THE GARDEN CALENDAR
An easy-to-follow guide to what to plant and when
January Check that stakes and ties are sturdy enough to survive the winter. Buy seeds for spring. ‘ Visit otterfarm.co.uk or franchi.co.uk and buy packs of seeds for mixed salad, Italian beans and some edible flowers – I love calendula “Indian Prince” and “Cupani” sweet peas.
February Prune shrubs, climbers and hedges, and keep delicate plants insulated by wrapping them in bubble wrap or hessian. Protect trees and shrubs with a layer of dry mulch.
March Get rid of old, dead foliage to encourage new growth; start planting seeds. ‘It’s so simple – just follow the instructions on the packet and you’ll have a riot of flowers,’ says Mendelson. ‘City gardens have slugs and cats, so start seeds off in small pots until they’re tough enough to cope with real life.’
April Weeds will need to be kept in check now. Grow tomatoes: ‘I buy tomato seedlings from simpsonsseeds.co.uk: “Black Russian”; “Green Zebra”; “Tigerella” and “Matt’s Wild Cherry” are favourites’, says Mendelson.
May Plant hanging baskets and start feeding the lawn. The ground is softer now, so it’s the time to start work on any big garden projects, such as decking.
June Harvest time begins. ‘Pinch out the side shoots on tomatoes, tie unruly bean stems to bamboo and water plants weekly with tomato food,’ recommends Mendelson. ‘Collect salad leaves often and show off about them.’
July/august Water everything, especially container plants. Test for dryness with a finger; if the soil isn’t damp a centimetre down, water. Deadhead plants regularly to encourage repeat flowering.
September Gather beans and tomatoes frequently, so more will grow. As plants die back, collect seeds for sowing next spring. Think ahead and plant bulbs for spring blooms.
October/november Dig over soil with compost and manure. Prune fruit trees back. Gather fallen autumn leaves in a container – they will break down to form mulch.
December Develop an addiction to succulents. Try blueleafplants.co.uk for Echeverias, the dramatic metallic-black Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ or Rosary vines; plant in a stylish shallow dish with drainage (not the glass dishes you see in shops), avoid watering, and love them.