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Wednesday 24 February 2010

Climbing potato vine Solanum Crispum Glasnevin, (Chilean Potato tree) ideal for walls trellis and pergolas


The Solanum Crispum Glasnevin climbing vine is a native of South America and part of the nightshade family of species. Interestingly it is closely related to the potato hence it's more commonly known name The Chilean potato vine or tree.
 I am not sure exactly who first introduced the plant to Britain but it was probably William Curtis, a
 well known 18th century English horticulturist who collected plants from all over the world. Certainly it was one of his drawings and sketches he made public in the late 1700's. The plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM)
It is a prolific flowerer with soft purple-blue flowers with a tiny yellow centre and a subtle fragrance.  One can expect this glorious display to continue right through the Summer months from June until September when it produces small green-yellow berries which are poisonous to humans. It thrives best in a sunny position in neutral to alkaline soil and is an ideal climber for a wall, trellis or pergola although one should bear in mind it is very vigorous once established and can reach over five metres.
You will need to provide some support for this vine in the form of horizontal wires or trellis if growing up a wall.   In some areas the plant will remain semi evergreen but is more likely to be deciduous. Pruning should be done in the spring as new growth is about to commence.  Take out all dead growth and cut down roughly a third of older stems to ground level and tie in new growth. You will probably need to trim some growth so the vine lies flatter against your support to stop it lopping as it grows out as much as up. One thing I've personally found is that they do not like to be 'hacked back' to hard at one time especially if this takes place in the Autumn or over the Winter.
There are white varieties of this vigorous climber also, most notably Solanum Jasminoides and Solanum Laxum
 Pictures top: The village of Amport in the county of Hampshire England. Middle: Picture contributors Marie-Lan Ngyun, Simon Davis, Hans Bernhard, Roy Focker. Bottom Picture: Village of Vernham Dean,Hampshire UK.
General discussion and your views are welcome please say hello. I regret however because of my busy schedule, I am unable to answer many questions.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.
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Thursday 18 February 2010

Wisteria Climbing Vine for sunny or partial shaded walls,trellis and pergolas

How to grow Wisteria
How to plant grow and care for wisteria
learn how to grow and care for wisteria vines
The Wisteria is a popular climber in Britain and can be seen covering many cottage walls and garden trellis in villages all over the country. However this woody vine is not a native of the British Islands but of China (wisteria sinensis), Japan (wisteria floribunda) and The United States (wisteria frutescens and others). The English Botanist Thomas Nuttall who lived in America from c. 1800-1840 named the genus
What is the best place to plant Wisteria
 Wisteria, of which there are approx ten species, are named after Dr.Caspar Wistar a prominent American physician and anatomist of the time. The commonest species found in Britain is Wisteria sinensis, brought over from China in 1816. Indeed one of the original imported plants still grows to this day on the wall of what used to be the head brewers cottage at the Fullers beer brewery in Chiswick London and is probably the oldest one in the country.
Tips on growing a Wisteria Vine
The Wisteria is a hardy climber and once established very vigorous, so care should be taken when planting, making sure that you have enough space to accomodate it, otherwise constant heavy pruning will be required. It can easily find its way into gutters and under roof tiles. Don't let that deter you to much however as the spectacle of a Wisteria flowering in May is one to behold.
The right way to prune a wisteria vine
 They do best in a position with full sun or partial shade. Plant in Autumn or Spring in soil that is humus rich and well drained. When talking about Wisteria the question I get asked most often is how to prune them for maximum flowers. The flower buds develop at the base of the previous years growth on the spurs jutting outward from the plant, most visible once the leaves have fallen. Any water or side shoots sticking out (long wispy bits) should be trimmed back to three or four buds from the base. I usually do mine over winter but some people prefer to wait till early spring. In the summer after flowering growth will be vigorous so cut off all the long shoots that you don't want to keep to extend the plants height or width otherwise it will become very tangled. Happy wisteria growing!
Trimming wisteria stems
Pictures: Wonderful Wisterias.
General discussion and your views are welcome please say hello. I regret however because of my busy schedule, I am unable to answer many questions. Sneaky advertising will be deleted sorry. Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.