Welcome to my potting shed!

This is the column where I’ll share all my gardening hints and tips – and I’ll try to answer any queries you may have.

Q I’ve been given a black aeonium in a large pot and want to know how to look after it. – Greg Phillips, Aberfoyle.

A Lucky you, this Canary Island native is a stunner. Keep it in a cool greenhouse or porch during the winter, watering infrequently, then move to a sunny spot outdoors during the summer.

Make a diary of gardening activity for

2019 to ensure work is carried out at the right times.

Q Do I need to protect my daffodils? They started growing during the mild spell before Christmas. – Lynn Holloway, Edinburgh.

A Covering bulbs with some leaf mould will help to protect the growing tips, but even left to their own devices your daffodils will be just fine. They start growing late in the year and simply sit out cold spells until conditions improve.

Spread grit around low-growing winter

plants to protect their flowers from being spoiled by splashes of mud.

Q Is it possible to grow chickpeas in Scotland? – Brian Small, by email.

A Yes, it is. You can either use dried chickpeas from the supermarket or buy them from a seed merchant. Sow them in May and you should have a crop by the end of summer.

Cover rhubarb crowns with forces to

produce early, tender stalks.

Q I spotted some dahlias that started off pink then faded to a sort of creamy colour. I’d like to grow them but don’t know the variety. Can you identify it? – Beth Chandler, North Berwick. A This sounds like ‘Cafe au Lait’, which has become a favourite with many growers. ‘Breakout’, which is very pale pink, with a yellow centre, is another pale dahlia to try.

Sow early radishes under cover.

Q What’s the best way to deal with foxgloves that seed themselves around the garden? – Kim Mitchell, Clydebank.

A If you don’t want foxgloves to spread, then cut off the flower spikes before they set seed. New plants that pop up in the borders can be dug up and moved to areas where you do want them to grow.

Keep picking kale and Brussels sprouts.