Readers’ gardens

Sorting supports and sweet peas

My hazel ‘A’ frame plant supports stood firm in high winds last summer. They were laden with sweet peas, climbing beans and squash. There’s nothing worse than collapsing supports in the middle of the season, so I’ll add some new hazel poles to shore up the existing structure. Hazel frames generally last three years. They’re cheap and easy to make and strong when rods are woven together.

I tried annual climbers among the beans and squash last summer. I grew new climbing French bean ‘Sunshine’ with ipomoea ‘Grandpa Otts’. The yellow beans alongside the blue morning glory looked a picture and, as a bonus, attracted pollinators. To build on a successful theme, this year I’m trying thunbergia, or black-eyed Susan – there’s a pretty apricot variety, ‘African Sunset’. I’m sowing seeds now in a heated propagator at 20C (68F). They’ll germinate in two to three weeks and I’ll plant them out in late May. I’m also sowing more sweet peas, growing new variety ‘Mayflower 400’ alongside heritage types from Easton Walled Gardens. I like to mix the old with the new. I’ve brought my compost bags into the greenhouse to warm up before seed sowing really gets going, as it’ll help germination. I’m also getting a head start in the vegetable plot. You can extend the cropping period by ‘forcing’ plants. Strawberry runners in pots have had enough cold to prompt them to fruit, so can be brought into an unheated greenhouse. They’ll fruit as early as April, given some protection from the weather. Rhubarb will produce sweet and tasty stems early if the crown is covered with a large plant pot or dustbin. I’ll feed the plants first with home-made compost and insulate them with straw. There’s a recipe for rhubarb upside down cakes on the blog, which is something cheerful to contemplate on a cold day!

Birds are starting to search for nesting sites. I’ve installed new nest boxes early, and I’m putting out nesting materials. The RSPB has natural wild bird nesting wool on its website. I’ve put moss, straw and dried grasses in a hanging basket for easy access.

Read more at www.bramblegarden.com and on Instagram @karengimson1.

Repairing the hazel plant supports

Greenhouse cu ings are checked over and, inset, beans for the freezer

Alstroemeria, paperwhite narcissi and dried gypsophila make a pre y wreath

Karen grows cut flowers, fruit and veg in her country wildlife garden, and makes full use of a greenhouse and polytunnel.