Anthemis tinctora - ideal for daisy lovers

As we travel into July, the flower beds are filling with tall, colourful perennials which will take them into August and some cases beyond.

Anthemis tinctora is such a family of plants, a good hardy plant for the middle of a border or bed where the fine cut foliage and daisy-type flowers open on and off from June until September with the main flowering period being July. Anthemis tinctora “Wargrave variety” is readily available from nurseries, this popularity reflecting that it is a “good doer”, establishing easily and flowering at an early stage. The large flowers are a beautiful clear yellow and the leaves greenish grey and it will thrive in a dry soil in full sun.

Initially, watering may be necessary to get the roots established, especially in a dry spring such as we had this year, but once the roots have got themselves into the soil it can be left to grow as it pleases.

I find some support is needed – twiggy sticks are best so the sometimes top-heavy flower stems have something to rest themselves upon. The flowers close in the evening and on dull days, but even the smallest amount of hazy sunshine is enough to open them up.

Other popular Anthemis tinctoria varieties include “E.C.Buxton” with acid yellow blooms and “Sauce Hollandaise” with paler creamy yellow flowers.

Both are easy to establish and should grow into long lasting hardy specimens.

Less usual is compact growing “Eva” which is long flowering and good for the front of a bed, “Tinpenny Sparkle” with lemon flowers and grey green foliage and “Alba” an unusual white petalled variety with dark foliage.

A reasonably trouble-free plant to grow in the garden. the golden rule for Anthemis tinctoria is well drained soil and a sunny spot. Winter wet can be fatal, too much shade will see fewer flowers and a plant that struggles to thrive. But given the correct spot, this is the perfect plant for daisy lovers everywhere.

In the veg patch

After taking a week’s holiday recently, we came back to find weeds had almost submerged the vegetables, so it has been a tedious few hours work putting things right. The broad beans have finished, all eaten and none for the freezer so we must grow more next year, and onions gathered so we are now planning to fill the gaps. Courgettes are ready to take the place of the onions and my son’s pumpkin plant is already getting settled in its sunny spot. Butterbean plants are ready to be put into the space left by the broad beans and Cavelo nero seeds bought at the Great Yorkshire Show earlier this week have been sown for a winter harvest.

These are germinating in modules to keep them safe from pigeons but as soon as they are large enough to handle, they can go into their spot and be grown on under netting.

Open gardens

Sunday, July 17

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

Bridge Farm House, Long Lane, Great Heck, nr Selby, DN14 0BE.

Two-acre garden divided by hedges into rooms housing many unusual and varied specimens planted for year round interest. Different areas include bog and gravel gardens, hens and 130ft-long double herbaceous borders. Open noon-4pm, admission £3.

Low Sutton, Sutton Lane, Masham, HG4 4PB. A new cottage garden developed since 2007. A concentric circular floral colour wheel surrounded by roses and clematis. Plus vegetables and fruit in raised beds, perennial border, grasses and a courtyard. Open 11.30am-5pm, admission £2.50.

The Nursery, 15 Knapton Lane, Acomb, York, YO26 5PX.

One-acre productive organic garden hidden behind a sub urban house with a wide range of fruit and vegetables grown outside and inside under cover in large greenhouses. Informal ornamental areas provide colour and a habitat for wild life. Produce for sale. Open 1pm-5pm, admission £2.50. Evening opening on Friday, 6pm-9pm, tomato tasting.

Rudston House, Long Street, Rudston, YO25 4UH. Three-acre exuberant gardens with tree, lawns, hosta and lily beds, paths with clipped box edging, a woodland walk, potager with named vegetables and interesting corners and features to explore. Open 11am-5pm, admission £3.50.

St John’s RC Primary School, Wilberforce Crescent, Beverley, HU17 0BU.

Organic school garden with vegetable, wildlife and peace areas, small orchard and a ‘weird and wonderful’ themed poly tunnel. Guided tours by the pupils. Open 1pm-5pm, admission £2.50.

Sleightholmedale Lodge, Fadmoor, YO62 7JD. Hillside garden with a rose garden and herbaceous borders filled with roses, delphiniums and verbascums in July. Lovely views over a peaceful North Yorkshire valley. Open 2pm-6pm, admission £3.50. Also open today 2pm-6pm.

Wednesday, July 20

Combe Hay, Stepney road, Scarborough, YO12 5DJ. Award winning garden set in four-and-a-half acre landscaped grounds. Designed for relaxation with many trees and shrubs, colourful herbaceous and annual borders, an orchard, vegetable garden and pond. Open 10am-4pm, admission £4.

TV and radio

Sunday, July 17

8am: BBC Radio Humerside, The Great Outdoors. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart.

9am: BBC Radio Leeds, Gardening with Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden 2pm: BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Peter Gibbs, Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood and Bunny Guinness. gardening weather forecast at 2.40pm.

2.45pm: BBC R4, Mabey In The Wild. Richard Mabey looks at the natural and cultural history of the rose.

Wednesday, July 20

7.30pm: C5, Garden ER.

Thursday, July 21

7.30pm: BBC2, RHS Tatton Flower Show. Morr coverage at 8pm tomorrow.

Friday, July 22

3pm: BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time at the RHS Show Tatton Park 8pm: ITV1, Love Your Garden. Alan Titchmarsh shows how to create a party garden complete with planted seating areas and dramatic lighting.

8.30pm: BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Monty Don shows how to keep sweet peas blooming and divided primulas. Carol Klein takes a trip to Wales to visit a garden on five different levels.