The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies. Gertrude Jekyll

Annie's Little Plot

Annie's Little Plot

Wednesday 2 March 2016

The plot in February

Ok so I'm running a bit late with this post, though to be fair there is not much to talk about on my plot. Its been a quiet month gardening-wise for me, it was still too wet at the start of the month to do anything. I've only actually been a few times to the plot and on one of those the wind was so biting that I just checked everything and then just headed home to the warmth. But miraculously towards the end of the month we have a some runs of dry days, how exciting is that. We have had some lovely sunny days here though it has been cold with frosts at night. Plus the nights and mornings are getting lighter, spring seems to be on the way. However, I'm looking out of my window now its snowing heavily, we've even had some thunder and lightning today, so spring is on hold for a couple of days. After the really mild days early on in the year where plants were going a bit crazy and flowering madly, we've had some cold here and things seemed to have settled a bit and I think getting back to normal flowering times again.
Here's an example of a crazy combination. I still have some bedding plants left over in a pot and they have continued weakly flowering over the winter, so I had a little vase of my first snowdrops and osteospermum!!
At the allotment, I've also finished top dressing the beds and all looks calm and still. There is some greenery from chives edging the beds and the rhubarb is growing well.
I spent a day pottering there on Friday, pruning the redcurrants and gooseberry bushes and mulching. I also mulched the raspberries and rhubarb plants. I dug up and composted the remaining Chard which was looking a bit worse for wear now after the frosts. I also cut down the green manure I have growing in a couple of beds. Garlic is sprouting well now, though the over-wintering onions look a bit tatty I hope with some sunshine they will perk up. So all poised and ready to go.
In the garden I've also been cutting down the remaining dead foliage on my perennials and I've pruned my few roses. By the way a great tip if you are nervous about pruning your roses. Go and visit a good rose garden at this time of year. Last monday Martin and I went to Dunham Massey, we go most winters to visit the winter garden but we also had a quick wander round the relatively new rose garden that they have there. There for all to see is a masterclass in pruning as they are just starting to sprout and you can see how the gardeners there have pruned mostly to outward facing buds to create an open shape. Not great photos but go and visit and see for yourself.

I know it looks a bit bleak now but this is it at its peak.
So far I've restrained myself from sowing too much, its still too cold. But I will get going soon. My chilli seedlings are coming on strong. In the greenhouse I've lost a few things due to damp and rot I think but its so hard getting the balance between keeping it warm but also keeping it well ventilated. Most days I'm out very early and it would be far to cold to open it then. Oh well my experiment in overwintering annuals was just that an experiment, some things have thrived, like the Larkspur and others like Ammi really not done well.
At home I've taken great pleasure from a lovely Amaryllis which I got for Christmas. Quite a subtle one.


12 comments:

  1. The allotment is looking very neat. It's only been this last weekend that I've been able to get out at all, really frustrating when I can see everything that needs doing. Just hoping that when the current bout of bad weather subsides I can get going again. We need a good Spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We definitely need a good spring to get us going again, it was nice at the weekend if cold, but I was full of cold so not much done!

      Delete
  2. It's good to hear that you have managed to get a little work done on the allotment. Those roses look beautiful, I really must try to get out and prune mine! Here's to some good weather.xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its nice to see a picture of them in their prime to remind us of whats to come!

      Delete
  3. That is a good reminder about the roses. My nearest place to go would be RHS Hyde Hall where the roses are fabulous. I love your strange combination of flowers; it really does show how unusual this winter has been.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly has been a weird one, maybe things will settle down for a bit now but I doubt it. Thats the challenge for us gardeners!

      Delete
  4. An enjoyable post and lovely pictures. It wasn't a very good month at all so you did well to do what you did. It really seems odd to have osteospermums at this time of year. Happy gardening, Flighty. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the few frosts we have recently have out paid to most of their activity but I might try and get some cuttings taken of them

      Delete
  5. We visited Dunham Massey a while ago and enjoyed it. I think it was the first year that it had opened in winter.

    I must get round to pruning the gooseberries,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a lovely garden, nice to visit at all times of the year.

      Delete
  6. I have made a start on the sowing in a propagator and already have cucumbers coming through. I like to start early to give the greenhouse crops a long growing season. I do love a rose garden and am always amazed how much they grow after a severe pruning. Let's hope we have a good growing season this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes its amazing how what looks like a few twigs can grow into such a beautiful display.

      Delete