April Gardening News
Hooray for the lengthening day. Who knows there may even be a slight rise in temperature, maybe even a little consistency. My goodness the spiteful breeze stayed with us through March, sometimes hidden beneath the mask of each day, The glistening blade of treachery even on the sunniest days looking to spoil the fun. Not anything that troubled the early cherries though, which have been a delightful prelude to imminent Spring. I did manage to get some seed going and my first tomatoes are well advanced. I do love to play, whilst still holding the reins of a commercial business, it is a delightful self-indulgence. I love experimenting with things that are off beat, growing plants in ways that are not prescribed. Now is the time for some organised commitment to seed sowing. The tenderest subjects will still need frost protection, but many things, both flower and vegetable can be sown in the coming weeks (just check the packets). Seed Potatoes can be set out now, but keep an eye out for frost in early May which can nip the emerging tops. Just slip a bit of fleece across them if there is a threat. Garden Centres are starting to offer a range of young plants if the seed sowing isn’t your thing and there are also plenty of good herbaceous plants to be had. I picked up a few delphiniums to tuck in at the back of a border. I have selected a few tall ones that will rise majestically to five feet. I love the regal blue spires of this plant. If you are tight on space, then smaller forms are available, with some barely eighteen inches tall. I will also hope to plant my summer bulbs in the next week or so and my selection, will once more feature some Dahlias. There is always plenty of repairing to do after the winter and most notably this time, it’s the lawn that needs serious work. Raking out the thatch and moss is a good starting point and then aerate the worst bits with a fork. Having highlighted the gaps in the grass, top dress with some new seed (April is the perfect month). And finally, the Japanese flowering cherry season is about to start and if you have always fancied one this is the time to see what’s on offer. Every second garden will boast one. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
Free Talk – Mick Poultney, The Compost King
Mick Poultney, The Compost King – The Brown Jug, Monday 3rd March 2025 7pm Mick will talk about making compost. He has perfected a natural, cost effective and highly efficient method of making compost which is ready to use in just a month. He will bring garden related items to sell, including copies of his book on making compost. Visit his website at https://mickpoultney.co.uk. This is an open meeting so members and non-members are invited to attend. See What’s on for more details.
Winchcombe Seed Swap, Sat 8th Feb
February Gardening News
The year has turned and already the first page of the new calendar is folded from view and the Spring draws closer. January was an interesting test for anything stored, with conditions at times really quite bleak, the penetrating frosts seeking out all that was sheltering. Every time I opened a door, I could hear the hum of a boiler somewhere on the site as we kept the chill from first sowings and potato stock. Good gardeners know that brighter days are ahead, and it was joyous to witness visitors armed with notebook shopping lists. Conversations through frosty breath as ideas and guidance were shared. February is always a month for gambling, I do love to try and get some seed underway, and some hardy annuals and vegetables can be started, though ideally with some protection. So pinches can be sown on window sills or in a cold frame or greenhouse. I have some cabbage, cauli and lettuce underway in trays and a few peas and broad beans in cells. I have also sown some sweet peas in pots, as well as pinches of Cosmos, Calendula and Dianthus. If you have some heat, then begonias and busy Lizzies both have long germination times. If you sow either of these or perhaps some Antirrhinums be aware that the seeds are small and can be surface sown and covered with polythene. Don’t bury them under compost or you are likely to loose them. On milder days Onion sets, shallots, garlic and rhubarb crowns can all go into the soil. The movement of trees and shrubs can also continue this month. Both container grown items and bare rooted subjects will transfer easily and they will romp as we move into March and the ground warms. If you are looking for a bit of early colour then shop around for spring bulbs in pots. Many centres will have dwarf daffodils, Snowdrops, Aconites and Bluebells available in leaf, in pots and ready to bloom. This is the time to check out summer bulbs if you want to be sure of getting choice. Dahlias, Gladioli, Tuberous Begonias, lilies and Agapanthus are all available now. Some can be started in large pots and others will go in the ground within the next few weeks. The planting season for bulbs extends across three months, so always check packets for guidance. And finally, get that lawnmower ready, the grass is on the move. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
