Gardening

Preparation is the key to success in the garden

The Christmas tree and decorations have been returned to the loft and it is lighter in the evenings, which means it’s time to prepare for the coming season.

Now is not the time to take it easy as there are plenty of jobs to tick off your list. There is nothing better than curling up with a steaming cuppa flicking through seed catalogues marvelling at the array of fruit and vegetables tempting you to place your order.

This is the time to buy seed potatoes; who knew there were so many varieties? Before planting you must “chit” them to give them a good start, which means allowing them to sprout and produce shoots before you plant them outside. Stand the potatoes upright in egg boxes to allow the shoots to grow.

These should be ready to plant out in late March to early April. Don’t be in a rush to put them in the cold soggy ground as it can give them a bit of a shock which will impede their growth.

Cover your patch to warm the soil for a couple of weeks before planting. One of our allotment gents told me that you should plant them on Good Friday. • Watch out for frost and be prepared to cover any blossom on fruit trees • Prune winter flowering shrubs such as mahonias, winter jasmine and heathers once flowering is finished • Cut back deciduous grasses and “comb” evergreen grasses with your fingers to remove the old loose dead leaves There’s a big difference in dates from one year to the next so I’m not sure about the reliability of that gem of knowledge.

Check your tools. Tools need to be clean, sharp and in good working order. This is simple to do and you will be rewarded in “spades”. A simple tool kit of oil, wire wool, whetstone and cloth will suffice. If you look after your tools, they will last you.

Make sure the blades are clean and dirt free. Wipe with an oily cloth and use wire wool to remove any rust that may have accumulated over the season. Sharpen with the whetstone, brush with oil then store in a dry place.

Maintenance tip – keep a bucket of sharp sand in your shed and before you store your tools sink the spade/fork into the sand. This will remove any debris

Other tips for February

and act as an abrasive to keep them clean. • Divide large clumps of snowdrops after flowering and replant • Sprinkle slow release fertiliser around the base of roses Enjoy the emerging daffodil bulbs as spring is almost upon us, bringing the promise of light and warmth. By Suzi M - garden lover and plotter at Roundhill Allotments

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