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| Go greener |
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| With a growing number of gardeners eschewing chemicals in favour of natural alternatives, we can suggest some effective products from our organic gardening selection |
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| Relax and refresh |
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| Good food freshly prepared daily, aromatic coffee, chilled wine and a grassy play area for the children. What more could you need? |
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| Food heaven |
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| Our Farm Shop is heaven for food lovers! Delicious handmade food, top quality groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables and stylish cookware and gifts. |
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| The Discovery Walk |
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| As thousands of daffodils herald the spring, stroll or stride around our Walk while the youngsters enjoy the Nature Trail |
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How to grow border irises!
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| Thursday, 29th May 2008 |
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IN THE GARDEN WITH PETA MARSHALL
How good are you at Greek Mythology? Me? I’m rubbish, but I do know that Iris was the name given to the most dazzling figure in it. Winged, and dressed in bright colours, she was the messenger of the Gods, the one chosen to be the link between us mere mortals and the inhabitants of heaven. Apparently, rainbows were created so that She could travel down to deliver edicts from on high!
One shouldn’t be surprised, therefore, to note that irises, as garden plants, come in a rainbow of colours (except, it seems for scarlet).
You may have heard the term “bearded iris”. This relates to the ‘beard’ or soft tuft of delicately coloured hairs, like a caterpillar, on the ‘falls’ or downward drooping petals of the flowers. These devices on the flowers help pollinating insects by trapping pollen from visiting bees.
Bearded irises are divided into ‘Dwarf’, through ‘Intermediate’ to ‘Tall’. There are a huge number of varieties to choose from, and many of the best general garden varieties are to be found among the intermediates, which grow no taller than 65cm (26in) or so, and are generally a touch shorter.
Blooming for three to four weeks from the middle of May, they have a longer and slightly later flowering period than the dwarf bearded varieties, are pretty tough and don’t need staking (which is often the case with the tall bearded irises types, otherwise they can get battered by strong winds).
As with peonies (which I covered last week) irises are sometimes criticized for having only a short blooming period. But that’s not fair because, while the leaves provide interest at all times, you get at least a month of pleasure out of the wonderful colour combinations, the large intricate flowers and scent as well.
Breeding work over the last 50 years or so has resulted in a stunning range of flower shapes, colours and scents. So, which to choose? Well, a trip to the garden centre will show you what’s available right now. But in generally there are some fabulous plants to be had.
Blue is a colour that is not seen enough in the garden, and one of the best is the lovely ‘Mary Constance’. This strong-growing plant is a deep mid-blue with ruffled petals and a sweet scent, growing to about 24in. (60cm) and doing very well in the garden. Much paler, and nicely scented, is ‘Langport Phoenix’ which provides a strong contrast with the palest blue standards (the three inner, upright petals) and deep violet falls with a blue beard.
‘Bold Print’, presents a more dramatic picture with its purple and white speckled petals; and ‘Dream Indigo’ is a delicious mix of pale grey-blue and dark violet with a soft grey beard.
A good fragrance comes from both ‘Langport Claret’, whose deep claret-coloured petals are brightened by a fluffy gold beard and whose fragrance is citrus-like; and the deep red-black ‘Langport Wren’.
Everyone loves the award-winning ‘Orinoco Flow’, whose white petals are edged and veined with purple and the white. Then there is the yellow-bearded ‘Langport Star’.
Other good varieties include ‘Arctic Fancy’ (violet edge to the petals and deep veining into the white centre), ‘Katie-Koo’ (purple black), ‘Bronzaire’ (deep gold), ‘Logo’ (apricot-cream with orange beards and a speckling of purple), ‘Concertina’ (delicate pale pink tissue-paper flowers and deep-violet beards), ‘Peggy Chambers’ (mauve-splashed white), ‘Strawberry Love’ (pink-apricot and bright orange beard), ‘Raspberry Blush’ (succulent pink), ‘Hot Spice’ (chocolate-brown splashed with yellow and threaded with orange-brown veins), ‘Good Show’ (bright orange with orange beards), ‘Amplified’ (bright orange-yellow with a reddish beard), ‘Cajun Spices’ (late-flowering with coppery blooms), ‘Birthday Cheer’ (one of the whitest of irises), and ‘Cote d'Or’ (large flowers of pure golden yellow, with beards of deep orange).
But how does one grow these delicious plants? Bearded irises grow from rhizomes, which enjoy being planted in full sun in rich, well-drained soil. Plant the rhizomes at soil level; once the roots have taken hold, the iris will put itself into a position where it want to be, and then it should flourish.
Position your irises towards the front of a sunny border, where their rhizomes can receive the sunlight they need and where they will do an invaluable job, carrying the flowering display into summer as the spring plants fade and the summer-flowering herbaceous perennials wait to come into their full glory.
A general slow-release low-nitrogen fertiliser will keep them happy. Apply this as a top-dressing in spring. They also appreciate a sprinkling of bonemeal after flowering.
Lift and divide established clumps every four years to keep them vigorous. Do this about a month after flowering to give roots time to take hold before the weather grows cold. Happy gardening!
Waterside irises – and fish as well!
If you want to see some brilliant waterside irises, now is the time to spend a day fishing at the Priory Farm Fishing Lakes. The lakes are edged with fantastic yellow flag irises, and at this time of year they’re a real picture.
The three well-stocked lakes, one of which was established by the Victorians, total more than nine acres, and they’re stocked with carp (up to 30lb), Crucian carp, roach, perch, tench, rudd and bream.
This is an exclusive coarse fishing club, for anglers who enjoy fine fishing in naturally beautiful surroundings. Membership numbers are limited to ensure anglers never have to worry about over-crowding. As a member, you will have your own private entry key so that you can come and go as you please between sunrise and sunset.
You can’t buy a day ticket, but members can bring guests on a special one-day pass. For more information ring 01737 823304, or go to the Priory Farm website and follow the links.
This week in your garden
The asparagus season is in full swing, so start harvesting yours if you aren’t already. But remember, don’t harvest spears from crowns less than two years old.
Sow salad crops, runner and French beans, pumpkins and squash in drill on well-prepared ground.
Most house plants benefit from a spell outdoors to blow cobwebs away. Citrus and ficus in particular will thank you, and flower spikes of cymbidium orchids will be initiated.
Peta Marshall is the plant centre manager at Priory Farm in Nutfield. Website: www.prioryfarm.co.uk
NEXT WEEK: Pest and disease control in the garden
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