The humble vegetable

The post in this house can be a source of excitement, dread or amusement. Living in the countryside of France we don't have a letterbox in our front door but what I can only describe as a two-door (front and back), metal box with two sets of keys. We had to buy this on arrival to France and place our names on it so that La Poste (the postman or woman in our case) knows where to leave our mail. The box is cool as it is big enough to leave fairly big packages and envelopes in and it is locked and secure. The postlady has a master key for all of the boxes she has on her route.

This year we've had quite some trouble with our post though. I often forget to check the box and by the time I remember to empty it it is often riddled with holes (a bit embarrassing when it is something official that needs to be filled in and sent back - French paperwork!) The culprits of these holes are tiny snails that enjoy eating our post. They must climb up the wooden post that the box is attached to.

Like everything there is routine, and our pub (publicity mail) is delivered on a Monday. We like to peruse this to see what's going on in the outside world around us. When I retrieved this from the box yesterday we were lucky, the snails (which I do brush out regularly, honest) had only nibbled on the envelope of a bill and one of the leaflets in there so we had plenty of others to look at. This half page spread caught our eye.

We've all seen the organic and homegrown vegetable pictures that go around the email and social media circuits that usually look quite rude but humourous all the same. Our local supermarket (Intermarche) has added their picture to their advertising and is celebrating the fact that the "ugly" vegetables are back and "you're going to love them". Briiliant and a big hands up for organic vegetables, natural vegetables, French sense of humour and increased sales! It put a smile on our faces :)

Autumn care of Penstemons in pots and containers

Penstemon display at a local plant show

It is that time of year here again when the autumn plant shows are on. I remember when we participated it was always such a buzz, getting the plants ready for shows and trying to keep everything top notch. We're big fans of the televised shows that Gardener's World and the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) do and joked to ourselves that we felt like we were getting ready for Chelsea. When we arrived we would set up our stall and then wander around all of the other exhibitors to see what was looking good, what was new and of course get first option at buying more plants. All of the exhibitors do the same, that is they choose their best plants for the show, c'est logic!

This week I've been propagating and sorting out the plants in the polytunnel. Although we don't now do the shows we are still open until the end of October after which we will be closed until the beginning of next year. What we do in between is all preparation and getting orders ready with as much garden maintenance as possible.

With this in mind this post is about how to care for potted Penstemons or Penstemons planted in any other containers.

In the garden you notice the plants changing, becoming autumnal. Paradoxically you notice all of the new growth also (if you look close enough). Penstemons, being long flowering, are still looking good at this time of year. The variety does make a different however and I'll come back to that. In contrast the potted Penstemons haven't got the surrounding plants of the garden to hide there less attractive leaves and so at first glance can look very shabby.

Penstemon Husker's Red with the dead headed flower stems still on

If you grow Penstemons in pots or large containers or if you are shopping for Penstemons (which invariably are in pots when bought) here are my tips on what to look out for and how to keep them looking good.

Penstemon Huskers Red flowers

• Know your variety http://www.penstemonsandherbs.com/Penstemon-Facts(2850801).htm
• When dead heading the plants get bushier and develop new growth as well as producing more flowers. In pots I would deadhead to around half the length of the flowering stem and to a point where there is healthy new growth.
• If the bottom leaves of the plant are dead and brown but the tip is healthy and growing I would remove the dead leaves, using my fingers, and leave the stems above. This keeps some height to the plant. It gives you good propagation material for future cuttings. It protects the base of the plant over winter.
• Look out for the new growth (like in spring) that is coming from the base of the plant. This will grow and produce and produce a fuller plant.
• If there are any dead and brittle stems cut them out using sharp secateurs.
• Remove spent flower heads that may have dropped down.
• Top feed with fresh compost.
• Do not over water Penstemons.Good drainage is essential.

Your potted Penstemons will now be content for winter.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this post.

www.penstemonsandherbs.com

Penstemon Identification

When we set out as budding Penstemon growers we had very limited real knowledge of the flowering plants that give us so much pleasure. We could recognize the more common (or I should say popular) plants such as Penstemon Husker's Red or Penstemon Apple Blossom but it soon became apparent that there are so many more to choose from.

Penstemon Hidcote Pink flower

Penstemon Raspberry Ice flower

Penstemon Flamingo flower

Penstemon Heavenly Blue flower

Penstemon barbatus coccineus flower

Batches and batches of seeds and thousands of plants later we had more Penstemon plants than we had counted on.

