s ered eXpert adviCe yOur tOp 20 queries ansW ® spring PERfEcT add instant colour tOday! ‘5ini GREAT 1’ 21 pages to visit with We’ve gOt gardens Of real garden ideas 772042 395086 stars Of plus! £2.20! R12 21 February 2019 – 21 March 2019 for a great garden in 2019 Only iNSPiRiNG iDEAS 218 Living Li Liv iv ving in ng series series es GARDENS your pooch! PoTS months of 12easy ideas h t n O m y r e v e e l a s OAn £ 10 py co a u yo ve sa to nt ge sa sk your new Only WELCOME InsIde thIs Issue 37 Four seasons All the latest developments in the horticultural world Gorgeous container recipes for all times of the year In the zone 44 The delights of daffodils Julie and Frank Alviti’s five gardens in one 16 Top 10 pollution busters W elcome to the first issue of Gardening in 2019 It is a new year and a new start not only for me as the new editor of this wonderful magazine, but also for our gardens You’ll find that we’ve packed plenty of inspiration as well as expert advice to help you get spring off to a flying start Expert picks of the hardiest plants for urban areas The best gardens to visit with your four-legged friend Chief horticulturalist Guy Barter solves your gardening dilemmas 56 The art of science The lasting legacy of plant painter Marianne North 24 The natural choice 59 Gardener’s crossword 26 Bricks & pieces 50 50 A dog’s life 19 Ask the RHS experts Easy ways to make your garden organic Teresa Conway, Editor Everything you ever need to know about these golden wonders Put your feet up and try our horticultural brain-teaser An illustrated step-by-step guide to creating a brickwork planting tough 60 Spring a leek 28 The stars of spring 65 Just the job Super seasonal show-stoppers 32 Dates for your diary Growing this versatile veg, plus three great recipes What to in your garden now Get out and about for fun and inspiration this spring 34 RHS grow your own veg planner A colour-coded wall chart to help you plan what to do, and when, in the vegetable garden 37 56 44 WOMAN’S WEEKLY GARDENING, TI Media Limited, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP Telephone 020 3148 5000 Back issues 01795 662976 or go online http://mags-uk.com/browse-by-publisher/ti-media.html Unless otherwise stated, all competitions, free samplings, discounts and offers are only available to readers in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland Pre-press by Rhapsody Media Printed by Walstead UK Limited ISSN 2042 3950 WOMAN’S WEEKLY is a registered trademark of TI Media Limited and is sold subject to the following conditions, namely that it shall not, without the written consent of the publishers first given, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price shown on the cover, and that it shall not be lent, resold or hired or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever © TI Media Limited, 2019 We work hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content, and we are committed to complying with the Editors’ Code of Practice (https://www.ipso.co.uk/IPSO/cop.html) as enforced by IPSO If you have a complaint about our editorial content, you can email us at complaints@ti-media.com or write to Complaints Manager, TI Media Limited Legal Department, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP Please provide details of the material you are complaining about and explain your complaint by reference to the Editors’ Code We will endeavour to acknowledge your complaint within working days and we aim to correct substantial errors as soon as possible cover photos: Nicola stockeN , getty, alamy 28 Let’s get gardening It’s a busy time of year in your garden, so here’s our guide to what’s new and must-do t e g s ' t Le gardening! Planting heroes gardening for diabetes Words: Teresa ConWay PhoTos: alamy, floramedia K atherine Hathaway and Karen Tatlow both ditched high-flying careers in business management to retrain as garden designers and they will be creating the first ever Diabetes UK show garden for RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2019 Both of the designers have been touched by the condition and the emotional journey of supporting loved ones inspired this special awareness-raising project Karen’s stepdaughter battled severe complications resulting from her type diabetes, while Katherine’s father was diagnosed with type diabetes in later life Karen, who lives in Lichfield, said, ‘Diabetes affects more people than cancer and dementia combined, which so many of Fork out gravel paths Katherine the public don’t realise We’ve both watched people we love struggle with the Karen condition, so we wanted to create a garden that highlights the challenges of living with diabetes.’ The space is imagined as a small, private garden for a diabetes centre for use by patients, visitors and staff It will highlight the struggle and journey from diagnosis to managing the condition well, a serious condition that affects one in 15 people in the UK It does this with clever design references such as sculptural graphs representing the constant monitoring of blood-glucose levels and a water feature with intermittent jets that symbolise the frequency of new diagnoses handy tips ✿ Remake old paths and mark out and construct new ones An old gravel path that has become weedy should be forked over, large weeds pulled out and a weedkiller used all over If possible, add a couple of inches of fresh gravel and roll well ✿ Wind a small piece of hosepipe between plants It will help keep cats and birds off your border, as they don’t like snakes! ✿ Propagate cuttings and share new plants with friends and family Layer young branches of hardy shrubs – bend shoots about 15cm from the tips, make a slight wound beneath a bud on the bend and peg it down into the soil Strawberry runners are perfect for sharing ‘We wanted to create a garden that highlights the challenges of living with diabetes’ a sketch of the garden that will be on show at Malvern RHS Malvern Spring Festival takes place from 9am-6pm, thursday May to Sunday 12 May 2019 tickets are on sale now – visit rhsmalvernspring seetickets.com admission for under-16s is free of charge. Plant of the month Magnolia stellata O ne of the obvious signs that the sap is rising and spring is on its way is when magnolia flowers appear in March Magnolia stellata and varieties ‘Water Lily’ and ‘Royal Star’ flower profusely, covering the bare branches for weeks before the leaves emerge The pure white, scented, starry flowers are often blushed and, in ‘Royal Star’, the buds are pink Many magnolias get too big for a small to average-sized garden, but these slow-growing, rounded shrubs