Four seasons’ weather!
What variety of weather we are experiencing at the moment – early morning mist and frost followed by brilliant sunshine and sudden heavy downpours of rain, hail and snow, accompanied by a very chilly wind!
The greenhouse is full to bursting with plants and seedlings, which I’m covering with fleece every night as a precaution. Overwintered dahlia tubers are growing well in pots in the greenhouse and I’ve taken a few cuttings from my favourites.
The spring borders are filling out nicely; hellebores are still flowering, joined by tiarella, aquilegia, erythroniums and lovely big clumps of Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’, with the odd patch of wildflowers for good measure. Just as I thought we were finished with back-breaking jobs after my cut flower patch redesign last month, another comes along! A Viburnum plicatum and Cotinus coggygria are growing really well but unfortunately were planted too close together. We made the decision to move the cotinus a little way along the border and although it’s a little late to be doing it, it’s not yet in leaf so we’ll risk it. First of all, though, an ancient spiraea has to be dug out and a space cleared.
In the vegetable garden, cut and come again lettuce is growing with protection from a cold frame and is now ready to start picking. Broad beans are growing well and the first sowings of carrots, beetroot and spinach have germinated. The asparagus bed was planted three years ago and the first spears are just showing. We’re looking forward to our first proper harvest soon.
Tales from a Country Garden 