Poddington and P

The flower garden

Plant out dahlia, canna, lilies outside.

Dead head winter and spring bedding plants regularly to encourage flowering.

Peg rhododendrons to the ground so that they form new plants.

Plant out sweet peas, pinching out the tips to form a better bloom.

The kitchen garden

Plant out chitted first early, second early and main crop potatoes

Direct sow beetroot, parsnips, sprouts, leeks, cabbages, swiss chard, spinach, kohl rabi and salad.

Sow strawberry seeds in a heated greenhouse or propagator.

Harvest rhubarb.

Plant Jerusalem artichokes along the north side of the plot.

The greenhouse

Sow celery in trays.

Sow peppers and aubergines.

Sow melons in a heated propagator.

The pond

Wash out pond filters.

Add or divide pond plants.

General

Weed or hoe in between young plants.

Feed lawns and fork compacted grass paths to allow the air in and green up.

Repot or top dress house plants with fresh compost.

Look out for aphid outbreaks. 

Put up extra bird nesting boxes.

The flower garden

Prune bush and shrub roses.

Trim winter flowering heathers.

Cut down old growth on penstemons exposing new shoots at the base.

Lift and divide congested clumps of snowdrops.

Prune winter flowering jasmine.

Plant out gladioli, agapanthus and lilies.

Start watering fuchsias to bring back from dormancy and cut back dead stems to 2.5 – 5cms.  

Prune shrubs such as buddleias to 1m of the base, dogwoods and willows.

The kitchen garden

Chit seed potatoes, eye uppermost in a cool bright place.

Direct sow broad beans, peas, carrots, radishes and spring onions.   

Plant strawberry runners, remove dead and damaged leaves.

Harvest winter salad leaves.

Plant out shallots, onion sets and garlic.

Plant asparagus.

The greenhouse

Prick out seedlings, pot on, harden off outside or in a cold frame.

Sow summer bedding plants such as geraniums.  

Sow annual climbers such as sweet peas and morning glory.

Ventilate the greenhouse on warm sunny days ensuring it is closed at night.

Sow cucumbers.

The pond

General

Reseed bare lawn patches. Start to mow lawns on dry days.

Garlic extracts are known as natural antiseptics and are therefore present in many cough and cold remedies. During the First World War garlic juice was used in field dressings to prevent gangrene. It has been shown to have a positive effect in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, thus slowing arterial plaque formation.  Garlic is also thought to be beneficial in reducing the incidence of stomach, colorectal, breast and prostate cancers.

Garlic requires free draining soil and prefers a sunny position. Garlic can be planted in spring and autumn. We have opted to plant our garlic in between our onions as we planted them quite far apart. Individual cloves were planted 3cms deep and 10cms apart. There is no need to peel the cloves before planting. Previously I have planted garlic straight from a supermarket which grew very successfully. The problem with doing this is that you cannot guarantee a disease free variety and most supermarket produce is from overseas which may be suited to warmer climates. This time we have purchased garlic from the local garden centre.

The garlic will be ready for harvesting in late summer/early autumn when the leaves start to die down. Garlic can be stored in a frost free environment; I am still using last year’s produce.

Glossary ~ Plaque is the fatty deposits in the blood leading to heart disease and raised blood pressure.

The helleborus is sometimes known as the Christmas rose, probably because when there is little else growing in the garden at this time of year, you can count on these beautiful flowers to be in full bloom.

Hellebores are native to the mountains of Europe from alpine slopes to sheltered woodland areas.

These evergreen perennials flower from midwinter to spring bearing the loveliest of flowers that flush with age. Its deep green basal leaves persist throughout the year.

The helleborus is happiest in dappled shade and in any good moist soil. It will tolerate some weak winter sunshine.

The plants old leaves should be trimmed away to display emerging flowers.

Plants will appreciate a feed with a general fertiliser and mulch with organic matter also at this time of year.   Watering is seldom required.

Beware of slugs and snails feasting on the foliage, raised beds and pots may be of benefit.

Hellebores can be cultivated from seed, given a cold snap to break the seeds dormancy. Gloves need to be worn when collecting hellebore seed as they may irritate the skin.

A fungus, which causes the leaves to develop brown blotches, causes hellebore leaf spot, the leaves turn yellow and die and petal may show black spotting. Affected plants must be destroyed; there is no fungicide for this disease.

A fungus and results in pale yellow spots developing on the upper leaf surface cause downy mildew. Affected plants must be destroyed; there is no fungicide for this disease.

Hellebore black death is caused by a virus. The stems, leaves and flowers are distorted with black streaking. Affected plants must be destroyed.

The flower garden

Prune wisteria to a bud or two or 2.5cms from the main stem.

Thin the heads of standard rose bushes to prevent damage caused by wind rock.

Divide winter aconities establishing them in another part of the garden.

Clear away dead stems such as sweet peas and morning glory.

Try collecting and sowing berry seeds or squashing mistletoe berries into apple tree branches (mistletoe is a parasite plant, in that it only grows on a host plant, absorbing nutrients from it).

Sow hardy annuals for next year.

Plant bare root trees, shrubs and bushes.

Tie in trees to protect from wind damage.

Cut back ornamental grasses to allow new growth to come through. 

The kitchen garden

Prune apple and pear trees, removing any dead or diseased branches, any that are crossing each other that will rub the bark away leading to disease, thin out the centre of the tree to allow light in, create a pleasing shape.

Prune autumn fruiting raspberries down to the ground and mulch.

Protect fruit cages from the weight of snow.

Cover brassicas with netting to protect them from birds.

Force rhubarb and strawberries with cloches or terracotta pots.

Dig over bear soil, adding compost to improve its structure.

The greenhouse

Chit early seed potatoes for forcing under glass.

Monitor heaters daily to ensure that they are working correctly.

Wash glazing inside and out to let more light in and prevent disease.

Check over wintering tubers for signs of rot.  

The pond

Float a half filled plastic carton of water in the pond to prevent it from freezing over.

General

Collect fallen leaves removing them to the compost bin.

Shred woody pruning’s and spent Christmas tree to use as mulch, bonfires add to pollution.

Clean the lawn mower. 

Wash up plant pots in hot sterilised water, keeping them disease free.

Order next year’s seeds, sets and bulbs.

Repair or treat wooden structures and fences whilst there is little greenery around them.

Wrap patio pots with insulation to protect from frost damage.

Put out fresh drinking water each day for wild birds.