29th APRIL 2020 NORTH YORKSHIRE
Well that’s SIX WEEKS in Lockdown completed, so
garden certainly looking better kept. The last few weeks have been fine and
sunny so much has grown. However, today the sky is grey and the temperature is
down to 7 degrees C. with a chilly Northerly wind. Everything outside in the
garden is hardy or well hardened off, so impervious to the vagaries of North
Yorkshire Prairies' weather. The greenhouse is full to bursting with plants
ready to be planted out, potted on or just sown as seeds.
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| full greenhouse - all waiting to go outside |
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| geranium and fuchsia cuttings ready for planting out |
Geraniums are ready to take their summer positions
in various tubs, sconces and troughs (many already in flower). Fuchsias, both
over wintered plants and numerous cuttings, will be planted out as soon as the
North Wind decides to stop blowing. Dahlias – some already planted out in their
summer tubs – are growing well and the seeded bedding Dahlias will be ready to
go out in early May. French Marigolds, Zinnia, Cornflowers Petunias,
Impatiens, Nasturtiums (in many guises – Alaskan, Princess of India, Jewel of
Africa etc), Nicotiana, Swiss Pansies, Alyssum are all lining up for early
garden planting. So far, as in lockdown, have not been able to buy any plants
from my usual sources of local Supermarkets or Garden Centres, so everything has
be grown from cuttings or from a box of seed found in the Potting Shed and
dated from 2013 to 2016 (amazing fertility from these old seeds at around 50%)
so with these results and the splitting’ of Hardy Annuals and Perennials (such
as hostas, euphorbias, lupins, sedums, buddleias, knyphofia, ivies and the long
term roses and clematis, the garden is remarkably full and no seed or plant cost
(so one up for COVID-19).
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| Hardy perennials |
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| just one of many hostas |
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| and just one of many euphorbias |
In spite of lack of space in this small garden, have managed to grow cut-and-come-again salad leaves and radishes in old plastic storage boxes and also hoping for purple runner beans found in the old seed collection, and maybe a few tomato plants!
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| box of salad leaves |
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| box of radishes - ready soon |
The roses, both bush and climbing, have now had
three feeds and a good watering every three days during the sunny weeks of springtime. All now growing well and many full of bud – in fact ‘Canary Bird’, a Bright Yellow Xanthina Spontanea, a very old Chinese Rose from 15th
century, came into bloom on the 16th March, the day UK Locked Down with
Chinese Covid -19! Seredipity? As the frosts were very slight
this Winter the Roses are generally well ahead of normal flowering schedule so
can expect a magnificent show in May and onwards.
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| Rose Canary Bird - only it's first year |
Clematis are also in full bud and ‘Montana’ is in
full flower. The Clematis cuttings taken two years ago are all in good health
and will bloom well this year. Taking Clematis cuttings is easy – simply cut off around 200mm of stem with leaf axils and pot into 100mm pot around
the rim then keep moist - not wet - and leave for a year.
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| Clematis Montana - smells like chocolate |
With the none-supply of new compost due to
‘Isolation’ and closure of garden centres, the growing media for all last year’s tubs, troughs and hanging baskets has had to be recycled (not usually recommended
but needs must). The containers have
been emptied, roots extra removed, contents sieved and mixed with new sieved
garden soil (ration new soil 35% reused compost 65%) and four table spoonfuls
of ‘Growmore’ and two spoonfuls of ‘Blood Fish & Bone’ per 20 litres, well
mixed Fortunately, fertilizers available by post on line for home delivery. Top up the feed every two weeks during the growing and flowering
season in the usual way.
Another recycling saving has been made using the pansies and violas planted last September for winter flowering. They have been rescued from their
position in the daffodil and tulip tubs
(which have magnificent this year) trimmed, fed, given a period of respite in
the greenhouse for four weeks, and are now replanted in tubs surrounding cordylines adorning the front drive wall - another example of cost free gardening
in an emergency.
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| Cordyline with pansies |
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| basket of pansies and violas |
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| Another basket of pansies |
The Head Gardener seems very pleased with the
results so far – we still speak even after 47 days of Isolation in each other’s
company – even getting coffee when summoned by the ‘Bell’.
To to all my followers worldwide, wherever you may be, take care, stay safe, and let your garden take the strain during
these difficult times
must dash
see you soon.
Stuart.
