www.taranakidailynews.co.nz Friday, January 8, 2010 TARANAKI DAILY NEWS 11

GARDENING www.taranakidailynews.co.nz

Twin scaling: a step-by-step guide withAbbie and Mark Jury.

Photos: ROBERT CHARLES

1 Some bulbs are constructed of layers of flesh like an onion, attached tothe base plate at the bottom. The layers are the leaves in waiting. Thesetypes of bulbs can be multiplied by a process known as twin scaling. The

bulb at front is a nerine and the layers are clearly visible in the demonstrationonion.

2 Some bulbs, like tulips or this colchicum, are not layered because thebulb is the potential stem. You cannot twin scale these types of bulbsbecause they lack scales.

3 Trim and clean up the bulb, particularly around the base plate, removingany old roots. Cut into quarters or eighths, depending on the size of thebulb. 4 Peel off two scales together, attached to some of the base plate of the

bulb. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut. It does not matter if you have threeor more scales, but if you do not have part of the base plate attached,

the process will not work. In due course, a small bulblet will form between thetwo scales on the base plate.

5 Plant the scales in rows in a tray filled with seed-raising mix, taking careto cover the scales entirely. Water them in and keep the tray in a warm,dark position until the spring. Don’t let the tray dry out. The bulblets will

form through the autumn and grow away in spring, so you only twin scalewhen 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 onesright now.

HydrangeaImmaculataThe most perfect floral display in ourgarden this week has been HydrangeaImmaculata – such an appropriate, ifsomewhat Roman Catholic, name. Asmaller-growing, compact variety,being about a metre high and a metrewide, its moptop flower heads arepristine white. It is best grown in theshade, where it will light up a darkarea, because it tends to burn in ourintense summer sun. Beyond that,there is nothing fussy or difficult aboutthis summer perfection. It is just one ofthe common macrophylla types and asthe flowers age, they often develop apretty rose pink tinge. Cuttings areeasy to strike, even for the novice.

Hydrangeas are a wonderful sourceof colour in summer and ideal inverdant Taranaki, with ourcombination of high sunshine hoursand summer rain. Because our soils areacid, most are blue, though as youdrive northwards through the Pio Pioand Te Kuiti area, you may notice thehydrangeas tend to pink, whichindicates alkaline soils in thatlimestone country.

We just happen to have aninternational hydrangea expert livingin our midst. Glyn Church atWoodleigh Nursery and Garden nearOakura is probably better knownoverseas than here (ain’t that just theway?), but locals at least have thechance to see his garden in person.Mark was there a few days ago and canvouch that it is full of summer colourand looking great with some gorgeoushydrangeas. Bloody Marvellous was ashowstopper in purple. Glyn is workingtowards being accredited as holding thenational collection of hydrangeas inNew Zealand, which means he has awide range. He has targetted thesummer garden and the floral displaygoes well beyond hydrangeas. Hisgarden is open, but please phone firston 752-7597.

– Abbie Jury

quote of the weekThere is a dangerous doctrine –dangerous because it precludesendless gardening pleasures – thatevery plant in the garden shouldbe disease-free, bug-free, hardyto cold, resistant to heat anddrought, cheap to buy andavailable at any garden centre.

Henry Mitchell,Henry Mitchell onGardening (1998)