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Monday 10th February, 2003 - 16:30 GMT
Tokely’s Topical Tips 

Andrew Tokely.Andrew Tokely joins Lesley Dolphin for Tokely's tips between 8.30 and 9.00 on Sunday mornings on her Breakfast Show, BBC Radio Suffolk.

Take a look at his Topical Tips for 16th
February...

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Tokely's Topical Tips - 2003

Tokely's Topical Tips - 2002


Planet Suffolk

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Topical Tips: Week commencing 16/02/03

Pelagonium regalia.
Pelagonium regalia

1. If you missed taking your Geranium or Pelagonium cuttings in August last year all is not lost. Over-wintered plants should now have some fresh young growth, ideal for taking as cuttings. Take cuttings that are approximately 5cm (2in) long. Always cut just below a pair of leaves, and then remove these leaves and any flower buds. Your cutting is then ready to dip into hormone rooting compound.

Then insert the cutting into moist multipurpose compost, with a layer of Perlite on top of the compost, to reflect light back onto the cuttings. Place the pots or trays of cuttings on a heated propagator. Geranium and pelagonium cuttings do not need covering to keep humid like fuchsia cuttings to root. They are best left in the open air of the greenhouse with the bottom heat from the propagator set at 20C (70F). Cuttings should root in 14-21 days.

Clematis arabella.
Clematis arabella

2. Clematis that flowers in midsummer to autumn on new growth produced in the spring will benefit from a hard prune now. Examples of these are some of the large flowered hybrids like Jackmanii, Ernest Markham, Arabella and Clematis viticella. Cut all stems back to about 30cm (12in) from ground level, cutting just above a pair of buds. Sprinkle Blood, Fish and Bone fertilizer around the base of the plants to encourage new growth.

3. With the warm mild wet autumn, and cold wet winter, you will have probably noticed a build up of algae on paths that sit in the shady parts of your garden. This can be very slippery and often dangerous, so it is advisable to clean these areas as soon as you can.

Cleaning can be done with a pressure washer, or you can buy a patio cleaner that can be applied with a stiff broom and elbow grease. Always make sure to follow the instructions on the label, so you do not damage any surrounding plants.

Hyacinths.
Hyacinths

4. Forced Hyacinths or Narcissus that you have had indoors in containers will have probably finished flowering by now. Don't throw these away, stand the pots in a sheltered part of the garden and remove any old flowers, but not the leaves. Once the weather is favorable these can then be planted in the garden. They may not flower next year as they were forced, but should reward you with flowers the following year.

Rocket potatoes.
Rocket potatoes

5. Plant some early potatoes like Rocket, Swift or Maris Bard in large 25cm (10in) pots of Compost, 1 potato per pot. Or plant 4-5 tubers in a potato barrel, topping up the barrel with compost as they grow. Place pots or barrels in a frost-free greenhouse for an early harvest this spring.

6. If like me you left some of the seed heads on your Perennial plants this autumn, so the birds could feed on the seeds - Now is a good time to cut back the stems and have a tidy up, because all the seed heads will now be empty.

7. Now is a good time for sowing seeds of Rudbeckia in a heated propagator at a minimum temperature of 20C (70F). Rudbeckias are one of my favourite bedding plants because of their bright colours and outstanding garden performance. Try Rudbeckia 'Prairie Sun' or 'Cherokee Sunset' for a truly outstanding display. Sown now they will be big enough for planting out in May, they will be in flower in July, right through until October putting up with all weathers. Not bad for a bedding plant!

8. If the weather is wet, take wooden furniture into the garage or shed and rub down with glass-paper and then give it a new coat of preservative. This way when you are feeling tied in the garden later in the year; you will have a nice clean seat to rest on.

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comments
 

e.g. Tom, Ipswich
hi can anyone tell me when should i plant my lilys i brought from the gfs

e.g. Tom, Ipswich
Please can you let me know what mimulus looks likeThanksJulie

Annette Kent
Should I dead head my anemone de caen? If so where do I cut the stem and how do I care for them?

david nottingham
how do i split begonia corms that have large growth

Beryl Kent
when should I plant my impatiens in the ground

gina burnley
please can you advise best way to hang flower pouches

chris, spain
whats the best way for growing corinander

PW Clacton
I want to put two small hardy plants,shrubs, on my parents Grave. What should I buy please?

leni norfolk
is it too late to plant grass seed

dawn george sevenoaks
do i need to protect my dipladenia plants from frost

Vimi Spain
Can you give me tips on how to care for Dipladenias, some say pinch out new shoots and some say don't.

tony sunbury
do i have to nip out the tops of my dianthus cuttings ?

