My gardening DIARY

MONDAY After a couple of hard frosts, the leaves of dahlias planted out in a ‘nursery’ bed are blackened. We’re cu ing them back to the ground and when the earth completely thaws, the whole bed will be mulched with leaf mould 10cm (4in) or so deep to insulate the tubers. Next year, when we’ve moved the dahlias, the leaf mould will be incorporated to improve the texture of the soil.

TUESDAY Planting out some of the splendid pulmonarias that arrived recently from Howard Nurseries. One variety, ‘Opal’, has flowers of a pale milky blue and should look just the picture alongside the nodding pale lemon flowers of the Narcissus pseudonarcissus ‘W.P.Milner’.

WEDNESDAY With the same delivery and also with blue flowers, although not until next spring, we received some bare-rooted Anchusa azurea ‘Loddon Royalist’.

They grow brilliantly here, but only for a year. We take lots of root cu ings before po ing them up.

THURSDAY To Neil’s delight we’ve had peppers galore this year. We’re keeping five or six plants – they’re perennial, although most are grown as annuals. They’ll be kept frost free over winter and repo ed in the spring and should fruit well next year.

FRIDAY Fern fronds are ge ing the chop around the garden. Brown fronds are composted but green fronds are collected in a heap. They’re ideal for protecting precocious growth on slightly tender plants on really cold nights.

SATURDAY The last of the tulips are being po ed up. The only one left is ‘White Emperor’, with magnificent, creamy white cups whose petals become pure white as they age. Making one special big pot full for our neighbours, Joe and Molly.

SUNDAY Seed sowing goes on in earnest. Green leaves are the priority, rocket, le uce and mizuna, and soon it will be time to start thinking about half-hardy annuals, too. Can’t wait.