are ideally positioned as specimens in a lawn or border, where they can freely develop to their full potential without gardeners having to worry about pruning They also make excellent plants for containers at a glance How to plant: add plenty of well-rotted compost or manure to the planting hole and ensure the graft union is above soil level water well and apply a mulch to retain moisture Size: Height 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m), spread 8-15ft (2.5-4.5m) after 10 years ‘Royal Star’ is taller at 15ft (4.5m) Soil: any soil, including heavy clay poSition: in full sun or part shade in a sheltered spot out of strong winds, and situated where frosted blooms are out of the morning sun peStS: Use slug deterrents in april and May and rabbit guards to protect young specimens expert tip louise Golden, resident gardener and Senior plant Buyer at Dobbies, says,‘Magnolia stellata or the star magnolia first arrived in the UK in the late 1870s and has become one of the nation’s favourite spring-flowering small trees, with its pure white flowers in March and rich yellow leaves in the autumn it is best planted out of the morning sunshine to avoid flower buds being damaged.’ WW Gardening What’s new Neaten edges of paths and lawns and light the way with a solar picket fence The 30cm-high x 0.5mlong sections contain a solar-powered LED, are easy to install and come in a pack of four to use in straight lines or curved edges Price £14.99 from garden centres Perfect fit These gardening gloves in an Oak Leaf Moss design are hard-wearing, and each has a padded palm, adjustable wrist strap and breathable mesh between the fingers They come in two sizes and in a choice of colours Price £14.99, from good gardens centres and burgonandball.com Right tools for the job Burgon & Ball’s container gardening tools are great for planting, weeding and maintaining displays Priced from £11.99, from good garden centres and burgonandball.com Safe house WOrDs: WenDY HumPHrIes Attract birds into your garden by installing the Multi Species Bird House from the National Trust The nesting space has a stainless steel entrance hole protector to prevent predator attack The box opens to become a robin nester or wall feeder Price £25 from nationaltrust.org uk/shop The finished garden at Keech Hospice Care opened in 2018 Garden Re-Leaf Day T his annual event is taking place on Friday 22 March, to raise funds for Greenfingers The charity helps 5,000 children who are involved in the hospice system to benefit from inspiring gardens and outdoor spaces There will be quiz nights at selected garden centres, cake bakes, plantathons, sponsored walks and cycling challenges and much more The TV channel QVC is a major supporter of the initiative The aim of the charity is to provide children and families in hospices with precious shared moments together, outside in magical gardens and outdoor spaces Several Adam Frost rostt used plants to t delight all the senses new gardens are being constructed and plenty more are on the waiting list Keech Hospice Care, in Luton, designed and built by BBC Gardeners’ World’s presenter Adam Frost is the 53rd completed garden He says, ‘I’ve tried to bring wildlife and the garden inside the hospice and give patients a place that is calm and reflective.’ For details of how to take part or to donate, visit greenfingerscharity.org.uk PHOTO: HOmebase DIY GreenfInGers CHarITY re-Leaf DaY Sun light What to grow in 2019 Rose ‘Starlight new Symphony’ A really good cuppa No wonder the rCup reusable cup scored top marks in a recent Which? Best Buy trial It’s leakproof and the material is well insulated What’s more, it’s made from used paper cups Available in 8oz and 12oz, £11 and £12, from John Lewis, Waitrose or rcup.co.uk Bee-friendly, this climbing rose has won the accolade of RHS Rose of the Year 2019 for its high level of disease resistance It’s scented and repeat flowering H 3m x W 2.7m, £12.99 (plus p&p) for a 3ltr pot, from yougarden.com Feed the birds Seedball’s bird mix is a great idea Scatter 20 balls, each containing 30 wildflower seeds onto soil or a planter The resulting plants will attract insects for birds to eat, followed by a feast of seeds they’ll enjoy once the flowers fade Price £6 Visit seedball.co.uk for stockists PHOTO: IaIn H LeaCH/ buTTerfLY COnservaTIOn T he hot, dry weather of last summer did little to help the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly Just 23,000 were counted across the UK during the Big Butterfly Count of 2018 Scientists are worried for the butterfly’s long-term future and the reasons for the decline are being investigated In contrast, many other common butterflies improved in numbers, due to the glorious weather The three white butterfly species accounted for half of the 964,000 butterflies and moths recorded The Holly Blue butterfly also did well, with an increase of 122% while the Common Blue was up 51%, its best year since 2010 For more details, visit butterflyconservation.org The Holly Blue (pictured) and the Common Blue enjoyed a good summer The late David Austin and his companion Bertie David Austin, 1926-2018 D avid Austin Snr OBE, VHM, the father of the English Rose, sadly passed away in December, he was 92 As a young man with a passion for Old Roses, he also recognised the attributes of modern Hybrid Teas: possessing a much wider colour range and the ability to repeat flower This was his light-bulb moment, that he had the chance to create something new – a rose with the beauty and fragrance of his much-loved Old Roses but with the benefits of modern roses With time and extraordinary dedication, David created his first rose, ‘Constance Spry’ (Ausfirst), in 1961 David Austin Roses was launched in 1969 and the company and gardens at Albrighton became world renowned Having bred more than 240 roses during his life he was still passionate about developing new varieties until the very end Petunia ‘Crazytunia Charity seeds Mr Fothergill’s Seeds Tiki Torch’ has launched two packets Give hanging baskets and patio pots a starburst effect with a profusion of showy blooms that cope well with rain and heat Buy five plugs for £9.99 or 10 for £14.99 (plus p&p) Visit thompson-morgan.com or call 0844 573 1818 Petunia ‘Crazytunia Tiki Torch’ DavID ausTIn PHOTO: rOn Daker Big Butterfly Count results of easy-to-grow seeds for 2019 to benefit Children in Need Sunflower ‘Pudsey’ and Pumpkin ‘Pudsey’ are priced at £1.99 per packet, and 30p from each sale will be donated to the charity Visit mr-fothergills.co.uk or call 0333 777 3936 David Austin’s English Roses have won many awards around