Colleen Reading
Have grown yellow Verbascom from seed. When's the best time to plant out in the shubbery?

pete west mids
do i remove all stems & leaves on my newly planted rhubarb

Meryl Nottingham
what is the best compost to use when repotting hostas and when best time to repot

Diana O'Donnell, Hythe
I am disabled and unable to get to a garden centre. Where can I get a grease band on line please?

creina Spain
My arum lillies are not lasting very long before wilting and the foliage is going yellow. Am I watering too much. It has`been quite warm and they are on the irrigation line at 3 minutes per day. We have a very heavy clay soil which holds the moisture

Shaun, Oswestry
I have strawberry plants which have started to develop bblack patches and drying out leaves. Can you tell me what this is, and am I ok to use dithane fungicide on the plants?

karen Lincolnshire
how large do seedlings have to be to repot to a larger pot prior to going into the greenhouse and potting out after frosts? Very new to this, any advice would help! Have various seeds carnations, daisys etc just not sure how tall the seedlings should be?

diana chester
whn can i plant my nastertiums outside

Liz somerset
Can I put moss on my compost heap after I have scarified my lawn

graham, chester
our rubber plant is about 8 feet tall, we need to cut it back.Can we,if so when, by how much should we cut it down. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Regards Graham Futcher

Allan Derby
i am having trouble finding onion Beacon F1 seed?

Jenny, Peterborough
I am only a beginner gardener. I had some geraniums and begonias outside in pots, and on the advice of my garden centre brought them indoors when we started to get some frost. They are in the house as I don't have a greenhouse. They seemed to be OK until we turned the central heating on. I think I may have over-watered them to compensate. Very few flowers are left,just on one begonia, a lot of the geranium leaves have dries up, and several of the stalks have gone "mushy". Advice please - I was hoping they would look nice in the house through the winter, and I could put them out again in the Spring.

caroline ipswich
i have got a yellow zantedeschia in my back lounge at the moment and i have noticed just recently that a couple of the leaves are gone yellow please tell what to do,have i over watered it.

Mike N Wales
My rubber plant has grown long air roots, can I cut them off?

e.g. Tom, Ipswich
How do I look after banana plants

bethany leicester
is it possible to get seeds from trailing geranium plants if so, how?

Kate, Solihull
I have strawberry plants in pots, the leaves are growing too big, do I need to cut the old leaves off to make way for the new ones and do I need to do anything special to them over the winter. It is now autumn. Thanks.

Stan ,Manchester
My Hydrangea has very large blooms , but they are hidden inside masses of leaves

Helen, Surrey.
I planted two dwarf banana plants back in may and now need to move them. whats the best wat yo do it and at what time of the year?Thanks H

M Shaw Dorset
Arum lillies -should the dead flowers and seed heads be cut off

e.g. denise hampshire
do i have to trim the leaves from my courgettte plant there seems to be more leaf than fruit

Dianne - Co Durham
Most of my fuschias have leaves which have turned yellow and dropped, but a new set of buds are now ready to open. what could be the problem please?

Gordon----Plymouth
I have some pots 10"dia and 16" tall,i want to grow individual celery plants in each one, have you any advice please.

John - Antrim
When the flower heads on Arum lillies die back what should I do?

kirkbyken
any answers to these questions

Stewart /Wiltshire
Leaf Curl on Asters how do I treat

chrissie South Yorkshire
Im trying to save some overgrown shrubs either by cutting back or taking cuttings have found your site brilliant thanks!!!!

e.g. Tom, Ipswich
Can I cut the leaves off courgette plants

jack london
how do I get rid of japanese anemones?

connie london
i planted arum lily this year but so far nothing is showing. have i done the correct method

Nora, Cairneyhill
Should I dead head my anemone de caen? If so where do I cut the stem and how do I care for them?

e.g. Tom, Ipswich
Blackcurrant bush with red blistering on leaves nnd stunted growth. I. D. and treatment, please.

jo leicester
how do i get rid of black fly on nasturtiums? please help

Angie Cheshire
I have trasplanted a rhubarb crown (sept 2006) can I harvest the fruit this year?

sammy worcester
How do you get a wisteria tree ?

e.g. gabby, cheshire
can I use moss from the lawn in my compost bin? will it make good compost?

terry hull
i need to paint wooden garden furniture i have tried the shed and fence paint but was no good advise please

LAKOOKARACHA
Tell me if birds are affected by music.

george cambridge
Were can I get icarus sprout seeds?

Jane, Shropshire
I Googled for advice on how to treat chrysanthemum stools over the winter and found your advice most helpful, thanks :O)

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