Monty is in the Jewel Garden to plant up a very large pot. Previously he has planted up the pots with tulips and wallflowers and last year he had dahlias and cannas. Today he is planting two types of fuchsias and will fill the gaps with vincas. Carol Klein is at home at Glebe Cottage and tells us the fascinating story behind one of our most graceful cottage garden plants - astrantia. Carol references John Gerard, a herbalist, a botanist, and a gardener who has celebrated astrantias. He recorded all these wonderful plants in a book that's come to be known as Gerard's Herball. Carol has also been inspired by Marjory Fish, the doyenne of cottage gardening, who loved astrantias of every description.
Monty demonstrates how a radical chop of some border plants now can rejuvenate them for later in the season. He starts off with looking at the alliums which he pulls up as they need space. Next he moves onto the hardy geraniums which are still flowering which he also cuts back. He advises to cut ...
Monty is in the greenhouse to check on his tomato trial that he started a few months ago by using three different methods. The trial was to see which technique produced the best possible taste and quality fruit. The variety he planted was 'Gardener's Delight'. The results so far are as follows - ...
Monty lifts his wallflowers from the seed bed to plant them out to give them more room. Some are flowering which they shouldn't be but this is due to the very hot weather we have had this summer. Monty advises to cut them back if they are flowering. He plants them in the veg garden as they are me...