How to Grow and Care for Bamboo Palms Chamaedorea seifrizii
22.11.2023 - 17:34 / gardenersworld.com
Cucamelons (Melothria scabra) are a unique and fascinating fruit also known as ‘Mexican sour gherkins’ or ‘mouse melons’. Despite their name, they’re not a cross between cucumbers and watermelons, but rather a distinct species that belongs in the cucumber family. They are native to Mexico and Central America, where they’ve been cultivated for centuries.
Cucamelons are small, grape-sized fruits that resemble tiny watermelons and have a tart, citrusy flavour. They’re incredibly refreshing and can be eaten raw or used in a variety of culinary applications, such as pickling, salads, and garnishes. Cucamelons are also rich in vitamins and minerals, making them a healthy addition to your diet.
While cucamelons may not be as commonly grown as other garden plants, they are gaining popularity among home gardeners for their distinctive taste and appearance. As a result, they are increasingly being stocked in supermarkets. They’re easy to grow and require minimal maintenance.
Cucamelons are typically grown as annuals, but they can be grown as perennials in warmer climates (unless you can overwinter them indoors). They need warm temperatures and are sensitive to frost, so they should be planted out from May, after all risk of frost has passed.
How to grow cucamelonsGrow cucamelons in moist, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Sow seed under cover from March and plant out after all risk of frost has passed. Water regularly and fertilise with a high-potash liquid feed weekly. Harvest cucamelons when they are around the size of a grape and still firm.
Where to grow cucamelonsGrow cucamelons indoors or outside, in containers or directly in the ground. They are climbers and so require support from a trellis or wigwam of canes.
HowHow to Grow and Care for Bamboo Palms Chamaedorea seifrizii
Coleus plants are easy to care for, low-maintenance, and grow quickly, which makes them ideal for beginners.
Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a deciduous tree with a slender shape and graceful appearance, which has given rise to its lovely name of the ‘lady of the woods’. Silver birch trees look attractive year-round with white bark, spring catkins and yellow autumn leaf colour. The catkins and seeds are popular with wildlife such as bees and birds, while several species of moth lay eggs on birch leaves.
Hardy fuchsias are commonly grown in UK gardens, and it’s no surprise – many flower from June to November and need very little care. Native to Central and South America, most hardy fuchsias survive UK winters (RHS hardiness rating H4), although some may still require protection from the harshest weather (RHS hardiness rating H3 or H2). In milder parts of the UK, hardy fuchsias can grow into a shrub up to 3m in height but in colder regions they may be damaged by frost and require cutting back to the base, from where they regrow in spring.
A great tree for multi-season interest, Lagerstroemia fauriei adds a decorative flourish from summer to winter. The Japanese crepe myrtle, as it is also known, is a deciduous tree with gorgeous fall color. This crepe myrtle also develops beautiful summer blossoms and attractive peeling red and brown bark.
Mahonias are woody evergreen shrubs and the best of them flower in winter. In the past, they were regarded as something to shove in the shady corner or, even more insultingly, as car park plants. But now – thanks to the demand for architectural foliage – they are having their moment in the sun... or, rather, their moment in light shade, which is where they prefer to be.
Who would be without a hellebore or two in the dark months of February and early March, when we long for the onset of spring? Their generous, characterful flowers bring colour and hope to the garden when we need it most, and they really don’t need much to keep them happy.
As inextricable from mass festive wares as tinsel and paper hats, the poinsettia blazes red in most shops and homes during December. Being such an omnipresent sight makes it unappealing for many of us, but, thankfully – if the standard scarlet species makes you wince – there are less common forms available that are well worth buying to brighten the house this Christmas.
Should you be stopped in your tracks by the blazing colour of a tree this autumn, it is likely to be a maple (Acer). Their distinctive palmate leaves burn breathtaking, vivid shades of scarlet, ruby, or gold before they fall, outshining most trees in the vicinity. Some acers also offer colourful spring foliage; others have a sculptural spreading shape with multiple trunks; and a few provide attractive bark during the winter months.
Cherry blossom on show in a west London garden by Sheila Jack
This exotic succulent offers a spectacular display with its constellation of tiny, star-shaped flowers. Let’s have a look at how to grow String of Stars Plant easily!
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