Sowing Tomatoes

25 Mar 2012 at 17:09

Karen Platt

seed sowing and growing, United Kingdom

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The weather is warming up and though nights are still chilly, you can sow seeds on the windowsill indoors. Make sure your pots are throughly scrubbed, your soil is warm and you can begin. I am praying for a much warmer summer than last year and a good growing season. Tomatoes hate fluctuations in temperature.

Sow tomato seed just beneath the surface and water in with a fine hose. If you water correctly, your seeds should germinate before you need to water again. Wrap and cover in clingfilm or put into a propagator if you have one. Remember to ventilate as soon as seeds germinate and keep in good light but not direct sunlight. I find my seeds germinate quickly, but I’ll be giving you updates on that, so follow me on twitter and follow the blog for more information.

This year I am growing the following tomatoes:

Black Cherry, Ildi, Black Russian, Sweet n Neat, Orange Plum, Old Clementine, Rainbow Beefsteak, Gardener’s Delight, Brandywine, Nebraska Wedding, Black Plum, Brown Berry, Cherokee Purple and Japanese Trifle Black.

You’ll understand from that list that I like the old heritage varieties. I’ll be telling you more about them and how they get on quite soon. Meantime, if you want to know more about tomatoes, try my book on 2,000 varieties in the online store.

Update

Day 5 – the first seeds have germinated. First to pip the post was Gardener’s delight – always reliable. A few hours later the first Russian Black germinated. Follow me for more posts on tomatoes – sowing and growing.

Think Colour – Perfect in Pink

19 Mar 2012 at 09:03

kplatt

Think Colour, United Kingdom

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Welcome to the new blog series on colour. I shall be taking a look at a different colour each week throughout the seasons and showing some fabulous photos of colourful plants. At the end of all the blogs, there will be (if there is not already) a book on each colour to celebrate the joy of plants. The books will explore far more plants than possible in a blog. Of course, some plants overlap seasons, but I have tried to slot them into their main growing seasons. I have chosen plants that are suitable for many climates. Enjoy colour.

This week I am celebrating pink in the spring garden. Think Pink. Spring is in the air, the sun is coming up, the soil is warming and shoots are appearing. Spring bulbs take pride of place in most gardens. Spring is renewal, regeneration. A time to celebrate colour. Pink is a wonderful joyous colour whatever the season, but I particularly enjoy it in spring. Its vibrancy seems perfect for spring days, sun and blue skies. It predominates in spring bulbs and goes well with other colours found in spring bulbs such as purple and yellow. However, spring is more than a bulb colour, its generosity can be enjoyed in many plants. Mike Burgess of Secret Seeds once said to me “If it’s not pink, it doesn’t sell”, so it’s easy to understand that ubiquitous pink is the colour preferred by many gardeners in the UK and elsewhere.

When I think of pink in spring I think tulips, anemone, dicentra and much more.

All photos copyright 2012 Karen Platt.

Love is in the air

14 Feb 2012 at 09:46

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Love might well be in the air on February 14th, but is it true romance without a red rose? If we can measure love by the rose, isn’t a dark one more passionate than a bright red? I have a hankering for the darkest red rose. Before I talk about that, let me first bemoan the fact that supermarket roses have little scent and that also dark red roses suffer the same fate. The breeding out of scent is a sad affair. It happened to sweet peas too at one time until breeders realised – yes we gardeners love scent. It seems more important to the cut flower market to have long stems and thornless stems (I’m for the latter, pricking your thumb is a sign that love is not going well). Florists also have a habit of dipping flowers in ink, the ink rises up the stem and can colour the flower. Ah the tricks of the trade. Does your love need a dozen red roses, a single rose or a bush to plant in the garden that with due care, love and attention will provide roses for years to come. Of course you’d have to forego Valentine’s Day as no rose bush flowers on Feb 14th. If I’m being cynical – what me? I’d say that St. Valentine’s day as a celebration of love has no substance. After all there are many St. Valentines and the celebration is trumped up commercial nonsense like so many things we celebrate these days.

