6 March
The bulbs that are planted on the front garden bed are slow to flower this year which could be because of the really cold conditions and lack of prolonged sunshine. The crocuses have flower buds but these are very reluctant to open. One variety of dwarf narcissus Topolino is bravely producing flower.
I have cut back all the perennial plants partly to give the bulbs access to more light but also to encourage new healthy growth from the perennials.
Last year I bought some extra bulbs to add to the front garden bed. I planted them in pots as I wanted to see where the existing bulbs were before adding the new ones, This way I wouldn’t inadvertently dig bulbs up. There are a couple of varieties on dwarf narcissus and a couple of pots of Dutch irises which will be planted as soon as conditions allow.
In the back garden although the snowdrops haven’t been at their best this year, the hellebores have weathered the poor conditions well and the new blue dwarf irises - Alida are starting to flower as are the tête à tête dwark narcissus.
15 March
The conditions on the plot are still not conducive to planting and so I have planted a second lot of onion sets in modules to be started in the greenhouse. The first lot planted a month ago are only just beginning to shoot and then it’s only one or two sets.
The first buds are beginning to appear on the nectarine tree - Fantasia that we have planted in a large pot but the apricot - Flavourcot is slightly ahead. We will need to keep an eye on these so that we are ready with fleece to throw over the trees if frost is predicted once the buds open. It’s also likely that there will be little insect activity so I will probably need to do a little hand pollinating.
Last year a friend bought a potted hydrangea as a summerhouse warming present. This has spent winter in the greenhouse and is now producing new green shoots which was a sign to cut off the dead flower heads. I’d left these on the plant to give a little frost protection.
19 March
A few more onions have started to shoot so let’s hope this is the trigger for them all to make an effort.
I made the most of a brief spell of sunshine to plant the bulbs that were growing in pots in the front garden bed. I planted two varieties of narcissus Dickcissel and Minnow and some Dutch irises.
The ground was really soggy but I managed to loosen the soil a little and also noticed that the perennials that were cut back earlier are now producing new growth.
31 March
Things continue to be slow to grow this year. We were on holiday lasy week and the garden we visited were either snowbound or waterlogged.
The bulbs are very slow to flower but the apricot buds are continuing to swell and it looks like fleece will soon be required.
Some activities are described in more detail on our blogs - links below
