Spiraclimb at the National Trust

Last month was an exciting one for Spiraclimb as we made our first delivery since becoming approved suppliers for the National Trust. This means that hopefully in 2010, Spiraclimb will be much more widely available through their national chain of plant shops.

Appropriately enough it was a local garden, Trelissick, that placed the first National Trust order and the regional paper, the Western Morning News, sent a reporter along to record the event. The plant center manager, John Gallagher, very helpfully planted up a tall planter using the sample we had sent him so that the photographer had a plant on a Spiraclimb to photograph!


In addition, as you can see, he took some pictures of the Spiraclimb in its packaging.



The delivery represents a new and exciting phase for the company. As a small Cornish company with a single product, to be able to supply a national chain (and in doing so raise money for the National Trust's valuable work) is an excellent opportunity and we hope that in doing so more gardeners will discover and enjoy growing with Spiraclimb.

Getting some winter colour

As I find my feet in the new garden, the first job has been to get some winter colour into some new tubs. For this autumn/winter I have gone for a mix of flower and foliage which I hope will see me through and bring a touch of colour as the days become grayer - and shorter.

I picked up a lovely Forsythia bush in our local town fair and this warranted the purchase of a "Long Tom" Terracotta pot from the local garden center to set it off. This will bring a burst of colour in the spring but until then some very attractive violas have been added around the base.



In the round tubs I went for a matching display of a lively green small evergreen with cyclamen (nice variegated foliage when the flowers go) and winter pansies.




To draw the eye away from a long drain grill I have set out a row of window boxes combining violas, pansies and two variegated ivies. When the summer annuals finally die off other tubs will be replanted with bulbs underneath and something creative on top - possibly an evergreen tub and at that point I may look into some winter Spiraclimb cover.

Spiraclimb on Bonanzle

Readers in the USA can now order Spiraclimb via Bonanzle.

Visit Spiraclimb on Bonanzle

The New Garden

After nearly a month and despite quite a bit of "inside the house" stuff to sort out, the new garden is looking very nice. We managed to salvage quite a few bedding plants and transfer them into tubs where they have flourished. The Spiraclimb plants suffered terribly in the old location and so did not make the move. The Spiraclimb have been put into storage until the spring when the greenhouse will hopefully begin to produce a new range and selection of climbers which will be added to the patio tubs in due course.

Picture (above) shows some of the old garden's bedding plants which, after being transferred to a planter with reservoir seem to have flourished.

Meantime, the new garden comprises of a courtyard style garden at the front of the property, and an enclosed rear garden which is half lawn and half pebbles (the latter being termed the "Zen Garden" due to its artistically placed elements by us from day one!).



The "Zen Garden" (above) With curly Hazel tree and Chimnea.

Spiraclimb on the move

Sad news from the Spiraclimb Garden! Due to a house move the garden as we have come to know it here will cease to exist by the end of the month. The small plot I have been using is being turned over to a large brood of chickens - who I am sure will enjoy the slugs more then I have!

With all the organisation behind the move and the spell of bad weather the slugs have managed to get the upper hand and destroyed almost everything that was planted on and off the Spiraclimb so there is less to move then I would like.

However, not to be put off, this blog, and my gardening exploits, will continue in a slightly different form. The new focus due to constraints of the property will be pot and tub-grown plants which are ideal for the Spiraclimb. Patio tubs and containers offer an ideal location for the Spiraclimb support as they are compact and by using Spiraclimb you can grow climbers in pots where you could not before.

So keep your eyes peeled as the Spiraclimb Garden moves into a new and exciting phase and style - pics to follow soon.

Love at first sight!

One way to protect against slugs and snails is to plant marigolds in beds nearby to your precious vegetables and maybe even your sunflowers - which they just LOVE to reduce to smile-covered stalks! Marigolds, it seems, are plants with which slugs and snails have a particular affinity. It's love at first sight - or sniff!

The golden blooms and the fragranced oh-so-tasty foliage seem to call to the very soul of any creature that slides along the ground on a cushion of slime. They travel for miles, overcoming natural barriers and a veritable maze of cunningly placed slug pellets in order to reach their amour and to taste her sweet green flesh.

