Weekend gardener
Camellias Edibles
It’s the best time to buy and plant camellias. As they are in bloom now, you can see and smell what you are getting. Many varieties are fragrant.
Japonica and reticulata camellias prefer shade to filtered light, whereas sasanquas are little more sun tolerant.
Plant in moist, well-drained, acidic soil, digging in generous quantities of compost and organic material before planting. A slow-release fertiliser will also help get them established. Water deeply.
The lovely higo, Japanese, Louisiana and Siberian irises are best planted this month. They all prefer full sun and moist, slightly acidic soil.
Lightly trim macrocarpa and other coniferous hedges.
Prune shrubs that flower on the current season’s wood, such as buddleia, fuchsia, lavender, roses (but not shrub or climbing ones), and deciduous springflowering shrubs, such as fothergilla, lilac and weigela.
Every two to three years, delphiniums, michelmas daisies, penstemon and phlox do well being lifted, divided and replanted in soil replenished with plenty of compost dug in. This should increase both the number and quality of flowers.
Polyanthus and primulas will appreciate a boost from a sprinkling of blood and bone. In warmer districts, some seeds may be sown outside; the more prudent and those living in cooler districts will sow them under cover, such as in a glasshouse, verandah or sunny window sill. These seeds include broad beans, smaller spring cabbage varieties, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, florence fennel, and peas.
If you didn’t sow brown onions in autumn, try sowing them now under glass in a light sandy soil for planting out in spring.
The traditional day for planting garlic is the shortest day of the year, which was last month, but fear not: garlic will still perform well if planted through till the end of July.
Beetroot, globe artichokes, lettuce, peas, radish, snow peas, spinach and strawberries may also be planted in all but the coldest regions.
Prune grape vines while they are still dormant, cutting spur growth off main leaders to two nodes.
When harvesting lemons and other citrus, never pull the fruit from the tree. Rather, twist off carefully or use secateurs and snip off fruit leaving a 2-3cm stem. Any tearing of fruit skin during harvest will shorten its shelf life markedly, so eat these first. Any ripping of the tree can open it up to disease and pests such as borer.
After harvesting winter cabbages and broccoli, slash the stump with a cross to encourage a secondary crop of smaller heads to form.
– Mary Lovell-smith