ideal for covering walls and fencing or growing in a container as a patio feature. It’s hardy, undemanding and, being in Group 3, easy to prune. H X S 2m x 1m F Jul-Sep ◼ 1 plant in 9cm pot…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Two-night stay in a luxury Cornish shepherd’s hutNestled near the charming coastal town of Padstow lies a tranquil holiday retreat – Rick Stein’s pub and restaurant, The Cornish Arms, and its collection of shepherd’s huts. For those yearning for a serene coastal escape, the shepherd’s huts offer an idyllic haven for a rejuvenating getaway. Each hut boasts a cosy living and dining area, an en-suite shower room, a kitchenette and a private patio – perfect for leisurely breakfasts and pre-dinner drinks in picturesque surroundings – as well as a complimentary bottle of Rick Stein Chateau Bauduc Rosé wine. Your stay is also a gastronomic delight, with the chance to indulge in delectable cuisine from Rick Stein’s renowned restaurants and shops. For example, two sumptuous breakfasts and a three-course dinner awaits you at The Cornish Arms, where classic…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024We love June“Summer means happy times and good sunshine”Brian Wilson STAR OF THE MONTH Malope trifida ‘Vulcan’ As I was brought up in the 60s and 70s, I was occasionally in contact with those old science fiction films. Although the special effects were truly dire in comparison to today, they had the power to make me dive behind the sofa. So, unsurprisingly, I tend to get concerned by plants that have anything resembling ‘triffid’ in their name. But if you’re expecting waving tentacles and sabre-toothed fowers, then you can relax, for this is a colourful and harmless hardy annual. Sow it in a sunny spot for fowers all summer. Good for cut fowers. May need a bit of support. Sow direct outdoors in May or in seed trays in late March. Height…3 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024The Full MontyFlooded fields, puddles in the middle of borders, bubbling manholes, brick paths as slippery as ice – all these have become the norm. The wetness of winter and spring have been a disaster and I only hope that by the time you read this it will be a memory. I loathe and resent it but wearily accept it as beyond my control. But the earliness of everything has crept up on the edge of the appalling weather and shunted the garden at least two weeks ahead of itself. And that is very odd indeed. But is it odd that it seems odd? Why do we expect the seasons to behave in a predictable and orderly fashion? British weather prides itself on switching from rain to sun to snow to bright…4 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024CrosswordACROSS 1 Apply colourant solution to this summer favourite to ensure rich blue blooms (9) 7 Take leaf cuttings from house plants such as __ primroses (4) 8 This tender exotic could form part of a new tropical display (7) 9 Watch out for signs of rust on the leaves of these juicy fruits (5) 10Chrysanthemum ‘Bronze __’ has apricot-coloured blooms (8) 12 Spring-flowering shrub with juicy edible berries in summer (5) 15 ‘__ Bleu’ is a popular variety of Hibiscus syriacus (6) 17 Thread-like part on some climbing plants (7) 18 Water beans and peas as they start to __ (6) 20 The seed of the anise plant, used in cooking (7) 21 See 6 down 22Hosta ‘Stained __’ is prized for its brilliant golden leaves (5) DOWN 1…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024More container inspirationTickled pink Ideal for a sunny spot, this eye-catching, vertically planted container builds up a range of pinks, from a base of pale-blush marguerites, through clusters of candy-coloured, dark-leaved Pelargonium BullsEye to the cerise P. ‘Voodoo’ with its sultry, purple petal markings – ‘Voodoo’ also has a delicate rose scent with a hint of citrus. Designed to draw the eye up, the pot is topped by the huge, red flowers of Clematis ‘Rebecca’. Grow in full sun for the brightest blooms. We used ➊ Argyranthemum Petite Pink x 1 ➋ Pelargonium BullsEye Series Light Pink x 1 ➌ Clematis ‘Rebecca’ x 1 ➍ Pelargonium ‘Voodoo’ x 1 ➎ Metal tub (42cm) x 1 ➏ Hazel stakes (1.5m tall, tied into a wigwam) x 3 Froth and fragrance Combine clumps of…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Stars ofthe show“Give them the conditions they like and agapanthus will perform year after year” Every September in South Africa, the verges and hillsides are adorned with agapanthus, looking like swathes of monstrous bluebells. When I commented on the wonder of it, my hosts smiled slightly wearily – they had obviously gone through this many times before with northern hemisphere travellers – and pointed out that a few in the right place were fine, but in the main they were an invasive and dreary weed. Would that I had such weeds here. As it is, I do have agapanthus growing at Longmeadow and have had for many years now. They are all in