Gardening with Pat Duke: Get ready for growing season

In the Garden 

We seem to have sped from kicking our heels and looking for jobs in the garden to now hastily trying to sow, plant and prepare for the growing season ahead. 

If gardeners ever rush, and I'm sure they don’t, then it would definitely be in March. Making the transition from winter to suddenly having bright evenings to get the feel of dark, crumbly soil on your fingers can be a culture shock. There is also the anxiety of thinking you’ve missed the boat when the ground is perfect for preparation. 

The recent run of warmer dry days might have seduced many to rip open the seed packets that have been burning a hole in their pockets over winter. 

Just remember the soil takes longer to warm up, especially heavier clay soils. You can either do what old potato farmers did and sit bare bottomed on the soil or more forensically, borrow a soil thermometer. This way you'll know your seeds at least have a chance. 

If you’re looking for a spring plant that’s a little bit different then try Candelabra primulas. As the name suggests they are primulas, but can stand around a metre in height. They love soft ground or even along the margins of a pond. 

You can either buy them in from most aquatic garden centres or sow them from seed now under glass ready to go into the ground in autumn. 

Planting now gives the extra hardiness to get through winter while autumn planting lets them establish healthy roots while there’s plenty of moisture around. 

They are quite effective planted in groups being multi-coloured and tall. They'll do well in full sun or shade and are very winter hardy so what’s not to like about them. 

They can, like many garden favourites, be a victim of their own success in self seeding or forming clumps when your back is turned. Either way you’ll have lots of colour at a time when the bulbs are on the wane. 

On the Plot

First early potatoes can be planted in their trenches this week but think about covering them with some fleece for a few weeks to diminish the risk of frost. 

It’s been noticeably chilly in the mornings and the risk of frost has by no means melted away. I used to be totally confused about first and second early potatoes but it simply means they are varieties that can be harvested earlier due to having a shorter growing cycle. These include ‘Charlotte’, ‘Swift’ and ‘Pentland Javelin’ . All these should be ready to harvest from June onwards. 

Now that it’s indefensible winter is over, clear all the vegetable beds of winter crops and save any seed for autumn. It might mean you’ll be eating soup for a while but at least you'll have beds free for creative growing. 

Onion sets can also go straight into the ground now. Try planting them firmly in a small furrow so they can t be pulled out by at least anything the size of a blackbird. 

Ensure you can at least get a hoe in-between each onion as this will make your life much easier when it comes to keeping them weed free. 

Always be careful with weeding them, as their roots are close to the surface and easily damaged. Alternatively you can space them closer and get more onions but you ll need to keep them lightly mulched to keep weeds down. 

Looking after them closely for the first few weeks is the key as they can set roots down and start to take in nutrients as well as deter wildlife. Planting them can be tough on the knees as they need to be placed gently in their rows to prevent the vulnerable roots getting damaged. Surprisingly the robust onion is quite a delicate flower to grow.