What is a rose without scent? As Juliet said the immortal words of Shakespeare

‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet”

Romeo and Juliet (Act II, Scene II)

yet I am annoyed that florist’s never label their roses by name, and if you inquire invariably shrug their ignorance off their broad shoulders.

The romance of the rose is ubiquitous, nothing else really gets a look in. Romance is not dead, as I stated in 2001, it has just turned a shade deeper. Black roses are for the new romantic. The black rose not surprisingly is a figment of the imagination. It is thought that the term ‘black rose’ originated because the petals of old red gallicas turn blacker as they age. You can see this in plates of Redoute’s watercolours. Most dark reds have their connections with the old red gallicas.

There is an immense choice of red roses, but not so with the darker ones that are still few and far between. Some red roses are misleadingly dark in bud and can open up to a blowsy red like ‘Deep Secret’. It’s vigorous, hardly knowing when to stop. It is nicely scented by the way and a very generous rose in flower offering wide blooms. Others have deep mysterious near black depths and it’s these that set my heart fluttering all the faster. ‘Barkarole’ is a demure velvety affair, whilst ‘Black Magic’ is much redder than you would imagine, with deep shading – a seductive beauty. ‘Black Beauty’ is more sultry, a come hither rose. ‘Black Baccharat’ is one of the roses often sold by florists for its alluring, deep colouring. ‘Louis XIV’ is a throroughbred, highly strung, passionate rose. I’d always make room for ‘Souvenir du Docteur Jamain’ as climbers are welcome, especially when they waft their fragrance through the air and it’s nice to have a souvenir of love when the heat has passed. ‘Guinee’ is another handsome climber with a touch of gypsy in its blood. One of my favourites has long been ‘Josephine Bruce’ a deep velvet red with class. It’s often best as a climber although you can choose the hybrid tea. If the rose you grow under this name has a weak neck, then you are growing one of its parents. Scented, intense, it was my first love affair with roses and will be my last. Constant as always. You don’t send me flowers any more, but we won’t go there.

Black roses are featured in my book Black Magic and Purple Passion third edition, available from the shop All photos copyright Karen Platt 2011. ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Black Baccharat’, ‘Souvenir du Docteur Jamain’, ‘Guinee’.

NWFGS, Seattle

08 Feb 2012 at 11:56

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Wake up Seattle, it’s NWFGS show time. All those lucky guys exhibiting, speaking and visiting the NWFGS, enjoy. How I miss it. In fact, it is simply not fair to run the show without me! From 2001 – 2008 I was involved in the show one way or another. I exhibited and spoke at the show, at first I was sponsored by a large US plant propagator, then I went to the show under my own steam, speaking and selling hundreds of books. Then the recession happened and I went through a period of illness that has not quite left me, but I am beating it …

I have the best memories of my life so far at the NWFGS show. I remember my garden design being surrounded by people, four deep – all loving the design I had created, then going and buying my books, especially ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’ and in the latter years the books on colour too – gold foliage (Gold Fever), silver foliage (Silver Lining) and those gorgeous green flowers (Emeralds). Don’t miss out on the new fourth edition of ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’ only available here. It contains 650 plants NOT in any other edition of the book. So black plant lovers don’t miss out on this. The craze for black plants was simply incredible and had just gathered momentum since then. When I created my black plant garden we had lines (queues) for black plants and the black plant book. It was a fantastic time for me and I am grateful that it happened.


Apart from that I made some very good friends out there, and I love the city itself. I love the NWFGS show, I love Seattle. People always say the weather is bad in Seattle but although it could be chilly throughout the seven years I came out there, it never snowed when I was there and the sun usually shone. I remember fondly watching the sun, looking down to the waterfront from the windows of the Convention Centre. Seattle is a beautiful city.

Great memories in Seattle include the NWFGS show of course, this is the best flower show in the world, I have no doubt of that. How that show buzzed. Much better than being nose to back at Chelsea, squashed and hit by umbrellas. Other great memories include my first Monorail ride, being driven around the city by my friend Linda, another trip to Kingston to go to that famed Heronswood nursery – yeah I really did that, going to the Art Museum in Seattle and meting Charlie, who was very good at finding Yixing teapots for me, going up the Space Needle with fellow garden writer Debra, meeting so many lovely people. Talking plants with people who knew what was what. The reaction to my work with black plants in 2001 was incredible. The wonderful people, who in subsequent years said I had inspired them, thank you. Black plants then gold plants popping up everywhere in the garden designs after my successful garden showing black and gold plants. Walking through Capitol Hill and finding the best tea shop in town and so much more. Enjoying a glass or two of Snoqualmie Syrah – that is heaven. The only thing I did not like was the long haul flight and how I suffered from jet lag.