January Gardening News
Well, that month didn’t hang about did it. Aside from the fact that the distraction of Christmas took the form of a five week prelude, that was adverts and early Christmas trees and more Black Fridays than there were actual Fridays. I think that as gardeners, many of us just ducked and let the daily chill of a spiteful breeze push us through the weeks. The weather stayed gloomy, as did the news and the real joy was in knowing that a new season was around the corner and so were the seed potatoes. As planned, I did sweep up bargain bulbs at a couple of local garden centres and have high expectations for the tulips and as if that wasn’t impressive enough, I remembered to put by a Christmas Tree for home. So, as we turn into a new year we can start to play, pondering seed purchases and exploring for new varieties. I am going to start a pinch or two of vegetable seed this month, probably some summer cabbage and a bit of lettuce. Both will germinate quite quickly and whilst they will need some early protection if the weather does crash, within a few days of acclimatization, they will both stand up to lighter chills. This need not be an expensive play and nature constantly confounds by delivering surprises. If you are in any doubt, just chop off the seedlings and throw them into a salad. The whole business of germination is very uplifting and the early emergence of seedlings still brings me great joy. This month you can pick up onion sets, shallots and garlic and plant them as the weather permits. You will also be fine putting out bare root hedging and relocating anything that is in the wrong place. I have moved some quite large shrubs at this time, the plants are dormant and the shift doesn’t register. If you have fruit,toward the end of the month you can do your pruning. Reduce over crowded and dead or diseased material to allow good air movement in the Summer. If you have moved anything to shelter this winter, give plants a health check, removing any diseased material and managing. aphids in particular. Fungal conditions and pests can make a mess. And finally, do a rodent check around storage areas, populations of mice and rats have grown where they have found warmth and comfort. Happy Gardening Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
December Gardening News
The night extended, the temperature slipped back a degree or two, the leaves tumbled and we were in to December. It has been a strange year and the autumn too mild for the seasonal replanting. I was still looking at good summer bedding plants at the end of November and was in no rush to pull them up. So, bulbs and autumn bedding sales have been slow and should you still want to try your luck with some late planting, there are bulbs and pansies everywhere at greatly discounted prices. In the out-turn vegetable productivity has been down, though some late rain has resulted in some over sized potatoes, but somethings just never got going. It has been amazing to see how the winter vegetables have romped with many gardens boasting Sprouts, Cabbage and even Purple Sprouting already. Do stay vigilant with the netting of greens, the pigeons are hungry. If the weather offers some good moments, there is as always plenty of cleaning up to do and you may want to consider a bit of well protected rodent control. There have been a lot of rats and mice around. If you fancy a bit of structural planting, there are a few bare root hedging plants as well as Raspberries and they will all cope with late planting. As we move through the month attention switches to Christmas, so I felt that was worth in mentioning pot plants. They will be everywhere but avoid any that are just stuck on a trolley outside. Poinsettia’s and Cyclamen can be really sulky and are very easy to chill, especially when they are over watered. So indoor Christmas plants need modest regular watering and most prefer to be out of a draught, though don’t need tropical temperatures. Pot bulbs are always good,but use them in the cooler rooms or they will flower and be gone. Of all the Christmas plants, the most underrated is the Solanum (sometimes called the Christmas Cherry). It is great value, pretty tough and in the spring can transfer and thrive in the garden. And finally, don’t rush to get your Christmas tree in. Before taking it in saw off and inch from the base of your tree and allow it to stand in a bucket of water to rehydrate for a day or so. The market demand is now for the slow needle drop varieties like the Nordman which can last for weeks, but If you buy a traditional Norway Spruce, just know, that with luck it will stand for two or three. Happy Christmas Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
November Gardening News