the world, with ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ (Ausbord) being twice voted the UK’s favourite rose ‘My greatest satisfaction is to see the pleasure my roses give to gardeners and rose lovers around the world’ David Austin T Taupe is tthe new black b U growers are UK rreplacing the ttraditional black plastic pot with a p ttaupe-coloured pot Currently black C plastic pots are not recyclable and end up in landfill The new pot is carbon black free and made from recycled Easily recognisable polypropylene that p taupe pots replace ccan be identified by traditional black plastic iinfrared scanners aand consequently can be disposed through ccouncil kerbside recycling schemes WW Gardening In the Julie and Frank opted to portion up their the spacious terrace comes into its own at family gatherings WW Gardening READERÕS GARDEN Zone large garden into separate, more intimate areas T here is something delightfully disorientating about strolling along the winding paths in Julie Alviti’s garden, and discovering that hedges and walls cleverly conceal unexpected gardens-within-a-garden ‘The whole feel of the garden is not to see it all at once, but to go round a corner and discover unexpected, interesting features, or an inviting seating area,’ she explains ‘Each “garden room” can have a different planting scheme, Julie continues ‘That means I can grow a wide range of plants.’ To begin with the garden was more children’s playground than plantswoman’s paradise, but as Julie’s children grew up, she gradually whittled away at the lawn closest to the house, widening the borders to make space for hydrangeas, coneflowers, fleabane, agastache, astrantias, cosmos, verbascums, clematis and climbing roses, creating a lovely view from the conservatory It wasn’t long before Julie turned her attention to the terrace, and laid the area with random pieces of paving, bricks and pebbles, interspersed with decorative circles ‘We are 12 at family gatherings, so need plenty of space,’ she adds Each new area starts with Julie marking the layout directly onto the ground – using pegs and string for straight lines, or hosepipe for curves She then studies it from every angle, envisaging how it will work with the planting, and tweaking until the proportions feel right When choosing plants for a particular position, she double-checks that they suit the available amount of sunlight and heavy clay soil Fact file Gardeners: Julie and Frank alviti, who run an agricultural machinery business Location: ashford carbonell, near Ludlow, shropshire Landscaped: it is now 37 years since the couple moved to their detached, five-bedroom farmhouse the three-quarter acre garden was largely laid to lawn, with two small topiary yews, a silver birch and apple trees to cast welcome shade for their three children, born during the 1980s speciaL Features: a quiet gravel courtyard with gazebo, a productive potager and greenhouse, a tranquil stream and pond, a colourful cutting garden and parterre, a potting shed and a relaxed cottage garden aspect: the back of the house faces south soiL type: Heavy clay, improved with compost and regular mulching probLems: Julie battled with rabbits eating young plants – ‘even if they dislike the taste, they still dig up the plant’ – until her sons put rabbit-proof fencing up around the entire garden inspiration: Visiting gardens such as the ones at Wollerton old Hall in shropshire or stockton bury near Leominster, Herefordshire WW Gardening Trained up a wall, Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’, A view of the house from the arbour Clematis GrowinG tips Julie advises buying a two-year-old plant in a large pot because it is less likely to be eaten by slugs ✿ Plan adequate support for the eventual size of clematis ✿ Plant in spring, with the lowest leaf joints slightly below the soil’s surface ✿ Plant in free-draining soil with plenty of compost to retain moisture ✿ Before planting, soak the rootball overnight in a bucket of water ✿ Plant with roots in shade, foliage and flowers in sun ✿ Cover the base of the stem with broken clay pots to keep sun off the roots ✿ If placing by a wall, dig the hole 50cm away, so the plant catches rain ✿ Position free-standing supports such as obelisks or wigwams ✿ Feed in March with a good slow-release fertiliser. ✿ On walls, arches, fences and pergolas, tie-in and train growth along wires ✿ Mark with a label, and check each individual variety’s pruning needs 10 WW Gardening Clematis ‘Tie Dye’ Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’ Fallow deer in the park Attingham Steeped in history and rich in wildlife, you can explore the beauty of this Shropshire estate with your four-legged friend A ttingham’s red-brick walled garden has been attentively restored over the past decade to its former beauty and function as a Georgian-style kitchen garden As well as being delightful to wander round, it serves as a source of fresh, organic produce for the Carriage House Cafe You can sit outside at one of the dog-friendly tables and enjoy a seasonal snack There’s also an undercover seating area in the Stables Courtyard with dog bowls and water, in case you need a bit of shelter from the elements The dog areas are split into short lead, for busier areas around the entrance and buildings; on lead, where extendable leads can be used; and off lead in the less formal parkland on the estate Only assistance dogs are allowed in the indoor spaces There are ‘10-minute dog tie-up points’ in the Stables Courtyard, so if you’re visiting 54 WW Gardening alone this will you give you the chance to pop into the secondhand bookshop or cafe There are some glorious walks you can take around the park which are brimming with wildlife View the busy bees in the Georgian bee house on your way out to see the deer If you pass over the River Tern you might spot a family of otters around the banks, or discover the Repton Oak, believed to be about 650 years old and that’s considered to be one of the wonders of Attingham Park lavender borders in the walled garden daffodils show that spring has sprung Visitor information Address Attingham Park, Atcham, shrewsbury sY4 4TP OPening Times January-15 February, 9am -5pm (mansion closed); 16 February-3 november, 9am-5pm (mansion 11am-4.30pm COnTACT deTAils Telephone: 01743 708 123, email: attingham@ nationaltrust.org.uk Website: nationaltrust.org uk/attingham-park CurrenT PriCes Adult £12.20, Child £6.10, Family £30.50, national Trust members free Gardens To VisiT Other dog-friendly gardens… Wallington Emmetts Garden Clumber Park Mount Stewart Dogs love visiting Wallington, and