Barely have you started to plant your spring-flowering bulbs, and it's already time to think about the winter and how to replicate these blooms indoors, without spending a fortune.
The answer is to "force" bulbs into flower, that is to help them bloom far earlier indoors than they would normally outside.
Garden centres should now be stocking up on bulbs which are sold specifically for forcing, which may include fragrant hyacinths, large-flowered crocus, hippeastrums, miniature daffodils and a few tulips, which should be marked "prepared" in the shop.
By growing bulbs indoors, in a warmer atmosphere than they are accustomed to in the garden, for all or part of their growing season, they'll grow more quickly and flower earlier. However, if you bring them on too quickly, they may fail.
You can use any type of pot because indoor bulbs can manage without drainage as they are being grown for such a short time, provided the container holds enough compost to accommodate the bulbs. It's worth spreading a layer of gravel at the bottom of the pot to help drainage.
For best results go for bulb fibre when growing bulbs in containers with no drainage, as it has plenty of air space and often contains added charcoal which keeps the compost fresh, even if it becomes too moist. Alternatively, use multi-purpose compost.
Prepared hyacinths are the most popular bulbs for forcing and generally go on sale at the beginning of September, after being given a couple of weeks of cold treatment to make them think they've gone through winter.
Whatever you do, don't leave "prepared" bulbs for a few weeks in a warm environment before planting, or they will lose the cold effect they were given initially. Instead, store them in a cool, dark place and plant them by the middle of September if you want them to flower by Christmas.
For the best effect, plant bulbs of the same colour together. They should be planted close together on top of a depth of at least 6cm of compost, so they are not quite touching one another. Then fill the bowl to just below the rim with compost, so their growing tips are just sticking out above the surface.. Make sure you don't overwater them, just water the compost lightly.
Place the container in a cool, dark place for 10-14 weeks, to encourage the flowering stems to develop before the leaves. It also enables the root system to become well-established. If the bulb fibre becomes dry at any time, water between the bulbs.
Insufficient time in the dark will result in stunted flowers or failure. When the leaf shoots are 1-2in (4-5cm) high, move the container into a cool, light room. The flower buds which you can see should just be starting to show signs of colour. If you remove the bulbs too early the leaves will grow too quickly and obscure the flowers.
Star plant
The deep red fruits can be harvested from mid-summer to mid-autumn. Those grown for cooking should be picked while still firm, while dessert varieties should be harvested when they are slightly soft and eaten within a few days of picking.
Prunus domestica 'Giant Prune' is a good variety and can be eaten fresh or used for cooking, bottling and jams. Plums thrive in deep, well-drained soil in warm, sheltered sites. Different cultivars should be planted together to ensure enough pollen is available.
Trees should be planted in late autumn in a deep, well-prepared soil with loads of well-rotted organic matter.
Good enough to eat
It has been shown that orchards with clover, alfalfa and other leguminous plants growing in the grass do better than those without. Pears, however, don't like grass growing underneath them.
Dead nettles seem to be beneficial for the early flowerers such as peaches and pears, along with other nectar-rich plants to attract bees in time for the fruit flowers. Beds of Limnanthes douglassii and Convolvolus tricolor attract and feed many pollinators and predators, while most pungent herbs – including garlic and chives – are believed to improve the keeping qualities of fruit growing near them.
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What to do this week
Pot young alpine plants raised from cuttings in a cold frame before planting out next year
Lift early-flowering Lilium regale and reset them in well-drained soil
Sow poppies outdoors
As the seedheads of annuals and perennials ripen, collect seed
Give autumn green crops' soil a light dressing of fertiliser
Harvest apples and pears
Plant spring-flowering bulbs, particularly daffodils
Continue to remove weeds so that they don't shed seeds
Clean out your pond
Dispose of old summer bedding
Protect ripening fruit from birds and squirrels
Continue to water your containers regularly