So here we are in November, and we have all had the opportunity to experience bog gardening. My goodness we have had some rain, there have been a few days when I lost sight of the lawn and as for the inadequacy of the local sewerage network (it can be mentioned but is best not described). In the balance the season was reasonable, but not wonderful. There certainly was not a glut of any crop, though some of the flowers have been good. Dahlias in particular have been a delight. On that subject and with two good frosts behind us I will be lifting my tubers this week and indeed any delicate items that I want to keep for next year. Just ship tender stuff into a space that is frost free and water proof and cover them if the weather gets particularly bad. In the case of tubers, don’t waste energy on cleaning them off, just allow soil to fall from them as it dries. Too much fussing will damage them. With the freeing up of space you can push on and complete any autumn bedding and bulb planting. Most things will take quickly,but do get on with it. In the vegetable plot you can still put out onions sets and Broad Bean seeds and if you can find Perpetual Spinach try that too. Perpetual Spinach is very tough and is a useful extra on the winter plate, with a very distinctive bitter flavour, I think it really spices up a dinner. This month of course, is probably the big tidy up month, the leaves are down and there is plenty of vegetable debris of all sorts to dispose of, so your compost heap should fill up. As part of the clean-up chop down tired perennials and if you have some good compost or some straw, cover the crowns of decapitated plants with a mulch to safeguard them for the spring. Whilst you have the secateurs you can get a bit of modest pruning done, removing damaged, crossing and over grown stems and if you have autumn raspberries, you can prune them hard to be sure of a crop next year. This is a great month for bigger planting, bare root fruit and hedging will come available and pot fruit and ornamental trees will also transplant and settle easily. And finally, have a go at lawn aeration, after all the wet it will pay off. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
October Gardening News
Another month gone already and as I open each month I tend to reflect on where we have been. So, how was September for you? Broadly something of a mess, I think. Vegetables just stopped producing, the runner beans were the worst they have been for years, Courgettes and Marrows were dusted with mildew early in the month and just didn’t bother to offer anything after the middle of the month. A lot of fruit didn’t reach maturity, surrendering to the ravages of the wind and rain. Despite our best efforts to keep them clean, the codling moth left our Bramley apples full of holes too. I will not bother to mutter about the blight, that tickled my tomatoes to submission. I will just remind you to keep an eye on any remaining tomato or potato plants. Blight is quick, is brutal and doesn’t take prisoners. Get onto your final harvesting now. But enough of the gloom, that month has gone and it’s time to plan for the spring. There is of course plenty of tidying up to do, but its bulb time and this is the month to make your commitment. Garden centres have plenty of choice and you can pave the way for a succession of flower to run across four months and bring joyous festivity to borders. So snowdrops and crocus offer a start point and will bring the tease of a new season in January and February, with daffodils and tulips of all shapes and sizes if you are selective extending flowers into April. Of course there are other options, so do check the displays, dwarf Irises for example are worth a look. In the borders you can be setting out winter pansies and violas, together with wallflowers and other over wintering subjects like sweet William. If you have space for a shrub, then this month you can seek out over wintering performers, that offer interest when the deciduous shrubs are off to bed. Viburnum, winter honeysuckle, mahonia and sarcococca have all found ahome in our garden and all flower through the gloomy months. As space appears in the vegetable plot, you can be setting out onion sets and shallots as well as broad bean seeds towards the end of the month. And finally, with two frosts already recorded at the time of writing, shift and protect tender things that you want to keep for next year and I try to avoid disturbing the compost heap for a few months. They will become home to overwintering wildlife. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
Mobile Tool Sharpening – Sat 21 Sep, Dundry Nurseries
A tool sharpening service will be available at Dundry Nurseries Saturday 21st September GARDENING AND WOODWORKING TOOLS SHARPENED AND REPURPOSED JUST BRING YOURS IN ON THE DAY ! For a price list or further details ask at the Dundry Counter
Michael Marriott – David Austin’s English Roses talk
Grosmont & District Gardening Club is hosting a special event on the evening of Friday 4th October at Ewyas Memorial Hall. World-renowned rosarian, Michael Marriott is going to speak about David Austin’s English Roses. Ticket price is £10 and includes a glass of wine/soft drink. Pontrilas Rd, Ewyas Harold, Hereford HR2 0EL