Polygonatums are much-loved cottage garden plants known as Solomon’s seal because, when the rhizome is cut across, the scars resemble a six-pointed star, hence the name Solomon’s seal.
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The name polygonatum comes from the Greek ‘poly’ meaning many and ‘gonu’ a knee joint. The curious reference to a knee joint relates to the shape of the many-jointed rhizomes.
This herbaceous bulb prefers a deep, moist loam and will thrive in shady spots where primulas, lily of the valley and other woodland plants do well.
The slender, cool green leaves grow in clumps from the rhizomes, and the arching stems bear exquisite, tiny white, tubular bell-shaped flowers tipped with green - the same as snowdrops.
Plant rhizomes in late autumn three centimetres deep and 25 centimetres apart.
Blooming good advice
Lift dahlia tubers after the tops have died down naturally. Store the tubers under evergreen trees and if they can be covered with leaves all the better. Scatter a little lime under them first to deter snails.
Give deciduous fruit trees a clean-up spray with copper oxychloride as the leaves fall.
Daphnes may be planted from now till late autumn in moist, humus-rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil in half-sun or dappled shade.
They also prefer an easterly aspect.
The daphne is an evergreen shrub covered in winter with masses of fragrant flowers in shades of pink and white through to the pale green Daphne laureola.
Keep the soil around daphnes moist and don’t allow it to dry out rapidly as this will kill the plants.
Callas like an open sunny situation ...
Healthy callas that have failed to flower are likely in an unsuitable position.
They like an open sunny situation and a free, well-drained soil with moisture during dry weather. They dislike being crowded in with other plants.
Autumn is a good time to plant Clematis.
These beautiful flowering climbers like a rich, alkaline soil but will tolerate any good neutral or slightly acid type.
They must have deep soil to allow for a long root run and cool, moist but well–drained conditions.
Strawberry fields
If you plant strawberries in April there is a good chance they’ll produce fruit before the end of the year.
There are some excellent modern strawberry varieties, so plant a few different types to maximise pollination of the flowers.
Strawberries can be grown in a small space, even a courtyard garden can feature a few plants in pots or hanging baskets.