March and April are the two busiest months for the gardener, what with pruning and seed sowing, dividing herbaceous perennials, sorting the greenhouse out and the orchard trees.
In the greenhouse, any chillis, tomatoes, or other seeds that have germinated, need to be moved out of the propagator and potted into 9 cm pots of multi-purpose compost. I always do too many so am going to be ruthless this year as I always end up with no room for other things, I you didn’t do autumn-sown sweet peas, now is a good time to sow them. I like to put three or four seeds into 9 cm pots and soak the compost well before putting them in the propagator. I don’t bother with rubbing them with sandpaper or chipping them with a razor blade as I find they do okay anyway. I have some cabbage and cauliflower seedling ready to pot up. Another job!
My autumn-sown broad beans are looking well and I’m going to put some more seeds directly into the soil. I tried a variety called Robin Hood last year and was impressed with its flavor. It is multi-stemmed and a very dwarf variety. The pods aren’t huge but there are plenty of them
I always delay lawn cutting as long as possible because as soon as you start, it seems to grow more quickly, although this year it looks like it’s as tough as wire wool!
Large flowered clematis can be cut back to 2-2/5 feet. The Montana’s should be left until after flowering, then just tidied up. Make sure you cut the buddleias back again – they will repay you with tidier form and bigger flowers.
Roses need to be pruned by the end of March. Cutting back hybrid teas vigorously will give you stronger stems and better flowers, but don’t prune the new English-type proses that have been bred by David Austin, - just tidy the shape and any unruly branches.
Gladioli are a favourite of mine and I reckon to plant in succession, starting in early April and ending late May. I always peel the old husks off the corms to make sure they are sound and not infested with any bugs! I plant mine on the sandy soil down in the allotment so don’t have to worry about drainage. If I was planting in strong clay ground I recommend putting some sand or gravel in the planting trenches or holes they’re going into and burying at least 125 mm (5 inches) deep then they will remain upright.
And now a don’t! Don’t tie daffodil foliage in knots please once they’ve finished flowering –just leave them alone until they’ve died down completely. If they are on grass, move round them and they will repay you with better flowers next year.
Don’t forget our 2nd March presenters – Alun and Gill Whitehead will be talking to us about irises, and to put a date in the diary for the Spring Show on Saturday, April 2nd – you can download a copy from the website here: http://www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk/events.html
or ask committee members for a printed copy.
Can we also recommend the range of RHS short courses which are run at Pershore College? It’s worth picking up a brochure as they have regular talks and demonstrations as well as visits to the main shows too.
I’m also pleased to promote Pershore Flower Club’s next event which is on March 16th at the Villages Hall, when Sharon Badger will be demonstrating ‘Spring Celebration’.
Pete Chamberlain
In the greenhouse, any chillis, tomatoes, or other seeds that have germinated, need to be moved out of the propagator and potted into 9 cm pots of multi-purpose compost. I always do too many so am going to be ruthless this year as I always end up with no room for other things, I you didn’t do autumn-sown sweet peas, now is a good time to sow them. I like to put three or four seeds into 9 cm pots and soak the compost well before putting them in the propagator. I don’t bother with rubbing them with sandpaper or chipping them with a razor blade as I find they do okay anyway. I have some cabbage and cauliflower seedling ready to pot up. Another job!
My autumn-sown broad beans are looking well and I’m going to put some more seeds directly into the soil. I tried a variety called Robin Hood last year and was impressed with its flavor. It is multi-stemmed and a very dwarf variety. The pods aren’t huge but there are plenty of them
I always delay lawn cutting as long as possible because as soon as you start, it seems to grow more quickly, although this year it looks like it’s as tough as wire wool!
Large flowered clematis can be cut back to 2-2/5 feet. The Montana’s should be left until after flowering, then just tidied up. Make sure you cut the buddleias back again – they will repay you with tidier form and bigger flowers.
Roses need to be pruned by the end of March. Cutting back hybrid teas vigorously will give you stronger stems and better flowers, but don’t prune the new English-type proses that have been bred by David Austin, - just tidy the shape and any unruly branches.
Gladioli are a favourite of mine and I reckon to plant in succession, starting in early April and ending late May. I always peel the old husks off the corms to make sure they are sound and not infested with any bugs! I plant mine on the sandy soil down in the allotment so don’t have to worry about drainage. If I was planting in strong clay ground I recommend putting some sand or gravel in the planting trenches or holes they’re going into and burying at least 125 mm (5 inches) deep then they will remain upright.
And now a don’t! Don’t tie daffodil foliage in knots please once they’ve finished flowering –just leave them alone until they’ve died down completely. If they are on grass, move round them and they will repay you with better flowers next year.
Don’t forget our 2nd March presenters – Alun and Gill Whitehead will be talking to us about irises, and to put a date in the diary for the Spring Show on Saturday, April 2nd – you can download a copy from the website here: http://www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk/events.html
or ask committee members for a printed copy.
Can we also recommend the range of RHS short courses which are run at Pershore College? It’s worth picking up a brochure as they have regular talks and demonstrations as well as visits to the main shows too.
I’m also pleased to promote Pershore Flower Club’s next event which is on March 16th at the Villages Hall, when Sharon Badger will be demonstrating ‘Spring Celebration’.
Pete Chamberlain