Weekend Work: Time to take root cuttings
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
What to do
Several herbaceous plants such as papery flowered romneya, oriental poppies, anchusas, perennial verbascums and gaillardias are most easily propagated by root cuttings. This month is the time to take them. Dig up some of the clump you want to increase, chop the roots into pieces between 1-2in long and push the cuttings vertically (right end up) into pots full of a sandy light compost. If you make the top cuts at a slant and the bottom cuts straight across, it helps remind you which is which. Cuttings of romneya and gaillardia are best laid thinly over the surface of a tray of compost and then covered with another thin layer. Put the pots and trays in the greenhouse (or cold frame) and keep them watered but not drowned. By early June, you should have young plants sturdy enough to be grown on.
What to buy
Architectural Plants, Angus White's superb nursery at Nuthurst in West Sussex, is having a winter sale – 10 per cent off all plants until end of Jan. It's a cunning plan – to shift the onus of nursing the more tender plants (Angus signs them green, amber and red according to hardiness) on to his customers. Fortunately, there are as many green plants available as red and amber ones. The nursery is open Mon-Sat (9am-5pm). For more info, call 01403 891772 or visit architecturalplants.com.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments