Gardener’s Cuttings
One million
New RHS bursary for trainee
bulbs as Eden
horticulturists
bursts into
The Royal Horticultural Society has
bloom
launched the Susan Pearson Bursary,
a new award of sponsorship of up to
Cornwall’s Eden
£10,000, for a trainee horticulturist to
Project is boasting
have a year’s practical work-experience at
that it has one
a recognised garden open to the public.
million bulbs planted
for the spring season
Endowed by Dr Henry Pearson in memory
as crocus flowers,
of his late wife, Susan, the bursary will
daffodils and
give individuals the opportunity to
tulips light up the
gain practical skills in plantsmanship
landscape.
and all aspects of garden and estate
A million bulbs ready to burst open at the Eden Project management. The application can be
Last October more
made either by the individual or a garden
than 300 Girl Guides visited to plant 200,000 crocus bulbs across the Eden
offering the work-experience place. If
arena. The bulbs will eventually naturalise and increase in number year on year.
you want to apply you must have found
Rob Brett, Eden’s Horticultural Temperate Curator, said: “Spring is an exciting a work-experience placement at a garden
time for all involved gardening and none more so than at Eden. recognised as open to the public. The
“The new crocus maze will flower in February and March and I’m sure visitors
applicant needs a placement for a period
will love a wander around it.
of up to 12 months undertaken.
“Across the site we have planted a number of traditional daffodils, snowdrops
Application forms by calling 01483 212
and other bulbous delights which will enhance the spring look.
380 or emailing bursaries@rhs.org.uk .
Under cover in the Mediterranean Biome there will be the biggest display of
tulips ever at Eden with more than 16,000 bulbs and 40 different varieties. Deadly oak disease
The spring season at Eden runs from February right through to May.
threatens trees
Oak and beech trees in counties
from Hampshire to Devon are being
First new vegetable in a decade
years so it’s a real sense of achievement
hit by a virilant oak fungus carried
A new vegetable Flower Sprout, has hit the
when your product hits the market”.
by rhododendron plants which has
shelves after 10 years of development by
The Flower Sprout has a Brussels Sprout- devastated oaks on America's west
British company Tozer Seeds. The family
like plant habit, a tall stem with rosettes coast. Phytophthora ramorum, known
owned company started making tentative
forming all the way up to a frilly-leaved as ‘Sudden Oak Death’ is a fungal-algae
crosses of sprout and kale varieties in
top. It is winter hardy with a harvest combination
1995. Just one variety has been released
window stretching from October to for which there
so far, but other varieties in a range
early March from mid-March sowings. is no known
of colour forms and maturities will be
The taste is milder and sweeter than a remedy.
available shortly.
Brussels Sprout with a good texture, its
The disease
Dr. Jamie Claxton, at Tozers says “We’ve
an ideal winter vegetable and can be
Distinctive red sap spells has destroyed
become known for our ability to
steamed, stir-fried or microwaved. trouble for oak trees and
millions of trees
produce new, exciting, novel vegetables
Seed is available from a number of
many more
in America and
and Flower Sprout is no exception.
retailers including Thompson & Morgan has now has now spread across the west
Breeding a new variety can take over 10
under the name ‘Petit Posy’
of England, possibly after being brought
over in imported plants.
The National Trust has held a conference
for its head gardeners to discuss what can
be done. It was first identified in the UK in
2007 in Cornwall but has reached Devon
and Somerset as far as Staffordshire and
Hampshire. As well as causing trees to
"bleed" a thick red sap, it makes leaves turn
brown and curl and destroys its host with
great speed. The National Trust is clearing
rhododendrons from much of its land, as
the plant is known to spread the disease.
Gardeners are advised not to deal
with the infection themselves, but to
report it to the Plant Health and Seeds
Flower sprout the first new vegetable for a decade and seeds are now available
Inspectorate on 01904 465625.
Country Gardener
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