The Boababs
These and other related plants are overwintered just like erythrinas but when repotting them being still green is not enough you are not safe until they actually start shooting and if the weather is poor this can take a long time. So I've listed those that have made it to the first stage
Adansonia Za a few made it
Adansonia Madagascariensis only had 2 plants one being a survivor from last year, that one is ok, the other !!!
Adansonia Rubriostipa a couple
Delonix regia most, but not sure if they will regenerate as grew poorly last year (from birth they grow normally grow about 3'+in a summer, last year barely a foot (this goes for nearly all of them, some boababs can do nearly4', they have to I guess))
Delonis decaryii nearly all, these generally regenerate well even if you need to wait a bit
Delonis floribunda as above
Chorisia speciosa both survived (these should have been listed in yesterdays lot) and regenerate easily.
Ceiba pentandra crap growth expected them to fail and they didn't disappoint
Bombax malabricum likewise
We so need a good spring and summer
In summary with a bit of effort and good weather you can store a veritable tropical forest in a shoebox, can't be bad.
I will be extending the trial further this winter and will also probably try boxing up desert plants.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
The first results from overwintering exotics in a new way, or "how to hang a boabab and other such stories"
What I've been trying to do is to find better ways to overwimter tender exotics. This is one method and that is to take the plant out of it's pot in early october knock off all the compost and hang it from the tunnel roof (the leaves will fall off naturally as will most of the fine roots), ideally when we build our house we will keep them in a box in the spare room to reduce dampness. Come march the resultant stick is repotted and ideally grows.
The idea came to me from realising many exotics have a very long dry season and have to survive in complete shutdown even in their first yearr.
Anyway the first results
Erythrina filiformis perfect (this is a desert plant)
Erythrina Lysistemon perfect (these work very well)
Erythrina Humeana perfect
Erythrina Latissima all failed, boo one of my favorites
Erythrina Rubrinerva success (only had one plant mind)
Erythrina speciosa most ok
Erythrina Vesperitillo only one survived
Idria columnaris perfect
With all the above if they have any green in the stem you can be pretty certain given ok growing conditions that they will reshoot if not from the stems than at least the base. Also due to last years fantastic growing conditions the numbers were few and many hadn't grown as large as they maybe should have.
Erythrinas herbacea and crista gali kept in their pots at -6C and all survived
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Monday, 22 October 2012
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Preparing for Winter!!
The nursery is now being moved into the winter mode, involving a huge amount of plant shuffling to their winter stations.
As part of the winter relocation of plants, there are now Baobabs and Erythrinas hanging naked from the tunnel roof !!!!!!
As part of the winter relocation of plants, there are now Baobabs and Erythrinas hanging naked from the tunnel roof !!!!!!
Monday, 1 October 2012
Cheilanthes Lanosa
Another new one for the nursery, coming in 2013.
Cheilanthes Lanosa
Also known as the Hairly Lipfern (great name!), this is a soft-textured fern with green leaflets along a brown stem.
It's ideal for rock walls and in shady stone troughs. It's equally at home in fairly well-drained garden soil and in containers.
It's not a huge plant at 30 cm high to 40 cm wide... perfect for those small places.
It comes from the US, Pennsylvania to New Mexico... and would look lovely in our UK gardens!
An added bonus is that it's also deer resistant, great for round here!
Cheilanthes Lanosa
Also known as the Hairly Lipfern (great name!), this is a soft-textured fern with green leaflets along a brown stem.
It's ideal for rock walls and in shady stone troughs. It's equally at home in fairly well-drained garden soil and in containers.
It's not a huge plant at 30 cm high to 40 cm wide... perfect for those small places.
It comes from the US, Pennsylvania to New Mexico... and would look lovely in our UK gardens!
An added bonus is that it's also deer resistant, great for round here!
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
A new variety coming to the nursery - if it grows!
Some formal info for you!
Cyathea Australi
This is a tree fern native to Australia. It's also known as the Rough Tree Fern. It grows in moist shady forest, and hopefully soon in the East Sussex countryside!
It has a stem covered with frond scars, and a mass of wiry roots at the base.
It can grow up to 12 m tall, and may reach 4 m in length, better tell the neighbours! It has a distinctive crown that is dark green above and lighter green below, should look great.
Cyathea Australi
This is a tree fern native to Australia. It's also known as the Rough Tree Fern. It grows in moist shady forest, and hopefully soon in the East Sussex countryside!
It has a stem covered with frond scars, and a mass of wiry roots at the base.
It can grow up to 12 m tall, and may reach 4 m in length, better tell the neighbours! It has a distinctive crown that is dark green above and lighter green below, should look great.
September Update
Sorry that I've been neglecting my blog a bit... like most, I've been manic over the summer, with show after show.
I hope you've followed our facebook and tweets - where we've been and what we've won.
The last big one was at RHS Wisley, which was great with fab weather. I think you will agree our stand was looking particularly wonderful.
