0:00:13 > 0:00:16Although this is a lovely time of year,
0:00:16 > 0:00:18this really is a season
0:00:18 > 0:00:21where everything seems to be changing all the time -
0:00:21 > 0:00:22the leaves, the weather,
0:00:22 > 0:00:26the borders, which are slipping away. You look,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29and you turn your back, and there's a little bit less there.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33However, this is the best opportunity
0:00:33 > 0:00:35to prepare for next year.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37There are loads of jobs to do now
0:00:37 > 0:00:41which will bear a really good harvest next spring and summer.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47This week, I'm planting shrubs
0:00:47 > 0:00:49that have both lovely spring flowers,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53as well as brilliant autumn foliage.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Planning ahead, I'm planting great swathes
0:00:55 > 0:00:56of spring-flowering bulbs
0:00:56 > 0:00:59and sowing sweet peas to give me
0:00:59 > 0:01:02the most fragrant of all summer flowers.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Carol finds great ideas
0:01:05 > 0:01:08for seasonal colour at Thorp Perrow Arboretum in Yorkshire,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11which has one of the most stunning collections
0:01:11 > 0:01:13of shrubs and trees in the country.
0:01:13 > 0:01:14Just look at the fruit!
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Isn't that brilliant?
0:01:37 > 0:01:38I don't think the dahlias
0:01:38 > 0:01:42have ever done better in this garden than they have this year.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44I'm particularly pleased with these ones in pots,
0:01:44 > 0:01:49because I got these as very small rooted cuttings in spring.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51They were so tiny, I thought I'd grow them on
0:01:51 > 0:01:55to plant out next year, but they did quite well.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58So we planted them three to a pot, thinking if they flowered,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01it'd be good. And look at them, they're fantastic. Next year,
0:02:01 > 0:02:03each one of those will make a whole pot,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07so I'll have three times as many from this batch.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09So I'm very, very pleased with these.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28This is the first year that we've put a pot on this spot.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31And it's worked well, because it catches the eye.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35This is the first thing you see when you walk into the walled garden.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37But these pelargoniums will go indoors in a few weeks,
0:02:37 > 0:02:42and then we'll have nothing here. I want something for early next spring
0:02:42 > 0:02:45which will work in the same way, which will be white,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48dramatic and really act as a centrepiece.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51So I'm going to plant a shrub behind here,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54because these won't come out again until next May,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57which will do the same sort of job.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00This the perfect time of year to plant any shrub.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02The soil is warm, the roots will still grow,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05but there are no demands on them by top growth.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10This is a Magnolia stellata,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13which has wonderful, daisy-like
0:03:13 > 0:03:14white flowers in April.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17It'll grow in almost any soil,
0:03:17 > 0:03:22although it's happiest if it's slightly acidic.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23And practically any position,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26though it does like some sunshine.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29The only thing to avoid is early morning sun.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Don't put it on an east-facing wall,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33simply to protect it from spring frost.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35The buds and flowers can be damaged.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38But ideally in a west-facing position,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41although what we've got here is north-west.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45I'm going to plant it here, set back a bit from the path.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49If you're planting any shrub, keep it simple.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51There we go like that.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57Magnolias have rather fleshy roots that can be easily damaged.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00They're brittle, so when you take it out of the pot,
0:04:00 > 0:04:01be fairly careful.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Good root system on this.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Slightly pot-bound, so I'll just tease them a little,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08not to break them up,
0:04:08 > 0:04:14but just to stimulate growth outside the confines of the pot
0:04:14 > 0:04:16as quickly as possible.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Although I'm not adding compost, I will add some mycorrhizal fungi.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26The purpose of this is to act as a conduit
0:04:26 > 0:04:29from nutrients in the soil to the roots.
0:04:29 > 0:04:35It speeds up the root growth and the way it can take up nutrients.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38The important thing is to have it in direct contact
0:04:38 > 0:04:41with the roots themselves.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I'm going to give that a good soak, and then mulch it.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56The mulch is really important.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Where did I put the lid?
