Episode 14: Keukenhof Gardens & Gardening Jobs for May

Episode 14: Keukenhof Gardens & Gardening Jobs for May

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Interview with Keukenhof Gardener, Owen Caroll about their showcase gardens, our plant of the month; Clematis montana var. grandiflora, perfect pairing (2 plants that go well together); Veronica 'Shirley Blue' and Iris 'Buckwheat' and jobs to do in the garden for May.

Download: Episode 14: Keukenhof Gardens & Gardening Jobs for May
File Size: 15.8 MB, Duration: 34' 02"

In this month's edition of the podcast we talk to one of the gardeners at the world famous Keukenhof gardens in Holland. We also look at seasonal gardening jobs to do in the garden during the month of May and a selection of plants that look good at this time of year.

Interview with Keukenhof Gardener, Owen Caroll - 5' 54"

We talk to Owen Caroll, one of the gardeners at the Keukenhof gardens in Holland, about their spectacular gardens showcasing the Dutch bulb industry with 7.5 million Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths and Crocus bulbs planted every year.

Click here to view photos of our visit to the Keukenhof gardens on our Facebook page.

Plant of the Month - 19' 35"

Clematis montana var. grandifloraOur plant of the month for May is Clematis montana var. grandiflora.

  • Height 10m, spread 4m
  • Hardy climber, likes full sun or partial shade
  • Fast growing, vigorous
  • Fertile, well drained, neutral soil
  • Flowers: May and June, pure white, 4 big petals, yellow centres
  • Dark green leaves
  • Good for a north facing site
  • Minimal maintenance with no routine pruning necessary
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Perfect Pairing - 21' 39"

For the month of May we've picked two plants that compliment each other:

Veronica 'Shirley Blue' - Speedwell

  • Average growing, hardy, perennial
  • 25cm tall, 30cm spread
  • Full sun or partial shade
  • Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
  • Flowers: saucer shaped blue on upright spikes, May to July, long flowering
  • Leaves: deeply toothed, greyish-green
  • Good for attracting insects
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Iris 'Buckwheat' - Bearded Iris

  • Average growing, hardy plant
  • 90cm tall, 45cm spread
  • Full sun, well-drained, moderately fertile, neutral to acidic soil
  • Flowers: pale Yellow with brown veining on the beard, May and June
  • Toxic

Jobs in the Garden - 26' 56"

  • Dead-heading - prevents the onset of seed production, encourages flower development
  • Fill containers and hanging baskets for the summer
  • Stake perennial plants
  • Lawns: weed and feed, mow
  • Sow seeds of hardy biennials in-situ e.g. Foxgloves and Sweet Williams
  • Plant out Dahlia tubers after overwintering
  • Trim evergreen hedges e.g. Box and Yew
  • Spray roses that are prone to attack from black-spot and greenfly
  • Water new plantings if the weather is dry
  • Prune shrubs that have just finished flowering e.g. Forsythia and Ribes
  • If late frost is forecast cover tender plants including vegetables with horticultural fleece

In the Vegetable Garden - 31' 18"

  • Sow seeds outside of: Runner beans, Marrows, Courgettes, Pumpkins, Carrots, Potato tubers, Cabbage and Beetroot
  • Plant out young plants that you have started indoors of: Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Aubergines, Peppers, Marrows, Courgettes, Cucumbers, Melons and Pumpkins
  • Harvest: Asparagus, Rhubarb and Spinach

Plants of Note - 33' 24"

Another two plants that we felt were worthy of note for this month are:

Wisteria sinensis- Chinese wisteria

  • Hardy, fast growing, vigorous climber
  • 9m tall, 5m spread
  • Full sun or light shade, moist, well-drained, fertile soil
  • Flowers: pea-like, Blue/Lilac clusters, May and June
  • Toxic
  • Fragrant
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Kolkwitzia amabilis 'Pink Cloud' - Beauty bush

  • Fast to average growing, hardy, shrub
  • 3m tall, 4m spread
  • Full sun or partial shade, fertile, well-drained soil
  • Flowers: small, deep pink, trumpet-like, May and June
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Listener's Questions - 38' 40"

Terry Essling - "Hi, listening to the podcast, my baskets are basically wrought iron open baskets with commercial liners. It isn't the roots of the pansies that the woodlice are eating but the flowers!! As I said I am using a commercial compost which has pieces of uncomposted wood mixed in it."

Bridget Preston - "I have a Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily) plant. I want to know why the leaves go brown at the tips and along the edges. The plant was given to me last year at this time when it was in bloom with some beautiful flowers and quite prolific in size. I had to re-pot it and it stands in another pot which is bigger and allows air to circulate. I water it whenever the soil feels dry, about once a fortnight, and gave it some plant feed middle of last month before going on holiday. It has been growing some new shoots which look like they will be the 'new' plant, as I've had to cut out some of the very big brown leaves to make it look better. The new leaves are now about 12 inches tall and looking healthy. What shall I do next?"

Forthcoming Garden and Flower Shows - 43' 01"

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