Amateur Gardening – 10 August 2019

Buyplantsgrowingin potsat anytime

• thoughspringis preferabletosummer.
  Makesuretheplantsdon’tdryout
  afterplanting,asthisrestrictsgrowth
  andencouragesredspidermite.
  Crocosmiasarealsoavailablein
  winterasdriedcormsforplantingin
  earlyspring.Althoughmoreeconomical,
  therangeavailableis quiterestricted
  comparedtoliveplants, and they can
  beslowtoestablish.
  Choosea sunnysitein soilthat
  retainsmoisturebutis notwaterlogged.
  Makesurethatnewplantsarenot
  overshadowedbyneighboursin the
  earlydays.Onceestablished,they’ll
  usually surge through any competition.

Cormsareavailablebutcan

be slow to get going

How to plant crocosmias

Crocosmia aftercare

Lift and divide in early spring

Trytokeeptheplantsmoist,as
thisdiscouragesredspidermiteand
encouragesmoreprolificflowering.
Mulchin springwithweed-free
organicmatter;feedwitha general
fertiliserin springif necessary.
Topreventselfseeding,deadhead
all those not grown for their seedheads.

CROCOSMIASarefineplantsto

growin fierysummeryandautumnal

associations.Thebronze,purplishor

copperyfoliageof ricinus,bananas,

grasses,bronzefennelandheucheras

worksverywell– asdoesthegolden

foliageofEryngium‘Neptune’s Gold’.

Theflowersof achilleas,

hemerocallisandkniphofiasmake

goodpartners,whilechoosing

fromthemanydahliasandcannas

withbronzeleavescanprovide

companionswithrichfoliageand

flowers in similar fiery tones.

Topreventseedheadsforming,

remove spent flowers

Red spider mite

THEnumberonepest– oftenthe

onlypest– of crocosmiasis red

spidermite.Thesetiny,sap-sucking

insectscausedistinctivesilver

mottlingonthefoliageand white

strandslikecobwebs.

Mostprevalentin hotanddry

conditions,theycankillmostof

thefoliage,andalthoughmoreof

a dangerin thegreenhouseand

conservatory,theyoftenattack

crocosmiasgrowingoutside,too.

Moistsoilandhighhumidityare

thebestdeterrents– whichis why

crocosmiasgrowsowellin thewest

of Englandandwestof Ireland.

Biologicalcontrolcanbevery

successfulin thegreenhouse,but

is lesssooutside.Therearefew

chemicalcontrols;ScottsBugClear

Extracanbeeffective,althoughthis

broadspectrumsprayshould be

used with great care.

Plantscanbeallowedtodevelopinto

fatclumps,buteventuallyfloweringwill

declineanddivisionis advised.When

necessary,liftanddivideclumpsin early

spring,thenreplantthefattestcorms.

Bewareredspidermite(seepanel,

right);therearefewotherproblems

except, sometimes, excessive vigour.

A sunny site gives best results

Keepsoilmoisttodeterredspider

mite, which can kill foliage

In the garden

24 AMATEUR GARDENING10 AUGUST 2019

Trycrocosmiaswithbronze-leaved

cannas and warm-toned flowers

Wikicommons/Gilles San Martin