We also got on the radio, check this out... sorry about the Chest Comment... but you know me!!
The lack of bees really have been a problem this year. Check out my interview for some tips of plants to grow. Please help them as I love my food, and no bees no food.
Right from now on I'm going to stop being clever like Stephen Fry and do more factual tweets and blog posts!
I'm looking forward to 3 new varieties for 2013, cyathea_australis, cheilanthus_lanosa, cyrtomium_falcetum - and will removing 2 varieties heuchera snowstorm (because it is rubbish at growing) adansonia greggorii (unlike the others, again poor growth).
More to follow!
I hope you've followed our facebook and tweets - where we've been and what we've won.
The last big one was at RHS Wisley, which was great with fab weather. I think you will agree our stand was looking particularly wonderful.
We also got on the radio, check this out... sorry about the Chest Comment... but you know me!!
The lack of bees really have been a problem this year. Check out my interview for some tips of plants to grow. Please help them as I love my food, and no bees no food.
Right from now on I'm going to stop being clever like Stephen Fry and do more factual tweets and blog posts!
I'm looking forward to 3 new varieties for 2013, cyathea_australis, cheilanthus_lanosa, cyrtomium_falcetum - and will removing 2 varieties heuchera snowstorm (because it is rubbish at growing) adansonia greggorii (unlike the others, again poor growth).
More to follow!
Thursday, 30 August 2012
This Sunday, 2 Sept, we will be at the Sussex Prairies Unusual Plant and Art Fair. See www.plantsandart.co.uk/ for details.
There will be a rare collection of exciting nurseries, artists and crafts people coming together in the prairie garden bringing a great selection of unusual plants and beautiful pieces for you to buy.
A great chance to source some amazing plants and artifacts for you, your house and your garden!
.... Sounds good to me. REMEMBER TO COME AND SEE OUR STALL!!!
There will be a rare collection of exciting nurseries, artists and crafts people coming together in the prairie garden bringing a great selection of unusual plants and beautiful pieces for you to buy.
A great chance to source some amazing plants and artifacts for you, your house and your garden!
.... Sounds good to me. REMEMBER TO COME AND SEE OUR STALL!!!
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
For the first time ever, one daviesia pectinata and daviesia cordata put aside for RHS display plants.
daviesia pectinata - Thorny Bitter-pea
This shrub is native to Australia, so it's great that it's growing in my nursery in East Sussex. It will be red and orange when in bloom, hopefully growing to about 120cm in height. As it grows it will develop spines or sharp edges
As it is at the moment (just a baby)
daviesia cordata - also known as Bookleaf
Native to West Australia this will be a small woody shrub with large, bluish-green leaves, it will have orange-yellow to purplish-red flowers... but at the moment looks like this...
I can't wait to see how these two progress and will keep you posted with new pics!!
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Next stop Gold!
Check out the coverage of our RHS Silver Medal... and you'll see a photo of me and the wife!Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Hampton Court Flower Show
What can I say but I'm really chuffed - we've been invited to exhibit at Hampton Court Flower Show - in the floral marquee - FM71.
Time is short, but I find I work best under pressure!?!?!
The show runs from 3-8 July - pop along and see the display I've been planning!.. this time let's make it a silver!
Monday, 25 June 2012
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Saliva Apiana
also known as white sage, bee sage & sacred sage
This evergreen perennial shrub with its silvery light foliage, long leaves and delicate white flowers is heaven for bumble bees! It'll grow to a height of around 4 feet over time and has a wonderful aroma (its leaves are often used for incense)
Originating in southwest USA, it's popular with wildlife... and is also known to attract humming birds - not sure you'll find many of them over here, but it would be good to help the bees out (they also pollinate it)!
One thing to watch... as the stems are hollow, be careful where you plant it, as they can snap easily.
Monday, 18 June 2012
Tiarella
Wherryi
also known as the 'foam flower'
This hardy perennial orginated from Central & East USA, but thrives here in part shade and moist soil. Plant it and it will not only form clumps but also self seed. Even though it's quite slow growing, it's perfect for ground cover in shady places - requiring little intervention on your part!
It grows to a height of 8" and will spread to 12" and beyond. producing beautiful frond like white flowers from late Spring to early Summer.
Why not order yours now
Monday, 11 June 2012
King Protea - in bud...
Just lent this to the RSPB for their migratory birds and landscapes display on South African plants.
It's the largest flowering protea, also known as unsuprisingly enough... Giant Protea! Also goes by the name of King Sugarbush. Will upload an image when it comes into flower!
Everything's blooming - new pics!
Just uploaded some new photos of the nursery - clivia miniata, baby sun rose, allium, blue eyed grass, cornflower centaurea montana, painted daisy, penstemon erianthus, polygala x dalmaisiana, pratia pendunculata county park, rubus cockburnianus... all coming into flower - you can view it in our facebook gallery... http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.393658264005175.74709.347672151937120&type=3
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)