The result of this almost certainly one-sided love affair, of course, is a ravaged marigold bed but maybe, just maybe, this is why the runner beans remain as yet unassailed! I wonder whether planting marigolds alongside lettuce would have a similar result. My guess is that in a worse case scenario they would be so torn between the two that they would pause, dazzled by the choice in front of them, long enough that passing hungry birds or frogs would gobble them up! For now, my marigolds continue to "take one for the team".

How tall can you go with Spiraclimb?

This is a common question we receive by email and telephone. The canes pictured in my garden are just under 1m. Scientific experiments in controlled conditions (my colleague Dave, me, a Spiraclimb and a tape measure to be precise) have shown the Spiraclimb will go to just under 1.5m tall provided you have a fairly stout cane to mount it on.

Its worth remembering, though, that Spiraclimb is made from galvanised steel, as opposed to elastic, and so the height of the cane doesn't really change much beyond the visual style. A tall cane will draw the spirals in closer to the cane for a taller, narrower spiral whilst a shorter cane, as I opted for, produces wider more shallow spirals.

A consideration for me in selecting the height of the cane was the effect that the hoped-for crop of beans would have and I was seeking to avoid creating more weight then my cane could comfortably support.

With any cane height you can still support much the same length of lateral plant growth and, of course, when the plant reaches the top it can be trained back down again!

Click on the link for additional Spiraclimb growing tips.

Latest pictures from the Spiraclimb Garden!

With the aforementioned mix of sunshine and rain, plus the hungry attention of several nesting birds (who seem to be keeping the slugs at bay) most of my plants are thriving. The Sunflower, sadly, is no more due to slug attack and bizarrely one of my hanging baskets seems to have been savaged also. I may have to investigate this further but early indications suggest Cornish slugs have developed abseiling capabilities, or possibly bungee/parachute training.

Anyhow, the beans are doing well and the first red flowers are peeking through - though I managed to miss them when I took the photos. As with last year's crop they appear to love the Spiraclimb supports and though they do need encouragement not to go off-track once the plants get the idea they really take to them.



Already my beans have grown quite some distance and without Spiraclimb I would be needing a lofty trellis or wigwam type structure by now. As it is, the foliage is starting to fill out nicely and growth is well supported and contained.

Keeping on top of things!

We've had a potent combination lately of warm sun and quite a bit of rain and most of the plants are loving it! This is as true of the weeds - which lurk in plentiful supply following the clearing of the patch - as the beans and other plants.

The instructions for Spiraclimb quite rightly say that growing climbers requires little more effort then occasionally twisting the new growth around the support. As previously mentioned, you need to do this quite sympathetically to avoid damaging stems.

However, my beans this year seem to have other ideas and keeping up with them is proving a challenge! For example a day or two's absence from the garden due to rain, or other commitments, finds the beans eagerly pursuing their own agenda instead of mine! I've had to unwrap them from the central cane, each other, and cut short promising bids to cross from one support to the other in order to maintain the correct style and decorum in the garden!

I even had one bean plant that unwrapped itself repeatedly right in front of me after I'd spent minutes carefully arranging it! I steadfastly refuse to use ties as this should not be necessary - but this particular plant has cunning and guile and I almost relented before finally taming it!

Anyhow, the instructions and growing tips on the Spiraclimb website are correct - at least so far - but I think the key, particularly in times of ideal growing weather, is regular attention and possibly greater will power then that of your climbing plant!

A Question about Organic Slug Control

I'm a conscientious gardener as far as slug control goes. The pellets I use (copiously) are organic and harmless to birds, hedgehogs, cats etc. They degrade fairly quickly too which is fine.

There's just one little question I have, based on the nocturnal goings on in my garden. They're harmless to cats, birds, hedgehogs etc. Could it possibly be the case that they are harmless to slugs too? I mean, someone checked that.... right?

Things taking shape! (A spiral shape)

Well, the weather stayed reasonably fine and so the beans and the last of the bedding plants grown from seed went in the ground. The greenhouse now only has a tray of Busy Lizzie's in it, which need a bit longer before going into hanging baskets and tubs.

