GINA PARKINSON reports on a new member of the Foxglove plant family called ‘Illumination Pink’.

FOXGLOVES are cottage garden favourites with their tall spires of purple or white flowers that do so well in a shady spot. Bees love them, following the spotted inside of the petals to the nectar hiding deep in the bloom.

This year I have been growing a new member of this plant family called ‘Illumination Pink’ and although it hasn’t been quite as spectacular as the hype that came with it would suggest, the few flowers have been long lasting and a beautiful colour.

Digitalis ‘Illumination Pink’ has been around for a couple of years, it won Plant of the Year 2012 at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and since then has steadily become more easily available for gardeners.

The parentage of Digitalis ‘Illumination Pink’ includes Isoplexis or Canary Island Foxglove which apparently gives rise to the pink and orange colouring of this plant.

‘Illumination Pink’ is a perennial plant unlike most other foxgloves which are usually biennial. It is also unfortunately half hardy, another inherited gene perhaps from its exotic heritage.

This first year I have grown my plant in a pot in a shady corner by the house. It grew very quickly from the small specimen I received and soon made a good clump of leaves. The flower spikes followed and the first blooms opened in July and have lasted for weeks.

There are plenty of new flower stems too branching off the original but they have yet to open. Hardy to 0’C / 32’F ‘Illumination Pink’ will need to be overwintered somewhere it can be protected from low temperatures.

A mature plant should grow to 90cm or so tall with a spread of around half that – mine got nowhere near this but being a baby it wouldn’t be expected to in its first year. If it comes through the winter it should be bigger and more floriferous next summer.

In the veg garden The first of our autumn fruiting raspberries were picked last week and they are huge. Just a cupful were ripe enough to pick but there are plenty more to come along in the next few weeks as the tiny green berries fatten and redden.

Autumn-fruiting raspberries are easy to grow, in fact ‘Autumn Bliss’, the one that is often grown, can be just a bit too easy to grow. We began with three sticks and now have a thicket of stems that if left alone would, I am sure, take over the whole garden. So some work does need to be done to stop the plant bursting out of its allotted patch.

These plants send out underground runners that send up shoots which eventually carry leaves, flowers and then fruit.

They are easy to identify and any that are out of place can simply be pulled up. I also go around the outer edge of the main group with a sharp spade cutting deep down into the soil to keep them in order.

This loosens nearby shoots which can then be removed straight away. It seems spring is the time to be keeping these raspberries in check.

After the initial need to take over the world as the sap rises, this plant settles down to concentrate on flowering during the summer then fruiting as the months move into autumn.


Open Edible Gardens

EDIBLE York is holding its first Open Edible Gardens Event today in which a number of gardens around York will be open to the public.

Around 15 gardens will be participating, including community gardens such as Kids Community Allotment at Low Moor Allotments, and St Nicks Environment Centre on Rawdon Avenue, alongside private gardens such as The Nursery on Knapton Lane and another on Holly Bank Grove.

The aim is to develop an annual open edible garden day along the lines of Open Studios and the participating gardens are free to visit from 1pm-4pm today. More details can be found at edibleyork.org.uk/events


Brunswick open day

A REMINDER that Brunswick Organic Nursery and Craft Workshop is holding its annual open day today from 11am to 4pm at its site on Appleton Road in Bishopthorpe.

Brunswick is a local charity running a productive workplace for adults with learning difficulties. The site has been developed over many years with help from a number of local organisations and volunteers and there is always something new to see.

The nursery stocks ornamental plants including autumn flowering perennials, climbers and shrubs as well as fruit trees and bushes. Homemade refreshments are on sale in the café, the shop stocks a good range of the nursery’s organic fruit and veg as well as other produce and hand woven rugs, handmade cards and recycled glass and bead jewellery will be displayed in the workshop.

Visitors can also get advice on growing organically and there will be plenty of entertainment and activities throughout the day.


Open Gardens

Today

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

Cold Cotes, Cold Cotes Road, near Kettlesing, HG3 2LW, seven miles west of Harrogate off the A59. Large garden planted for year round interest with Oudolf-inspired borders at their peak in late summer. There is also a Chatto-influenced woodland garden, formal and bog gardens and streamside walk. Open every Saturday in August and September 11am-5pm, admission £3.50.

23 Lambert Road, Bridlington, YO16 6RD. Recently created small town garden with ferns and hostas in shaded areas contrasting with riotous late summer beds of phlox, dahlias, helenium and day lilies. Open 11am-4pm, admission £2.50. Also open tomorrow.

Tomorrow

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

Boundary Cottage, Seaton Ross, YO42 4NF, five miles south west of Pocklington. One-acre garden with around 1500 different plant species in large, no dig beds, including the National Collection of Dicentra. Planted for year round colour and interest there are also unusual fruit and vegetables, views of the surrounding countryside and friendly rheas next door. Open 11am-4pm, admission £4.

Bridge Farm House, Long Lane, Great Heck, DN14 0BE, six miles south of Selby. Two acre garden on sandy soil with mature trees, bog and gravel gardens, long double mixed borders, hens, wildlife and many rare and unusual plants. Open 12pm-4.30pm, admission £3.

23 Lambert Road, details above.

Manor Farm, Thixendale, YO17 9TG, ten miles south east of Malton. Countryside garden with shrub and herbaceous borders, ruined shed, small knot garden, running water and rocks, formal pool, bespoke summerhouse and small courtyard leading to a garden room overflowing with plants. Open 12pm-5pm, admission £4.

3 Pilmore Cottages, Pilmore, YO61 2QQ, 20 miles north of York. Two acre informal cottage style garden filled with specimens collected by two avid garden visitors unable to pass by the plant stall on a visit. Garden includes ponds, rockery, a clock golf putting green and miniature railway. Open 11am-5pm. Admission £3.50.

Stillingfleet Lodge, Stewart Lane, Stillingfleet, YO19 6HP, six miles south of York off the B1222. Large garden with a wild flower meadow, natural pond, 55yd double herbaceous borders and modern rill garden. The area around the house is divided into smaller colour themed gardens with an emphasis on foliage. Nursery also open. Open 1pm-5pm, admission £5 adult, £1 child.


Gardening TV and Radio

Tomorrow

8am, BBC2, Monty Don’s Italian Gardens.

8am, BBC Radio Humberside, The Great Outdoors.

9am, BBC Radio York, Julia Lewis.

9am, BBC Radio Leeds, Tim Crowther with Joe Maiden.

9am, BBC2, Gardeners’ World.

9.30am, BBC2, The Beechgrove Garden.

2pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time.

Friday

3pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time.

9.30pm, BBC2, Gardeners’ World.