Gardeners may be coping with unseasonally cold weather, but there is plenty to look forward to in June, as horticulture expert and Craven College tutor Michael Myers explains

I DO not think that I can remember a year when we gardeners haven’t had some moan or grumble about the weather. This May seems to have been especially cold, highlighted by my ever-depleting log store.

I wrote last time about how cold nights can have a devastating effect on frost vulnerable flowers and leaves but also tender plants such as some vegetables and of course summer bedding. This week would usually be the earliest that I would plant out bedding plants as in most years the risk of frost has passed by the first week in June.

It is still good practice, however, to harden off tender plants in advance of them going into the garden. Baskets and pots can be put outside during the day and brought under cover at night so that gradually, over the course of a couple of weeks, the plants acclimatise to the open garden. In exposed areas especially, it helps to avoid plants succumbing to wind burn or poor growth due to cold shock.

The use of cold frames can also help to acclimatise seedlings and young plants, giving the vegetable gardener an earlier cropping than would normally be possible. Techniques for modifying the climate around plants can extend the season for many crops by several weeks.

Hot beds, fleece and cloches are just some of the range of methods that can be used on the vegetable plot though I wonder how many gardeners use these tried and trusted techniques effectively to improve their yields. In Victorian times wealthy landowners would create the ultimate microclimate, a walled garden. When I am at Ripon Walled Garden it is quite obvious how much warmer and sheltered it is within the walls. The walls also provide support for fruit trees and in places are hollow where in the past they would be heated to protect the tender buds of peaches and apricots from the frost. This kind of extravagance may be beyond most of us now, but house walls can give similar benefits and create wonderful planting opportunities.

There is something magical about houses clothed in wall shrubs and climbers and yet for many people there is the worry that they will damage masonry or foundations. Some vigorous wall shrubs could be a problem but generally non-clinging plants are unlikely to damage buildings. Climbers such as ivy are often seen as a problem, but recent research has suggested that even this is exaggerated and that most problems occur when the pointing is weak. Ivy and other vigorous climbers like Virginia creeper are more likely to be an issue when they come into contact with other features. The adventitious roots and tendrils may damage window frames and the stems block gutters or lift tiles.

The old adage of right plant, right place comes to mind; small climbers are suitable for small walls and larger, more vigorous types for larger walls. The same is true for other structures. I can recall one garden where the vigorous rambling rose ‘Rambling Rector’ had been planted along a small trellis, the annual growths erupted out in all directions, creating a pruning nightmare. Climbing and rambling roses are fabulous subjects for vertical structures but they must be suitable for the space available. Wrapping rose stems around a pillar in a series of spirals will encourage flowering all along the stems rather than just the top. Training climbing roses along horizontal wires on walls has the same effect, fruit enthusiasts treat blackberries in a similar way.

Among the great treats for me in late May and June are the candelabra primulas. These moisture-loving species luxuriate along stream sides and ponds creating a kaleidoscope of colour for several weeks. At Harlow Carr several species hybridised to create the well-known ‘Harlow Carr hybrids’ which extends the colour range even further. One of my long-term plans is to edge my pond with a carpet of these jewels. The seed of several types obtained from the Hardy Plant Society seed distribution has germinated well and so my plans may come to fruition ahead of schedule and at a fraction of the cost of buying plants.

Other star performers at this time of the year are the alliums. They provide welcome early colour in borders before the herbaceous perennials come into their own. I also grow them in rough grass where they provide an excellent excuse for not cutting too early. The combination with cow parsley is accidental but much appreciated.

The Chelsea Flower Show has been and gone but its legacy will last for some years. Naturalistic planting seems to be very much in vogue still, with wild plants such as foxgloves and pink campion being popular. Orange geums featured in several displays and like alliums can be used equally well in formal or informal situations to create bright splashes of early summer colour. Continuing the back to nature theme, the use of swimming ponds seems to be gaining momentum, but perhaps in North Yorkshire this is a step, or rather splash, too far.

As we move into the summer, garden openings are becoming increasingly regular. The Settle and district gardens are open on Saturday, June 20 (11am to 5pm) and Sunday, June 21 (12 noon to 5pm). There are 18 gardens to visit in and around Settle with all proceeds going to Settle swimming pool and the provision of defibrillators. Tickets are £6 or £10 for both days and are available from the Tourist Information Centre and Field to Home, both located in the Market Square. Some tickets will also be available from the gardens. Any queries please contact Julie Smith 01729 822090.

On Saturday, July 4 (11am to 5pm) Gargrave gardens will be open in aid of St Andrew’s Church. All gardens are within walking distance of one another, the entrance fee is £3 in advance or £4 on the day. In addition to the gardens there is live music, a children’s quiz, tombola and plant stall.

NGS gardens in the Craven and Pendle area are a bit thin on the ground through June, although The Grange at Carla Beck Lane, Carleton, is next open on Wednesday, June 24 (12 noon to 4.30pm) and Dent Hall, Colne Road, Trawden, is open on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14 (12noon to 5pm).

Finally, as a tutor at Craven College it would be remiss of me not to mention the new part-time prospectus of courses at Craven College. We are offering a range of gardening and garden design courses starting in September in both Skipton and at RHS Garden Harlow Carr including the highly regarded RHS qualifications.