So I thought I’d put together a few photos, good memories to share with you of the last time I was in Seattle in 2008. Here are some of the sights, gardens and plants that were at the show that year. You can also take a look at my digital art of Seattle over on yarnsandfabrics just click on ART on the left hand side. All the best to everyone at the show this year and the guys who work so hard behind the scenes. I always appreciated all you did. Thank you Seattle. One day soon I’ll be back.

All photos copyright Karen Platt 2012.

Brazen, a bit of a run around but adorable

26 Jan 2012 at 14:17

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Brazen, a bit of a run around but adorable. What am I talking about? Why Ranunculus of course, or lesser celandine if you prefer. At this time of year when we wait with baited breath for the joys of spring and the promise of warmth, sunshine and plenty of beautiful plants in the garden, this humble plant really does brighten my days.

First of all its leaves come in intriguing shades, many dark. I have a black that is really metallic and has a subtlety that belies its rather humble status. I’m not sure I could live without it. It has been my constant companion for so long, one of the founders of my black garden. A cornerstone, dependable and true yet fickle in its loyalty and love. By this I mean that it can change, alter, become something even more beguiling. To the extent that I am not certain if my Ranunculus are still the ones I bought or if they have indeed mutated. They are promiscuous and for some gardeners they spread like mad, but I have never found the ones I am talking about to be a nuisance in any way at all, in fact I would be quite happy if there were more of them.

I have several clumps of the dark ones, which started life as R. ficaria ‘Brazen Hussy’, one in particular now has very large leaves that cannot be the parent plant, it is also slighter browner in tone. This appears amongst my Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ and looks superb. The flowers are egg yellow and are best paired with other spring yellows and greens or indeed with black plants. I also have another great favourite, R. ficaria ‘Coppertone’ but not all the plants have the same flower any longer. I like this ability to change and mutate.

One that has always stayed true and is a real gem again is a green double flowered (look like leaves really) with shiny green leaves and silvery dots. It is planted in a pot and the others are in various spots in the garden, so I often forget about this one until I notice the flowers one day, shining though unseen. Ranunculus make great edging plants, they appreciate a moist but not wet soil. I don’t give them any special treatment and they have never failed me. They are tough and easy to grow.

Needing a bit more care are two gorgeous alpine types, R. parnassifolius ‘Nuria’ with delicate veining and superb textured foliage and R. asiaticus, which I personally think is to die for with its black centre.

If you want more black plants or green flowers, don’t forget to take a look in the shop for the books I wrote on these unusual plants with good photos much better than these.

Photos copyright Karen Platt 2012



Hellebores

16 Jan 2012 at 15:18

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Hellebores, some argue over the name is it orientalis or x hybridus but does it really matter with a flower as good as this? My hybrid has been flowering for a while, I can just see the flowers from the kitchen window. In this tiny garden there is little else in flower at the moment, but this makes up for that. Their hanging flowers are disdained by some, but think of them as shy yet alluring. Helen Ballard made great strides in breeding upward facing flowers and many of the hybrids available today descend from her breeding.

Steadily increasing now with its ever wider clump, my hellbore has been in the same position for many years. They dislike disturbance. When I first bought it in 2000, I put it into a container and had to move it, it sulked for a year or two but has forgiven me now.

One reason I love hellebores is that they come in my two favourite flower colours black and green. Blacks are variable, so see in flower before you buy if possible. Mine was very dark but it almost looks rosy pink these days. Here is a photo of it at its best, I love the way the sun is touching the leaves. Old leaves are best removed when they become unsightly as they always do.

