Sunday, 30 August 2015

WHAT ARE ROOTSTOCKS?


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 A rootstock is part of a plant, often an underground part, from which new above-ground growth can be produced. In grafting, it refers to a plant, sometimes just a stump, which already has an established, healthy root system, onto which a cutting or a bud from another plant is grafted. It is most commonly used in the production of rose bushes and fruit trees.

Rootstocks are used to create trees of differing vigour.  Trees are grafted onto rootstocks which results in different sizes and type of trees.  Rootstocks have also been used for pest and disease resistance, anchorage and to crop trees.

 Apples have the greatest range of rootstocks, most with the prefix M or MM and a number. The refers to East Malling Research, Kent where they were bred, and MM for Malling/Merton where work was carried out with the John Inness Research Institute.  The numbers follow no particular sequence.

 Most pear trees are grafted onto quince rootstocks as these are more dwarfing and easier to propagate than pear rootstocks.
Apple

 M27 - very dwarfing
M9 - dwarfing
M26 - semi dwarfing
MM106 - semi vigorous
MM111 - vigorous

 Rootstocks for training apples:
Cordon        M27, M9 or M26 
Espalier       M26, MM106 or MM111 
Fan              M26, MM106 or MM111 
Container     M26

 Pear

 Quince c - semi-dwarfing
Quince A & BA29 - Semi vigorous 

 Rootstocks for training pears:
Cordon        Quince C or A
Espalier       Quince A or BA29
Fan              Quince A or BA29
Container     Quince C

 Plum

 Pixy & VVA1 - semi-dwarfing
St julien A - semi-vigorous

 Cherry

 Gisela 5 - dwarfing
Colt - Semi-vigorous

 Peach, almond & apricot

 St julien A - semi vigorous

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A JAGUAR AND A PANTHER


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 The term panther is the generic term for large cats, and therefore all jaguars are panthers.  However, not all panthers are jaguars as there are other large cats such as lions, leopards and tigers that are not classed as such. 

Panthers and the jaguars have specific physical attributes and there is a difference in their classification, more specifically their genus.

 Panther (Panthera pardus)
Panthers belong to the genus Panthera and are native to Asia, Africa and the Americas. The Panther is not a distinct species itself, but is the general name used to refer to any black coloured feline of the Big Cat family (most notably leopards and jaguars).

 The Panther tends to be dark brown to black in colour and is otherwise identical to the feline species to which it belongs. Black panthers are not panthers at all but either leopards or jaguar, and the only thing that differs between them is the dark coloration.

 Unlike leopards and jaguars the Panther has no spots on it's long body or tail, but instead has a shiny coat of dark fur. Panthers have small heads with strong jaws and emerald green eyes, with hind legs that are both larger and slightly longer than those at the front. The panther is not only one of the largest felines in the world but it is also able to roar, which is something that felines outside of this group are not able to do. 
Jaguars (Panthera onca)

Jaguars also belong to the genus Panthera and are native to the Americas, living mostly in the rainforest. This spotted cat is most similar to a leopard physically, although it behaviour is more similar to those of a tiger.

Jaguars are the third largest feline, after lions and tigers. They are associated with water and are accomplished swimmers.  These solitary predators stalk and ambush their prey. they have a very powerful bite and can bite through the skull of their victims easily.
Jaguars are a keystone species, crucial to stabilising their associated ecosystem. However they are near threatened species and their numbers are in decline.


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Monday, 10 August 2015

HOW TO GROW DATURA


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Datura is also known as the trumpet plant due to its large bell shaped flowers. Native to South America the Datura belongs to the same family as deadly nightshade and mandrake, and so are poisonous.
Most flowers are white but they may also be yellow, purple, lavender and red. The stems of Datura are soft but erect, and the leaves are lobed and lightly furred. Daturas are annual plants, self seeding vigorously.  The seedlings grow rapidly during the season, reaching a height of up to 1.2 m.

Datura plants are very easy to grow from seed.  Sow seeds in the spring directly into a rich, fertile soil.  You can either plant directly outside into a bed or indoors into a pot. However the plants will not survive frost and so treat as summer bedding plants and ensure that they are planted out well after the risk of frosts have passed.  Place in a sunny position, and water regularly. 

Ensure you water your plants regularly. Re-pot plants annually and bring them indoors during the winter. Feed the plants with a fertiliser during the spring and prune to shape.  Stake the stems as necessary to support its slender stems.
 


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Sunday, 2 August 2015

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DATURA AND BRUGMANSIA?



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Datura and Brugmansia both have amazing angels trumpet flowers which are bold and striking, particularly at night when they are also fragrant.

 And it is not surprising that the two are compared to each other. Datura is a closely related genera of brugmansia, and for many years Brugmansia was included in it. They both belong to the family Solanaceae.

 However there are some key differences between the two. Datura is more of an elegant weed, and are mostly annuals. They do not get a woody stem and so are much smaller plants, but still have the striking trumpet flowers (although they point upwards, not down). Brugmansia, on the other hand, grow into tall, woody shrubs or trees.  Their flowers hang downwards from each node along their branches.

Datura

Datura is also known as the trumpet plant due to its large bell shaped flowers. Most flowers are white but they may also be yellow, purple, lavender and red. The stems of Datura are soft but erect, and the leaves are lobed and lightly furred. Daturas are annual plants, self seeding vigorously.  The seedlings grow rapidly during the season, reaching a height of up to 1.2 m.

 Daturas are smaller and less woody than Brugmansia. In contrast to the drooping flowers of Brugmansia the flowers are positioned upright.

Native to South America the Datura belongs to the same family as deadly nightshade and mandrake, and so are poisonous.

 Brugmansia

 Known as Angels trumpet Brugmansia is a woody stemmed plants that has large, trumpet shaped flowers that hang down. These plants can become a massive woody tree, reaching heights of 7 metres tall.
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