0:05:20 > 0:05:23What a strange year it is.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Here we have the viburnum, flowering in the middle of October,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29whilst at the same time,
0:05:29 > 0:05:33its leaves are turning that lovely rich purple colour.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36These should be and were produced in May.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Likewise the primulas. Flowering again now,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43and yet they flowered from February right through almost into June.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46It's as though all the seasons are going topsy-turvy.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54However, it's still a very good time to plant shrubs.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58The second shrub I want to put in is a bit more special.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Whereas Magnolia stellata is available everywhere,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05you might have to look around more for this one.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10This is a witch hazel, Hamamelis intermedia 'Diane'.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12It's got particularly red flowers.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Witch hazel flowers are little
0:06:15 > 0:06:17fluttery ribbons
0:06:17 > 0:06:19that spiral off. They're produced
0:06:19 > 0:06:22at the end of winter, before the leaves come out.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Incredible display,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27especially when the plant gets big.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32It also, as you can begin to see, has fabulous autumn colour.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35I've grown witch hazel before in this garden
0:06:35 > 0:06:37and had a lot of failure and trouble.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41They like a nice, sunny site. That's the way you get the best display.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46So putting it here in the damp garden, it'll have nice, moist soil.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50It'll also get the sun from morning to late afternoon.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55That way, I should get a fantastic display round about February time.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Witch hazels come from America and Asia.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Intermedia is a cross between
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Hamamelis mollis, the Chinese witch hazel,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09and japonica, the Japanese one.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11So it's got hybrid vigour.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Take it out of the pot.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22Rather like magnolias, they do best on a slightly acidic soil.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Now, is that the right aspect?
0:07:33 > 0:07:36This is quite an expensive shrub.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38It cost over 30 quid.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42But any plant that can give you really good flowers
0:07:42 > 0:07:47in winter as well as this stunning autumnal foliage
0:07:47 > 0:07:50is worth money, time and trouble.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53I'm so pleased to have this back with me in the garden.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55But you don't need a fancy plant
0:07:55 > 0:07:57to get good colour at this time of year.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Carol has been to Thorp Perrow,
0:07:59 > 0:08:04to the arboretum there, to relish the autumnal colours.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Well, autumn's well and truly here.
0:08:19 > 0:08:20It's the time of year
0:08:20 > 0:08:23that sees the most definite changes in our garden,
0:08:23 > 0:08:27the time that announces that winter's on its way.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Although the change is gradual,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33it's also intensified by these huge splashes of colour.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38And they're seen most clearly in trees and shrubs.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41What better place to see this change than in an arboretum?
0:08:41 > 0:08:46Thorp Perrow Arboretum is set within 80 acres
0:08:46 > 0:08:50of beautiful parkland in North Yorkshire.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51Arboreta like this
0:08:51 > 0:08:53are the perfect places to gather inspiration
0:08:53 > 0:08:59for autumn colour for us to incorporate into our own gardens.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07I suppose with autumn colour, it's leaves that we think of immediately.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11But of course, autumn's also the season of mellow fruitfulness,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15and it's at this time of year when trees and shrubs
0:09:15 > 0:09:18display these wonderful berries
0:09:18 > 0:09:21that have taken them all year to produce.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24This is a particularly fine example.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29This is Euonymus hamiltonianus, and it's from Asia,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32from Korea and China and Japan.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34And as well as these pink-tinged leaves,
0:09:34 > 0:09:39it's got these beautiful, magnificent pink fruits.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43When they split apart, they're full of these seeds
0:09:43 > 0:09:47coated in orange flesh, almost fluorescent.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49What a beautiful picture.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57If you want to bring fiery drama to your borders,
0:09:57 > 0:10:02Cotinus coggygria, the smoke bush, sets a whole garden aflame.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03It's easily grown,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06and there are green and purple leaf forms,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10both attractive from the moment their leaves emerge in the spring,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12though it's now, in the autumn,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16that they lend special enchantment to the garden,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19when the whole shrub positively glows.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27Decaisnea fargesiis, surely one of the most spectacular,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30the most exotic shrubs you could have in your garden.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34All this foliage turns to glowing gold.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36And as if that wasn't enough,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38just look at the fruit.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39Isn't that brilliant?
