Don’t overdo first gardening session

Plant propagation in its simplest form is present in the dividing-up of herbaceous perennial plants into sections to increase your stock.

This is normally done during dormancy between late autumn and spring, but even now, if new growth is slow as it is with clumps of campanula and rudbeckia in our garden, division is possible but water the newly-gained plants in well.

Young shoots of border phlox and delphinium are also emerging and some can be introduced to a pot of gritty compost as stem cuttings.

Be adventurous in attempting to root these and other perennials, shrubs, herbs, etc. if they’re currently offering soft new stems.

Packets of seed tend to build up occasionally in my gardening world, some purchased with good intent but not sown, others arriving free with magazines.

If you find a forgotten hoard, first look for the sow-by date but don’t be put off if it expired a few years ago.

Lay 10 seeds on the surface of a dampened paper towel in a saucer, keep it in the warmth and anticipate germination within two weeks.

Then you can work out the % viability of the contents.

Thankfully there is so much key information on a seed packet that there should be less disappointment if it is read before sowing.

It’s time now to check the lawn for debris and raise the cutting blades before mowing.

Plant first early potatoes 15 centimetres deep and anticipate earthing-up three weeks later.

If the weather’s cold and wet keep precious seeds in their packets until it improves.

Above all, if this is your first gardening session of the year, don’t overdo it.

In the vernacular, gan canny!