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Q – My siblings and I challenge each other to grow unusual plants.  This year we all received coffee seeds – does the panel have any hints that could give me an advantage?

Christine – Try and find the warmest, brightest indoor position.  Bright light, minimum temperature of at least 55-60F (12.5-15.5C) if you can, syringe the plant regularly, don’t overdo nitrogenous fertilizer, use a John Innes Number 2 soil based compost.

Matt – If your bathroom is bright I’d start it in there so it gets the moisture when you’re showering.  Quarter-turn the plant daily so the whole thing gets plenty of light.

Q – Given that our gardens spend much of the year underwater – what plants can help dry out the soil?

Matt – You could go for bog garden plants like the Ligularias, there’s one called przewalskii which has large heart-shaped leaves.  Also the Ligularia dentate ‘Britt-Marie Crawford’ – dark purple leaves.  A lot of the Salix (Willows) would grow well, too.

Christine – Alnus incana ‘Aurea’ – beautiful orange-stemmed Alder. Also, the Trolliuses, the Astilbes, the Filipendulas, the Mimuluses, the Myosotises… 

So go down the bog garden route.  

Q – My beautiful bay tree is being ravaged by some sort of beastie which is laying eggs in it.  I now have lots of larvae coming out of the leaves.  What is it?

Pippa – You’ve got bay sucker here. They’re not aphids but look similar – they suck the sap and then the produce a toxin and that’s what is dis-colouring the plant.  Not a lot you can do I’m afraid.  But you can prune out the worst-affected areas.

Q – Should I split a large number of Dahlia tubers? If so, how and when?

Christine – I’d split for sure!  I would set it in a tray of compost to get it to start shooting or at least allow the buds to become obvious on the individual tubers.  Then you can just slice it off.

Q – About four years ago I planted a Damson tree in very good soil.  It thrived and looks healthy but so far I have no blossom and no damsons. I believe it’s self-fertile.  It’s now about 10ft (3m) tall.

Matt – I imagine the soil is too rich and it is growing rather than flowering.  Try to adjust the soil away from being to rich in nitrogen.  Hopefully then the stems will mature and bear blossom/fruit.  

Q – We have a ‘Rambling Rector’ which hasn’t been pruned since it was planted six years ago.  It’s taken over, grown very tall, and not grown over the pergola it was supposed to.  What do I need to do?

Christine – I would hammer it!  It is a vast rose.  I suspect it’s not the right rose for that position.  If you do prune it you will need to do so every few years.  I’d tackle it between now and March. Take it down to about 6ft (1.8m). Be warned, the harder you prune, the more vigorous it will grow back!

Q – I have an area of land that’s about 8ft x 6ft. (2.5m x 1.8m)  It has a steep slope and is under trees.  My pet peacock is buried here.  Underneath the soil is coal.  I would like all-year colour and to cover the whole area on a tight budget.  What could you recommend?

Christine  - I would go for Cyclamen hederifolium.  All of the spring bulbs would be good and some of the autumn bulbs like Sternburgia might be ok. 

Matt – Snowdrops.  Geranium macrorrhizum.  Geranium phaeum ‘Lily Lovell’.  The herbaceous hardy Geraniums, not the tender Pelargoniums.  

Pippa – Wood anemones.  Native bluebells.  Waldsteinia ternata.