Dear Helen: I鈥檝e been admiring colourful heucheras in my local garden centres, and wonder how easy they are to grow.
L.E.
Heucheras (and heucherellas) are among the most easy-care plants I鈥檝e grown. I鈥檝e used them as hanging-basket plants in winter across the front of my home, and grown them in many parts of听the garden, where they put on lively displays of foliage colour from dark red-purple through apricot shades to bright lime green, with names like Sweet Tea, Midnight Rose and Marmalade Tart.
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Dear Helen: Once a soil is infected with clubroot, does that mean cabbage-family vegetables can no longer be grown?
A.B.
With some preventive measures and controls in place, it is possible to grow cabbage family vegetables successfully in soils harbouring clubroot.
The clubroot spores that cause tumor-like growths on plant roots are most active in warm soils and in wet, acid soils. Planting early and again later in the summer allows growth to occur mainly in听cool conditions. Liming liberally before planting is another useful preventive measure.
Grow cabbage-family plants (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, rutabaga) together in a selected area each year, and leave as many years as possible before repeating the planting in any one site. If possible, aim for a five-to-seven year gap.
Avoid accepting plants from gardens where clubroot may be present. Don鈥檛 share plants if your soil is infected. If you can, grow susceptible plants from seed using a sterile mix. Grow in听fertile soil amended with a nourishing compost.
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The weekend column. I鈥檓 taking time off from writing this Saturday鈥檚 column. I鈥檒l see you back here next Wednesday. Today鈥檚 garden events cover the period through to Wednesday.
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GARDEN EVENTS
Native plant meeting. The Native Plant Study Group will meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Room D 116 of UVic鈥檚 MacLaurin Building. Judith Lyn Arney will speak about restoration and propagation of native plants on WSANEC territory. Visitor drop-in fee $5. Students free. Parking cost $2.50.
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Tomato Day. The Horticulture Centre of听the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, will be celebrating Tomato Day听on Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Organically grown heirloom tomato varieties, vegetable and herb transplants. Free admission to the gardens.
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Plantaholics sale. A sale of tropicals, perennials, ferns, geraniums and fuchsias will be held at Abkhazi Gardens, 1964 Fairfield Rd. on Sunday, 9 a.m. to听noon. Cash or chequies only. Proceeds to support the gardens.
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Orchid meeting. The Victoria Orchid听Society will meet on Monday, at听7:30 p.m. in Gordon Head United Church Hall, 4201 Tyndall Ave. Speaker for the evening will be Bryan Emery, a听local specialist in Masdevallia, Dracula and other Pleurothalid orchids. Guests are welcome.
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Rose meeting. The Mid Island Rose听Society will meet on Monday, from听6 to 8 p.m. in the meeting room of听the North Nanaimo Library, across from Green Thumb Nursery on Hammond Bay Road.
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View Royal meeting. The View Royal Garden Club will meet on Wednesday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Wheeley Hall听at听Esquimalt United Church, 500听Admirals Rd. Brook Stark from the听City of Victoria will speak about the听urban forest. There will be a mini-show and a sale. Visitors are听welcome.
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Sooke meeting. The Sooke Garden Club will meet on Wednesday, May 25, at 7 p.m. in St. Rose of Lima Church, 2191 Townsend Rd. Pam Day will facilitate a Creating Outdoor Rooms event. Warm welcome to newcomers.
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Courses at HCP. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific is offering the following workshops. To register, call 250-479-6162. hcp.ca.
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鈥� The Art of Bonsai: Root Cutting, Saturday, May 28, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn how to control roots by trimming and using different soil types. Workshop includes an Asian style shallow pot. HCP members $60, others $70.
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鈥� Composting Basics, Saturday, May 28, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Presented by the Compost Education Centre. Members $15, others $20.
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鈥� Building with Cob 鈥� Garden Bench Project, a two-weekend workshop, 10听a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29, June 11 and 12. Members $135, others $155.
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鈥� Willow Club Chair, Sunday, May 29, 9听a.m. to 5 p.m. Make and take home a听chair. Materials provided. Members $225, others $250.
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Mill Bay show. For a brochure or听entry听forms for this May 28 show, visit听millbaygardenclub.com, email [email protected], or call 250-743-2756.
