GARDENING

HOW PLANTS GOT THEIR NAMES . . . . . . BETULA JACQUEMONTII

HERE WE GROW: Ayoung multi stemmed Betula jacquemontii among Thalia daffodil

VENCESLAS Victor Jacquemont was born in Paris in 1801.

He studied medicine, geology and later botany – with such distinction that, at the age of 27, he was commissioned to collect plant specimens from India.

He travelled widely there, collecting many plants unknown in Europe, but died of cholera in Bombay in 1832.

Several plants are named for him, including Vachellia jacquemontii,, the Indian hazel (Corylus jacquemontii), theAfghan cherry (Prunus jacquemontii), and the cobra lily or Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema jacquemontii).

Also bearing his name is the Himalayan white birch (Betula jacquemontii), a tree with a striking, vivid white trunk, which is widely grown in Britain today, usually as a single-stemmed tree but sometimes cut to its base when young so it develops numerous stems.

GLOOM BUSTERS

BRIGHTAND BEAUTIFUL: Winter pansies Light Blue and Golden Yellow – and December berries on a well-cared-for holly

Colours to brighten dark days of winter

CHECKLIST

FLOWERS: Split the roots of older herbaceous perennials such as phlox, delphinium and peony. Dig up overgrown clumps, cut off sections from the edge, each with a few shoots and some roots attached, and plant these. SHRUBSAND TREES: Plant new roses, hedging, shrubs and trees. LAWNS: Spiking in autumn is highly beneficial, improving drainage, reducing moss and weeds, and encouraging grass growth. Use a hollowtine aerator or a garden fork. Spike 10cm (4in) deep in rows the same distance apart. Moss-killer can be applied until mid-November in mild weather. PONDS: Prepare ponds for winter by removing the dying leaves of water lilies, taking out any blanket weed or algae and clearing fallen leaves from the surface before they have a chance to sink to the bottom. VEGETABLES: Plant over winter onion and shallot sets and sow overwintering broad beans such as the variety Aquadulce Claudia. FRUIT: If storing apples place them in single layers, not touching each other, in a cool, frost-free place. HERBS: Propagate rosemary and curry plant from semi-ripe cuttings and split wellestablished clumps of chives and mint. HOUSEPLANTS: Remove dead leaves and flowers and make sure sun-loving plants receive enough light in daytime. Reduce watering.

DON’T be hard on you houseplants or snub your tubs at this time of year.

With winter coming up, now is the time to ensure plenty of plant colour.

They will complement Christmas decorations, then brighten the new year’s gloomy days.

Numerous readers have exactly that in mind, as shown by these questions I have received. QUESTION: What is the difference between summer and winter pansies and can I continue sowing summer pansy seed for winter? ANSWER: Winter pansies, mostly developed from Viola wittrockiana, are bred to flower during the shorter day lengths of late autumn, winter and early spring. They are also extra hardy. Summer pansies bloom only when the days are longer. Q: What is the best time to plant bulbs for winter and early spring colour. A: Most early spring bulbs (daffodils, crocuses, etc) are best planted between midSeptember and mid-October but they can be planted in November and will flower a little later. Tulips should be planted in early to mid-November. Q: I have a large poinsettia plant from last Christmas with healthy foliage and in a pot 15cm (6in) in diameter. Should I repot it? I hope it will survive until Christmas this year. A: The best time to repot a poinsettia is in summer just when the leaves are starting to regrow. But it may not be too late. Knock the rootball out of the pot and if the roots are filling the pot, replant in a pot about 5cm (2in) wider and deeper. To turn the bracts scarlet, put the plant in complete darkness for 14 hours every day for eight weeks. Ideally this should start in October but you could try starting in November and might just be successful for Christmas. Q: Afew years ago I planted two hollies in my garden which are now about 10 feet high. They produce plenty of green berries but, in about the first two weeks of July, the berries drop off. A: Berries, or fruits, often drop as a natural thinning process because the tree detects that water or food are in short supply. If the hollies are closely surrounded by grass or other plants, that could add to the problem. Ensure they have a clear soil circle around them, a metre in diameter; hoe in several handfuls of general fertiliser such as National Growmore in early spring or blood, fish and bonemeal in autumn, and water with many gallons when the soil is at all dry in spring and early summer. Q: What is the best Christmas houseplant with long-lasting flowers to buy as gift? A: The decision is a matter of taste because there are many excellent plants including Christmas cactus, with trailing red or rosepink flowers; Christmas begonia, Begonia cheimantha, which needs some support to keep it upright but produces white or pink flowers; Christmas heather, Erica canaliculata, which has many tiny white blooms, sometimes tinged pink, with black centres; and Christmas pepper, Capsicum annuum, a small, shrubby plant with white flowers in summer and then long, upward-pointing fruits, starting green and then turning yellow, purple or red.