pots where I can give them a little micro-version of their preferred conditions (which are found in Southern Africa…6 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Gardening forwellbeingFrom my first job up until just a few years ago, I studied and worked part-time as a holistic therapist. I am driven by a sense that if people feel good, the world will be a better place. In days gone by we would be sent to the seaside or the countryside to convalesce when unwell. With the stresses of modern living, how and where can we receive respite and revitalisation on a daily basis? If we are lucky enough to have one, the garden can be our daily dose of medicine to not only work the body, but also soothe the mind and feed the soul. Our gardens, balconies or even windowsills can be the foundation for good health if we imbue them with plants and design features through…6 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Make room for roses“To have a rose garden in the city is special – it transports you to somewhere else that’s very tranquil” When Stina Hasan moved to her East London home over 10 years ago, she dreamt of filling the garden with roses set within a formal structure. Now she has finally worked her way from the front to the back of this 25m x 5m plot, adding planting beds, themed zones and a greenhouse, as well as clearing out plenty of waste along the way. The garden is surrounded by large, mature trees, which create a green backdrop that makes you forget you are in the middle of the city. Stina, who is a fashion designer, enjoys the garden with her husband Simon and 10-year-old son Monty. She also shares her…6 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Last chance to enter!sponsored by Been thinking of entering Gardens of the Year 2024? Now is the time to share the hard work and passion you’ve put into your garden, before entries close at 11.59pm on 10 June 2024. You never know, you could be one of our finalists, with the chance to win the Judges’ Choice prize of a £7,000 travel gift card, or the People’s Choice travel gift card prize worth £3,000! We’re looking for gardens from all over the UK – no plot is too big or too small to be a winner. Previous finalists have been flower-filled allotments, tiny urban balconies and sprawling country gardens. We want to see your creations, so gather your photos now – between 6 and 10 images, preferably including a ‘before’ shot and one…4 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Secrets of aCOLOURFUL GARDENPart 6 Creating character with colour From football teams to political allegiances to corporate branding, colour is a speedy way of expressing an idea, theme or affiliation. It’s also a way of expressing ourselves in our attire, homes and, of course, gardens. And certain colours convey different vibes or spirits. Group rich, saturated jewel-tones together with over-size leaves and you’ve created a tropical feel. Pair silver foliage with pale pink, yellow and blue flowers, and you’ll have a sense of the Mediterranean. How you choose, place and repeat flower and foliage colour through your garden will absolutely define its style, feeling and ambience. Discover how to do this and set a theme on your plot with my guide to garden colour style. Set the mood Creating a theme or style…6 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Flower-print teeHapa zome is an ancient Japanese printing technique, which roughly translates to ‘leaf dyeing’, and is a wonderful way to celebrate the colours and beauty of nature while also learning about its impermanence. In this activity we used hammers to bash the pigment from leaves and flowers onto a clean cotton t-shirt, extracting bright pinks and oranges from dahlia, viola and pansy blooms, plus vibrant green from geranium leaves and stems. You will need Scissors or snips Basket to collect flowers and leaves Piece of flat cardboard Plain white cotton t-shirt Large wooden chopping board Piece of scrap fabric (plain cotton is ideal) Small hammer or wooden mallet Also try ■ Experimenting with seasonal wildflowers and grasses ■ Playing with different fabrics and designs – a handkerchief is fun ■…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Pots of summer-long sunshineIdeally suited to containers, the multiple-branching Patio Sunflower Sunbelievable Brown Eyed Girl will provide hundreds of large flowers from early summer to the first frosts. Its large, golden-yellow blooms have a mahogany centre and are 8-10cm across, held above richly coloured foliage that gradually deepens in hue. Height x Spread 60cm x 60cm Flowers June-October ◼ 1 plant in 3L pot £19.99 SAVE £5(560541) ◼ 2 plants in 3L pots £29.98 SAVE £20 NOW £14.99 each (560541) ◼ PLUS FREE FERTILISER (50g) with every order, WORTH £2.99(100068) YOU MAY ALSO LIKE… Twin-pack peat-free multi-purpose compost A peat-free option for multi-purpose use, from seedlings and cuttings to potting on and