AG gardening editor Kris Collins, shows you how to get your flower garden underway
Fill cell trays with sieved seed and cutting compost. Don’t compact the compost by pressing down, but do tap the tray to knock out trapped air.
Water the trays with a fine-rose watering can until you see water escaping from the drainage holes. Allow to drain fully…
AG garden editor, Kris Collins, is dusting off the heated propagator to gets his favourite summer crops underway
Fill cells with seed and cuttings compost. I sieve mine first, to take out all the lumps so there are no obstructions for root development.
Water the trays before sowing, to settle the compost and help seeds to stick firmly in place. Watering afterwards…
Plant begonia tubers now ready to early cuttings in spring, says AG garden writer Michelle
Fill a seed tray with light, sandy, loam-based compost. Or mix horticultural sand with multi-purpose compost. Adding leaf mould to the mixture will give the tubers perfect growing conditions.
Space the tubers in the tray, hollow-side up, about 2in (5cm) apart so they are not touching each…
Got gaps to fill, or didn’t plant in autumn? Plant sprouted bulbs this weekend for a quick fix, says AG garden editor Kris Collins
Autumn is the traditional time to plant out dormant spring bulbs, but if you didn’t get round to the job last year, help is now at hand. Garden centres seem to have upped their game in supplying…
If you are sorting through old seed packets through the winter months use this handy table to decide whether seeds are worth keeping. For more info on seed viability, proper storage and testing seeds before the main sowing season, see Amateur Gardening 21 Jan 2012, available at news agents and other outlets from 17 Jan.
Veg and flower seeds and how…
November is the ideal time to plant tulip bulbs, says AG gardening editor Kris Collins
While spring flowering bulbs have been available to buy since the end of August, tul;ips are best left until November for planting. This prevents problems with tulip fire disease, a soil-borne fungus that can develop in the lingering warmth of autumn. By planting closer to Christmas…
