Getting on with gardening is the essential guide to gardening with a sight problem.
This extended edition is packed with tried and tested techniques gathered from blind and partially sighted gardeners over the past 80 years.
Expand your knowledge and gardening skills with expert advice on taking cuttings, container growing, gardening outside, protected growing, pruning, looking after the lawn, pests and diseases and labelling.
Getting on with gardening has been rewritten and updated by Thrive and published by RNIB, with funding from the Big Lottery Fund.
About the guide
The first volume contains general advice on seed sowing, potting, planting up a container, useful tools, raised beds, watering and planting. Volume two continues with sections on taking cuttings, container growing, dealing with pests and diseases, growing under cover, labelling and top tips from experienced gardeners.
The following extracts are taken from volume two.
Softwood and semi-ripe cuttings
Both softwood and semi-ripe cuttings are taken by cutting a section of the growing shoot of the plant. Ideally choose a non-flowering shoot i.e. one that does not have a bud or flower.
First you will need to familiarise yourself with the whole plant. Start from ground/compost level, find the main stems and work your way up the growing tip, where you will find a cluster of small leaves. Work your way back down the shoot and you will find that the leaves start to be spaced further apart. Are the leaves in pairs, opposite one another or are they arranged individually down the stem? Are there any side shoots growing from the point where the leaf joins the stem (known as the node)? The node is the main point at which new roots are made.
Once you are familiar with the "layout" of your plant, go back to the growing tip. measuring from the tip, you need to take a cutting between 5 - 10cm (2"-4") long. Using a sharp knife, cut the shoot midway between the two nodes. Place this cutting flat on a surface and cut it cleanly, straight across the stem, immediately below the lowest remaining node. Now trim the bottom few leaves off by cutting them close to the stem. You will now have a cutting compromising a short bare stem, with a few leaves at the top.
Top tip from Elsie Hall of Rossshire
"I have always been aware of just how dangerous to the eyes plant stakes are. I saved brightly coloured aresol can tops, placed on top of the canes and secured with a dab of 'no more nails' glue and I know no longer worry. they also give added colour!"
Top tip from Alison Hamilton
"To allow for ease of returning to the same place in the garden, simply leave a radio playing.""To reduce the problem of weeds, my top tip is to line the bed with a weed suppressing membrane, cut crosses where the plants come through and cover with bark, slate or gravel."
Buy your copy
Each volume of Getting on with gardening costs £7.50. Buy your copy from the
RNIB online shop, from
Thrive or from the RNIB Resource Centre in Judd Street.
Further information about gardening