can explore anywhere outside on a lead Take a tranquil walk along the banks of the River Wansbeck, crossing over bridges and stepping stones on the way The Clocktower Cafe has plenty of outdoor seating and water bowls You can even buy homemade dog treats for your furry companion ✿ nationaltrust.org.uk/ wallington Mount Stewart, County Down The Londonderry family were fond of dogs, and well-behaved four-legged friends are still welcome at Mount Stewart The Red Trail is the main walk around the estate and offers plenty of woods and fields to explore, although all dogs need to be kept on a lead You can find filled water bowls outside the reception area, courtyard, and opposite the house to help keep your dog hydrated while on the move You’ll also find outdoor seating to the front of the tea room and adjacent to the garden shop, so you can refresh yourself too Dogs are also welcome in the garden as long as they are kept on a short lead ✿ nationaltrust.org.uk/ mount-stewart Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire Try a relaxing walk through fields and woodlands in some of the quieter corners of the estate Take in views over the lake before heading to ‘Central Bark’ – a special dog-friendly cafe Here, there’s an outdoor seating area with plenty of water bowls for dogs, or you can retreat to an indoor area where your dog can have a nap on the beds and blankets provided Dogs are also allowed in the Pleasure Grounds and walled kitchen garden, but need to be kept on a lead in these areas ✿ nationaltrust.org.uk/ clumber-park Emmetts Garden, Kent Dogs are welcome in all outdoor areas of the garden and woodland as long as they are kept on a short lead Water bowls can be found outside the Discovery Cabin and Old Stables Cafe, and there’s plenty of outdoor seating by the cafe for you and your canine to enjoy a drink together ✿ nationaltrust.org.uk/ emmetts-garden Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex Dogs are welcome daily in the garden after 1.30pm, but need to be kept on a short lead Dogs should also be kept on leads in the parkland to protect grazing livestock, but off-lead walking is available in East Park, with some lovely views back across the lake Dogs are welcome in the garden room of the Coach House tearoom at all times, with water bowls outside the reception building and in the tearoom garden ✿ nationaltrust.org.uk/ sheffield-park-and-garden Standen House and Garden, West Sussex You can explore acres of woodland on the wider estate and follow paths around the formal garden, as long as your dog is kept on a short lead at all times After a walk in the grounds and woodland, stop off at the Barn Cafe for a tasty treat or revitalising hot meal Dogs are welcome in the outside seating area and water bowls are available both here and at Visitor Reception ✿ nationaltrust.org.uk/ standen-house-and-garden Standen House and Garden WW Gardening 55 Words: Teresa ConWay PhoTos: naTional TrusT images/John millar/megan Taylor/ mark BolTon/ arnhel de serra, naTional TrusT images/solenT neWs , alamy, geTTy, rex Wallington, Northumberland Sheffield Park and Garden The art of SciEncE Artist, explorer, revolutionary – Marianne North’s significant contribution to the botanical world is perhaps even more noteworthy given the times S hrewsbury train station is not perhaps a place where many people sit and write letters, but it was here on 11 August 1879 that Marianne North wrote to Joseph Hooker, the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to enquire whether he would accept her paintings as a gift to Kew Marianne had missed her train, and characteristically not wishing to be idle, decided to put forward the idea suggested after her exhibition in Conduit Street, London, earlier in the year that the paintings should find their ultimate home at Kew Marianne North was a remarkable Victorian artist who travelled the world in order to satisfy her passion for recording the world’s flora with her paintbrush The result of these epic journeys can be seen in the Marianne North Gallery at Kew, where tier upon tier of brightly coloured paintings of flowers, landscapes, animals and birds are arranged There are 832 awe-inspiring paintings, all completed in 13 years of travel across the globe Marianne was devoted to her father Frederick North, who was a Liberal MP for Hastings His death in 1869 had a profound effect on her, for until then, all life had centred around him Marianne at her easel painting In 1871, Marianne at the age of 40, began her astonishing series of trips around the world inspired by earlier travels with her father and the exotic plant collections she saw at Kew Her words on embarking on this new period in her life sum up her excitement: ‘I had long dreamed of going to some tropical country to paint its peculiar vegetation on the spot in natural abundant luxuriance.’ Epic adventures A hidden gem in the grounds of Kew 56 WW Gardening Between 1871 and 1885 she visited America, Canada, Jamaica, Brazil, Tenerife, Japan, Singapore, Sarawak, Java, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Seychelles and Chile Often, she would stay away for long periods In India, she visited several regions over a period of nearly 18 months; in Brazil she spent 13 months travelling into the interior and making long and arduous journeys across very rough terrain Marianne was well connected through persons within her father’s political circle and was able to contact many useful people who supported her on her travels Head of Galleries at RBG Kew, Maria Devaney says, ‘Marianne was extraordinary She was not only a remarkable painter but also a revolutionary in some ways, travelling alone, heading to places in the world that were virtually unexplored at the time! My favourite things about the gallery are the intricately painted door surrounds, which were painted by Marianne herself There is a wonderful story about how she included tea and coffee plants in the design because 1830 Marianne North is born in Hastings, the eldest daughter of Liberal MP, Frederick North 1869 Deeply affected by the death of her father, Marianne is inspired to leave her life in England behind 1871 – 1885 During this period, she travels the globe completing over 800 paintings of the plant species and landscapes she discovers along the way 1881 – 1882 Marianne arranges her pictures in the Gallery at Kew 1890 Tired from her travels and with failing health, she passes away leaving behind her legacy in the Marianne North Gallery Inside the Marianne North Gallery at Kew Gardens Joseph Hooker wouldn’t agree to her request for a tea room in the gallery ‘One of my favourite paintings is number 193, which shows Niagara Falls and incorporates her distinct signature on the fencepost It is the only signed painting in the gallery.’ Invited to dine with the President of the USA and the poet Longfellow, Marianne was able to stay with a range of well-to-do acquaintances such as the Rajah and Ranee of Sarawak In the UK she also had many supporters, including the poet Edward Lear, Sir Joseph Hooker and Charles Darwin, the latter encouraging her to visit Australia to paint their extraordinary flora Notwithstanding these ‘introductions’, Marianne was rare among women of this period – travelling unaccompanied and visiting areas virtually unknown to many Europeans She was at her happiest when discovering plants and painting and spent nearly all her time abroad in the wild, surrounded by the habitats and plants she longed to capture in oil paint Artistic feats Some of the plants she painted proved new to science and one genus and four species were named in her honour She took a year off from travelling in 1881 to arrange her pictures in the gallery at Kew, which was built at her own expense and designed by James Ferguson, the architectural historian Eventually, feeling tired due to her travelling, and with failing health, Marianne retired to Gloucestershire, where she died on 30 August 1890 Her legacy lives on in the gallery, providing visitors to Kew Gardens with the chance to explore the Poison tree strangled by fig, Queensland Orchids of Sarawak, Borneo Words and Photos: CPs KeW For more inFormation about roYaL botaniC Gardens, KeW, Visit KeW.orG Timeline amazing ‘snapshot in time’ represented by her paintings The Marianne North Gallery has been one of the greatest treasures of Kew since it first opened in 1882 and has continued to delight the unsuspecting visitors who come across this Victorian building in a lesser-known area of the gardens near the Temperate House There are 832 closely packed botanical paintings from many countries of the world – nearly all painted in the wild – displayed in the gallery The architecture is curious and includes features of a Greek temple design, hand-painted surrounds to the door and the lower parts of the walls are clad in 246 different types of wood which Marianne collected during her travels The sheer impact of the oil paintings, frequently executed under conditions of extreme discomfort and in hazardous places, overwhelms the viewer and always prompts the question: who was this extraordinary woman? ‘Marianne was extraordinary She was not only a remarkable painter but also a revolutionary in some ways, travelling alone, heading to places in the world that were virtually unexplored at the time.’ Maria Devaney, Head of Galleries at RBG Kew WW Gardening 57 Subscribe to Woman's Weekly and get issues for £1 * Continuing at £7.49 every months, saving you 53% ENJOY THESE GREAT SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS: • Never miss an issue with delivery direct to your door • Getting the magazine for less than you’d pay at the newsagent! • Access to exclusive offers, giveaways and prizes with Subscriber Rewards " Subscribe online at S 0330 333 1113 magazinesdirect.com/25AQ m Quote code: 25AQ Q Complete the coupon below Lines open Monday – Saturday, 8am-6pm (UK time) THE DIRECT DEBIT GUARANTEE This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Magazines Direct will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed If you request Magazines Direct to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by Magazines Direct or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Magazines Direct asks you to You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society Written confirmation may be required Please also notify us Complete this coupon and send to: FREEPOST TI Media Limited (No further address needed No stamp required – for UK only) YES! I would like to subscribe to Woman’s Weekly Please tick your preferred payment method n UK Direct Debit, pay only £1 for issues followed by £7.49 every months, SAVING YOU 53% (full price of £15.99) n year Cheque/Credit or Debit Card (50 issues), pay only £50.99, saving 20% (full price £63.94) n year Cheque/Credit or Debit Card (100 issues), pay only £95.49, saving 25% (full price £127.88) UK Direct Debit, pay £1 for issues continuing at £7.49 every months I would like to send a gift to: Please also fill out ‘Your Details’ opposite To give more than one subscription, please supply address details on a separate sheet Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss: Name of Bank: Forename: Address: Surname: Postcode: Address: Account Name: Your details Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss: Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit For office use only Originator’s reference - 764 221 Sort Code: Postcode: Forename: Surname: Choose from easy ways to pay: Email: I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to TI Media Limited, for £ Address: Please debit £ from my: Postcode: n Visa n Visa Debit n MasterCard n Amex Card No: Home Tel No: (inc.area code) Mobile No By submitting your information, you agree to our Privacy Policy available at www.ti-media.com/privacy Please keep me up to date with special offers and news from Womans Weekly and other brands within the TI Media Limited Group by email, post, telephone and/or SMS You can unsubscribe at any time nnnn -nnnn -nnnn -nnnn Expiry Date: nnnn Signature: (I am over 18) Date: Account No: nnnnnn nnnnnnnn Instruction to your Bank or Building Society: Please pay Magazines Direct from the accounts detailed on this Instructionsubject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee I understand that this instruction may remain with Magazines Direct and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank or Building Society Please keep me up to date with special offers and news just by email from carefully selected companies Your personal details will not be shared with those companies - we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time Offer open to new subscribers only Direct Debit offer is available to UK subscribers only *When paying by UK Direct Debit Your payments will then continue at £7.49 every three months The price is guaranteed for the first 12 months and we will notify you in advance of any price changes Final closing date for all orders is 30th September 2019 If the magazine ordered changes frequency per annum, we will honour the number of issues paid for, not the term of the subscription TI Media Limited may cancel a subscription and provide a pro rata refund if it