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Plant of the Day
Saturday 26 February 2022
In the walled garden at Wimpole, Cambridge, UK, a number of Ficus carica (edible fig) cultivars have been fan pruned. In early summer half the growing tips on the main frame of the fan are pinched out to encourage growth lower down. The new shoots are tied in as they appear. In late winter any dead or crossing stems are removed to keep the framework of the tree open.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Tuesday 18 January 2022
The Pelargonium cultivars (geranium) and other tender plants are sitting cosy and safe for the winter in the John Soane 'Pinery-Vinery' Glasshouse (c.1795) at Wimpole Hall’s Walled Garden, Cambridge, UK.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Friday 25 February 2022
The seed heads of Allium tuberosum (garlic chives) create some winter interest in this productive garden. The species is a close relative of Allium schoenoprasum (chives) but with flattened, strappy leaves that have a garlicky taste, especially when young. The plant is a bulbous perennial and in late summer produces starry white flowers which are appreciated by the bees. The flowers can be eaten just after they open and sprinkled on salads.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Sunday 9 January 2022
This old Catalpa bignonioides (Indian bean tree) at Wimpole Hall, Cambridge, is full of character even in winter. The bark of this spreading, medium-sized deciduous tree has lots of interest telling the story of the tree’s past.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Saturday 29 January 2022
Growing against this sunny wall as a fan trained tree was Prunus armeniaca ‘Early Moorpark’ (apricot) providing blossom in early spring, golden fruit in summer and a place for a bird to nest. This self-fertile English variety was raised in South Hertfordshire, UK, in about 1760. Apricot trees are usually grafted or budded onto a rootstock if grown in this way to control growth.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Monday 28 February 2022
Even having been through the winter the Euphorbia mellifera (Canary spurge, honey spurge) still looks fresh. This semi-evergreen shrub is native to Madeira and the Canary Islands. It has a domed growth habit and waxy narrow, bright green leaves with a pale mid-vein.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Tuesday 24 March 2020
A range of Narcissus cultivars (daffodil) welcoming Spring at Wimpole Hall, Cambridge. The last private owner Elsie Bambridge’s favourite flower was the daffodil and she loved having the cut flowers in the house. In the 1930s a previous owner had grown them as a market garden flower to be sold at the Cambridge Market. Earlier in the 1700s Narcissus had been planted throughout the Wimpole gardens and they continue to be added to the landscape.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Thursday 26 March 2020
The early, white flowers of Chaenomeles speciosa 'Nivalis' (Japanese quince) are a sure sign of spring. The flowers appear on the tangled, spiny branches of this deciduous shrub before the leaves appear. I find this shrub is easier to integrate into a garden setting if they are fan or espalier trained against a wall or fence.
Jill Raggett
