MIDWINTER LOCKDOWN

 

25^TH JANUARY, 2021 NORTH YORKSHIRE

Blue sky, loads of brilliant sunshine, -7 degrees C, ground rock hard with a layer of frost – the wonders of a North Yorkshire January (the alternatives are snow, rain, wind or fog) so just enjoying the Potting Shed Stove and the dreams of more pliant months to come. Can’t get too comfortable as, even in extreme conditions, there is always something to do in the garden.

SNOWY GARDEN!

Sowing seeds in a propagator is a ‘must’ – to ensure early chillies, tomatoes, lettuce etc.  Now is the time to transplant the seedlings from those seeds sown in December, making space for the sowing of the next varieties.  Aubergines, sweet peppers and cucumbers are next on the list. Always advisable to have some heat in the Greenhouse when the propagated seedlings are potted on, to ensure continuity of growth (don’t need a high ambient temperature – 10 degrees C should do).

seedlings appearing in the propogator

The cuttings taken from fuchsia and geranium plants last November  now need to be examined for any black rot or fungal infections. Transplant to individual pots, water sparingly with weak feed and keep away from frost in the greenhouse. Whilst checking the cuttings, also inspect all the other plants, tubers and corms which are over-wintering under cover  (look for any infection or rot – where present cut away or destroy the plant to avoid a general infection spreading in the warmer conditions.

Healthy fuchsia cuttings

While the night temperature are well below Freezing it is best to leave the Rose pruning – even though the new buds are becoming plump.  Prune now and you could lose to frost the lower terminals which will give the early flower.

But there really is lots of colour in the indoor garden – the conservatory stays warm and bright, even on the most wintry of January days. The Amaryllis – or do you prefer to call this wonder bulb ‘Hippeastrum’ -  initial bulbs planted in late November then weekly in December – are producing, and have already produced, the most magnificent of ‘blooms. The largest bulbs planted are now on their third spike of flowers (usually six per stem) ranging from the richest of dark red to white with pink ‘sprinkles’. They started to flower on New Year’s Day and look to have at least another six weeks of life in full flower ( just keep almost damp but not wet and feed a little every fortnight)

LOTS OF LOVELY AMARYLLIS

The usual Winter show of pansies has been very poor – most seemed to have died with the first hard frost.  The Viola/Heartsease have faired better, Miniature cyclamen have lost their flowers with the frost, but still seem to be surviving (might get a second ‘bloom as the cold eases). Hellebores are again a triumph of vigorous flower and growth. The dark pink variety is especially lovely on a cold damp winter’s day. The surviving Polyanthus are struggling into their first flowers – these seem very attractive to the over wintering bird population.

MINIATURE CYCLAMEN -before the snow

HELLEBORES - don't seem to mind the snow

VIOLAS AND POLYANTHUS

The early seed sowing in the propagator is showing and early response with four varieties of tomato – two of chilli, a mixture of pansies and a few nasturtiums (for growing on in the Green House for early Spring colour – all ready to pot on.

tomato seedlings progressing nicely

 The geranium plants from last summer are getting ready to sprout new shoots, Begonia and Dahlias are resting in the frost free environment under the greenhouse benches and the succulents less tolerant of cold are enjoying their places on the less cool benches. Soon be time for the mass sowing of seeds for the Summer Season – it never stops in a much loved Garden.

Still a bit of sleet in the wind so another log on the stove, plant catalogues out for another ‘session’ –

just heard the HG's dulcet tones announcing ‘Coffee’

Must Dash,

Stay Safe and Keep Gardening.

Stuart

BLUE SKIES AND COLD NIGHTS

5^TH DECEMBER 2015 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Blue skies, brilliant sunshine, cold nights and very cold mornings - Autumn is fast morphing into winter in the ‘Beiras’. No real rain for the last fortnight but misty mornings producing heavy dew. The orchard is still free of dawn frost (even minus one degree frost, the lowest experienced here is burnt- off  by late morning) so there are still the odd signs of life from enthusiastic weeds which are much encouraged by the midday temperatures in the unrelenting sunshine being in the ‘mid- teens’. Strangely, a number of plants seem to be suffering from lack of water due to the absent rain showers.

The Angels' Trumpet (Brugmansia) is still defying the lateness of the season, and blooming as well as ever in the wonderful sunshine.

Brugmansia enjoying a final trump   of the season - has had a splendid year

Pruning progressing aggressively on all terraces; fruit trees complete in the orchard (decided on a partial ‘branchectomy’ of the non performing apricot tree). Olive trees look as if they are in a war zone and the catalpas now look most ‘ordered’. Loins being girded to tackle the climbing and rambling roses , the size of each branch now precludes secateurs  and requires the ‘Big Pruning Saw’(will be making ‘Rose Wood’ furniture next). The burning of the ‘Prunings’ is not going well. Whilst there is no rain, the morning dew is ensuring the bonfire remains very wet and even the incentive of large quantities of  petrol has not persuaded the soggy mass into flame ( other than the massive explosion  when the match reaches the evaporated fumes – keeps the Head Gardner on her toes), so must keep trying and hoping – ever the Gardener’s prerogative to do so.

Orchids and Amarylis are all doing amazing things in readiness for the Festive Season. The sojourn of the Cymbidiums on the terraces, and subsequent re-potting and feeding, have encouraged the majority of the collection to produce flowering spikes (up to three  on some pots) full of potential exotic blooms. The Amarylis range from those with budding stems to others with a profusion of leaves, so awaiting the arrival of ‘stately spires’ of majestic blooms with anticipation.

Amarylis - hoping for more blooms like this very soon!

Cymbidiums  should be blooming soon 

Banana and avocado trees (in pots) are about to enjoy their winter quarters. They both can stand a short burst of down to 5 degrees, but tend to go into terminal decline if temperatures below this level are sustained for any length of time (so its fleece and a hot water bottle for the duration of the winter months).

Miniature Cyclamen (survive down to minus 10 degrees as they come from Montenegro and the hilly areas of the Balkans) are in full glorious flower with a sustained production of new ‘buds’ in a broad spectrum of delicate pinks. Their larger relation is an entirely different ‘kettle of fish’. They do not thrive below 10 degrees and tend to wilt and die in temperatures above 20 degrees (sitting room death syndrome which keeps the garden centres busy at Christmas as they always look so attractive before being plunged into cold temperatures for the journey home to Mother-in-Law).

Miniature cyclamen with black ophiopogums happily settled under the orange tree on the patio and oblivious to the cold

So, back to sweeping leaves, washing terrace tiles (consequence of pale grey tiles, wood burning stove, tangerine trees and morning mist – smoke from stove, heavy with resin from wood blown into trees above patio drips from the leaves in the damp morning air leaving black marks all over the tiles- much frowned upon by ‘HG’) with power washer. Result - clean tiles, cold hands, wet feet but rewarded by happy Head Gardener bearing large mug of hot coffee, an excellent ‘Gardening’ result.

Colourful autumn leaves from the diosperos tree before being swept from the terrace

Must dash to drink coffee before it freezes over,

 see you soon.

Stuart.