Snowdrops

11 Jan 2012 at 12:13

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Mary Poppins should have sung about snowdrops – little drops of white snow with green whisker foliage. Someone once said that no-one would grow them if they did not appear at the most inhospitable of times, that they would be shunned for fairer flowers.

I think that is a great shame. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are a promise of better to come, they give heart when the weather is often at its coldest. They brighten and cheer dreary days. A glade of snowdrops is a welcome sight. A carpet in open ground in the garden is just as welcome. Snowdrops can be quite romantic. They have a purity about them like driven snow.

This adaptable perennial is native to large parts of Europe, where it is found in woodland, churchyards and gardens from January to April. You might need to get down on your knees to appreciate their finer qualities and green markings. I love the way the petiole seems to break free of the leaf to dangle the bells. There are several species and dozens of hybrids with single or double flowers. G. nivalis ‘Clun Queen’ is a pretty single flower with strong green markings. There are fewer doubles but ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ is a smasher.

Think of the strength needed to push through frozen ground to bring the promise of spring. Pollinators don’t come in their thousands in late winter, so the bulbs are mainly propagated by division and are best planted in the green.

The best information I have ever encountered about snowdrops can be found on what is known as Judys website named after a dog. There are also various gardens that have snowdrop walks including Hodsock Priory and Anglesey Abbey.

Image from freephoto.com under Creative Commons.

It’s dark and dismal but there’s no need to feel blue

15 Dec 2011 at 10:10

kplatt

United Kingdom

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It’s dark, cold, dreary and dismal out there. We have to face months of this. Cold, mud, sleet, snow, howling winds, frozen earth. It’s the nightmare before dawn. Our second covering of snow in Sheffield this morning. Temperatures are around freezing and I envy anyone in warmer climes. I know one or two gardening friends who are feeling under the weather and already hankering after spring. One or two of us are still sustained by lingering images of autumn (not in my garden I hasten to add). So I too think of spring to keep my spirits up.

Let me cheer and hopefully inspire you with some of my favourite combinations for spring, which include:

My absolute favourite spring planting is black flowers and foliage and pink flowers : Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’, Dicentra spectabilis and Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’. This works in Sheffield, but is you live in the south, even Norfolk, you might find your Geranium has gone over before the Tulips flower. The feathery foliage of the Dicentra works well against the upright leaves of the tulip.

My second favourite combination is black foliage: Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ and Ranunculus ficaria ‘Brazen Hussy’ that has graced my garden for many years. Sedum spathulifolium ‘Capa Blanco’ has acted as a short-lived foil beneath the Ophiopogon providing excellent contrast for a year or two. My Ophiopogon is now so dense, I can no longer achieve this combination – time for a little thinning in spring.

Anthriscus ‘Ravenswing’ with Tulipa ‘Black Hero’ and ‘Queen of Night’ planted with orange tulips is a stunning combination of black flowers and black foliage lifted by orange flowers. Pink looks ravishing too or white if you must, but I still think the green leaves get in the way so prefer to use the dark colours alone.

Here is another black foliage combination to try : any dark Heuchera, my preference is ‘Obsidian’ but I do believe they are largely inter-changeable combined with Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ or ‘Bloodgood’ try ‘Emperor II’ if in the USA and any dark Actaea (Cimicifuga). Red or orange tulips would bring a fiery glow to this combination.

The Heuchera also works well with Ajuga and Ranunculus, Anthriscus and Angelica ‘Vicar’s Mead’ and try a dash of silver Pulmonaria, Brunnera, Athyrium nipponicum or Artemisia with this combination. The combination of black foliage with silver foliage is always a winner. You could also add stunning black hyacinths and black viola.

Blue and white has never looked better as in the combination of Anemone blanda blue shades, Chionodoxa lucilliae, Scilla sibirica ‘Spring Beauty’ around Magnolia stellata.

For gold and green try this snow-melting combination of golden foliage with green flowers :D icentra spectabilis ‘Golden Heart’ with Tulipa ‘Spring Green’.

Another dashing green flower combination : Green helleborus argutifolius with red-stemmed Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ and Polygonatum x hybridum.

I absolutely adore a large swathe of Crocus ‘Ladykiller’ or any of the crocus with deep bronze,maroon or purple markings.

