My gardening diary
MONDAY Trying to catch up with all the pricking out. The veg seed, in particular pak choi, summer-flowering broccoli and tomatoes, need immediate a ention. It really sets seedlings back when their roots get entangled. Prompt pricking out is a priority!
TUESDAY Several of the gravel paths in the shady part of the garden have lost their edges during winter. Stones need rese ing and gravel needs topping up. It’s a good idea to maintain the distinction between planted areas and the paths.
WEDNESDAY There’s far too much mint in the li le pond at the bo om of the garden. We need to pull it out gingerly because the pond is full of tadpoles, let alone all the pond life that’s invisible. We take it out and keep it in a big, wide trug and return excess to the water to conserve as many living creatures as possible. It’s all about balance – if the mint were left to its own devices it would take over.
THURSDAY It’s time to move any of the tulips in pots that are beginning to show their true colours. There are fewer of them than usual, but they should still make a welcome splash of colour along the brick paths and on the top terrace. The big pots there are immovable except for rotating them to try and get all the flowers to open at about the same time.
FRIDAY After a li le warm weather suddenly watering in the greenhouse and tunnel becomes a priority. Some of the perennials we’d po ed up have made lots of root and are thirsty. The sooner we get them planted out the be er, meanwhile we mustn’t allow them to dry out. Even a temporary lapse results in a check to their growth.
SATURDAY All our dahlias are starting to sprout, including some brand new varieties from The National Dahlia Society, a present for my RHS VMH award. We’ll start taking cu ings from some of our veteran plants that produce multiple new shoots. Not only do we get new plants, but fewer shoots means stronger growth.
SUNDAY Looking forward to the Malvern Spring Festival. It heralds the beginning of the new gardening season and all the exhibits and gardens are packed with fresh, vernal vigour! It’s possibly the most picturesque of all the flower show sites with the Malvern Hills in the background. You can almost hear the Elgar!