GINA PARKINSON strikes it lucky with a plant bought on the market.

LAST year I spotted an interesting shrub, Prostanthera, on York market: the variegated leaves attracted my attention, mid green edged in cream, covering slender stems.

Added to this was the lovely soft scent of mint they emitted when rubbed which accounts for its popular name of variegated mint bush.

It grows in a large pot in a very sunny spot in our garden which, as I’ve since found out is the best place in the UK because this shrub is not necessarily hardy, especially during a cold wet winter.

Prostanthera is a large family of shrubs from Australia with this member being Prostanthera ovalifolia variegata. In the right conditions, it can grow three metres or more tall with long airy branches covered in evergreen foliage added to which are purple flowers in spring.

It needs well-drained soil in sun or partial shade and an established plant in the garden can tolerate a winter dip in temperature down to around -6C as long as the soil is free draining.

It would be a bit of a risk here in the north to put one in the garden but the safest spot would be a south facing house wall where it would be protected from all but the hardest of winters and could also be easily covered in fleece should it be necessary.


In the vegetable garden

STRAWBERRIES are coming on fast after flowering magnificently earlier in the month. Now is the time to get some straw underneath the swelling fruits to protect them from slugs and rotting from lying on wet earth.

It is also worth weeding the bed once again and covering the whole area with netting to stop the birds getting at the reddening fruit. In our garden, the blackbirds seem especially fond of this crop so I leave a few plants unprotected that they can peck on. It seems a bit mean not to share some of this delicious fruit with them.


Weekend catch up

Primulas can be lifted and divided this weekend. Overgrown clumps are easily divided by carefully removing them from the bed, shaking off the soil and prising them apart by hand.

The individual plants come away from each other with a few leaves and roots. They can be replanted straight away to grow on through the summer and will be ready to flower next spring.

Primulas left over from spring containers cleared for their summer display can also be planted out in the garden. It is a good way of increasing early blooming stock for the garden. Although they may not all appear again next year it is worth giving them a go to see what happens.

An alternative for these plants is to pot them up and place them in a cool shady spot to grow on for next year’s spring containers.

Primulas are hardy and can survive with little care until they are needed next year but will need daily watering until autumn especially if the summer is hot and dry. Check for slugs and snails occasionally and pick off any that are congregating around the pots and hiding under the leaves.


Open Gardens

Sunday

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

Kelberdale, Wetherby Road, Knaresborough, HG5 8LN. Award winning garden planted for year round interest with herbaceous border, colour themed beds, pond and bog garden, alpine house and troughs, vegetables and a wildlife garden. Open 10pm-6pm, admission £3.

Lockington Gardens, near Driffield, YO25 9SR. Two gardens open in the village of Lockington. The garden at Penny Cottage is on different levels with conifers, herbaceous perennials, climbers and a raised vegetable plot. Thorpe Lodge’s garden is on the site of an old orchard and has shrubs and trees, a wildlife pond, summer house and vegetable patch. Open 1pm-6pm, combined admission £4.

Marston Grange, Tockwith Road, Long Marston, YO26 7PL. Two acre garden with views over the battlefield of Marston Moor. The garden has native and wildflower species, a traditional haha, wildlife pond, small walled garden, an orchard with vegetable and cutting gardens and walks through and around a large perennial wild flower meadow. Open 11am-5pm, admission £3.

Millgate House, Millgate, Richmond, DL10 4JN. Award winning walled town garden overlooking the River Swale and filled with old roses, clematis, hostas, ferns, small trees and shrubs. Open 8am-8.30pm, admission £3.50. Within visiting distance of Swale Cottage, details below.

Norton Conyers, Wath, near Ripon, HG4 5EQ. Large C18 walled garden of interest to garden historians with borders, yew hedges and an Orangery with a pond in front. A small sales are specialises in unusual hardy plants and fruit in season. Open 2pm-5pm admission £5.50.

3 Pilmore Cottages, Pilmoor, YO61 2QQ, 20 miles north of York. Two acre informal cottage style garden filled with specimens collected by two avid garden visitors unable to pass by the plant stall on a visit. Garden includes ponds, rockery, a clock golf putting green and miniature railway. Open 11am-5pm. Admission £3.50.

Swale Cottage, Station Road, Richmond, DL10 4LU. Half-acre hidden garden on a steep site with views. The garden includes a mature herbaceous, rose and shrub garden, yew and cedar, organic fruit and vegetables and an adjacent orchard and paddock with sheep and hens. Open 1pm-5pm, admission £3. Within visiting distance of Millgate House details above.

Terrington House, Terrington, YO60 6PU. Just 15 miles north east of York. Three acre garden with mixed beds of brunnera, azaleas and rhododendrons, peonies and hostas. Plus a herb parterre, vegetable garden, mature trees and a Shell House. Open 11am-4pm, admission £4.