Saturday 10 December 2011

Seedlings


seedlings, originally uploaded by peganum.
Some pots of seedlings to whet the appetite for next year, or the year after that, depending. Seed raising is one of the most satisfying parts of running the nursery. I love it.
I tend to sow most fully hardy species as soon as the seed is shed, both in case they need some summer ripening/winter chill regime to break dormancy and also to get them in as fresh as possible. A lot of my species are a bit obscure to say the least, so information on germination can be hard to come by, so I just get them in as soon as they're ready - as of course happens in nature. Unfortunately this doesn't always work.
I've had to invest in a treatment for Pythium (damping off) for the first time this year, possibly because of the mild damp autumn. Some Penstemon and Asclepias suffered particularly badly when they germinated in October. I think in previous years I've sown these summer rainfall species in mid-winter (when the seed merchant delivered them) so in these cases a winter/spring sowing might be best.
The treatment, by the way, is called Prestop and is itself a fungus (it comes as a yeast-like powder) that colonises the compost, out-competing the Pythium. Seedlings are still emerging and don't appear to be failing now, so fingers crossed. Anyway we'll see how it goes. It's nice not to be using poisons anyway.

Friday 25 November 2011

Over Wintering

Inside the tunnel
One might expect this to be the quiet season on a nursery but the mild weather (the mildest on record apparently) means that things are still growing and I've taken the executive decision of continuing to pot things on here and there. Autumn can be a time of prodigious root development in many species in a normal year so it's not as mad as it sounds. They've usually stopped by mid November though so this year is undoubtedly odd. I already have all sorts of seedlings up that I normally wouldn't expect to see until spring and I'll have to keep them cool and well-ventilated through the dark months if they're to survive.
Anything remotely tender of course should be left well alone now. It's important not to damage the roots in case they rot, or prune the tops too much in case they try to make new growth. The damp mild weather produces a lot of moulds and aphids so it's touch and go.
Plants from Mediterranean climates (Chile, California, western South Africa) are the exception. It's worth knowing which ones these are because Autumn to Spring (being mild and damp) is their main growing season in the wild so it's a good time to think about potting them on, or even pricking out seedlings. I have some pots of Chilean Lobelia excelsa and polyphylla seedlings which look very eager to get on with life. I'm not sure they'll look so happy if I wait until March but moving them now might be worse. It's a learning curve, as they say.

The other thing of course is getting the nursery itself set up to receive customers in the Spring. At the moment, apart from the polytunnel and the shed, it's something of a blank slate. At some point soon I'll be buying in a lot of timber to make display beds, and there'll be a shade house and an area with a pond liner for wetland plants. At the moment it's just a basketball pitch sized area covered in Mypex. I'm hoping for some inspiration for the design - something eye-catching but practical.
For now though I'm working on the shed, for which I've been making window frames - something the like of which I've never attempted before. Getting the corners square and strong has been something of a challenge, given that the shed itself isn't exactly square, but they do actually have glass in them now. I'm not planning on becoming a carpenter any time soon but it's been very satisfying.
Next I need to get some gates for the entrance, and a properly installed electricity supply (not just an extension lead strung across). Insurance too - that's a big one.

This is also the time of year for checking out the new catalogues. I shan't reveal my sources of course but going through the lists of the various seed merchants is always exciting and I always end up with longer wish-lists than I can possibly pay for or find space for (assuming they come up). Each year I buy in a few stock plants of things that are particularly uncommon from other UK nurseries but this is my first year importing plants from abroad, in this case from Japan. It's not cheap, what with all the official hoops they have to jump through (quite rightly) getting the certification, and a bit of a gamble, but if seed is not available it's the only way to get hold of some particularly special things. I shan't say any more for now but I must say I'm very excited about the package that should arrive in the post sometime in the next week or two.

I've been putting together my listing for the new Plantfinder. I've just checked and am very pleased to discover that I have no less than 186 new items to add to the existing 102, all but eleven available at less than twenty other nurseries (often a lot less) and nineteen previously unlisted in the Plantfinder. Many of these are still in 3in pots so I'd better stop faffing about and get on, hadn't I.


Friday 30 September 2011

Rostrinucula dependens


Rostrinucula dependens
There's one to get your lallaker round, as my grandpa used to say (ie it's a tongue twister, for those of you that don't speak Olde Sussex). 
This is definitely turning out to be one of my favourite plants.

The arching habit, elegant 6in blackish sea green foliage and pale bloomy stems and leaf undersides have been a feature all summer. Exquisitely sculpted 3-4 inch pearly white 'catkins' sprout mauve/pink filaments in Autumn. 
Rostrinucula dependensThe whole thing has a most unusual pale/dark effect - restrained but very classy and unlike anything else. I cannot speak too highly of this plant.

To 4ft tall, and not shrubby, despite appearances, so don't worry when it disappears in winter.

Easy in any sunny well-drained site. 
(My sources tell me this is more likely to be R.sinensis. R.dependens has broader leaves, not so white beneath.)
3L pots ~ £9




Sunday 25 September 2011

Ranunculus malessanus

Ranunculus sp. Cazorla
A miniature species from Southern Spain with glossy dark green palmate leaves - tinted black when young, red stems, and substantial fresh yellow flowers. It has tuberous Ficaria-type roots but without any invasive tendencies.
Ranunculus sp Cazorla
It appears in spring, flowers, and disappears again, and is therefore ideal for combining with other small Mediterranean bulbous and tuberous plants. An extremely neat and satisfying little buttercup for troughs and raised beds.
10cm pots ~ £6



Saturday 30 July 2011

Clematis fusca

Clematis fusca
A really peculiar species with nodding urn-shaped flowers that look like they're made out of dark brown felt and with a silky white lining. Very odd.
This is a small scrambling herbaceous species growing to about 6ft so plant it among the shrubs near the path where you can get a proper look at it.
Clematis ianthina
Also comes in purple - known as ianthina. Best chosen on the nursery
2L pots  ~ £12.00




Saturday 14 May 2011

Felicias

Felicia rosulata
Felicia rosulata 
As a normally very sensible friend recently commented on Flickr - these are indeed 'adorable'.
Previously known as Aster natalensis, these have proved easy to please in a sunny well drained spot, and although said to benefit from a dryish winter (coming from East Africa, this is to be expected) they have so far been better if not too parched. Completely unfazed by the last few winters' onslaught.
An easy alpine and should be better known.
1L pots ~ £6




Felicia uliginosa
Felicia uliginosa
Very different - this is a creeping species with needle-like foliage and soft lavender daisy flowers. Just as hardy and easy to grow. Uliginosa means 'of wetland' or something like that, so probably best not too dry.
sold out

Friday 29 April 2011

Molopospermum peloponnesiacum


Molopospermum peloponnesiacum
What a brilliant name!  
A very good-looking medium sized umbellifer with jagged cut glossy green foliage and creamy umbells turning lime green - a very nice contrast. Absolutely not at all "yet another bloody hog-weed" and not even slightly coarse or invasive.
Molopospermum peloponnesiacum
The new growth. To me this is one of those plants that is always worth looking at.
Although southern European in origin this plant is best kept not too hot or dry and does well in light woodland.
3L pots ~ £10