0:10:39 > 0:10:43This gives it its name, the blue bean tree.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Just look at that. Isn't that spectacular?
0:10:46 > 0:10:51There are these rows of seed in serried ranks,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55and they're surrounded by this sort of sticky flesh.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56You can just imagine,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59as the weight of these pods brings them down to the ground,
0:10:59 > 0:11:01birds and small mammals rush in,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04chew the flesh and then either wipe it off
0:11:04 > 0:11:07or it goes straight through them.
0:11:07 > 0:11:13And it germinates and another Decaisnea fargesii is created.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32As the first strong winds of autumn bring the leaves
0:11:32 > 0:11:36crashing to the ground, the trees are revealed
0:11:36 > 0:11:38in all their stark simplicity.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42You can really appreciate their architecture.
0:11:42 > 0:11:48For a full six months of the year, trees are without their leaves.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51But if you choose a tree with beautiful bark,
0:11:51 > 0:11:56then your enjoyment of it is twofold for all that time.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00This is a beautiful example. It's Prunus serrula,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02and you really can
0:12:02 > 0:12:04hardly keep your hands off it.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07You just want to polish this perfect bark.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13The white bark of Betula jacquemontii
0:12:13 > 0:12:17has become a familiar sight, especially in show gardens.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20But other birches are equally desirable.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Betula albosinensis is a medium-sized tree
0:12:23 > 0:12:27with peeling, papery pink bark.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31It can be grown with a single trunk or as a multi-stemmed specimen.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Few of us will ever have the pleasure
0:12:36 > 0:12:39of owning an arboretum like Thorp Perrow,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43but we can all take away inspiration from places like this.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45All around the country,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48there are glorious arboreta full of autumn interest
0:12:48 > 0:12:51to visit at this time of year.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Near Peebles, there's the Dawyck Botanic Garden.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57There's Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00and Batsford Arboretum in Gloucestershire
0:13:00 > 0:13:01has an autumnal walk,
0:13:01 > 0:13:03the Golden Mile.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08You can go to our website for even more suggestions.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29I don't think I can remember a year that's been so good for sweet peas.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31They flowered constantly from July
0:13:31 > 0:13:35right through to the middle of October, and every ten days,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38we've picked at least two big buckets full
0:13:38 > 0:13:43and the house has been full of them for months and months.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45I sowed these in March, and they've done well.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48But there is debate whether that's the best way,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51whether you should sow them in October, in early spring
0:13:51 > 0:13:54or even sow them direct in the middle of spring.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56So thinking about next year,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59I thought we'd do a trial on our sweet peas.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15The nature of the trial will be to see which is the best time
0:14:15 > 0:14:20to sow sweet peas to get maximum flowers for as long as possible.
0:14:20 > 0:14:27Now, I'm going to sow the same sweet pea in October, March
0:14:27 > 0:14:29and then directly in April.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30It's a variety called Monty Don,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33which is the grandiflora type.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36It's got a lovely ruby, purpley colour
0:14:36 > 0:14:39and a splendid sweet pea.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42And each of them I'm going to sew in exactly the same way.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46In three-inch pots with a decent potting compost.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48I've added some grit and some home-made compost.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52But it's the same formula and I'll use it again in March.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55I'm going to put three peas per pot.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58And then these will be planted out when I've done all three,
0:14:58 > 0:15:03side by side, on three wig-wams in a piece of trial ground.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05And we'll see how they turn out.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08And really we won't be able to draw many conclusions
0:15:08 > 0:15:11until this time next year. It's a long-term project
0:15:11 > 0:15:16because it could well be that early-sewn ones look good early on
0:15:16 > 0:15:20but stop flowering earlier or later ones come up on the outside.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23I tend to grow sweet peas in these three-inch pots
0:15:23 > 0:15:25and it works perfectly well for me.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29The main thing is to use something with a nice deep space
0:15:29 > 0:15:31for the roots to grow down in.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35It could be a purposefully made container like that.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38You can use an old loo roll.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Whatever it is - lots of depth, so you get nice deep roots.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48I don't soak my sweet peas, I don't nick them with a penknife,
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I know lots of books will say that's a good idea
0:15:51 > 0:15:53but actually, I've not found any need.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56They grow perfectly well in compost.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59And there we have identical peas
0:15:59 > 0:16:01and I put three per pot.
