Sadly this is the last in the series. Here is a list of the plants mentioned in Episode 10 – click on the plant links for more info about the plants.
To look up more plants:
- Get the ‘Joy of Plants’ smartphone/tablet app so you can look up plants whenever you like www.joyofplants.com/apps
- Or look up plants online in our Garden Centre Plant Finders www.joyofplants.com/plantfinders
Episode 10 – Herbaceous Perennials with Chris Beardshaw
Locations:
- Arley Hall & Gardens, Cheshire
- The Manor House, Upton Grey, Hampshire
- Old Court Nursery, Worcestershire
- Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire
Walls & hedges provide both a backdrop and shelter for herbaceous borders. “Island beds” work in smaller gardens.
Creating a herbaceous border is like “painting with plants”. Repetition of colour across the border draws the eye along it.
Planting starts at the back with large, clump forming plants, e.g.
Rudbeckia lacinitata ‘Herbstonne’
Then in the middle more refined plants, e.g.
Aconitum ‘Spark’s variety’ (Monkshood)
Crocosmia x crocosmiflora (Montbretia)
And at the front of the border plants that spill out, e.g.
Phlomis (Sage)
Phlomis chrysophylla (Golden leaved Jerusalem sage)
Asters are used to extend the season and are great for insects.
Care of herbaceous borders:
Weed regularly. Remove Convolvulus (bindweed) by carefully unfurling from plants, winding round a cane and treating with weed killer.
At the first decent frost start to cut the plants back. Reduce their size, divide and move plants. Divide plants every 3-5 years to give them space and keep them healthy.
We have over 3000 varieties of Herbaceous Perennials in our apps and Plant Finder, just look at Browse by Group/Herbaceous Perennials, or search for specific attributes using the Find by option.
Episode 10 – Kitchen Gardens with Alys Fowler
Locations:
- Le Manoir aux Quatre Saisons, Oxfordshire
- Tatton Park, Cheshire
Grow different varieties of vegetables & herbs for different timing of harvest and different uses in the kitchen.
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)
Kale (Brassica oleracea acephala)
4 quadrants is a traditional design – edge each quadrant with:
Box (Buxus microphylla)
Lavender Lavandula
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Have an archway for runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) – you can walk under the arch and pick the beans
Grow fruits like apples and pears against the wall or fence.
Include flowers for insects, and for cutting for the house.
Position herbs close to the kitchen for ease of picking while cooking. Grow unusual vegetables for extra interest.
Aubergine (Solanum melongema)
Patty pan squash (Cucurbita pepo var. clypeata)
Strawberry popcorn (Zea mays var. saccharata ‘Strawberry’)
Allium (Onions) are very easy to grow
Allium hookeri Zorami
Schisandra chinensis (Magnolia vine) – good for your liver – a hangover cure, also likes growing in shade
Babbington leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii
Runner bean Csar – you can dry the beans to store them when they grow too big to eat fresh
Micro-greens are useful as a winter crop for the window sill:
Atriplex hortensis (Purple orach)
Chenopodium giganteum (Mexican tree spinach)
French sorrel (Rumex scutatus)
Red radish