Here’s hoping you enjoyed a special Christmas and found time to complete the 2016 Dobies Gardening Quiz. Interested to know how well you did? Then checkout the answers below and post a comment telling us your score. We’d love to hear from you.
Christmas Gardens – Inside and out
1. How are Hellebore seeds spread?
By snails! The snails eat the oil covering the seed and carry the rest away in their slime, spreading it as they go.
2. When snow settles what effect does it have on the soil below?
Snow can stop soil from freezing. The soil beneath snow is typically 10 to 15C warmer than on the surface.
3. What Christmas plant grows high up on the branches of a host tree?
Mistletoe
4. Which Christmas houseplant is famed for its colourful bracts?
Poinsettia
5. English Ivy (Ilex aquifolium) is dioecious. What does this mean?
Dioecious means that male and female flowers are on separate plants.
Christmas Food
6. Frost changes the taste of veg such as parsnips and sprouts. In what way?
It makes them taste sweeter.
7. What is the first fully blight resistant tomato, exclusive to Suttons?
Tomato Crimson Crush
8. A red leafed vegetable is perfect for a winter salad, what is it?
Radicchio
9. The Women’s Institute may have a link to which winter vegetable?
Jerusalem artichokes
10. Which purple cauliflower retains its colour when cooked?
Cauliflower di Sicilia violetto
Christmas Trees
11. Who made Christmas trees popular in England?
Prince Albert
12. What are the 3 main types of real Christmas tree?
Spruce, Pine and Noble Fir
13. Can you eat your Christmas tree?
Best move the lights and decorations first but, yes. Pine needles are edible and are high in vitamins A and C
14. Why does Norway gift a Christmas Tree to Britain each year?
In recognition of Britain’s help to Norway during World War 11
15. How old is the average Christmas tree when cut?
15 years
Christmas Music
16. According to the well-known folk carol which tree wears the crown?
The Holly (The Holly and the Ivy)
17. Who wrote In the Bleak Mid-Winter?
Christina Rossetti
18. Who composed the Nutcracker Suite?
Tchaikovsky
19. Where was Chris Rea going to spend Christmas?
Home
20. Originally who was it that went “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”?
Brenda Lee in 1958
Christmas Crackers
21. Where does Santa go when he’s feeling poorly?
To the elf centre
22. What is the most popular Christmas wine?
“I don’t want any Brussels sprouts!”
23. Why are Christmas trees no good at knitting?
They keep dropping their needles
24. Who do MI6 have to look out for at Christmas?
A mince spy
25. Why does Father Christmas need not one, not two but three gardens?
So he can ho, ho, ho.
We hope you’ve enjoyed the 2016 Dobies Gardening Quiz and wish you a happy New Year!