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Questions & Answers - Flowers D - F

Daffodils	From Lila, UK
	When I go to transplant my daffodils, do I just throw away the little bulbs? Thank you!!
	From Clare, Gardeners Club Secretary* Wait till the foliage dies back, then dig the bulbs from the soil. Separate the new bulbs from the parent bulbs and replace them into the soil at a depth of 6 inches. The young immature bulbs may be planted in a separate location where they can be encouraged to grow without the competition from the parent bulbs Can any Gardeners Club members help out? Click here if you can help

Daffodils	From: Paul J, UK
	Last spring I planted some of the new summer flowering daffodils and they flowered well, but they have still not died back. What will happen this year? Can anyone advise please?
	From Michael Barratt - the Gardeners Club resident gardener Normally It can take 6 weeks or more for all the top growth to die back completely but obviously this has not happened in your case. The important thing to do is to ensure dead-heading has taken place as the flowers have faded Because of the strange weather last year many plants were out of sync. with the season and it might take a normal season for them to act `normally` for this year. You don`t say whether the bulbs are in a border or in grass for naturalising. If in a border a light application of fish blood and bone will ensure that they have a slow release food ready for flowering during the Summer this year. If in grass they will have to be cut back other wise the long grass will impede this years flowering. Can any Gardeners Club members help Paul J out? Click here if you can help

Daffodils	From: John W, UK
	I live in the West Country (Somerset) and my the flowers of my daffodils look as though they have been eaten. Any suggestions on how to prevent the damage would be appreciated
	From Alex M, UK My guess is slugs....yes they are about even at this time of the year. You do not mention if it is the leaf, stem or petals that are being eaten. Birds are partial to fresh greenery and petals. Can any other Gardeners Club members help John out? Click here if you can help

Dahlias	From: Iola, UK
	Please could you tell me the best way to take cuttings from dahlias?
	From Mr Clark, UK I believe it could be from leaves or roots. If stuck I would enquire on the BBC gardening web-site. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Iola out? Click here if you can help

Dahlias	From: Julia B, UK
	I am keen to grow dahlias for showing on a local basis and am looking for a specialist supplier in the Essex/Herts area (Bishops Stortford out towards Cambridge way) who would have good stock - especially pom pom dahlias. I have bought from local nurseries previously and don't always get in the garden what appears on the label, and show entries have sometimes been disqualified! Thanks.
	From Alex M, UK I think you will find all you need to know at www.dahlia-nds.co.uk, Alex. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Julia out? Click here if you can help

Datura	From: Barbara R, UK
	This is the first year I have been lucky enought to have my own garden I never knew you could get so much pleasure from watching things grow. My young daughter and I have been so busy growing everything from begonias in all their spendlour to bananas. But now with winter nearly here my books cover seasons, but does semi hardy mean bring in or protect? I have a datura which does not seem to be in a book and I do not want to lose my plants through ignorance. I am getting a greenhouse for Christmas as my husband was so impressed this year. Any advice would be gratefully taken.Thank you
	From Michael Barratt - the Gardeners Club resident gardener When plants are described as half-hardy or semi-hardy it means they are prone to frost or low temperature damage. The winters here vary from year to year in different parts of the country as regards to frost, snow etc. You don't say which Datura you have but both the Readers Digest Encyclopaedia of Garden Plants and Flowers, and The RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants contain full cultivation notes on all Datura. I would add one of these to you Christmas present list! From Louise, UK Yes, semi-hardy means it is unlikley to survive outside (unless you live in a very warm part of the country). Daturas need protection overwinter - a cool greenhouse (ie, heated to protect from frost) or a conservatory. From Elizabeth, UK I'm afraid that your Datura will not survive a British winter outside. Bring it indoors and put it in the spare room or any corner you can find. I grow Datura but with only heated benches in my Greenhouse. I have to cover it gently with fleece. Incidentally, you can grow them from seed, if you have saved any. Best of luck, Elizabeth Can any other Gardeners Club members help Barbara out? Click here if you can help

Datura	From: Rob W, UK
	I have two Datura. One in its second year, one in its third. They are producing plenty of leaves. How do I get them to flower?
	From Lorraine, UK They are very hungry plants so feed them every two days with phostrogen which they love. Also bright sunshine is a must for flowers. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Rob out? Click here if you can help

