Gardening tips: chit potatoes for an early summer crop
Plant this Dark-leaved elder (Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla ‘Black Tower’) produces pink flowers in spring followed by elderberries. It has the added benefit of growing up rather than out, making it ideal for smaller gardens. Height and spread 250cm x 120cm: full sun or partial shade.
Chit this Get some potatoes sprouting now and they’ll be ready by early summer. Try ‘Kifli’, a blight-resistant, high-yielding salad potato that’s ideal for planting in sacks or pots. The first step is chitting: place tubers in an old egg box, blunt end uppermost, on a windowsill until the shoots are about 2cm long.
Visit this If you love hanging out in historic glasshouses, Bicton Park Botanical Gardens near Budleigh Salterton, Devon, should be on your bucket list. It boasts four glasshouses, including the stunning curvilinear Palm House, dating from 1820 (bictongardens.co.uk).
