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GARDENING
Twin scaling: a step-by-step guide with
Abbie and Mark Jury.
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Trim and clean up the bulb, particularly around the base plate, removing
any old roots. Cut into quarters or eighths, depending on the size of the
bulb.
Hydrangea
Immaculata
The most perfect floral display in our
garden this week has been Hydrangea
Immaculata – such an appropriate, if
somewhat Roman Catholic, name. A
smaller-growing, compact variety,
being about a metre high and a metre
wide, its moptop flower heads are
pristine white. It is best grown in the
shade, where it will light up a dark
area, because it tends to burn in our
intense summer sun. Beyond that,
there is nothing fussy or difficult about
this summer perfection. It is just one of
the common macrophylla types and as
the flowers age, they often develop a
pretty rose pink tinge. Cuttings are
easy to strike, even for the novice.
Friday, January 8, 2010 TARANAKI DAILY NEWS 11
www.taranakidailynews.co.nz
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Some bulbs are constructed of layers of flesh like an onion, attached to Some bulbs, like tulips or this colchicum, are not layered because the
the base plate at the bottom. The layers are the leaves in waiting. These bulb is the potential stem. You cannot twin scale these types of bulbs
types of bulbs can be multiplied by a process known as twin scaling. The because they lack scales.
bulb at front is a nerine and the layers are clearly visible in the demonstration
onion.
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Peel off two scales together, attached to some of the base plate of the Plant the scales in rows in a tray filled with seed-raising mix, taking care
bulb. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut. It does not matter if you have three to cover the scales entirely. Water them in and keep the tray in a warm,
or more scales, but if you do not have part of the base plate attached, dark position until the spring. Don’t let the tray dry out. The bulblets will
the process will not work. In due course, a small bulblet will form between the form through the autumn and grow away in spring, so you only twin scale
two scales on the base plate. when the bulb is freshly dormant. It is too late to twin scale autumn bulbs,
because they are already in growth, but you can do the spring-flowering ones
Photos: ROBERT CHARLES right now.
Hydrangeas are a wonderful source
of colour in summer and ideal in
verdant Taranaki, with our
combination of high sunshine hours
and summer rain. Because our soils are
acid, most are blue, though as you
quote of the week
drive northwards through the Pio Pio
and Te Kuiti area, you may notice the
hydrangeas tend to pink, which
indicates alkaline soils in that There is a dangerous doctrine –
limestone country.
We just happen to have an dangerous because it precludes
international hydrangea expert living
in our midst. Glyn Church at endless gardening pleasures – that
Woodleigh Nursery and Garden near
Oakura is probably better known every plant in the garden should
overseas than here (ain’t that just the
way?), but locals at least have the be disease-free, bug-free, hardy
chance to see his garden in person.
Mark was there a few days ago and can to cold, resistant to heat and
vouch that it is full of summer colour
and looking great with some gorgeous drought, cheap to buy and
hydrangeas. Bloody Marvellous was a
showstopper in purple. Glyn is working available at any garden centre.
towards being accredited as holding the
national collection of hydrangeas in
New Zealand, which means he has a
wide range. He has targetted the Henry Mitchell,
summer garden and the floral display
goes well beyond hydrangeas. His Henry Mitchell on
garden is open, but please phone first
on 752-7597. Gardening (1998)
– Abbie Jury