ceases to publish the relevant title for any reason For full terms and conditions, visit www.magazinesdirect.com/ terms †The Rewards scheme is available for all active print subscribers of magazines published by TI Media Limited, free of charge Full terms and conditions are available at mymagazinerewards.co.uk Digital subscribers also get access as long as the subscription has been purchased directly through the publishers at magazinesdirect.com For enquiries please call: +44 (0) 330 333 1113 Lines are open Monday - Saturday 8am - 6pm UK Time or e-mail: help@ magazinesdirect.com Calls to 0330 numbers will be charged at no more than a national landline call, and may be included in your phone provider’s call bundle XWK CODE: 25AQ Gardener’s CROSSWORD Put Your Feet uP 10 11 13 12 14 15 16 17 19 photos: AlAmy, Getty ACROSS The brand of soap could also be a Williams or a conference! (5) Common name for a tree of the betula genus (5) Country from which, it could be said, the alstroemeria comes (4) This agapanthus cultivar is also the Norwegian capital! (4) and 11 across presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time (3,9) 11 see across 14 Moved very quickly to the first three letters of the buttercup genus! (3) 16 Place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem, while ‘ Canyon’ is a variety of narcissus (4) 17 Large tree branch, it is said (4) 18 The holly variety ‘Good _’ is a test (5) (anag) 19 The tupelo genus of deciduous trees that mostly grow in moist habitats, especially swamps and beside ponds (5) DOWN Eschscholzia is known as the Californian _ (5) Parts of a plant, normally found underground, but which here grow from a stem above ground (6,5) ‘Fallgold’ and ‘Glen Clova’ are varieties of these (11) Things to hang your garden tools from, perhaps (5) This heuchera variety is also home to the last summer Olympics – in shortened form! (3) Shady, leafy shelter or recess in a garden or woods (5) 10 Soil trace element with the chemical symbol B, and the atomic number (5) 12 This bergenia variety is also French composer Georges _ (1838-1875) (5) 13 Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’ is also known as _ grass (5) 15 Everyone is the first three letters of the onion genus! (3) Did you know that buttercups glow yellow to attract pollinating insects? It’s nothing to with liking butter CROSSWORD ANSWERS ACROSS Pears Birch Peru Oslo Bob 11 Flowerdew 14 Ran 16 Zion 17 Limb 18 Taste 19 Nyssa DOWN Poppy Aerial roots Raspberries Hooks Rio Bower 10 Boron 12 Bizet 13 Zebra 15 All 18 Spring a leek Francesco Ponziani, Horticulturist at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, shares his expertise on how to grow the perfect leek photos: Rhs/Jason IngRam, alamy T he annual autumn flower show in Harrogate is an excellent place to see vegetables grown to mammoth proportions Although growing giant veg spikes wonder and interest, it is an extremely time-consuming pursuit and best left to the dedicated hobbyist Growing leeks for consumption, however, is relatively simple and worthwhile Leeks are a hardy biennial plant grown as an annual for its blanched stems Like onions, garlic and chives, they belong in the Alliaceae family, and are an excellent source of iron and potassium Heritage varieties are divided into two groups – short and stout or long and thin – with early, mid-season or late varieties Modern cultivars tend to be more uniform in size but still offer seasonality and improved disease resistance Preparing your plot Leeks need plenty of sun to develop The ideal area to grow leeks is in a sunny but sheltered location in free-draining soil that is neutral to slightly acidic Dig plenty of wellrotted manure into the bed the previous autumn and if you have heavy soil, add a little horticultural sand to improve drainage Leeks are a long-term high-nitrogen crop, therefore applying fish blood and bone a couple of weeks before planting out will benefit growth Give plants a head start before they are moved to the vegetable plot Undercover operation As the minimum soil temperature for leeks to germinate from seed is around 7°C, to ensure success it’s best to this under cover, in seed trays or modules towards the end of winter Sowing seeds thinly in deep pots avoids the need to prick out and pot on before being planted out Plants should be hardened off by leaving them outside during the daytime for two weeks before being planted out from late spring to mid-summer, ideally when the shoots are 15-20cm tall and the thickness of a pencil Today’s gardeners may begin the growth cycle a couple of months earlier than was once the norm, but the traditional reasoning for sprouting these space-hungry plants away from the main veg plot still holds true – it allows use of the ground for growing fast-maturing salads and others such as early potatoes, spring onions and asparagus GROW YOUR OWN Wet conditions encourage ‘leek rust’ Leeks angled in a shallow trench can be left for several weeks, until they are needed Threats to your crop Common leek problems include leek rust, a fungus which appears as orange pustules over summer and is worse in wet conditions Infected leaves should be removed High-potash fertiliser helps combat this and other fungal diseases such as leaf rot Improving drainage and spacing increases air circulation and further helps reduce the risk of diseases Slugs can also be a problem but they rarely bother mature plants Stem eelworm causes swelling at the base and distorts leaves and is a more serious pest; infected plants should be destroyed immediately Harvest time Early varieties can be lifted from early to mid autumn, mid-season varieties from mid to late winter and late types the following early to mid spring Leeks should be lifted carefully with a garden fork and can be left in the ground until the need to harvest Turn over for our tastiest ever leek recipes The rooTs of leeks Optimum spacing ensuring depth Spacing for leeks can vary dependant on preference for overall size or intercropping Planting leeks 15cm apart in rows 30cm apart provides a high yield of reasonablesized leeks Planting them at 7.5-10cm inntervals in rows 30cm apart provides a high yield of slim leeks Planting 20cm each way gives larger crops, and allows for crops such as radishes or salads to be grown between them One of the best ways to transplant leeks into their final beds is to use a leek dibber to make 15-20cm deep holes in the ground Place an individual leek in each hole and water Do not backfill the hole as over time repeated watering will loosely fill any space, helping to blanch the stem Getting the depth