Gardening with Pat Duke: Use April showers to your advantage

In the Garden

Now we’ve had some much needed rain. All the plants will start the race to use it as effectively as possible. We’ll see trees blossom and ‘green up’ alongside herbaceous perennials showing themselves again pushing their fresh green shoots skywards.

So far the weeds have been kept under control by skimming over the baked ground with a hoe. It takes a dandelion two weeks to fully regenerate after hoeing off and only a month to grow from seed. By far the most effective method of weed control is regular hoeing. Many gardeners, including myself plant with this in mind and allow space for the hoe to get in-between plants and vegetables.

A key task this week, particularly after rain, is to add a layer of compost on the beds. If you don’t have your own or it's not practical to get a local farmer to dump a ton on the drive then you can buy it in large bales from most garden centres or DIY shops. This will also help keep the weeds down and make it much easier to work the soil through summer and keep plants healthy when you ve got the hoe started.

If you haven't already, then get dahlia tubers ready and bought in. They will need to go in the ground in just over three weeks, if as usual, the risk of frost has gone.

This time of year can be tricky looking for colour in between spring and the fast approaching summer. I always judge summer by the start of the cricket season and have driven past several games already which makes me feel I’m getting behind.

Fortunately I planted Camassia ‘Blue Melody’ and ‘Alba’ together last year and they are fabulous azure blue and white varieties that look stunning in a mixed planting scheme.

Another of my favourites at this time of year is Aquilegia in its multiple forms. ‘Black Barlow’ or ‘Blue Barlow’ are cheerful and reliable but can self-seed a bit too easily but I don’t mind that given their beauty.

On the Plot

It’s that time of year when sowing seeds can get a bit out of hand, where you try and utilise every seed in a manic attempt at growing everything. This never works as you can’t give them all the specific attention they need and deserve in the time you’ve got.

One thing almost everyone plants is courgette. Even their flowers are edible and I've never understood why this high end delicacy isn't sold in chip shops as a seasonal treat. Sow them now and they'll be ready in mid June. Sow them just under the soil on their side (to prevent rot) in a single pot so they can be transferred when the leaves appear.

Try a different variety than the standard F1 versions sold in bulk. ‘Cocozelle’ is productive over a long season or Solara’ which has similar attributes. ‘Defender’ is a solid variety that keeps coming with fruit reminiscent of a Punch and Judy type weapon, hence the name.

Broad beans can go out and fend for themselves now. If you don’t have any they, like most vegetables, can be bought as young plants and dropped in. One thing that mustn't be neglected is planting herbs in pots to either plant out or just keep going in the pot all summer, cutting as you need their fragrant leaves placed handily close to the back door.

There are some unusual herbs that do well in our perfect gardening climate. Lemon grass, Vietnamese coriander, Thai basil, Bergamot and Ginger mint will all make a difference to your life rather than the, at times moribund collection of usual suspects. Some you can buy and use from the supermarket and then regrow which is a neat trick that will save you some cash.