0:16:01 > 0:16:07The big disadvantage of growing sweet peas now for me
0:16:07 > 0:16:11is that they do have to be protected over winter
0:16:11 > 0:16:14so you either need a greenhouse or a cold frame
0:16:14 > 0:16:19or even a very sheltered corner, but I certainly wouldn't leave them outside unprotected
0:16:19 > 0:16:22if we had a winter like we did last year.
0:16:24 > 0:16:30The advantage of course is that they will develop into nice, strong, bushy plants
0:16:30 > 0:16:35when they're ready to be planted out - good and early.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Right, I'll give those a good soak and put them in a greenhouse
0:16:38 > 0:16:41and that's part one of this trial completed.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Part two will follow in March.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49You can buy sweet peas in most garden centres at this time of year,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52almost any time of year, actually, with a wide range of varieties
0:16:52 > 0:16:58and you can take for granted that all seeds are always available,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00but in fact that's not true,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02and particularly with a lot of vegetable varieties.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07A lot of the more interesting or rarer ones have disappeared
0:17:07 > 0:17:08and are very hard to get hold of
0:17:08 > 0:17:12because DEFRA has a list of approved varieties
0:17:12 > 0:17:15and if they don't appear on that list, they can't be sold
0:17:15 > 0:17:20and if it wasn't for the likes of the Heritage Seed Library at Ryton,
0:17:20 > 0:17:25many more would vanish and they would never be available again,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27so the work they do is really important.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39The Heritage Seed Library is a collection of vegetable varieties,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42about 800, that we conserve here at Ryton Gardens.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46The important thing about some of these varieties is that
0:17:46 > 0:17:49they might be useful in the future for breeding work,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51but also some of them are specifically good for gardens,
0:17:51 > 0:17:54rather than potentially large-scale agriculture
0:17:54 > 0:17:58or for niche growing things in poor soils et cetera,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01so there's quite a range of why people might want them
0:18:01 > 0:18:03and also some of them are obviously quite unique
0:18:03 > 0:18:06and different to some of the varieties you get today.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13This is radish Rat's Tail. It's a podding radish.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17What I mean by that is that you grow it for these pods
0:18:17 > 0:18:19rather than for the root
0:18:19 > 0:18:23and you can see why it gets its name, Rat's Tail.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26It produces these long, almost like a rat's tail.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29And these are what you eat so you can just take a bit off there.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Just have a taste.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37And it has - the first bite is quite clean
0:18:37 > 0:18:39and then you get a real peppery aftertaste.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53This is the tomato White Beauty.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Not quite white, but quite pale.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57You'll see that you'll get some yellow tomatoes
0:18:57 > 0:19:01and you'll get the red ones, but this is a very pale yellow variety.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04This variety is lettuce Bronze Arrow,
0:19:04 > 0:19:09an old variety from America, from the West Coast.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12We've done some trials against commercial varieties with this
0:19:12 > 0:19:15and it came top for the taste and disease resistance.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Taste with varieties is very subjective.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22People will rave and say, these are much better than the old varieties.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I think it can be said and we've had lots of people come back and say,
0:19:25 > 0:19:29"That reminds me of what I used to eat when I was younger."
