February is a busy time in my greenhouse. I like to put seeds of chilli and sweet peppers in the propagator as they need a long season to fruit. But only sow them this early if you can keep them warm to keep growing.
I start my dahlia tubers in batches so that I don’t have too many cuttings to take at one time. If you are just going to plant the tubers, leave them in cold storage for now.
Tomato seeds go in at the end of February. I grow four varieties and just put 10 seeds in 3.5” pots (9 cm) and when they start to show a true leaf, pot them on.
If it’s a nice day outside I might prune some of the winter flowering shrubs. I have a huge winter honeysuckle that is about eight foot high and 12 foot in diameter. I’m going to cut it back carefully.
Any apples that I haven’t got round to can be done now too, broken and crossing branches first, and then any that get in the way of mowing will be removed. I have some damage on some of my plum trees but I won’t do them until they start growing.
I have a lot of young fruit trees that I have bought from Walcot Organic at Drakes Broughton. I have been buying a few each year for the last few years and I am going to deal with the grass and weeds that have grown over in the last year. I intend to put a layer of manure around them all, so that the weeds are smothered, and the trees will benefit from both the weed control, the nutrients from the muck, and the mulching effect of the muck.
I also must check how the bulbs are doing. I have some in pots that hopefully I’ve timed right for the Spring Show in the first Saturday in April, don’t forget to plan your entries! As it has been such a mild December and early January, I’ve noticed there are are some weeds growing.
The Spring Show Shedule also has the photographic categories for our Summer Show including so get snapping! Our March talk features Alan and Gill Whitehead, who are the holders of the national collection of irises, so make a note in the diary.
The end of March and beginning of April sees the main sowing and propagating of vegetables and flowers – a busy time for all of us!
Wishing you all well for the new growing season.
Pete Chamberlain
Chair
Bishampton & District Gardening Club
www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk
Tel: 01386 861438
I start my dahlia tubers in batches so that I don’t have too many cuttings to take at one time. If you are just going to plant the tubers, leave them in cold storage for now.
Tomato seeds go in at the end of February. I grow four varieties and just put 10 seeds in 3.5” pots (9 cm) and when they start to show a true leaf, pot them on.
If it’s a nice day outside I might prune some of the winter flowering shrubs. I have a huge winter honeysuckle that is about eight foot high and 12 foot in diameter. I’m going to cut it back carefully.
Any apples that I haven’t got round to can be done now too, broken and crossing branches first, and then any that get in the way of mowing will be removed. I have some damage on some of my plum trees but I won’t do them until they start growing.
I have a lot of young fruit trees that I have bought from Walcot Organic at Drakes Broughton. I have been buying a few each year for the last few years and I am going to deal with the grass and weeds that have grown over in the last year. I intend to put a layer of manure around them all, so that the weeds are smothered, and the trees will benefit from both the weed control, the nutrients from the muck, and the mulching effect of the muck.
I also must check how the bulbs are doing. I have some in pots that hopefully I’ve timed right for the Spring Show in the first Saturday in April, don’t forget to plan your entries! As it has been such a mild December and early January, I’ve noticed there are are some weeds growing.
The Spring Show Shedule also has the photographic categories for our Summer Show including so get snapping! Our March talk features Alan and Gill Whitehead, who are the holders of the national collection of irises, so make a note in the diary.
The end of March and beginning of April sees the main sowing and propagating of vegetables and flowers – a busy time for all of us!
Wishing you all well for the new growing season.
Pete Chamberlain
Chair
Bishampton & District Gardening Club
www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk
Tel: 01386 861438