Echium	From: Julie B, UK
	I have an Echium (tall blue spike of a flower) and have read I can gather seeds from it. Does this simply mean the flower will turn to seed once it's flowering time is over? Therefore, I should be able to just collect the seeds?
	From Monica K, UK Hi Julie. Yes, when the echium has stopped flowering. If it is like any of the other echium family, it will produce very black seeds. Shake into a bag and let them dry but you may find it will self seed. Can any other Gardeners Club members help Julie B out? Click here if you can help

Echium	From: Julian A, UK
	While on holiday in Cornwall in May I noticed a lot of tall plants with purple flowers and silvery leaves .The plant itself was around 20 ft tall, I believe it comes from the Canary Islands. It is like a very tall foxglove in shape. Does anyone know the name of this plant or where I could buy one from?
	From Alex M, UK Hi Julian, sounds like Echium wildpretii to me and if you look in: www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder2.asp?crit=Echium&Genus=Echium you may be able to find a supplier. Best of luck..........A Can any other Gardeners Club members help Julian out? Click here if you can help

Evening Primrose	From: Peter, UK
	Can you give me some information on Evening Primrose Plants?
	From Elizabeth, UK Hello Peter. Evening Primrose is the 'common' name given to a wide range of plants belonging to the Oenothera family which ranges from annual, biannual & perrenial plants of varying sizes. If I were to attempt to recommend one I would go for the Oenothera fruiticosa 'Fireworks' (synO.tetragona 'Fireworks'). These are clump forming perrenials which flower from mid to late summer and bear spikes of fragrant. cup shaped yellow flowers. Has reddish stems and glossy, mid green leaves - about 12-15 Inches with app the same spread. Do hope this information is useful to you. Best of luck, Elizabeth. From Pat M, UK Try looking on www.wildflower.org.uk/shop/info/eveningpinfo.htm Can any other Gardeners Club members help Peter out? Click here if you can help

Ficus Europa	From: Cliff B, UK
	Dear Gardener's Club, I am a new member and do not know if you are able to respond to such requests, but here goes. As an absolute novice who is trying to develop both the external and indoor plant life at home, I have little idea of the cause/treatment of plant problems. One of the indoor plants is a Ficus 'Europa', purchased about 6 weeks ago. It is betwwen 2' to 3' tall and, until a week ago appeared to be growing healthily. Now, some of the leaves have developed dark, burnt looking areas in the cream edges and a new leaf at the top of the plant, as yet unfurled, appears to have the same problem. The plant is positioned in a window but protected, most of the time (but perhaps not sufficiently?), from direct sunlight. Do you have any suggestions? Thanking you in anticipation
	From Alex M, UK Hi Cliff, I think you already suspect part of the problem by making the above statement i.e. too much sunlight, and the other thing is your conditions might be too dry. Try this if you can, during the Summer put it away from the window providing the room is well lit, then as the Winter sets in take it nearer to the window (but not against the window) where it can get maximum light during the day. To increase humidity sit the pot in a tray of wet pebbles and grow the plant up a moss pole,keeping both damp at all times. Each week turn the pot through 180 degrees to allow the light to get around both sides of the plant otherwise you will have a plant that is all leaf one side and flat on the other. Hope this helps.........A Can any other Gardeners Club members help Clifford out? Click here if you can help

Foxgloves	From Peter, UK
	Can you please advise me if variagated Foxgloves will self seed What is the difference between biennial and perennial ?
	From Clare, Gardeners Club Secretary* Biennial varieties of foxglove do self seed after flowering, but, with the exception of Digitalis lutea, perennial varieties do not. A biennial plant is one that grows vegetatively in the first year, flowers in the second year, then dies. A perennial plant is one that grows forever, potentially, producing flowers either every year or only in some years. Can any Gardeners Club members help out? Click here if you can help

French Lavenders	From: JB, UK
	I have a bed of French Lavenders, two years old. When and how do I prune them?
	From Michael Barratt - the Gardeners Club resident gardener. Pruning is fairly simple. Trim all dead flowers towards the end of the season, together with most of current growth. Keep the trimming fairly light to encourage dense bushes. As the bushes mature, then all the current seasons growth can be removed to ensure they do not become too leggy. From Alex M, UK Remove dead flower stems and lightly trim the plants in late summer. Straggly plants may be cut hard back in March/April to encourage new growth from the base. Alex Can any other Gardeners Club members help JB out? Click here if you can help

Freesia	From: Bill, UK
	Please can anyone tell me if I can plant Freesias in pots and if I plant in the garden which type of soil is best? I have tried in my garden last year and nothing happened so I need to know the ideal conditions. Thanks for any suggestions.
	From Mr Clark, UK Try bulb compost for freesias Can any other Gardeners Club members help Bill out? Click here if you can help

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