The idea with the Spiraclimb displays was to create height at the back of the flower bed, integrating runner beans to the garden without any trellis support. This is essentially what Spiraclimb was invented for. I opted for canes at the shorter end of the height range but assuming the plants make it, I will demonstrate that they will grow healthily and should provide a very decent crop all being well.

As a growing tip, I must stress how important it is not to twist the growth onto the Spiraclimb support too tightly. It is easy to snap off the shoots if you do (and I did on a couple - but the plant has already started putting out new ones). The Spirals make an attractive feature by themselves but when filled with foliage and red flowers I am confident that the garden will look great with this combination of height and bedding.

The Spiraclimb have been set out in a fairly central position in the bed and are entirely self-supported on the canes. The long hook at the base of the Spiraclimb allows for the cane to be pushed into the soil to a sufficient depth to be sturdy and obviously as the plants take to the support the structure becomes stronger still.

For all its simplicity of appearance, the Spiraclimb is a pretty carefully thought out design. The hooks anchor the support each end of the cane - similar immitations require a hook to be jammed into the soil to anchor the spiral which is nowhere near as simple or sturdy. The base of the Spiraclimb has an "arch" which tucks around the cane and heps provide tension and spaces the spiral correctly up the length of the cane. Finally, the top hook is on a short arm which correctly spaces the top loop of the Spiral out from the cane.

Full details and assembly instructions can be seen in the "How to use Spiraclimb" section of the main website.

The curse of weeds!

I suppose it was inevitable! The plot has been totally recovered from a "wilderness" state and it was always unlikely that I'd get all the weeds and active roots out. As it is, the recent rain has encouraged widespread sprouting of little seedlings which were definitely not part of my "master plan".

Still, this isn't too bad though it does mean quite a bit of work is needed. The trick, I suspect, is to "get 'em young" which is to say that I pluck out the seedlings root and all before they get better established. Time consuming, but necessary!

Birds come to the Rescue!

As I await the opportunity to add my beans to their Spiraclimb supports, it turns out that the various birds nesting in the trees around the Spiraclimb garden have been busy on my behalf!

I've had plenty of cause to cuss them of late since they have developed a fondness for rummaging through the bark chippings under the chairs and table, turfing the bark onto the path in the process. However, this weekend, prompted no doubt by the rain, they have been eagerly demolishing a selection of slugs and snails that were emerging to feast on my bedding plants. I found quite a few shattered shells scattered about.

In this instance, therefore, I am prepared to overlook the continued mess they make with the bark chippings and welcome them instead to wreak revenge on my behalf for the sad demise of several marigold plants!

I did find one slug, however, so huge that any bird who ate it would probably be weighed down and rendered as flightless as the dodo! This "porker" was firmly turfed over the wall into the adjoining field to enjoy whatever wild flowers there might take his fancy.

A drop of welcome rain!

The wet weather has been less then ideal for planned trips to the beach and barbecues, but it has been welcome indeed for the garden. The timing has been perfect to allow my newly sited bedding plants a chance to settle in - though I remain vigilant against slugs!

The beans are thriving in the greenhouse too.

Beans coming along nicely!

After the false-start the second crop of Spiraclimb beans are showing signs of life! Runner beans are well suited to being grown on Spiraclimb and the spiral shape allows for easy cropping when the beans form. I find that between two and three bean plants can be grown on a single Spiraclimb to provide a dense spire of foliage.

The plan for the Spiraclimb garden is to integrate the runner bean plants into the main flowerbed. A row of four garden canes will provide support for three plants each, providing an attractive backdrop to the bedding plants at the front.

A similar effect could be created using tripod structures but these would take up quite a bit more room. As it is, using Spiraclimb allows me to plant out a very respectable number of plants in a fairly compact space.

You can get a range of tips for growing plants with Spiraclimb on the Spiraclimb website. The site also has a detailed how to use your Spiraclimb section.

Health and Safety in the Garden!

Well, the clearing phase of the project was completed last night - much to my relief - but along the way I have picked up the odd injury!

It turns out that the delicately fronded grass-type plant at the back of the bed is Pampas. This is my first encounter with it. Those who have encountered it immediately make some comment along the lines of "that's a vicious plant!".

And so it is. The leaves have a fine serrated edge to them which, I have discovered, can slice through fingers with ease. Gloves are most definitely advisable when working near/around this plant. Indeed my personal, though biased, suggestion would be "don't plant it in the first place"! Of course, that's mostly because I resent getting assaulted by the plant life.

