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Q – I attempted edibles for the first time this year.Ìý What can I grow over winter please?

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Bunny – Broccoli. Brussel sprouts or kale maybe.Ìý Watercress is quite good. Chervil and coriander too.Ìý

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Anne – Salad rocket.Ìý American land cress is a great winter salad plant.Ìý Really you need to sow in August though.Ìý You could try broad beans (‘Aquadulce Claudia’) and Pea Meteor.

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Q – My ‘Victoria’ plum tree isn’t bearing fruit; why?

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Anne – It is only three years old so it should be ok – maybe it’s just having a growth spurt.Ìý Feed it with high potash and then mulch over in spring.Ìý That should help.

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Bunny – It could be bullfinches taking the buds.

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Matthew – My plum tree produced one plum this year. My ‘Beurre Hardy’ pear produced one pear too.Ìý Not a great year for them.

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Q – What can you recommend to go around our new wildlife pond?

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Anne – Bog flag iris.Ìý Meadowsweet.Ìý Purple loosestrife.Ìý

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Bunny – Get coir rolls and pin them round the edge of the pond liner and that will help cover the liner up nice and quickly.Ìý Have marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris).Ìý

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Matthew – Structural planting is important.Ìý Salix britzensis (a willow).Ìý Cornus (stem-coloured Dogwoods).Ìý Flaviramea is a vivid green variety.Ìý Sanguinea too - often called ‘Midwinter Bonfire’Ìý

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Anne – Water Mint – you can make mint sorbet from it!

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Q – I have Kaffir Lilies that are in full flower – how and when can I move them?

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Anne – You’re talking about (Schizostylis).Ìý They are really easy to move and you can move at any time.

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Q – If I leave my Begonias in their hangers and overwinter them in the garage will they produce a good display again next year?

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Matthew – Because of their fleshy stems they’re not the easiest to get through winter.

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Anne – The textbook would recommend taking them out of the basket – I’ve never tried leaving them in.

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Bunny – It’s not a big job do take them out. I would do it now and then get them in fresh compost next year.

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Q – What’s the best way to store tulip bulbs in order to use them again next year?

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Anne – You want to leave tulips to fully die back… but if you can’t leave them till then move them to a trench somewhere they can.Ìý Dry them off on racks in a cool, airy place and then you can leave them.

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Bunny – They will never be as good as the first year I’m afraid

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Matthew – You could plant them overly deep (5-8x the bulb’s size) in the first place – so they’re below the roots of what you’re going to plant next.

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Q – When is the best time to scarify a lawn?

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Matthew - Autumn

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