The latest Aberglasney gardening column from the Evening Post
The latest South Wales Evening Post gardening column by Aberglasney Head Gardener Joseph Atkin -
Having a kitchen garden is a great deal of work but worth every minute that goes into it.
Tips for the Week
· Select the bare root plants you want to buy there are plenty more to choose from besides Dahlia
· Clear leaves around snowdrops or other small bulbs that are starting to flower
· If it’s not too frosty February is an excellent month to plant trees and shrubs
· Rhubarb, horseradish, asparagus and artichokes can be planted this month
· Compost heaps can be turned the frost can help the rotting process
Throughout the season there is always something to look at. This year, the kitchen garden has been producing all year round.
Last year’s beets and cabbage are still being used as is the parsley and many other herbs. This year’s Narcissus for cutting are starting to come through and the welcoming site of a box full of seeds has landed on my desk.
The kitchen garden at Aberglasney has really become the hub of the gardens producing flowers food and interest throughout the year. One of the best doers and most talked about plants are the Dahlia.
The kitchen garden at Aberglasney has really become the hub of the gardens producing flowers food and interest throughout the year. One of the best doers and most talked about plants are the Dahlia.
They really performed well for us last year flowering for a good three months and yielding plenty of blooms for cutting.
When you lift Dahlia in the autumn you find yourself with twice as much plant material as you started with which is no bad thing.
Knowing which variety you want and where to get them is often the hardest part of growing Dahlia.
Knowing which variety you want and where to get them is often the hardest part of growing Dahlia.
The increase in popularity of a plant is never a bad thing and Dahlia have really benefited with a huge number of new varieties being bred. The colour range in both single semi-double and double is fantastic.
There is also a huge choice of flower type and foliage colour which gives them something extra. They can be very effectively mixed into a border or grown in lines in a vegetable garden as a cutting crop.
There are also some excellent patio and tub varieties that are great for the smaller garden. Browsing through any catalogue that specialises in Dahlia will give you an idea of what might suit you.
Growing Dahlia is relatively easy although the art of producing exhibition blooms is a real skill.
Growing Dahlia is relatively easy although the art of producing exhibition blooms is a real skill.
At Aberglasney we have the best results from lifting them in the winter and replanting the following spring. They will often come through the winter in the ground but getting them started in a glasshouse helps get them to flowering size quicker.
Full sun and very fertile soil (like your vegetable garden) are preferable, the larger types will need staking and dead heading really helps elongate the flowering season. There are literally hundreds to choose from but there are a few favourites that have been good performers at Aberglasney.
Dahlia are also divided into 11 different sections according to their flower shape within these there are hundreds of different types.
‘Bishop of Auckland is an excellent single with dark crimson flowers and dark foliage.
‘Bishop of Auckland is an excellent single with dark crimson flowers and dark foliage.
‘Blue Bayou’ is very striking purple/lavender anemone flowered form with green leaves and excellent cut flower qualities.
‘Jescot Julie’ is an excellent orange flowered orchid type with a dark reverse to the flowers. ‘Karma choc’ is another very dark form with cactus flowers and dark leaves, it also makes an excellent cut flower.
‘Selina’ is a bright pink semi-cactus flower with a silver back to the petals. ‘Claire de Lune’ is a very pretty pale yellow almost white collerette type and fairly small plant. ‘Kiwi Gloria’ is a cactus type with small white flushed pink flowers.
‘Selina’ is a bright pink semi-cactus flower with a silver back to the petals. ‘Claire de Lune’ is a very pretty pale yellow almost white collerette type and fairly small plant. ‘Kiwi Gloria’ is a cactus type with small white flushed pink flowers.
‘Pearl of Heemstede’ is a waterlily type that is early flowering and prolific bearing silvery pink flowers. ‘Alva’s Supreme’ is a giant double flowered variety with soft yellow flowers.
‘Classic Swan Lake’ is a white peony flowered type with dark foliage which really makes the flowers show up.
‘New Baby’ is a ball type with orange flushed pink flowers and green foliage. ‘Nicola Jane’ is pompon variety with pale pink flowers and dark green foliage.
A particular favourite of mine is Dahlia imperialis which is notoriously hard to flower and grows to 4meters tall but we will try it this year.
Now is also a perfect time to buy Dahlia especially as bare root plants which are usually cheaper and available in a wider choice.
Tips for the Week
· Select the bare root plants you want to buy there are plenty more to choose from besides Dahlia
· Clear leaves around snowdrops or other small bulbs that are starting to flower
· If it’s not too frosty February is an excellent month to plant trees and shrubs
· Rhubarb, horseradish, asparagus and artichokes can be planted this month
· Compost heaps can be turned the frost can help the rotting process
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