0:19:29 > 0:19:32It's one of those strange ones that you can't measure,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35but it's been said that some of the older varieties
0:19:35 > 0:19:37have a lot more taste than some of the modern ones.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40Now this is broad bean Crimson Flowered,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43one of our greatest success stories.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47It was donated to us by Rhoda Cutbush and her sister in 1978.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Her father and grandfather before that had been growing it.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54She gave us three beans that were in a tin and from that,
0:19:54 > 0:19:59we've bulked it up and gardeners are growing that all round the country.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02One of the things with broad beans is that people ask us
0:20:02 > 0:20:07how dry do the pods have to be before they're ready to harvest.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09In a word, very dry.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12You can almost hear, they rattle as you hold them,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14they're very dark black.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17You basically just open them, crack open like that
0:20:17 > 0:20:21and you end up with the seed inside already dried,
0:20:21 > 0:20:23ready to sew for next year.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36The varieties you'll find in lots of catalogues
0:20:36 > 0:20:39tend to be the hybrid varieties which tend to be very uniform,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42they tend to mature at the same time and be quite standardised.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46The varieties we have in our catalogue are quite varied,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48maturing at different times.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54We can't sell you these seeds, so we have a membership scheme.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57You join as a member, we provide you with a catalogue once a year
0:20:57 > 0:21:01and from that, you can choose free seed.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06We want people to try these varieties, we want them to eat them,
0:21:06 > 0:21:09we want them to taste and enjoy them and save some of the seed from them
0:21:09 > 0:21:13so that they can grow them again the next year if they enjoy them.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Now, I always get a sense of guilt at this time of year
0:21:34 > 0:21:37that I've missed the boat in planting spring bulbs,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41because in August and September, it can feel terribly early.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44It still feels like summer, the ground is really hard
0:21:44 > 0:21:48and somehow that emotional connection with next spring isn't there,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51but it's not too late to do it now
0:21:51 > 0:21:55and you can have wonderful spring bulbs as early as next February, and then March and April
0:21:55 > 0:21:57and that's what I'm going to do now
0:21:57 > 0:22:03because I want to plant some anemones in this part of the garden.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06And we did plant a whole mass of crocus in here a few years ago
0:22:06 > 0:22:10and every February, they come up and look really good for a week or two - and that's it,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12so I want to increase that planting
0:22:12 > 0:22:15especially for spring before the leaf cover comes in
0:22:15 > 0:22:18and anemones are perfect. These are Anemone blanda.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21You can get them in white, blue, pink
0:22:21 > 0:22:25and they flower roundabout March into April time.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Perfect for the edge of woodland, dappled shade
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and of course, because the foliage won't be out,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33there's plenty of light in here up until April
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- and they should do really well. - PIGS SQUEAL
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Even the pigs think so.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42I've got 150 tubers in here of a variety called White Splendour,
0:22:42 > 0:22:47because I want a swathe of the white daisy-like flowers underneath the trees.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50However, you can get them in mixed colours
0:22:50 > 0:22:54and it's cheaper to do that, particularly if you're buying in small quantities.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58150 of a named species cost me 37 quid.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03These are just £2, £1.99 I think, for 20 mixed
0:23:03 > 0:23:07but if they were a single colour, they would be £2 for five
0:23:07 > 0:23:11so if you're going for a single colour and you want a massed effect,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15shop about and buy them in bulk. It's much, much cheaper.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Now, you can soak these overnight
0:23:19 > 0:23:24and I have done so in the past, although it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference.
0:23:24 > 0:23:25Also, this is a very wet place.
0:23:25 > 0:23:31Although the ground is dry now, you can guarantee this will be sodden over the next few weeks and months,
0:23:31 > 0:23:32so they should be OK,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35but if it's going to be dry and you've got any doubts at all,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37soak them overnight before planting.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41The ground is hard now and planting into there is tough work,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43so I'm going to try a new technique.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45This is an experiment. I've not done this before.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49I read about it the other day, so I don't know if it'll work,
0:23:49 > 0:23:50but I like the idea.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53And that's simply to take the area where they'll be planted
0:23:53 > 0:23:56and give it a good scratching.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00So that the ground is roughened up.
