TERMINOLOGY LIST

ANNUAL -A plant that completes its entire life cycle (growth, reproduction, death) in one season

BAREOOT - These plants have been field-grown and are supplied in a dormant state with the soil removed. E.g Roses

BIENNIAL - A plant that completes its entire life cycle in two years, growing in the first year and reproducing and dying in the second.

BULB- An underground storage organ with fleshy scale leaves from which the plant flowers and grows before becoming dormant. E.g Daffodils.

CANE- The stems of a raspberry or blackberry plant. Raspberry plants are supplied as dormant canes

CHITTING- Placing seed potatoes in a tray or egg box in a bright, cool but frost-free place to encourage them to sprout prior to planting.

CLOCHE- Structure made of glass, plastic or horticultural fleece placed over a plant for protection or for forcing early crops.

COLD FRAME- Unheated frame for growing on and acclimatising hardy and half-hardy plants outdoors.

COMPANION PLANTING- plants that benefit others when grown next to them (by providing shade, deterring pests, etc.)

COMPOST- the product of decayed organic material, typically used in gardening as a fertilizer and soil amendment

CROP ROTATION-the practice of rotating your crops so that the same plants are not grown in the same space for more than one season (This method is often used to manage pests in organic gardening.)

CROWN- The growing point of a plant from which new shoots emerge, at or just below the soil surface. E.g Asparagus

CUTTING- to take part of the stem, roots or leaves of a mature plant and place it in potting soil to grow a new plant

DEAD HEAD - To remove the spent blooms on a plant to encourage further flowering or to prevent self-seeding.

DECIDUOUS - A plant that sheds its leaves each year.

'DIRECT SOW'- To sow seeds outdoors in their final positions, where you would like them to flower or crop.

'EARTH UP'- To draw soil up around a plant to exclude light, protect from frost or encourage roots to develop from the stem. This is commonly done with potato crops.

FIRST EARLY POTATOES - These are harvested 10 weeks after planting and will produce new or baby potatoes.

FROST RISK- this is the time of year, usually late May to early June, when night-time temperatures no longer fall below 00C and so frost is no longer likely. 

'FULL SUN'- at least 6 hours of direct sunlight (many warm-season crops need 8-10 hours of direct sunlight)

GERMINATION - Refers to the point at which a seed undergoes physical changes and begins to grow.

'HARDEN OFF'- To acclimatise young plants that are growing in a protective environment, to cooler conditions outdoors. This is normally achieved by leaving plants outside during the day and bringing them undercover at night.

HEIRLOOM- variety is a plant variety that has a history of being passed down within a family or community, similar to the generational sharing of heirloom jewelry or furniture

LIME - Calcium compounds, often applied to lower the pH of the soil (make it more alkaline); particularly useful when growing brassicas (cabbages, broccoli etc) to prevent club root disease

LONG CANES- These are raspberry canes which are supplied at a more mature stage of their life and will produce fruit in their first season. The canes supplied are longer than usual (1.25-1.4m).

MAIDEN TREE- A young tree, generally less than a year old, that can be trained into any form required.

MAIN CROP POTATOES- These are harvested up to 20 weeks after planting and are good for winter storage. They are good for baking, roasting and mashing.

MULCH - Layer of material placed on the soil and around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds and improve soil structure. Materials used for mulching include well-rotted manure, compost, polythene sheets or gravel.

'NO DIG'- No dig preserves and supports the existing soil structure and fauna through minimal cultivation, while at the same time improving it with the addition of organic matter. It's mainly used for growing vegetables, but can be used anywhere in the garden as a way to care for your soil.

ORGANIC MATTER- Substance of animal or plant origin – such as compost, leaf mould or manure. Useful for improving soil structure and supplying nutrients to plants.

PERENIAL- A plant that lives for more than two years.

'PINCHING OUT'- Removing the growing points of a young plant to encourage side-shoots to form. This encourages a bushy habit and more flowering stems

POLLINATION- The transfer of pollen between flowers, which can be carried out by the wind, insects, animals or by hand.

'POT ON'- To remove a plant from its container (normally when it has outgrown the space) and place it into a new container for further growth.

'POT UP'- To place seedlings and cuttings into containers to grow on.

'PRICK OUT'- To remove and transfer seedlings into pots or module trays to give them more space to grow.

PROPAGATE- To grow plants from seed or by vegetative means e.g. cuttings or grafting.

PRUNING- cutting, trimming, and removing plant parts for aesthetic reasons (to affect the plant shape and how it grows) or functional reasons (to help the plant focus on fruiting or developing more flower

RAISED BED- Raised beds are simply enclosed, freestanding beds constructed above ground level.

ROOT BOUND- when a plant’s roots have outgrown the pot it is in and can no longer stretch and expand due to being trapped, or bound, inside the pot

ROOT STOCK- The underground part of a plant containing the roots. In grafting, a plant (scion) is joined to a desirable rootstock – often to promote a dwarfing habit.

ROSE END - The end of a seed potato with the most eyes – often the widest end. Potatoes should be chitted with the rose end facing upwards

ROW- seeds are sown in drills to form a row or a line of vegetables or flowers; seeds are sown in a row to help distinguish the sown seedlings from weeds.

RUNNER- A trailing stem growing above ground and rooting at the nodes, where plantlets are produced (e.g. strawberries). Some plants produce underground runners.

SECOND EARLY POTATOES- These are harvested about 14 weeks after planting. They make excellent salad potatoes and many varieties are also good for chips, roasting and mashing

SEEDLING- a tiny plant, usually only with its first leaves growing

SEED POTATO- A potato tuber grown specifically for starting new plants and producing potatoes.

SELF FERTILE- A plant that does not need pollen from a second individual in order to fertilise and set fruit.

SLIPS- Cuttings taken from a mature Sweet Potato plant.

'SOW THINLY'- small seeds are sown by sprinkling the seeds sparingly, so that there is visible space between each seed

STANDARD- A tree or shrub that has been trained to a certain height with a long bare stem and foliage at the top. (FRUIT TREE)

'THIN OUT'- To remove a number of buds, flowers, seedlings or shoots to improve the growth and quality of those remaining

TRANSPLANT- the planting of a small plant, usually from a pot into the final position in the garden, where it will grow on to flower or harvest

TREE/SHRUB- Woody plant, usually having a permanent framework of branches.

TUBER- Swollen root or underground stem with storage tissue (e.g. a potato)

WELL PREPARED SOIL - soil that has been dug over, weeds removed, compost added, raked and levelled