of planting right also helps with drought resistance in dry weather The wider the spacing, the larger the leek Use a dibber to create planting holes The humble leek is held in high esteem among today’s vegetable growers, but it has a long and distinguished history Food of the pharaohs The ancient Egyptians considered the leek a sacred plant; to swear by the leek was the equivalent to swearing by the gods! National emblem In Wales during the 7th Century, King Cadwallader of Gwynedd and his men wore leeks in their helmets to differentiate themselves from their Saxon enemies The leek became a symbol of Wales and remains one to this day Green giants In the 1880s, the north-east of England was home to many giant leek contests and such pursuits are still very much alive Competitors can bag themselves serious money for their supersized veg WW Gardening 61 Spring a leek continued Once you’ve harvested turn your leeks, turn them into something delicious These recipes will help you savour the result of your labours Leek, potato and stilton soup serves ✿ 700g (1½lb) leeks, trimmed and sliced ✿ 40g (1¼oz) butter ✿ onion, chopped ✿ 1tbsp chopped thyme ✿ 500g (1lb 2oz) Maris piper potatoes (or any home-grown variety), peeled and cut into chunks ✿ 1ltr (1¾ pints) vegetable or chicken stock ✿ 200g (7oz) stilton cheese, crumbled ✿ plenty of freshly ground nutmeg ✿ 50g crème fraîche, plus extra to serve Melt the butter in a large saucepan and Recipes and photos: ti-Mediacontent.coM Cheat’s leek and prosciutto pizza taleggio is a soft, rinded italian cheese with a distinctive tang serves ✿ 2tbsp olive oil ✿ 250g (9oz) chestnut mushrooms, sliced ✿ leek, finely chopped ✿ garlic cloves,crushed ✿ x 280g packs ready-rolled round pizza dough ✿ 150g (5oz) taleggio cheese, cut into 2cm (¾in) cubes ✿ slices prosciutto ✿ large handful rocket leaves ✿ 2tsp extra virgin olive oil ✿ baking sheets lined with baking parchment 62 WW Gardening Preheat the oven to 220C/Gas Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the mushrooms and cook over a high heat for to mins until beginning to soften and turn golden Add the leek and cook for a few more minutes until softened, then stir in the garlic and cook for more Remove from the heat and set aside to cool Unroll the pizza dough bases and place on baking sheets Spoon the mushroom and leek mixture over the bases and top with the taleggio Bake for to 10 minutes, until the base is crisp and golden Serve topped with prosciutto and rocket, plus the olive oil and a grinding of black pepper gently fry the onion and white parts of the leeks for 10 mins until soft Stir in the thyme and potatoes, and pour in the stock Bring to the boil then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer Cook for 25 mins, until the potatoes are tender Stir in the green parts of the leeks and cook for a further mins Add the Stilton, reserving a little, plus the nutmeg and the crème fraîche Heat gently until the cheese has melted Season with salt and a grind of pepper to taste and ladle into bowls Serve topped with the reserved Stilton and an extra spoonful of crème fraîche GROW YOUR OWN Leek and Cornish yarg tartlets Yarg is a creamy cheese that is handmade with a covering of nettle leaves – but any favourite cheese will work for this recipe Makes For the pastrY: ✿ 225g (8oz) plain flour ✿ 175g (6oz) firm, lightly salted butter, cut into small cubes ✿ 1tsp lemon juice For the Filling: ✿ leeks (about 300g/10oz), trimmed and sliced ✿ 25g (¾oz) unsalted butter ✿ 1tbsp chopped thyme, plus extra to sprinkle ✿ 2tbsp capers ✿ medium eggs ✿ 250ml (8fl oz) single cream ✿ 200g (7oz) Cornish yarg, or your cheese of choice, grated ✿ loose-based tartlet tins To make the pastry, put the flour in a bowl and stir in the butter, lemon juice and 100ml (3½fl oz) cold water Using a round-bladed knife, mix to a soft, slightly dry dough Roll out on a floured surface to a rectangle about 30cm x 10cm (12in x 8in) With a short end facing you, fold the bottom third up and the top third down to give a block of layers Give the dough a quarter turn and repeat the rolling, folding and turning four more times Wrap the pastry and chill for hour Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas Fry the leeks in the butter for to mins Stir in the thyme and capers and set aside Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and use to line tartlet tins Line with circles of baking parchment, fill with baking beans and bake blind for 15 mins Lift out the beans and paper and bake the cases for a further mins Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/Gas Beat the eggs with the cream, half of the cheese and, season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, and divide among the cases Spoon the leek mixture on top and scatter with the remaining cheese Bake for about 30 minutes until the filling is lightly set Serve warm, scattered with extra thyme sprigs tc rust Ready-made shstoras well past ry wor ks ju WW Gardening 63 ON SALE every Wednesday Be inspired i every day! d Just the Job If you’ve been out of your garden during the colder winter months, it’s time to spring back into action and start getting your hands dirty Slightly earlier What to in the garden for early spring g ✿ Cut off faded amaryllis (hippeastrum) stems, 5cm (2in) from the bulb and water and feed weekly with a balanced liquid fertiliser ✿ Tender pelargoniums and fuchsias in the greenhouse can be brought back into growth Repot and increase watering and feeding ✿ Buy bedding fillers such as pansies and primroses and pop into borders and pots for instant cheer ✿ Fix hessian or horticultural fleece in position to provide a drop-down screen to protect early flowers or wall fruit ✿ Tidy up large-flowered clematis hybrids and remove any dead stems Now is the perfect time to hard prune late summer-flowering cultivars such as x Jackmanii or Clematis viticella Prune to 30cm (1ft) from the base for more even flowering ✿ Order plug plants and pot them up as soon as you receive them ✿ Buy seed potatoes and arrange in trays of newspaper set on a well-lit windowsill ✿ Start off peppers, chillies and aubergines by sowing into pots of fresh compost Position in a heated propagator or well-lit, warm windowsill Prick out individually into 9cm (3½in) pots when large enough to handle ✿ Prune shrubs that flowered in late summer, such as Hydrangea paniculata, caryopteris, ceratostigma or buddleja The exception is mophead hydrangeas, which should simply be deadheaded to a healthy pair of buds ✿ Start off begonia tubers to flower in hanging baskets and chimney pots this summer Plant in