To identify the names of some of our Penstemons we had to go beyond the seed packets and supplier's descriptions that we had started with. Why? Many of our plants were grouped together as one species, of which there are many, many more named varieties. Another reason is the cat mix up effect. What is that I hear you ask? Well we started with tray upon tray of Penstemon seeds, all perfectly labelled with the name of the seed, in some cases the supplier and the date sown. Our beloved cats tried to aid germination by giving their own body warmth by sleeping in the trays. This didn't stop the seeds from germinating but the swap around sleeping arrangements meant that the seeds were mixed into other trays. The result of this later, when potted, labelled and flowering was that the plants were not the same as the named variety that they should be!

Lots of time and lots of careful study has resulted in clearly and properly named Penstemons. The plant information is more specific and the photographs try to give a close up view of the flowers as well as a whole plant view. With this comes the benefit of choosing the right Penstemon. There diversity is extraordinary. 

For me Penstemon identification isn't easy (due to all of the misinformation out there) but it is fascinating and enjoyable. Perhaps identification isn't that important if you just love the flower and growth habit but if you do want to identify a particular Penstemon that you have and can't remember the name for then here are my tips for searching.

• Check growth habit - is it upright, bushy, shrubby?
• What colour leaves does it have - are they green, blue-green, red?
• What type of leaves does it have - lance-like, rounded, toothed, smooth, glossy? Are the leaves small or large? Are they equally divided on the stems or do they grow basally?
• What size is the overall plant? Is it low growing, medium sized or very tall?
• Does it have small, medium or large flowers? How do the flowers grow?
• Look at your plant at different times of the year as some Penstemon foliage changes colour with the seasons and some are evergreen.

If you would like to learn more about Penstemons click here http://www.penstemonsandherbs.com/Penstemon-Facts(2850801).htm 

Planning, planning, planning

As the summer ends and we head into autumn my mind goes into overdrive. I look around the garden, enjoy the autumn flowering plants and grasses I never know whether to start cutting back or leave the seedheads for the wildlife and the bushy growth of the perennials for ground cover (just for a while longer).

I often get questions on my web site and FB page, sometimes about individual plants and their needs, but more often than not about how and when I go about propagating and cutting back. I try to follow the lunar cycle wherever practical as a basis for timing. At the moment we're in the cycle of the moon that is dry and barren. It is not a good time for sowing anything in the garden but an ideal time for weeding, building your compost heap, with all of your garden rubbish, and harvesting the spoils of your hard work in the potager (or veggie plot to me).

So with this in mind and it being too hot still, in September?, to garden with any real effort I have started to plan for the winter. We still have a lot to look forward to in the garden as autumn progresses but I'm now thinking 'spring'. This year we were so lucky to see the garden waking up in January (in my book that is winter) with various plants strutting their stuff. my favourites, I think, are the crocus flowers so I've just taken delivery of my next batches.

What am I going to do with them? My plan is to chuck them down in patches on the grass, mainly around the base of trees so that next spring I will have plenty of scattered colour throughout the garden. It's a good plan don't you think?

Crocus bulbs are self caring, they don't need any special treatment and once they're in the ground they will reward you with years of pleasure. They are very hardy so will thrive well here. They are quite small bulbs so I'll have to be careful how far I throw them to make sure I get to actually plant them all. I'll prod a hole about 2 cm deep where each one lands, pop them in and refill. The grass won't need to be cut before we enjoy the flowers and they are so beneficial to the early insects too.

Anyone, anywhere can have crocus in their lives as they also grow well in containers. One word of caution - they are attractive to mice so if you don't have cats be careful where you put them.

For more information about lunar planting I have outlined the basics on my website http://www.penstemonsandherbs.com/The-Gardening-Lunar-Cycle(1172856).htm.

For more information about crocus bulbs I found this web site to be very good http://bulbi.nl/default/springbulbs/crocus.html and it also includes other bulbs - very tempting :)

Penstemon and herbs in France Blog: Great green manure

Penstemon and herbs in France Blog: Great green manure: As well as using our kindly donated donkey poo, suffering the stench of rotting comfrey and nettles, we had the honour of receiving blue lup...

Great green manure

As well as using our kindly donated donkey poo, suffering the stench of rotting comfrey and nettles, we had the honour of receiving blue lupin seeds. I say "honour" as apparently the french farmer, from where they ultimately came, doesn't give his seeds away and the villagers are very possessive over them.

When our friend offered us some seeds we were delighted as we often see them on the way to Limoges at the side of the motorways (peages)but obviously it would be a bit hazardous to stop on the verge to collect some seeds!

They are such a giving plant. In January they were one of the first seeds to burst forth and put a smile on my face.

At this stage the plants are attractive to mice in the way that peas are so they were stored higher up once they emerged and then planted out in March. The seedlings were interesting as they grew, slightly different from the hybrid lupins and very fleshy.

Now we have the first of the flowers, far in advance of the hybrid lupins that I sowed at the same time. They add to the blues that are currently prominent in the garden and are filling out gaps so well.

