91Èȱ¬

Greetings from Scotland where we had our first frosts about 10 days ago. For the record, -4.2C was recorded at Tulloch Bridge which sits about 250 metres above sea level, a few miles east of Fort William.Ìý A warning to those of us at lower levels that we must start to batten down the hatches because the outdoor growing season is coming to an end.

The last programme in the 2010 Beechgrove Garden series has just been broadcast and included an item about saving our half hardy perennials (HHPs), as we empty beds, borders and baskets. Perhaps you just throw the lot out with the intention of buying fresh plants next spring. What a waste!

Osteospermum plants potted up for over-wintering

Half hardy perennials cannot survive the extended periods of cold which are part of our winter. Nowadays there are many more of these HHPs available, very popular for container gardening, I have in mind the likes of argyranthemum, verbena and osteospermum. Some may be labelled ‘hardy’ and I have a healthy scepticism about that because, as a believing soul, in the past I have accepted that statement as gospel, to my cost.Ìý

HHPsÌý can be overwintered for use the following season in two different ways:

Firstly, every year in Beechgrove, we have a propagation session starting in August, taking cuttings of HHPs from the flowering plants. They will be rooted and potted up by now and can be kept in a greenhouse which is frost free or indeed on a window sill in the house. As a result, when lifting the mature plants now, they can be thrown on the compost heap.

Secondly if you don’t have the facilities (or inclination) to take cuttings, lift the plants now, prune back the tops and pot up using some old growing medium. Protect them over the winter, in a cold greenhouse or frame, covering with fleece during severe weather with a view to planting them out again next year.Ìý We have used both methods with osteospermums.

Blue Danube foliage infected by blight compared with Axona (white flowers)

Our early main crop potatoes are lifted and safely in the shed. This year, we grew the new Sarpo variety .Ìý As you will know these varieties from the Sarvari stable, like and Mira, are substantially resistant to Potato Blight and I was anxious to see how the new one performed.

Imagine my anxiety and disappointment when the foliage was badly infected by the fungus, whilst Axona right next to it was clean.Ìý Needless to say, off came the foliage PDQ and thankfully, the tubers look good.

Checking back on the literature, we are warned that the leaves may be affected but that the tubers are resistant.

Did anyone else try the new Blue Danube variety?

Jim McColl presents 91Èȱ¬ Scotland's .