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With Dick Robinson
The summer flowers have done well this season, in spite of dry periods and the occasional showers. Petunias, busy lizzies, pelargoniums, and others, are among the floral displays in the public parks and gardens.
Most stem cuttings were taken from the bedding plants last month, but there is still time to root young shoots of fuchsias, pelargoniums, heliotropes, pentstemons, and other tender perennials. An open sandy compost and a clean plant pot will soon allow rooting to take place. All tender plants must be lifted this month and given protection. Any that are to be kept should be potted up; these will make new shoots that can be made into stem cuttings next spring, if you missed out this year.
It's planting time for the spring display; wallflowers, forget-me-nots and winter pansies can go in now, but it's best to wait until November before planting the tulips. For strong stems, give a dusting of lime at the same time, as tulips love calcium; even our chalky wold soil can become rather acid. My spring cabbage plants look well; the heavy rain last month set them off, along with the winter cauliflowers and sprouting broccoli. If only the wood pigeons would leave them alone; last April it was the rabbits, why do we bother? I still prefer fresh home grown produce and a bit of digging keeps the muscles going - no need to attend the gym!
The show season is nearly over; chrysanths in November, and the Great Autumn RHS show in London. This year we had some very good local shows, well supported. These are social occasions, a chance to meet friends and to talk gardening - long may they reign.
The potato crop should be lifted by now, and my tomatoes have finished, so a bit of glasshouse cleaning is called for, ready for next year. For an early crop of tender broad beans, now is the time to order a packet of long pod varieties to sow out side next month; they are very hardy and reliable on our well drained, Rudston soils.
This is the best month to put hard wood cuttings in the open ground.
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