Keep pots of bulbs such as the choicer Muscari, crocus, Hyacinthus and so on to sink in the garden to fill gaps. These are easy to colour coordinate.

If you have enjoyed these plantings, there are more suggestions in my books on colour for the garden. All available in the shop.

Photos copyright 2011 Karen Platt. I do have photos of the plant combinations somewhere, but my filing system is defeating me at the moment. In order of appearance Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’, Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’, Ajuga, Ranunculus ficaria ‘Brazen Hussy’, Dicentra spectabilis and Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’.




10 English Gardens to Visit

03 Dec 2011 at 09:58

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Just read Anneli Bojstad’s book on Spanish Gardens and it set me thinking about English gardens I love. I’m going to choose 10, which is pretty tough going because I could easily and have written about over 100 gardens before now. So to narrow it down to 10 is not easy. I’m not going to call them the best or must-visit because there will perhaps be many that do not agree with my choice, but here are just some of the gardens I have visited and loved. Most of these can be visited by public transport, I don’t drive, but some I have been on tours to see, so public transport may not be available. There is nothing worse than travelling hours at quite an expense to be disappointed by a garden that has had so much hype. I remember this happening when I visited Hadspen, so I have chosen gardens I was impressed by and I’ll try to give an idea of when I visited because gardens change with seasons, time and owners.

Kew, Surrey

Kew has always been on the top of my list. I just adore it. I love the space, the Palm House, the grass beds and so much more. I have visited at all times of year in all sorts of weather and never been disappointed. I have seen the most wonderful garden displays there and I love it. It’s a gardener’s garden full of rare plants and precious things. There is so much to entertain any gardener no matter what their plant preferences and enough for non gardeners too. Entrance fee is a bit steep but worth it – go in the right spirit that you are helping to contribute to a garden that does contribute something to gardening in general and to education. Take your own food, the cafes are in my opinion awful and over-priced. Used to have a good garden bookshop and gift shop but it has become more commercial and less interesting as the years go by.

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

Chatsworth House is just a short journey away from me and is the garden I have visited most over the years. My father used to bring the family here and we used to picnic by the river. Now I go into the garden frequently and never object to the entrance fee even though by and large I see the same things most times. Frequent visitng means you notice thaings you did not see before, but familiarity can breed contempt, that has not been the case yet. I visit in spring for the tulips, one year I’ll get back for the peonies, then if not in between I always go again in November for the sculpture exhibition organised by Sotheby’s. Some of the garden features such as the cascade and the emperor’s fountain are much older than you first imagine. Come down the 100 steps instead of climbing up them, great views from the top. Plenty of walks. This garden has so much to offer and I am glad it’s close by as it is one of my favourites for so many reasons – the space is used superbly and there is everything from a pinetum to a maze. It’s all done in great taste. There’s also a farmyard and playground for children. The food is very decent. It’s the only garden shop I know that has interesting items, mainly garden related, good gift shops too. This is the all round performer for any gardener and a great day out.

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, North Yorkshire

I remember going to Fountains Abbey as a girl and feeling at peace. When I returned on a sunny day in 2008, that feeling was there still. Monks knew a thing or two about selecting sites and this is one of the most beautiful pieces of land in Yorkshire. Walking from the ancient ruins of the Cistercian Abbey to the spectacular Studley Royal water gardens is nothing but pleasure. I love the clean lines. The views are amazing – it is that green and pleasant land, this England. The tale of originator, John Aislabie is interesting and I won’t spoil it by the one sentence I would give to it here, you can read it elsewhere. Now owned by The National Trust – which means overpriced entrance fee and overpriced cafe but hey ho they are preserving the place for future generations.

St. Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

This is a place of my dreams. It’s a mysterious place and the mystery is greatly enhanced by the fact that it is only accessible on foot at low tide. Otherwise, it can be approached by boat. I love the castle. I love the garden. it’s one of the most dramatic gardens in the world. Not massive, but it’s an impressive feat to garden on terraces like this. Subtropical plants against blue skies and wild seas speak of adventure. I must admit I would not want to garden on such a slope -no one but the mad would, but it is desirable along with a string of gardeners to maintain it. It is not open year round and I would advise visiting on a dry day in summer. It is very exposed and paths can be closed in wet. Also now owned by the national trust – eat elsewhere.

