6TH FEBRUARY 2018 NORTH YORKSHIRE
Snowflakes gently waft passed the Potting Shed
window, the thermometer is struggling to better minus 3 degrees, the wind is
from the North East – straight from the Steppes of Russia. Always very generous
with their winter cold are the Russians, feet by the log fire, coffee simmering
on the hob and a backlog of Seed Catalogues to peruse - now who says gardening
is a strenuous and arduous hobby – well not always but there is little weeding,
digging, pruning or carrying going on during a northern winter.
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| Winter blows in from the east |
The propagator has performed its magic and a
plethora of seedlings are eagerly awaiting ‘Potting On’. The most difficult
decision is when to start the process. If left to long in the heat they grow
into spindly weak specimens and will probably ‘Rot Off’. If prematurely
transplanted they may suffer from the very cold night temperatures and
similarly ‘die off’. The answer is to have cold frames (inverted clear plastic
storage boxes do the trick for little cost) within the Green House which
protect the tender plants until they start to acclimatise and grow on – in essence Double Glazing.
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| Greenhouse is nearly at full capacity |
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| Nasturtium seedlings well on the way |
The first plants off the starting blocks this year
are Geraniums (seed sown 10 Jan ’18) and potted on last week. They are now at second
leaf and progressing well – only planted a dozen (12) seeds and have got twelve
plants (must be a record or due to the excellent quality of Thompson &
Morgan seed), usually make two sowings of geraniums about six weeks apart just in
case the first lot fail to germinate. Initial seedlings should be in flower by
early May and second batch will catch up quickly and be flowering by June.
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| And so are the geraniums! |
Have been amazed by the fecundity of the very fine Annual
Bedding seeds, Alyssum. Godetia, Petunia, Nemesia, French Marigold, Cosmos,
Nasturtiums (get ‘Alaskan’ in early for a good show in late April), Begonia,
Dahlias all approaching second leaf. Now the problem is where to put everything
to keep out of frost until end of March (and possibly well into April if a
cold winter). Everything being planted in ‘Plug Trays’ so plants only disturbed
once before final planting in garden.
Growing Dahlias this year from seed and tubers. Also
similar tactics with Begonias, so at least there will be some bloom established
in case of early frost in September. The Dahlia tubers are planted in boxes and
are in the Green House. This gains around six weeks to flowering on those
planted directly into the ground. The Begonia bulbs will go directly to tubs as
it is always too cold here to get a reasonable show. The seedlings will not be
ready for their garden debut until early June.
The Tulip, Daffodil, Iris and other assorted Spring
Flowering bulbs planted in Tubs, Pots and Window Boxes back in October are all
showing through the ground. All they now need is a little increase in
temperature to encourage growth for a splendid show from early March to end of
April – first Crocus and Snowdrop already in flower with Hellebore buds doing
their best.
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| Allium bulbs are progressing nicely |
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| Tulips come up in an outside pot |
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| First snowdrops1 |
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| crocus and possibly scillas appearing outside |
Winter Pansies still in flower and the Primroses and
Hellebores in the GH are in full swing. Pleased to see that all the bare root
Roses planted before Christmas are all showing bud with even a few tentative
leaves evident on the ‘Standards’. Still feeding every two weeks to ensure
magnificent first year display.
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| Primulas and \helleborus Niger still hard at it |
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| Winter pansies are still giving lots of colour in the hanging baskets |
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| Outside hellebore (think it could be foetidus) |
The various cuttings taken in November have all ‘struck’
and are showing signs of growth, so that’s forty eight plants for the garden at
NO COST.(that’s a Scotsman living in Yorkshire).
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| Standard Rose is growing well |
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| A good shrub rose showing signs of life |
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| Pots and pots of "free" cuttings |
The Amarylis have just finished after giving their
all for six weeks. Flowering stems have cut back (leaves left in situ) fed and
stored on their sides, to dry, then replanted in late September for next
Christmas flowering – plenty of time to think ahead while feet are warm by the
fire.
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| And cut flowers are always welcome in the house |
The HG’s coffee has arrived, must drink before it goes cold
so must
dash slowly,
