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June is here and it offers a bit of relief after a hectic May trying to cope with billowing borders, rampant weeds and all the planting out required for vegetables, new perennials and annuals. It would not be surprising if you are still working on all this as you go into June as it has been a cold spring and personally I have experienced problems with poor germination and slow growth. My tomato seedlings will be some time yet before they can go outside. One curious observation over the last few weeks is that the blue tits have disappeared. A pair had started nesting in the box and numerous birds were constantly visiting the garden. However, the box has now been abandoned and the birds have vanished. Remember to visit: www.thompson-morgan.com/in-the-garden-this-month if you want a comprehensive list of jobs for June.
The main thing to keep in mind is to stay on top of what you have achieved with watering, fertilising, treating pests and diseases, weeding and tidying. Having got this far it is heartbreaking to lose healthy seedlings due to a sudden heatwave or see pests and disease devastate your plants. That is why it is always a good idea to constantly propagate from your favourite plants as the year progresses so there is a supply of replacements for casualties.
Last month we looked at basal cuttings to replenish stocks in spring. As perennials start to get going and produce new stems, the next opportunity to propagate is to take stem tip (softwood) cuttings. Cuttings are taken with a sharp knife from the tips of new stems on non-flowering shoots. This is an ideal way to propagate fuchsia, pelargonium and penstemon. A slight variation on this can also be used for shrubs. The best time is to take cuttings in the morning when plants are well hydrated and cut just below a leaf node taking the top 5” of a healthy stem. Remove the leaves from the bottom of the cutting, trim the upper leaves and insert into a propagator or pot with a mix of compost and sharp sand. Rooting compound will help the cutting to get going but is not essential. Keep the cuttings covered to create a warm humid environment but watch for fungus.
The same method can be used for a wide range of shrubs, except take a longer cutting, remove the stem tip and upper leaves and definitely use rooting compound. Shrubs take longer to root and the tips can die back before the roots have a chance to get going. Remember to keep the lower leaves above the compost and if you have a number of cuttings in a pot or propagator ensure that they are not in contact.
Further opportunities arise later in the year to propagate new plants through a variety of different methods for taking cuttings, but the combination of division, basal cuttings and stem tip cuttings should cover most of your needs to fully replenish your borders.
Talking about replenishment I think I will take the top of something in the fridge.
We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.
If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk
Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
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