Alnwick Garden, Northumberland

Alnwick was designed for the Duchess by Wirtz, a family of garden designers that I admire very much. I love the backbone of hedges, the cascade (although not as good in my opinion as Chatsworth’s). However the real reason to come here is to see David Austin’s roses so come here when they are in full flower in June (I would not personally visit at any other time). The scent is oh so heady. Then treat yourself to tea and cake in the treehouse – an absolute magical event. Big, almost brash but lovely when the roses are in flower. Apart from a treat in the magical treehouse, I would go into Alnwick to eat. Gift shop not that hot.

Burton Agnes Hall, Yorkshire

What a fabulous garden, abundantly planted so expect to see some wilting, going over and and even maybe weeds in late summer but make allowances for the labour-intensive nature of this garden. It has superb planting full of typical English garden plants. Make sure you go into the house – it is absolutely fantastic. Last visited in 2009, been twice and itch to go more often. Definitely a summer garden. Refreshments and shops are poor but has an interesting artist’s  in residence programme.

Levens Hall, Cumbria

I always wanted to visit this garden for its giant topiary, I love anything that is not quite the norm. It did not disappoint when after many years I descended upon its quaint charms. The other areas of the garden are very interesting too and Levens often features unusual and original planting. It is nothing short of fantastic. Even in pouring rain I enjoyed this garden in May. Love the house, very historic. Best rhubarb crumble I have ever eaten too. Don’t miss it.

Holker Hall, Cumbria

The grand English garden full of excellent structure, good choice of plants and a keen designer’s eye. Glorious from May onwards. If you are wanting to see a garden with good bones, this is it. Not a very good cafe and a small food shop.

Beth Chatto, Essex

Yes I do love Beth’s garden and wish avidly that I could stick to her right plant, right place rule. It makes so much sense. This is a plantwoman’s garden and one of the best, much emulated but never bettered. My parents in law lived nearby so I visited regularly in the 80′s and again a few years ago. It’s worth visiting in any season. Nursery attached, sells out of the best plants quickly.

Ok I am down to my last choice and there are at least thirty gardens vying for the spot. I am not going to choose Great Dixter, if only for the reason that I have not visited for so many years, so don’t know what it is like now, but I am sure Fergus keeps it in Christopher Lloyd’s memory – experimenting and improving all the time and planting exciting colour schemes that shock some yet delight all of us who love colour. That was a nifty way of including Great Dixter without counting it as one of my 10 choices.

For number 10 I am going to choose a garden from Somerset and it is a toss up between Hestercombe, Barrington Court, Lytes Cary and Montacute House. Sorry, can’t choose. I know I am really cheating this time, because I have mentioned more than 10 and as soon as I upload I shall think of even more. If you are in Somerset, visit them all. I love the idea of Hestercombe, in reality I found it did not entertain me for long, but my tour to Somerset was at the end of a dry spell and Hestercombe was looking very dry and burned out so I did not have the pleasure of seeing it at its best. Barrington Court – if ever I loved a white garden it was here. Lytes Cary is delightful, small but interesting with good detail. Montacute – could die for the stone alone, love the purple border designed by the very talented and now overlooked Phyllis Reiss.

Photos coming soon

If you have enjoyed this article, you might be interested in my book on gardens around the world in the shop take advantage of the special offer for books in December – buy a printed book, get an eBook of your choice free.

new black plants

10 Nov 2011 at 15:01

kplatt

United Kingdom

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I am always amazed at how those new black plants just keep on coming. Thinking of edition 5 of Black Magic and Purple Passion, my book on black plants that seems to have a life all of its own, I was looking at my list of new introductions and I am simply lost for words.

It’s not that long ago that black plants were not widely seen. Breeders could not get anyone to grow them; growers insisted no-one would want to grow them. I’m glad I played a part in bringing black plants to the forefront and showing growers there was and is a market for all those luscious dark plants. Sometimes wonder what I started…

Coming soon to a garden near you a whole lovely new bunch of black plants.

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