Tame those climbers

Hardy herbaceous climbers such as summer-blooming clematis will need training now. young, tender stems of Clematis viticella, C. texensis and other late-blooming varieties are especially fragile.

If you break or sever any stems by mistake, don’t worry as vigorous side-shoots will replace those for later flowers.

Tie all stems or stumps gently to their supports. Lengthy stems can be bent sideways and tied in loosely.

If you grow golden hops, perennial climbing peas or other strong herbaceous climbers, train those, too. That’s less easy than with clematis but you can help them to coil round arches or posts, or gently tie them to a trellis.

If you want to grow tender morning glories, Ipomoea, pictured, this is a good time to sow the seeds.

Those will emerge by mid to late May and grow rapidly. Flowering runs from mid to late summer into autumn.

But the young plants are susceptible to cool nights, even when there’s no frost, so late sowing is best. If you can start your seeds in a greenhouse or conservatory, that’s better still until June.

Tender climbers won’t flourish unless grown in warm, sunny positions, protected from cold winds. When mature, they’ll toughen up, but delicate youngsters need special care.