good-sized pots – around 10-15cm (4-6in) diameter – filled with seed and cutting compost mixed with some sand Pop a tuber in the centre, hollow side up, then cover with 2.5cm (1in) of compost Place in a warm spot then transplant after hardening off in May Gloxinias and achimenes can also be started into growth this month to make attractive indoor or greenhouse displays Turn the page for more jobs Speedy job Tidy weather -worn patio containers Pick off fading flowers and foliage and trim back any frostdamaged shoots Just the job, continued Slightly later ✿ Sow hardy annuals such as love-in-amist, Shirley poppies and eschscholzia in a sunny spot and cover with fleece if frost is forecast ✿ You’ve still got time to plant bare-root roses, which is a much more economical way of buying them Add a pelleted chicken manure to the hole, and mix some compost to the soil dug out of the planting hole ✿ Feed shrubs and trees with a balanced feed such as blood, fish and bone or growmore Sprinkle around the root area and hoe in photos: alamy ✿ Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials, replant outer sections, then add a mulch to retain water and suppress weeds ✿ Newly-rooted strawberry runners can be planted out Bring established pots into the greenhouse for an earlier crop; feed with Tomorite ✿ Sow veg crops such as broad beans, lettuce, peas, mangetout, spinach and beetroot under the protection of cloches or polytunnels ✿ Sow tomatoes in pots and place on the windowsill, in a propagator or greenhouse Speedy job Snip off seedheads from daffodils, if possible, in order to divert energy into the bulb for next year’s display ✿ Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias, lilies, gladiolus, crocosmias, and nerines in a sunny, sheltered spot Zantedeschias, such as ‘Crowborough’ (white), ‘Captain Romance’ (pink) or ‘Odessa’ (purple-black) will perform well in light shade as long as soil is moist, as will dieramas and camassias ✿ Plant new trees, shrubs and perennials as soon as the soil starts to warm up ✿ Rake out dead thatch and organic matter from the lawn If moss is present, not rake it out before it has been treated with moss killer When you make the first cut, set the blades high ✿ Lift and divide pond plants, if congested Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain, if you have one Don’t miss the nex t iss ue of Living series Reader inspiration The perfect country garden PHOTOs: NICOLA sTOCKEN ✿ All you need to know about epimediums ✿ Packed with expert advice and tips ✿ New gardening trends you’ll want to try O SALE ON 18 April Ask you local newsa r to keep a co gent you, or even py for d it to your hoeliver m with your e newspaper s 50 YEARS of Comfort Rated ‘Excellent’ Handmade in Britain True comfort comes from good posture Allow our experts to find your true comfort with Winter GREAT DEALS / More Great Deals In-Store £199 £548 59 STORES from Aberdeen to Truro NORTH WEST from King’s Lynn - 01553 611696 Letchworth - 01462 482310 Maidstone - 01622 828458 Milton Keynes - 01908 711290 Norwich - 01603 673940 Orpington - 01689 867820 Oxford - 01865 360002 Rayleigh - 01702 567357 Romford - 01708 474133 Tolworth - 020 8987 5471 Aintree - 0151 523 0614 Blackpool - 01253 305098 Bolton - 01204 860433 Burnley Factory Outlet 01282 479462 Chester - 01244 314620 Stockport - 0161 480 5281 Warrington - 01925 748 387 £499 NORTH EAST Oakdale Askrigg Drop-Arm Sofa Hamilton Swivel BACK CARE RANGE Higher seats for easier sitting and rising Matching sofas available SOUTH COAST Dewsbury - 01924 464796 Guiseley - 0113 819 9930 Hull - 01482 236705 Newcastle upon Tyne 0191 414 0089 Rotherham - 01709 546705 Stockton - 01642 618433 York - 01904 406688 Hove - 01273 711576 Poole - 01202 765037 Southampton - 01489 787851 St Leonards - 01424 460511 WALES & SOUTH WEST Bath - 01225 300273 Bristol - 0117 950 8253 Cardiff - 029 2070 7287 Cheltenham - 01242 578334 Exeter - 01392 409744 Plymouth - 01752 263683 Swansea - 01792 293118 Swindon - 01793 744 063 Taunton - 01823 429003 Truro - 01872 487028 MIDLANDS RECLINER & RISER RECLINER CHAIRS Birmingham - 0121 429 6566 Coventry - 02476 620267 Henley-in-Arden - 01564 795787 Leicester - 0116 243 7432 Lichfield - 01543 439772 Lincoln - 01522 775805 Newcastle-under-Lyme 01782 - 631953 Nottingham - 0115 939 4509 Peterborough - 01733 860003 Shrewsbury - 01743 211267 Wellingborough - 01933 449143 VAT FREE* SCOTLAND Aberdeen - 01224 660958 Bathgate - 01506 650579 Dundee - 01382 339800 Edinburgh - 0131 285 1882 Glasgow - 0141 954 0290 LONDON & SOUTH EAST Caterham - 01883 332998 Farnborough - 01252 856915 Henley - 01491 411812 Ipswich - 01473 559058 SIZES The Ripley Riser Recliner The Aysgarth Riser Recliner NORTHERN IRELAND** Newtownabbey 02890 867026 Mon - Sat 9am - 5pm / Sun 10am - 4pm **Belfast: Mon - Sat 9am - 5pm / Sun 1-6pm LUXURIOUS HANDMADE ADJUSTABLE BEDS RECLINING SWIVELS Available in: 3ft, 4ft & 5ft Matching footstool available Benefits of good posture SAVE UP TO £500 † GOLD Pocket 5,000 Mattress VAT FREE* FREE HOME VISIT SERVICE Call 01924 486900 or email home@hslchairs.com *All riser recliners and adjustable beds are available VAT-free for eligible customers †Offer applies when purchasing a full priced bed, mattress and headboard from the new collection Please post this coupon for your FREE catalogue pack Name Address Postcode Telephone E-mail Freepost Plus RTKE-LARX-YJSS, HSL Comfort House (Dept W855), Unit 1-3a Grange Road Industrial Estate, Grange Road, Batley WF17 6LN Free, easy parking at all our stores Easy access and customer toilet facilities ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Improved Circulation and Digestion Improved Concentration Improved Muscle Health Improved Well-being Improved Breathing Decreased Fatigue Back Pain Relief Approved by Occupational Therapist, Julie M Jennings Dip COT, HCPC To request your FREE catalogue or for further information: Quote Call 01924 507050 W855 Visit www.hslchairs.com Calls answered 24 hours a day, days a week ... Walstead UK Limited ISSN 2042 3950 WOMAN’S WEEKLY is a registered trademark of TI Media Limited and is sold subject to the following conditions, namely that it shall not, without the written consent... advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever © TI Media Limited, 2019 We work hard to achieve the highest standards of editorial content, and we are committed to complying with the Editors’... patients, visitors and staff It will highlight the struggle and journey from diagnosis to managing the condition well, a serious condition that affects one in 15 people in the UK It does this with clever