It has not been an easy task to clear the beds and the Pampas was just one in a series of injuries. I've spent evenings picking bramble prickles out of myself and applying anti histamine creams for allergy reactions from sap (I think Spanish Bluebell sap is an irritant). I was a smidge careless with the secateurs at one point (my fault that one) and to cap it all, I stepped on a wooden plank with a sticking up nail last night! Fortunately, the damage to my foot was minor but next time it rains those shoes ain't gonna cut it.

All quite humerous and taken in my stride but there is a serious point.

Actually, undertaking a big clearing project in a garden is NOT without its hazards. Gloves are a fantastic idea, not just because of the protection from prickles and Pampas, but in general to keep irritant sap at bay. And whilst it might seem excessive, I should probably also check whether I am up to date on my Tetanus protection. Its pretty easy to assume everthing will be ok, but actually Tetanus is common and not much fun to get!

So this post will be my "Health and Safety" missive. Wear the right clothes, avoid Pampas grass, and don't underestimate the chances of infection from rusty nails - check when you last had a tetanus jab.

A busy weekend!

Phase 2 of the Spiraclimb Garden occurred this weekend thanks to some great weather and an unaccountable surge of energy on my part! Maybe it was the sugar in the donuts I ate or something but in any case, about 3/4 of the plot has now been cleared.

The Spiraclimb garden used, as far as I can tell, to be a vegetable plot tucked away in a forgotten corner of the main garden. It has long since fallen into disuse and had completely overgrown with grasses, brambles, ferns and saplings from the nearby hazel tree. It was also completely covered in bluebells.

Unfortunately, the species of bluebell is Spanish, which is an attractive but aggressive species that is steadily driving out the native variety. I have heavily culled the bulb stock, therefore, transferring a few to pots where they can do no harm. Given the numbers involved, though, I very much doubt that the plot will be entirely free of bluebells!

My initial task has been to clear the plot of overgrowth and aggressive weeds and also to level off the plot for fresh planting. In the past it appears a large tree or shrub was dug out and so the plot has a crater in the middle which, once cleared of overgrowth, will need to be leveled.

Progress so far:

• uncover the path to the garden,
• clear overgrowth from the Cornish stone wall along one side,
• discover/define the edges of the plot (turned out to be a raised bed)
• Set up two mini greenhouses for seeds/young plants
• begin clearing the main bed of overgrowth
• save & transplant some plants from the bed into pots

The idea of the Spiraclimb Garden, aside from giving me a garden space I can enjoy, will be to experiment with using Spiraclimb in the actual beds to bring height and allow for the support of climbers within the garden.

My initial plan is to plant out a crop of Spiraclimb runner beans, if the slugs can be kept at bay. After the first seeds failed to germinate (my mistake - used old seeds!) I replanted and the new crop are just about sprouting now.

For the record, although I am not 100% organic in my approach I have sourced slug pellets that meet organic standards and are not harmful to pets, birds or hedgehogs. They also quickly degrade into the soil. You can get additional tips on growing runner beans with Spiraclimb on the Spiraclimb website.

Introducing Spiraclimb

Welcome to the Spiraclimb Garden blog!

I guess the first question that deserves an answer is why/what is Spiraclimb?

Spiraclimb is a uk invention produced by a Cornish company. The concept is to provide a self-supporting topiary style spiral for climbing plants. The Spiraclimb clips over each end of a standard garden cane and supports up to 3m of lateral plant growth.

The advantages of Spiraclimb are that they allow gardeners to grow climbers in locations that are not ideal for bulky trellis. Spiraclimb allows even quite large climbers to be grown in patio pots and tubs, for example, by supporting and containing their growth. If using a sturdy, heavy pot (as opposed to a plastic version) Spiraclimb can also be quite successful in exposed or windy locations as plants are fully supported along their length and the height is limited to that of the cane.

The great benefit of Spiraclimb is that it opens up new locations for attractive climbing plants - giving gardeners more scope to grow whatever the restraints of their garden/patio and location.

Visit Spiraclimb at www.spiraclimb.co.uk
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