Friends & Foes

Dan and Julia discuss how to spot and deal with common summertime pests, including cabbage white butterflies, red spider mites and asparagus beetles. Julia gets stuck into salads, explaining how to grow a succession of lush leaves throughout the year. Dan recalls happy memories of Dame Edna Everage and her wonderful gladies, sharing tips on how to grow these fabulous flowers without all the stiffness and formality they've become known for.

Julia's Favourite Salad Leaves:

1. Lettuce 'Black Seeded Simpson'.
2. Lettuce (Little Gem) ‘Delight’.
3. Lettuce 'Cocarde' - very attractive arrowhead leaf green-tinged red. Good for spring, summer and autumn growing.
4. Lettuce 'Salad Bowl' - both green and red, RHS recommended.
5. Lettuce 'Lollo Rosso'.
6. Lettuce 'Butterhead'.
7. Lettuce 'Winter Density' - good for cooler months.
8. Wild rocket - hardy and the best flavour.

Dan's Favourite Gladioli:

1. G. papilio ‘Ruby’ - just delicious - the colour of crushed blackberries.
2. G. communis subsp. byzantinus - Mediterranean but naturalised in the UK.
3. G. murielae - the Abyssinian gladiolus - very late flowering and needs baking in a sunny spot, but the flowers are deliciously fragrant.
4. G. ‘Sancerre’ - pure white.
5. G. ‘Shaka Zulu' - deep, deep purple.
6. The ‘Flevo’ varieties, such as G. 'Flevo Cool' and G. 'Flevo Laguna' are perfect for small gardens and growing in pots.

Where you'll find us:

• Dan will be at Gilbert White’s House in Selborne near Petersfield for their 30th Annual Unusual Plants Fair on June 17th and 18th , ready to supply visitors with any last-minute Father’s Day Gifts.
• Alitex is hosting an open morning on 16th June 9 am - 4 pm, at Torberry Farm, near Petersfield. To book a visit, use this link.

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