GINA PARKINSON charts the tricky progress of a new Michaelmas daisy as it stands against an onslaught of slugs and snails.

THERE is a new Michaelmas daisy in our garden this autumn. It has been difficult to establish this family of plants here, despite planting several over the past few years.

I suspect that it is the usual suspects at work. Slugs. Or snails.

The poor plants hardly seem able to poke their new leaves above ground level before they are nibbled in a night, so this year I bought a big plant in the hope that it will be tough enough and large enough to survive their onslaught next spring.

The bed the new plant is in was covered in forget-me-nots last spring and a wonderful sight they were. The problem with such a carpet of plants is they provide a lovely hiding place for molluscs, who can shelter in this damp spot during the day and slide out at night. So this summer the whole lot were cleared straight after flowering with only a few seedlings being allowed to grow to an overwintering size. A large tub of organic slug pellets have also been acquired and are at the ready for next year.

Aster dumosus ‘Sapphire’ is a bushy, hardy perennial that will grow around 50cm tall with a similar spread. A mature plant will have masses of yellow centred lilac-blue flowers on strong slender stems covered in narrow green leaves.

It is a tolerant plant that will cope with most soils in sun or partial shade where it will extend the flowering season through to October and look especially good with Verbena bonariensis, white Japanese anemones and similar sized ornamental grasses.

 

Gardening talk

AN INTRIGUINGLY entitled lecture will be held at Askham Bryan College on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Organised by Askham Bryan College Gardening Club, speaker Doug Stewart will give an illustrated talk ‘Snuffles and Tweets’ which will look at creating a garden that is attractive as well as being wildlife friendly.

Doug has spent his professional life in horticulture encompassing pumpkin producer, plant propagator, interior landscaper, garden designer and head of horticulture at Bishop Burton College along the way.

Tickets at the door are free to Askham Bryan College Gardening Club members and £5 for non-members. Further details from David Whiteman, Publicity Officer, 01904 707208.

 

Chrysanthemum show

POCKLINGTON Chrysanthemum Society will hold its 67th show on Saturday, November 1 at Burnby Hall in Pocklington. There are open and members classes at the show, so even if you aren’t a member of the society there is an opportunity to take part in the competition.

Chrysanthemums are just part of the show, which also includes sections for fruit, vegetables, house plants, baking, preserves, floral art and children’s classes. For more information, schedules and entry forms please phone society secretary Sheila Smith on 01759 304036.

 

In the veg garden

WITH luck the autumn raspberries will keep cropping this month. We have a good picking from our canes this year and there are still a few more ripening.

These late fruits are delicious eaten straight from the cane but they can also be frozen to use later. Autumn-fruiting raspberries are usually left intact through the winter then cut back in late winter.

The new growth can then be tied on to the support as it grows, with unwanted stems cut out when needed. However, instead of cutting all the old growth back at that time, Which? Gardening suggests keeping a few canes for two years before pruning as they found they produced a much bigger crop.

 

Weekend catch-up

SUMMER containers probably look a bit tired now, especially after the weather we have had this last week. So now is the time to clear them and brighten up the patio with winter bedding.

Violas are among the most popular of winter bedding plants as they are easy to grow, flower for ages and will cope in sun or shade. If possible buy good sized plants that are just beginning to form buds.

Although it is nice to have instant colour it is good to wait for a while and even the neat green clumps will look attractive. Add a few strands of variegated ivy to give a bit more interest before the blooms appear.

 

Gardening TV and radio

Tomorrow

6am, BBC2, The Great British Garden Revival. Rachel de Thame looks at the rise and fall of topiary.

8am, BBC Radio Humberside, The Great Outdoors. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart.

8am, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Growing flowers for cutting.

8.30pm, BBC2, The Beechgrove Garden. Harvesting fennel, celery and parsnips.

9am, BBC Radio York, Julia Lewis. Gardening related news and features from around North Yorkshire.

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

2pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Chairman Peter Gibbs and panellists Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank and Matthew Wilson answer questions from gardeners in Kent.

Friday

3pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Horticultural experts Anne Swithinbank, Bob Flowerdew and Toby Buckland advise gardeners from the Isle of Anglesey. The chairman is Eric Robson.

9.30pm, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Monty Don gives advice on preparing the garden for winter, while Carol Klein celebrates the Japanese maple.