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Well, I’m pleased to say that the RHS has been upgrading its coverage of plant trials and plant awards here on the website. Naturally, this means change and one of the changes is that this blog is disappearing – this is my last post. But I’m glad to say that it’s being replaced by two new features. So...
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Down on the Wisley trials field is a small trial of water irises, plants derived from Iris ensata , I. pseudacorus , I. sibirica, I. versicolor and I. virginica. When I looked them over a couple of weeks ago they were a long way from flowering but some revealed a totally different feature, one that could...
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On one of my visits to the Wisley trials field last week I noticed that the new trial of flowering currants, Ribes sanguineum , had been planted. And, it being spring, they were all in flower. And some of them were already impressive. This ability to look good so soon after planting is a great virtue...
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When I was at the RHS Garden at Wisley the other day, most of the bergenias from the recent trial were still in place and were flowering away merrily. It was good to see how prolific some of them are. Three in particular caught my eye, all very different and all with less common species blood. One of...
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In my last post I looked at the display of daffodils which already have the Award of Garden Merit. But there are also some superb plants in the Wisley trial itself. Planted last autumn, this is their first year in flower. The first one I noticed was ‘Rip van Winkle’. This a very old double flowered daffodil...
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For the first time in over ten years an apple has been given the Award of Garden Merit. Not since 1998 has an apple received the award, and it’s gone to the very aptly named ‘Scrumptious’. ‘Scrumptious’ is an early apple, for eating straight from the tree in mid August and September. Introduced back...
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The number of gardeners growing fruit has rocketed in recent years and soft fruit, in particular, has become very popular. So the completion of a three year raspberry trial comes at a very timely moment. Coupled with the fact that raspberries are no longer only sold as bar root canes by mail order in...
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This winter’s weather has delayed flowering of the Crocus trial down on the Portsmouth Field. The first two visits by the assessment panel were cancelled because after all that snow there were so few in flower. However, the display was good two weeks ago and, weather permitting, the assessors will be...
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The vast array of trials held at the RHS Garden at Wisley is impressive in itself. But the RHS also participates in another trial, a pan-European trial to find the best new annual flowers. Fleuroselect has trial gardens in about thirty places across Europe in a wide range of climates and soil conditions...
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Some gardeners are wary of growing melons. But last year’s trial of small-fruited varieties, grown outside, proved that they are not difficult – even in a relatively sunless summer. And these “single portion” melons are great for most households as each fruit is eaten fairly quickly so never gets the...
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In recent years, the Chrysanthemum trial at Wisley has been updated. And the way in which it’s been updated may seem surprising: more older varieties are being included. The reason for this is that the trial tended to focus on the latest varieties, but many older varieties of hardy garden chrysanths...
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The sweet pea trial at Wisley is always a big attraction to visitors – and the fragrance is often as powerful as the colour is enticing. But it’s not just an attractive display, it’s a serious trial with the expert sweet pea judges assessing the entries for both use in the garden and for exhibition....
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For the last three years, there’s been a trial of Abelia varieties at Wisley’s Deer’s Farm. This is a valuable location in Wisley village which provides vital extra space for trials, and a number of important shrub trials have been grown there in recent years. The abelias have been grown there for the...
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At the far end of the Wisley Pinetum (come out of the restaurant, turn right, keep going) is the trials area where the spectacular buddleja trial has been such a treat. And in the same area, this year will be the last year for the trial of weigela with coloured or variegated foliage. In recent years...
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Autumn cabbage is a valuable crop at a time of year when the season of many summer vegetables is over. So almost fifty different cabbages intended to crop during September, October and November were trialled at Wisley last autumn. Both green and red cabbages were included. As is often the case with the...
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