The Arrival of Spring in the Lewis Cottage Garden

Richard Orton

As the weather warms up, Richard Orton reports on the latest developments at Lewis Cottage Garden, near Spreyton, and shares his tips for gardeners in the coming month.

One month on from moaning about being behind I have a greenhouse full of sweet peas, broad beans and hardy foxgloves. What a difference four weeks can make along with a small rise in the temperature.

Because of all the wet weather this winter we are trialling a different way of growing onions, shallots and garlic. Instead of just planting them straight into the soil and risking them rotting, we are starting them off in individual pots until the soil improves, then we will plant them out. I shall report back later in the year if they have been a success.

The soil is now workable so I’ve been able to spring prune the roses and fork over the soil to get some air to the base of the plants.After several seasons of the roses being munched by local deer, we accidentally came up with the natural deterrence of planting foxgloves between pairs of roses. It was quite successful and, as the foxgloves were all perennials, we have no need to replace them. They all overwintered successfully and will be a very good show going by the crowns we’ve uncovered this week. The biggest surprise will be which variety of foxglove they turn out to be as all the labels have disappeared. We planted a single variety in each different part of the rose bed: Digitalis lutea, D parviflora and possibly D stewartii, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some D laevigata and D grandiflora in there too. We shall know in early summer when they flower.

We are always on the lookout for more varieties to grow and sell from the nursery. The range is so various: from pure white to primrose yellow, raspberry pink to deep russet, not forgetting the two tone coppery/silver combination of D. laevigata, there’s something for everyone one’s taste and garden, big or small.

The image of the rose bed shows that the hedge has suffered from recent frosts. This isn’t usually cause for alarm as Lonicera nitida grows back quickly once spring gets going. In many ways it’s a much better alternative to standard box, even though it requires regular trimming to keep it in check.

At this time of year particularly I am glad we chose to divide the garden into small ‘rooms’ as it means that over a week I can get one area tidied and ready for the season. The rose bed is now done,so it’s time to start working over the vegetable garden.

Gardening jobs for March/April

If sowing vegetables straight into the ground, be sure to warm the soil first using a cloche or some plastic sheeting to help germination and prevent the seed from rotting, particularly if you garden on clay!
Check stored dahlia tubers and gladioli corms and throw any that are rotten or have been eaten by slugs.
Top dress containers with fresh compost.
Feed trees and shrubs with slow release fertiliser.
Give the greenhouse or polytunnel a good scrub. Hot soapy water is fine, or Jeyes fluid if you prefer.
Top dress borders and veg beds with well-rotted home compost (about 5cm is sufficient). I also fork in some blood, fish and bonemeal for good measure.
If you didn’t divide herbaceous perennials last autumn now is the perfect time to create new plants and remove the dead centres of old established favourites.
Prune back penstemons hard to the lowest set of leaves. Perennial antirrhinums can also be treated this way.
Prune forsythia as soon as it has flowered, to new growth.
Weed and prepare vegetable beds ready for sowing.
Check plant supports, repainting or repairing where necessary, before established climbers start into growth.
Tie in the new growth of climbers as they start.
Leave the dandelions to flower. They are essential to the survival of our native bee population, particularly early in the year. A little disorder in your lawn is a small price to pay.