Euryops, the golden daisy bush from South Africa

People can be very averse to growing plants that are not able to survive frost, but then they quite happily buy geraniums, petunias, verbena, argyranthemums and osteospermums that will be killed by the first hard frost of autumn, because they expect to lose them each winter.

The flowers mentioned are treated as bedding plants that provide summer colour. Euryops can be added to this group. In a mild area, it might survive a few mild winters outdoors before finally succumbing.

However, while it lasts it will dramatically brighten the garden up from late spring into summer and produce some flowers even into the last days of autumn.

Euryops, the golden daisy bush from South Africa, is a fast-growing, soft, bushy plant with ferny leaves, that covers itself with bright yellow daisies. In mild gardens, there is rarely a time when there are no flowers on it.

The daisy flowers are just a single row of bright yellow ray petals around a raised centre button of the same colour. The flowers are very pretty and lively, and the contrast with the ferny grey-green or green foliage is very attractive. The foliage is evergreen, which means that the plant has presence in a border even if there are no flowers.

In mild areas, it has begun to flower already and soon will have scores of yellow daisies. The flowers open from round, drooping buds. Where it is suited with regard to the micro-climate, it grows rapidly to make a low, bushy plant, more than 60cm across in a year. If it makes it through a couple of winters, it can be 1.5 metres across and half as high. A bush of this size covered with cheery yellow daisies is a sight to see and well worth growing.

There is no effort involved in growing it. Just plant the young plant about this time of year, water it to settle it in and off it goes. Keep down weeds in the normal way until it is established and it will readily shade out weed seedlings. It is like a touch of the sunny cape of South Africa arriving in the garden. It is best to plant three or four plants because each one plays off the other when in flower and the effect is heightened.

In cold areas, it can be grown in pots and could be planted out in early summer, after the frost has gone, in the same way as geraniums. Cuttings can be taken with great ease in summer to have young, easily managed plants to carry over winter to replace the established ones that might fall foul of frost.

It is also excellent for use as a greenhouse or conservatory plant, or in a glass porch. It will even flower in winter with the extra warmth that is usually available in a conservatory or a sunroom. It tends to get pot-bound after a couple of years, and usually grows too big anyway, and it should be raised from cuttings to have new plants to follow on.

Although euryops is very easy to grow, it must not be overfed as this makes it too vigorous. Well-drained soil, even a touch sandy, is ideal. Good drainage helps to keep it from getting too vigorous and too leafy at the expense of flowers.

It also helps to harden the plants before winter, making the tissues more resistant to frost, so that it can tolerate a light touch of frost, down to -5°C. Plants are not widely available as of yet, but they are available in a lot of garden centres, particularly at this time of year. CL

Feed garlic plants

Garlic cloves planted last autumn are growing well, but often look a bit tired in spring. The rainfall of winter has washed most of the immediately available nitrogen nutrient out of the top-soil. This nitrogen is needed by the garlic plants to boost their early summer growth as the tops soon wither after that.

When the soil warms up a bit more, organic material breaks down and releases nitrogen, but there is often a gap in which the garlic plants slow down and they cannot afford that if the bulbs are to be of good size.

A boost now in the form of a shake of high-nitrogen fertilizer or chicken manure, or a liquid feed, will help to keep them going.

Trees, shrubs & roses

Recently planted trees, shrubs and hedges need to be checked for water shortage and will need to be watered during dry spells that last for more than five days. Watch roses for greenflies and continue to spray against blackspot disease. Control weeds around the base of young trees.

Flowers

Tidy up flower beds now and control weeds. Gladioli and dahlias can be planted directly outdoors. It is too early to plant out bedding plants, unless in the mildest gardens close to the south coast. If you are raising your own bedding plants, these should be pricked out into trays or pots in good time.

Fruit, veg & herbs

Vegetables can be sown in suitable soil conditions. Apple trees need to be sprayed against apple scab, unless they are resistant varieties. Do not spray when the blossoms are open, in case you poison bees or other insects. A first sowing of French beans can be made. Sow parsley and summer savory too.

Lawns

Some warm days in recent weeks have got lawns greening up a bit. Lawns that are growing poorly are discoloured and may need feeding with lawn fertilizer or high-nitrogen fertilizer. Mow regularly to keep the grass down and encourage a good, dense sward to develop. Weekly mowing will be necessary.

Greenhouse

All greenhouse plants should be well watered and liquid-fed. Sweetcorn should be sown by now, but could be put in right away. Courgette seeds and runner beans could be sown for planting out at the end of May. Watch for greenflies and red spider mites. Baskets can be planted and kept under cover.