Garden And Gardener

Everything for the Gardener and their Garden

New products at Crocus

by Sarah - June 12th, 2010.
Filed under: Crocus, New Products.

New items at Crocus

large-walk-in-greenhouse
large-walk-in-greenhouse £69.99
Excellent ‘starter’ and temporary greenhouses due to their low cost and ease of construction and dismantling. All offer excellent value for money and help encourage new and experienced gardeners to grow more plants. Ideal for seed propagation and for growing on young plants, as well as tomatoes!Shelving IncludedSimple to errectCover made from PolypropaleneDimensions – 143cm x 143cm x 195cm High

gothic-wall-mirror
gothic-wall-mirror £19.99
Create the illusion of space in a courtyard or add light to a shady corner or passageway with this striking gothic wall mirror. Made from cast-iron and reflective acrylic, it makes the perfect finishing touch to the patio, too.Size: 27x48cm
rose Falstaff (shrub)
rose Falstaff (shrub) £12.99
Position: full sunSoil: fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: fast-growingFlowering period: June and AugustFlower colour: dark crimson/purpleOther features: excellent cut-flowersHardiness: fully hardyOne of the best crimson/purple roses bred to date. The large, cupped, double flowers have a powerful old rose fragrance. The rich, dark crimson flowers eventually turn to a lovely rich purple colour.Garden care: Before planting shorten thick roots to 25cm (10in) and reduce top-growth to an outward-facing bud 8-15cm (3-6in) above ground-level. Plant during a frost-free spell, incorporating well-rotted organic matter and a balanced fertiliser into the planting hole. Ensure that the ‘bud union’ (the bulge at the base of the shoots) is 2.5cm (1in) below the soil.All our roses are field grown. In October/November they are dug up and potted. However, they will not produce any new roots until spring, so don’t be surprised if the compost falls away from the roots when winter planting. Some suppliers send out ‘bare root’ plants unpotted, but we don’t as it is easier to manage them on the nursery in pots.
chinese rhubarb
chinese rhubarb £9.99
Tall spires of white, pink or crimson flowers in early summer held proudly above coarsely toothed, reddish-green leaves becoming dark green with age. This form of Chinese rhubarb has larger leaves than other varieties, often purple-tinted. Requiring considerably less space than gunnera, it’s an excellent architectural plant for the moist margins of a medium-sized domestic pond.Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: deep, moist, humus-rich soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: June Flower colour: white, pink or crimsonOther features: the leaves may cause severe discomfort if ingestedHardiness: fully hardyGarden care: Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant in spring
beauty berry
beauty berry £9.99
Position: sun or dappled shadeSoil: fertile, well-drained soil. Can tolerate some lime in the soil.Rate of growth: averageFlowering period: JulyHardiness: fully hardyThis lovely deciduous shrub has clusters of small pink flowers in midsummer, but it’s really prized for the clusters of striking, violet, bead-like berries that appear in autumn and remain after the plant has lost its leaves.The young foliage is often bronze-purple, becoming dark green in summer before turning golden-purple in autumn. Use it to brighten up a border in autumn, or cut the bare branches laden with berries for flower arrangements.Garden care: Incorporate plenty of well-rotted organic matter into the planting hole. Prune back stems in early spring, if necessary, cutting back to a permanent framework.
Indian shot
Indian shot £9.99
Position: full sunSoil: fertile, well-drained soil or loam-less potting compostFlowering period: June to SeptemberFlower colour: bright orangeOther features: large, bronze-tinted, bright-green leavesHardiness: half hardyShowy, bright orange, gladiolus-like flowers shoot up (Jun-Sep) above large tropical-looking foliage. Garden care: Avoid planting out young plants until all risk of frost has passed. Water regularly during the growing season, applying a phosphorus-rich liquid fertiliser each month. In frost-prone areas lift the rhizomes in autumn and store in a frost-free environment in barely-moist compost or leaf mould
passion flower
passion flower £9.99
Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soilRate of growth: fast-growingFlowering period: July to SeptemberHardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection in cold areas)A really exotic-looking plant, with unusual, fragrant, large white flowers with pale blue or white spiky filaments from July to September, followed by egg-shaped, orange-yellow fruit. The leaves are pretty, too, deeply lobed, dark green and glossy. This elegant white passion flower is a vigorous, trouble-free climber that thrives in hot summers and will quickly cover a sunny wall or fence. Ideal for a tropical planting scheme, it grows best at the base of a sheltered wall in full sun, although it will tolerate some shade. The fruit are edible, but not very tasty! Passion flowers are believed to represent the suffering of Christ on the cross and the mysteries of the Passion. The 17th century monastic scholar, Jacomo Bosio, describes ‘the column rising in the centre of the flower surrounded by the thorn of crowns (and) the three nails at the top of the column. In between, near the base of the column is a yellow colour about the size of a reale, in which there are five spots or stains (stamens) of the hue of blood evidently setting forth five wounds received by our Lord on the cross.’Garden care: Choose three to five of the strongest shoots, tying them in to horizontal wires. Once the plant is established, cut back the flowered shoots immediately after flowering to within two or three buds of the permanent framework of the plant. In spring remove dead, misplaced or overcrowded stems.
Boston Ivy
Boston Ivy £8.99
Position: full sun or shadeSoil: fertile, well-drained soilRate of growth: fast-growingFlowering period: June to AugustHardiness: fully hardyThis vigorous climber has glossy, bright green foliage, which will quickly cover a large north or east-facing wall. The foliage can vary in shape between deeply toothed, three-lobed leaves, to three seperate leaflets, but it all turns spectacular shades of red-purple in autumn if planted in a sunny spot. Mature specimens also provide an important habitat for insects and small birds. But this plant must be handled with care; it needs plenty of space, no competition from other plants and regular pruning to keep it within bounds. Not one for small gardens or for laissez-faire gardeners.Garden care: Provide some support until the plant is well established. (This may take up to two years). Once established, tie in stray shoots and prune in autumn or early winter to keep the plant within bounds, paying particular attention to stems that are encroaching on windows, guttering or roofs.
Japanese painted fern
Japanese painted fern £7.99
Position: full or partial shadeSoil: moist, fertile, neutral to acid soilRate of growth: averageHardiness: fully hardyThis beautiful fern has rich purple-bronze fronds, which look like they have been sprinkled with silver dust. This two-tone effect creates a striking foliage contrast for mixed borders or woodland gardens. It also works well when used as low planting in a large pot and placed on a shady terrace. It is easy to grow in reliably moist soil where it will slowly form low-growing clumps.Garden care: Incorporate lots of well-rotted leaf mould, composted pine needles or garden compost into the planting hole. In cold areas in late autumn protect the crown of the plant with a dry mulch of straw or bracken.