SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

2nd April 2019  North Yorkshire.

Spring has most definitely ‘Sprung’ on the Prairies of North Yorkshire. Temperatures are varying between around freezing some mornings and 20 degrees by noon. Bit of rain but lots of sunshine has greatly encouraged both plants and geriatric Gardeners into action. The  moderately mild winter has brought on the Daffodils and Tulips to bloom simultaneously which, with the Heartsease, Pansies, Primulas and Cowslips, have created a feast of early garden colour’

Here is just a small selection of daffodils, narcissi, tulips, heartsease and primroses :-

Green and yellow tulips with silver euphorbia behind

Having taken advantage of the mild days and pruned shrubs and roses early, they are all showing signs of growth – some of the roses, such as Canary Bird, already are showing quite plumptious buds. Climbers and Rambling Roses are all well away (only lightly pruned this year to increase trellis coverage) and the Hybrid Tea Roses (as usual pruned as if they were the neighbours' dislike – i.e. very close to the ground) are all very well budded. An encouraging feed of ‘Top Rose’ and dried ‘Blood, Fish and Bone’ are going to translate into a palatial show of blooms from mid May.

Climbing rose All that Jazz scrambling up the support with great energy

The numerous clematis planted last year seem to have weathered the winter well and are all showing signs of growth, the early flowering varieties being already in bloom. Have been amazed at the quality of the plants which were all bought for £1 each at the local ‘Morrison’s’ Supermarket. Similar offerings from the dedicated garden Centres (mainly starting at over £5 per plant) have been put well into the shade. Having decided to minimise the cost of gardening this year, the contribution of plants available at very low prices from the local Supermarkets (Morrison, ALDI, LIDL and TESCO) make this possible without compromising on quality. All the seeds sown this year came from ALDI – 99pence for an eight variety selection pack of Herbs, Vegetable, Chilli’s and Bedding Flower seeds (in sufficient quantities for the average Gardener) have all germinated well above 90% of seeds sown.(The advantage being they sell in large quantities and the seeds are fresh, last year the highly priced seeds bought from the Seed Catalogues and RHS outlets (at around £3.95per packet) all struggled to better 50% germination.). So unless you need the ‘Exotic’ keep a sharp eye on the plant racks at your weekly shop.

The stock plants in the garden such as Lupin, Delphinium, Euphorbias, Hellebores. Hardy Geraniums, Hydrangias, Phygelius,etc are all either showing signs of growth or growing into sturdy plants. An application of general fertiliser, such as ‘Growmore’, has certainly given the boost required after the winter hibernation.  Leaving the protection of last year’s spent foliage, although making the flower beds a little untidy during the winter months certainly protects the plants against frost, snow and excess ‘Wet’ and encourages an early start in their growing season.

Our small herbaceous border full of new life

Wonderful display of acid green euphorbia

Wish you could smell these stunning wallflowers

Hellebores still giving great blooms

The Fuchsias and border Geraniums overwintered in the Green House are in splendid growing form. Cuttings taken in early February are well rooted and showing signs of early budding. Last year’s plants, plus the new well grown cuttings, will be ready for hardening off in the cold frame in the next couple of weeks prior to re planting in their summer berths in the tubs and troughs. When replanting these tubs and troughs always empty out last year’s compost and refurbish prior to replanting with new growing media – a good growing mix is 50% new compost, 25% last year’s used media 15% grit for drainage and 10% well rotted Farmyard Manure. A similar mix can be used in Hanging Baskets with the addition of 5% of ‘Water Crystals’ to ensure continuous damp conditions during the height of summer.

In the Greenhouse below:-

All the Tubs, Troughs and Hanging Baskets will require watering every two days, baskets every day during warm, sunny or windy conditions and liberal applications of liquid feed twice per week from April until October for the best display results.

Dahlia tubers are all planted in tubs or pots. With first signs of growth, keep all these pots in side in frost free environment until early May when chance morning frost has passed, keep damp and well fed. ‘The Bishop 0f Llandaff’ and ‘The Bishop's Children’ performed well last year – the variety of reds and copper tints make this group of Dahlias a must any garden, and ‘Danish Flag’ (Red and White Cactus Dahlia) and will all be well represented this season – all grown from overwintered last year’s tubers (at the current nursery asking prices of around £5 named Dahlia Tubers the saving can be considerable for little effort).

Window Boxes are ready for a bit of a ‘Cheer up’ after the winter months. Change the growing media having firstly removed all the re-usable plants (around six varieties of Ivy – all grown from Morrison’s £1 pots from last year). Thoroughly cleanse the Window Boxes before refilling with a good base of gravel for drainage (very important as stagnant wet compost will rot off the plants within one week) and top up with above mentioned ‘tub’ mix, replant with last year’s rescued Ivies, plus maybe some Ivy Leafed Geraniums (every home can look like a Bavarian Chalet with lots of ‘Feed’ and sunshine).

Well that should keep everyone busy during April and May – and that’s without the ‘bedding’ plants, so enjoy your Garden, your Green House and Your Plants.

Just heard the HG coffee bell –
 must dash – 

see you soon

Stuart.   

Finally - cheerful starry tulips open to the sun