New products at Crocus
by Sarah - February 5th, 2014.Filed under: Crocus, New Products.
Crocus just added these new products
Large wooden cold frame £49.99
The robust, solid wood, jointed frame and twin-wall polycarbonate glazing provides the perfect insulation to keep your plants nice and cosie in winter. Two hinged lids make it very easy to move the plants in and out, while the whole thing can easily be transported about the garden or patio. It comes in an easy to assemble flat-pack. Measures: 89cm x 78cm x 59cm tall at the top of the ridge.
Acer palmatum ‘Bi-Hoo’ (Japanese maple) £19.99
Position: partial shade Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to acid soil Rate of growth: slow-growing Flowering period: April to May Flower colour: purple-red Other features: golden yellow bark Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Add a top dressing of a multi-purpose fertiliser around the base of the plant in late spring. No routine pruning is required, just remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches in late autumn or winter when they are fully dormant.
Insect log cabins – set of 3 £19.99
These insect logs have been designed to look at home in the garden. We have made an insect friendly log pile which are great be getting bees and other insects into the garden. Measurements: Range from approx. 10cm – 20cm in diameter Please note as these are made from off cuts the sizes of the logs may vary slightly.
Syringa Bloomerang Dark Purple (‘SMSJBP7’) (repeat flowering lilac) £14.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil Rate of Growth: average Flowering period: April and May, then intermittently until October Other features: repeat flowering Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: In mid summer remove the faded flower heads carefully using secateurs to avoid damaging the young shoots. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant in early spring.
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Freefolk Rosy’ (PBR) (gaura) £9.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: May to September Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Resist the temptation to cut back after the plant has flowered, as it often takes on beautiful autumn tints, particularly in cold weather. Cut back and divide large colonies in spring.
Stipa gigantea (golden oats) £7.99
Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, medium to light, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June and July Flower colour: purplish-green maturing to pale gold Other features: the flowers make attractive dried flower arrangements Hardiness: fully hardy Arching stems of glistening, golden, oat-like flowerheads above clumps of slender, grey-green leaves. This majestic evergreen grass is an excellent specimen plant for a sunny, mixed or new perennial border. Perfect for introducing movement, it looks stunning under-planted with the rich purple flowerheads of Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’. Garden care: When planting always wear stout gardening gloves to protect against the sharp edges of the basal leaves. Wearing gloves, comb through the plant in early spring to remove dead foliage.
Gutter gard £5.99
Gutters with blockage and overflow are the main and regular problems with gutters so put a stop to it with a Gutter Guard. Stops leaves, twigs and other debris from blocking gutters. Easy to secure with fixing clips included. Pack suitable for a 6m length Fits gutters upto 16cm wide 6m Long, 16cm Wide 1 strip Clips onto the gutter with clips.
Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (feather reed grass) £4.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: dry or wet, well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast growing Flowering period: early summer to autumn Hardiness: fully hardy A stiff, erect habit is the defining feature of this grass, named after the famo us German plantsman who introduced it to the public in the 1950s. Plant it en masse to form a feathery screen, or in small groups to add height and definition to a perennial border. It also looks good planted next to buildings. This is one of the earliest perennial grasses to get going, with shoots appearing in early spring, followed by flowers that are green first, then fade to buff. Garden care: Very low maintenance, it simply needs to be cut down to the ground in February. Don’t be tempted to chop it earlier, as its wheat-coloured stems add drama and strong winter presence to the garden.
Mangetout ‘Shirraz’ (pea – (mangetout)) £1.29
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, moist but well drained Add a bit of colour to the kitchen garden with these – the first commercially grown purple mangetout. Best harvested when still young and succulent, the pods are delicious when eaten raw in salads. If lightly cooked (steamed, boiled or stir-fried), their colour will change colour to rich green. Growing Instructions: Choose a sunny, sheltered site with fertile soil and make a broad flat-bottomed drill 5cm deep and 10cm wide. Water it, then place the peas in a staggered double row before backfilling with soil. Protect from mice and slugs. Support peas as they grow with twiggy peasticks or canes and string. Pick plants regularly when pods are still young so that they continue producing more. Sow: April to June Harvest: July to September Approximate quantity: 100 seeds.
Tomato ‘Sweet Aperitif’ (cherry tomato) £0.99
Position: full sun Soil: humus-rich, moisture retentive soil This new cherry tomato produces its bit-sized fruits in generous trusses, which can be picked from midsummer onwards. Noted for their high sugar content, the fruits are sweet, but the flavour is well balanced with a slight tang. Perfect in pots, it is a cordon type, which can either be grown on the patio (after frost) or in the greenhouse. Growing Instructions: Sow in a frost-free greenhouse or windowsill, potting on seedlings individually as they grow. Once all danger of frost has passed, plant into greenhouse borders or into growbags, or harden plants off and plant outside in rich soil in a sunny spot. Tie in to supports and pinch out side shoots: keep well-watered and feed weekly once flowers form. Keep water levels in the soil consistent to prevent blossom end rot and split fruit. Increase water in hot spells and reduce in cool weather to keep the soil constantly damp. Sow: January-March Harvest: August-September Approximate quantity: 50 seeds.