baskets. ◼ 2 x 40L bags £23.97 SAVE £13 PLUS Free delivery(100102) Square ‘Estate’ planter This large, square planter is made…1 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024WIN! a STIGA robot lawn mower worth £2,769Garden tools manufacturer STIGA is offering readers of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine the chance to win one of its latest A1500 autonomous robot lawnmowers. Featuring predictive technology, this clever garden machine can set to work without any need for intervention on the part of the owner. STIGA autonomous robot mowers are cable-free, meaning there’s no need to lay a boundary wire as the perimeter installation is virtual and can be adapted at any time through the STIGA.GO smartphone app. With its patented Active Guidance System technology, the robot can plan mowing sessions intelligently and predict times of day when a weaker GPS signal might affect the mowing cycle. This means it will always complete the job uninterrupted, and it knows exactly where and when to cut your grass, ensuring your…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024An edible garden in potsThe three best things in life are fresh air, sunshine and food – and the good news is, you don’t need a big garden or even a patch of soil to enjoy them. In part two of this series I’ll explain how to keep an edible garden in pots growing happily, including the jobs to do this month to keep your pots going, how to get the most out of your space and what to pick, when and how, as summer progresses. While some edible containers produce more to pick the more that you pick them, others will be finishing for this year and ready to be swapped out for something else. If you were inspired to start a small-space edible garden by the first part of this series, you’ll…5 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024AROUND THE GARDENSTEP BY STEP Tidy lawn edges Fill bare lawn edges with more grass by seeding it now. The warm soil will mean fast germination, but be sure to water the seeds to stop them drying out and failing. Firm the prepared surface for sowing to the same level as the rest of the lawn. Water the seedlings until they are robust enough for a first cut. 1LOOSEN the soil and pick out weeds. Mix compost or grit into the top layer of soil to create a friable seed bed, then firm it in. 2MIX seeds well in the packet. Sow by hand onto the surface, scattering evenly. Check the sowing rate on the packet. 3WATER the seeds with a fine rose. Water again if the area dries out. The seeds…5 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024Grow your FREE seedsSowalong together! ■ Subscribers – to get even more from your seeds, head to GardenersWorld.com/premium where every month our growers, Rachel and Cel, will be sharing their expert tips and tricks. They’re on this journey with you, guiding you through every stage, sharing how their plants are developing and offering plenty of timely advice. ■ Check out our Sowalong podcasts for advice and inspiration from the team, and their unique take on each seed variety. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. ■ Plus, share the magic! We’d love to see how your seeds are progressing. Post images and videos on social media using #GWFreeSeeds and we’ll share our favourites, or get in touch using the contact details on page 20. 3 reasons to grow carrot Chantenay Red Cored 2 ◼…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024TEST YOUR SKILLSMake a hanging begonia ball It’s easy to make a dramatic ball of flowering begonias to hang up outside this summer. Begonias are an ideal choice because they’ll carry on performing even if they get a bit dry, although they’ll do best when regularly watered. They’re also very tolerant of heat and will cope with some shade, too. The construction requires some planning. Choose baskets that have an open mesh so there is room to insert the rootballs from the outside. Test the length of the chain to be sure the lower chain is long enough to be drawn up above the upper basket. Add extra chain if needed. The weight of the upturned basket may well be enough to keep it in place, but it may be safer to…2 min
BBC Gardeners' World|June 2024FRUIT AND VEGSTEP BY STEP Transplant young leeks Leeks sown in spring in pots or a seedbed should be ready to transplant into their fnal growing site. Plan where to put them carefully as they will take up that ground right through to winter. Choose a spot that hasn’t had leeks, onions or garlic in it for a year or two to avoid soil-borne diseases that affect the onion family. Once the young leek plants are growing strongly, mulch the soil with garden compost to help hold in moisture. Expect to harvest your crop from autumn through to early spring. 1WEED the planting site and loosen the soil. Use a large dibber or a trowel to make holes 15-20cm deep and 20cm apart, with 30cm between rows. 2SEPARATE the leek seedlings and…4 min