The flowers are great for pollinating insects and are attractive to the eye. The plant itself is used to good effect as a soil improver due to it's ability to add nitrogen back in and it's long tap root is good for breaking up heavy or compacted soils. An all round good green manure.

A handy note: dig in the green plants before flowers are formed to avoid them becoming a pest but keep a few flowering plants for the insects.

Do you use green manure? Tell us more...

www.penstemonsandherbs.com

Reticent about rhubarb

It's that time of year again when I notice the glamour of the glorious red stalks emerging from the cold ground, adding some much needed colour and cheer on a day like today.

As we progress into spring and the early flowering plants such as crocus, snowdrops, hellebores (you get the idea) become more noticable I soon forget the glorious rhubarb stalks and another year passes.

After many years in the ground I now realize that it is time for me to give it some TLC. This year I am actually going to lift and divide it and place some near the pond (in the hope that it's huge leaves are a magnet for the frogs and a good photo opportunity!)

It's at this stage of the decision process that I realize I know nothing about rhubarb! Well that's not strictly true, as, I know it is very hardy and survives our extreme winters very well. The stalks are also edible as well as attractive. You can compost it too as the poisonous oxalic acid breaks down and causes no harm. It is very easy to grow and thrives in any soil type.

Our rhubarb however isn't in full sun, which is what is recommended by the experts, but it does thrive. Now that it needs to be divided I will have the added benefit of comparing that grown in full sun to the mother plant which is in part shade.

Looks like today I am going to have to bite the bullet, get those wellies on and get digging. I need to dig a large hole and put lots of organic matter in it - in my case I am going to used some well rotted donkey manure. I also have to make sure that there are no perennial weeds in the area where the new plant is going to go, not a two minute job but worth the effort. Then with the help of my trusty spade and fork I'm going to divide the mother plant and transplant it immediately. I have to say that I have chosen now to do it because of those red stalks catching my attention and also if I leave it much longer it will be too big for me to tackle! Here I go, wish me luck...

www.penstemonsandherbs.com

Bites and stings - a gardener's peril!

Even at this time of year the garden can be perilous for me as the stinging and biting insects, of which there seem to be an inordinate amount, make a beeline for me. This injury was last summer and caused a lot of pain and a visit to the doctor. Thankfully, that seems to have been a one-off, I didn't even feel a sting or bite, but after treatment my knee is back to normal. My head on the other hand is crazed by the thought of this happening again!

Wherever I go I am watchful of the insects that I know to be cautious about. I where long trousers, usually wellies, and long sleeves. I habitually prefer to wear black, which is also off putting to the little critters, or so I believe.

The insect that cause the problem above was never identified but the general concensus from my friends is that it was possibly a spider - if it was it must have been microscopic as I didn't see anything.

I now wear gardening gloves most of the time and these help protect from the spikey plants but only the other day I felt a bite on my little finger whilst wedding - again I saw nothing but I felt it - ouch!

The gardening gloves too can be a hazard, especially as I tend to leave mine lying around in the polytunnel. Last year was a bumper year for hornets and their nests in there and I had the misfortune to feel one sting me as it was trying to exit the finger of the glove that I was pulling on - another ouch! I now keep at least one pair of gloves in the home (resulting on me not actually wearing any of the others, an oversight!)

Rambling I may be but there is a point to me telling you this. I now have my trusty remedies and repellents in place. The two which I find most useful are completely natural, cheap and effective. Number 1 is white vinegar. I love the stuff and it has so many useful properties for health and hygiene, no home should be without at least a bottle of it handy.

Dab it on bites and stings immediately and the pain is instantly reduced or stopped altogether. This is also ideal for children as it causes them no pain.

My number 2 is a repellent or deterrent if you like.

I shall tell you more about this bag of water (no it's not white vinegar!) in due course.

Are you susceptible to insects bites too? What are your favoured remedies?

Climate change or just lucky?

Winter, the time for indoor work and catching up or so I thought! We have been here in France for our tenth winter now and this year we have never known anything like it. Ok so I know that we are in the early days and things could change and very quickly but oh my are we having it good so far.

Yesterday we were invited to our friends and neighbours for lunch. We were met outside on the terrace, in the sunshine and the thermometer was showing 29 degrees C in the sun. Unbelievable.

As a result of this extra mild weather I have done more gardening than I would normally at this time of year. We have tackled the hedge down the side of our property in the hope that we can manage it better from now on and keep it looking good.

I've even started weeding as the ground isn't cold so they come out easily and I get to see all of the bulbs and seedlings that are emerging.

On reflection though it could all be the calm before the storm and we could yet having the freezing temperatures that we usually get. I'm taking precautions just in case - lots of growth left on for insulation and fallen leaves left for the worms to compost. Only time will tell how the garden will be this year and I just can't wait.