0:24:00 > 0:24:06And then simply sprinkle the tubers on the surface of the soil.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08So we'll just chuck those down.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11They want to be about three or four inches apart
0:24:11 > 0:24:15but don't try to space them, just push them down like that.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19They look alarmingly like something a small dog has left behind.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26I'm covering them with a mixture of leaf mould and compost,
0:24:26 > 0:24:27but actually, soil would do.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31This is just easier for me to use, but it won't do any harm.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34But soil or even sand will do the job
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Of course, the other good thing about this is it will mark where I planted them.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42And that's it.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47The squirrels may come and try to dig them up,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50but they'll get broken teeth cos they're too hard for them,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53and no doubt the dogs will have a scratch around, but we'll see.
0:24:53 > 0:24:59If it works, it's a really easy way to do mass planting of anemones.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13Over the next few days, I shall be planting lots more spring bulbs,
0:25:13 > 0:25:17but here are some other jobs for you to get on with this weekend.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23As the weather gets wilder, now is the time to pick any remaining pears
0:25:23 > 0:25:26so that they don't fall and bruise.
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Pears don't keep very well at the best of times
0:25:28 > 0:25:32and a bruised one will rot quicker than it ripens.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36Store them carefully in a cool, dark place and check them often
0:25:36 > 0:25:39because as soon as they're ripe, you should eat them.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47If your shrub roses have put on vigorous growth in the summer months
0:25:47 > 0:25:51these can act like a sail in winter winds, damaging the roots.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54You can both protect them and prune them at the same time
0:25:54 > 0:25:57by shearing them back by about a third.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05It's a good time now to give your greenhouse a really good clean-out.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07This will maximise the winter sun
0:26:07 > 0:26:11and also get rid of any lurking pests and diseases.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Choose a dry day and then give it a thorough scrub
0:26:13 > 0:26:17with a mix of warm water and a splash of washing-up liquid
0:26:17 > 0:26:21and get into every nook and cranny.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Then leave it wide open so it can dry properly before evening.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Now, the scattering on the ground and covering up system
0:26:37 > 0:26:39works really well for Anemone blanda,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43but it will be no good for daffodils or any of the more conventional bulbs.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45They need to be in the ground.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48And here on the cricket pitch, we've got some daffodils
0:26:48 > 0:26:51at the top left-hand corner, and I want to fill it up.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56I managed to get hold of some wild daffodils.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59This is pseudonarcissus.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04You can see that the bulbs are tiny.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Now, I've bought 500 of these,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11but whether you're planting a big bulb or small,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13the technique is just the same.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Take a handful and just go like this.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22And that will always look much more natural than the most artful placing
0:27:22 > 0:27:26you can do, because it is uncanny how the eye reverts to a grid.
0:27:26 > 0:27:31By the way, if you're thinking of planting daffodils in long grass,
0:27:31 > 0:27:36just remember you can't cut the grass until the daffodil leaves have died down
0:27:36 > 0:27:39and that's going to be June at the earliest and could easily be July.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43There we go. That will go in the ground.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Get it in the ground at least its own depth again deep.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50That's better. That pops in there.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53When I've got all the bulbs in the ground,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55it'll be covered with little pot marks
0:27:55 > 0:27:59so I'll go over it with some compost and work it in with a stiff brush
0:27:59 > 0:28:02and that will fill it all up and then it'll be done and ready.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04The reason why I want to get it done
0:28:04 > 0:28:08is because you never know at this time of year what the weather's going to do.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11It could be frosty, it could be stormy, it could be glorious.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14So if I get it in the ground, that's it. I can rest.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16But whatever the weather's like,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19I'll be back next Friday here at Long Meadow at 8pm.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22So join me then. Bye-bye.
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