Just wondering what people were planting at the moment? I usually batten down the hatches over winter and don't plant anything - however I am feeling rather adventurous.
I'm not planting anything at the moment - but in other years I've planted raspberry canes in January/February, bare root roses and bare root fruit trees and bushes.
As long as the soil's not waterlogged or frozen they can be planted now.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
This time of year, if the soil is not frozen or waterlogged, is good for planting trees, shrubs and roses whether grown in pots or bare root as this gives a bit of time for the roots to get bedded in and develop before they get stressed by the spring surge of growth and the demands for food and water to fuel it all.
However, I prefer to get this done by December when the soil is still warm but the plants are dormant as this improves the chances of surviving and thriving.
Unless you have a light box, daily light levels are too low to sow new seeds and grow them on without risking their getting very leggy and weak. It's too cold and wet for moving or planting perennials and biennials and far too early for annuals.
If you're depserate, you could maybe start chitting early potatoes and making a trench for beans.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I use this time of year for tidying up outside, soil and bed preparation, ie black plastic or weed matting laid over beds if not already done, and bringing a bag of seed compost into the conservatory to warm up ready for sowing after Feb, which I always think of as the most dangerous month for unpredictable bad weather.I also keep an eye on my local GCs for seed potatoes, have my egg boxes ready to sit them in to chit on the bathroom window sill.
I've been sorting out seeds. A few weeks ago I planted 3 bare root Roses into pots and one into the ground. At that stage we'd hardly had any frost at all and the soil was easy enough to work.
My Daughter has recently bought me a few shrubs./ trees in pots and I'll plant them out when I get them so long as we don't have frost, most likely February.
Thanks for the advice. Wow what a wealth of knowledge. Joyce i have already done some soil preparation, I actually have polythene on to try and warm the soil now of the exposed beds I have.
It looks like roses are my best bet at the moment! Any particular breed that people recommend?
Posts
I'm not planting anything at the moment - but in other years I've planted raspberry canes in January/February, bare root roses and bare root fruit trees and bushes.
As long as the soil's not waterlogged or frozen they can be planted now.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
This time of year, if the soil is not frozen or waterlogged, is good for planting trees, shrubs and roses whether grown in pots or bare root as this gives a bit of time for the roots to get bedded in and develop before they get stressed by the spring surge of growth and the demands for food and water to fuel it all.
However, I prefer to get this done by December when the soil is still warm but the plants are dormant as this improves the chances of surviving and thriving.
Unless you have a light box, daily light levels are too low to sow new seeds and grow them on without risking their getting very leggy and weak. It's too cold and wet for moving or planting perennials and biennials and far too early for annuals.
If you're depserate, you could maybe start chitting early potatoes and making a trench for beans.
I use this time of year for tidying up outside, soil and bed preparation, ie black plastic or weed matting laid over beds if not already done, and bringing a bag of seed compost into the conservatory to warm up ready for sowing after Feb, which I always think of as the most dangerous month for unpredictable bad weather.I also keep an eye on my local GCs for seed potatoes, have my egg boxes ready to sit them in to chit on the bathroom window sill.
I've been sorting out seeds. A few weeks ago I planted 3 bare root Roses into pots and one into the ground. At that stage we'd hardly had any frost at all and the soil was easy enough to work.
My Daughter has recently bought me a few shrubs./ trees in pots and I'll plant them out when I get them so long as we don't have frost, most likely February.
Hi all!
Thanks for the advice. Wow what a wealth of knowledge. Joyce i have already done some soil preparation, I actually have polythene on to try and warm the soil now of the exposed beds I have.
It looks like roses are my best bet at the moment! Any particular breed that people recommend?
All the best,
Alan
It depends on what you want and where you want to plant them Alan.
Have a look here http://www.classicroses.co.uk/ There's a really good search facility down the left hand side.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm a flower addict so I'm always on the look out for colour at all times of the year.
Hellebores and Primroses are my favourites at the moment
You could also try starting some bare root perrenials in pots ready for Summer, these will benefit from being started as early as possible.
Wow doveformabove.
What a great site!
I agree Matt. Hellebores are a lovely flower.