Growers Dictionary

As I was writing these pages, I found that I was using the same terms over and over again.

I also knew that there was a time when I didn't know what they meant:-)

So - rather than make each page very long by explaining each term in full or skimping on the explanation and leave some people floundering in the dark, I thought I'd make a section where I could explain fully what things mean.

If there are any terms you don't understand or want explaining - please get in touch - you won't be on your own and other people might be wanting to know exactly the same thing.

This is a 'glossary of gardening terminology' but that sounded a bit pompous - so I've called it Growers Dictionary :-)

Some of the terms are simple to explain and so you'll find them listed here - others are a bit more complex, so those have live links to another page.

I hope it's clear - my aim is to help you, not confuse you... so let me know.

Damping Off
If your seedlings are dying as they emerge, then your problem is very likely damping off. This page tells you what you can do to combat this problem.

Earthing up

The idea of this is to encourage the plant to make roots up the stems. What you do is just cover the plant with soil until only its tips are showing. It is useful when shrubby plants have become 'leggy' eg sage, rosemary, lavender for instance that has been neglected.

You 'earth up' at the end of the growing year and by late spring, you should see signs of growth.

At this point, you can either leave things as they are or lift the plant and divide the stems where there are roots and replant where you want.

Dividing Plants
Useful when plants have outgrown their spot, but also in the case of eg Rosemary when a plant has got very 'leggy. You divide a plant by teasing apart the roots. Replant straight away, give the planting hole a dressing of fertiliser and water well - firm in with your heel.

Growing Seed

Growing Cuttings

Annual Plants
A plant that germinates, flowers, seeds and dies in the same year. These plants are normally quick to germinate eg basil.

Biennial Plants
A plant that germinates in year one, flowers and seeds in year two and then dies. The seeds will take a little longer to germinate and the first year the plants will only grow leaf. eg Parsley. That's the reason why people think parsley is hard to grow.

Plants (and right across nature) are programmed to reproduce themselves - they do that by flowering, pollinating and producing seed and the time they take to do that varies - annual -v- biennial.

We use the leaves of the parsley plant - we're not interested in the flower. If you notice, the first year of growth for parsley, the leaves are quite small - the plant is putting energy into developing a strong root system for its main job of producing flowers and seeds in year two. In the second year of growth, the leaves are much bigger. If you let some plants self seed, then you will get a continuous second year strong growth from your biennial herbs.

Perennial Plants
A plant that comes up year after year, dying down off season and growing again in season. These plants generally grow bigger and stronger each time and they are perfect for 'dividing' to increase your stock.

Shrub
Generally a small woody plant, such as rosemary, sage and lavender. They are either evergreen or deciduous (loose their leaves off season) and normally grow year after year.

You can propogate shrubs by cuttings, layering or dividing.

Seasons
If talk of early, mid, late spring, summer, fall and winter confuse you - then here's some guidelines.