2019-07-13_Amateur_Gardening

46 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 JULY 2019

THE fruits of ‘Sweet

Balloon’ (from

 lubera.co.uk)

resemble a

strawberry (sweet

but rather more

watery), yet the plant

grows more like a

compact raspberry.

Botanically, it is a variety of balloon

berry (Rubus illecebrosus).

This so-called strawberry-raspberry

(pictured) is arguably more of an

attractive novelty, and not necessarily

for growing as a tried-and-tested plant

for the fruit garden.

White flowers, up to 2in (5cm)

across, appear from July to September,

followed by large, round, strawberry-like

fruits, up to 1¾in (4cm) in diameter, with

a glossy surface. Flowers and ripe fruits

appear at the same time.

The plant flowers in its first year,

on the current year’s canes, which

are 8-16in (20-40cm) high, and have a

dense covering of prickles. Fruits ripen

from August until well into autumn.

The strawberry-

raspberry!

Gardening’s king of trivia and brain-teasers, Graham Clarke

F A I R U A E T A G

S T R A W B E R R Y

A N I R I U Q I A D

I A H E M E S F R R

R S F F B D C L E E

A L R E L J A E N T

G E U E E O A E N N

A C I R D S W M U A

R F T T O E K E R L

F L A N N T O P R P

This week’s keyword is ..........................................................................................

Name ........................................................................................................................

Address ....................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

Postcode ..................................................................................................................

Email .........................................................................................................................

Tel no ........................................................................................................................

TI Media Ltd, publisher of Amateur Gardening will collect your personal information

solely to process your competition entry.

HOW TO ENTER:Enter this week’s keyword on the entry form,

and send it to AG Word Search No 475, Amateur Gardening,

Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14

7BF, to arrive by Wednesday 24 July 2019. The first correct

entry chosen at random will win our £30 cash prize.

No:

Word search^475

This word search comprises

words associated with

strawberries. They are listed

below; in the grid they may be

read across, backwards, up,

down or diagonally. Letters

may be shared between words.

Erroneous or duplicate

words may appear in the grid,

but there is only one correct

solution. After the listed words

are found, there are 10 letters

remaining; arrange these to

make this week’s KEYWORD.

DAIQUIRI

ELSANTA

FAIR

FIELDS

FLAN

FLOWER

FRAGARIA

FRUIT

GATEAU

JAM

PLANTER

POT

RUNNER

STRAWBERRY

TREE

TRIFLE

WIMBLEDON

Historical Gardening Event

Of The Week:12 July 1961

ON this day,

carpenters

working on the

roof of a house

in the town of

Shreveport,

Louisiana, USA,

had to take cover

when green

peaches began

falling from the sky. The

fruits were all about the size of golf

balls and, of course, being unripe,

they were quite hard! They seemed

to have fallen directly from a dark

cloud overhead.

Often such happenings can

be explained by whirlwinds or

tornadoes (or even water spouts

in the case of fish or frogs dropping

from the sky) but, according to the

local weather bureau, the conditions

around the city on that day were

not sufficient to cause this sort of a

weather phenomenon. Fifty-eight

years later there is still no

explanation for the flying furry fruits!

Word search

This word search comprises

WIN

£30

watery), yet the plant

raspberry!

Lubera

ERICACEOUS plants add beautiful, vibrant colour to

any outdoor space, but need special conditions to

thrive. To ensure that your flowers flourish, Miracle-Gro

is giving AG readers the chance to win a bundle

perfect for acid-loving plants, which includes Miracle-

Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Continuous

Release Plant Food and Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia

& Rhododendron Soluble Plant Food.

Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Continuous Release

and Soluble Plant Foods are ideal for ericaceous plants including heathers,

hydrangeas and magnolias whether in pots and containers, hanging baskets,

beds or borders. We have three bundles to give away, each worth £12.

Prize draw

How to enter

Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Miracle-Gro

Ericaceous Draw (13 July), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst

Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF. Or you can email your details

to ag_ [email protected], heading the email Miracle-Gro Ericaceous

Draw (13 July). The closing date is 19 July 2019.

resemble a

strawberry (sweet

but rather more

watery), yet the plant

The strawberry-

raspberry!

Gardening’s king of trivia and brain-teasers, Graham Clarke