From our Correspondent
March
If you know your old musicals, you will know a song from ‘Carousel’ which talks about the wonders of the month of June. One of the lines says; ‘March comes in like a lion, whippin’ up the waters in the bay’… Well, March certainly did come in like a lion for us this year, but sadly the lion has not gone away and continues to bother and delay we gardeners.
Luckily I was able to get the garden cleared and the digging done and ready for the planting, but then it continued to rain. I even got last years sprouts and leeks cleared, and so I have virgin ground ready to go. But, of course it is still raining from time to time, and the ground remains cold and damp which is not ideal for sowing new seeds. So, we have to remain patient even though the ‘biological clock’ is ticking and you think everything is going to be late. I remain optimistic that a decent weather window will eventually come and we can really get started on filling the garden with goodness.
There is always the greenhouse. My greenhouse is slowly starting to fill with plants and small seedlings, including of course some tomatoes. I have already potted on some ‘Gardeners Delight’ and ‘Shirley’ which are starting to grow away, but do have to be careful with night time temperatures and make sure they keep cosy and warm. I have a very ancient paraffin heater which seems to do the trick, all I have to remember is to light it in the evening and turn it off in the morning!
I have been able to plant some shallots which are already showing some new green shoots, and in one of the brief dry intervals in the month I was able to plant the onion sets. Also, I have been able to plant both early and second early potatoes. So the month has not been completely wasted.
As a gardener you certainly become aware of the seasonal cycles as you plant and sow. Having recently cleared the last of last year’s leeks, I have now put in some new leek seeds for this year’s crop. In addition I will soon be sowing new brussels sprouts seed, so that the plants will be ready to plant out in the summer. Shortly I will need to sow courgettes, put in some peas, and sow runner bean seeds in the greenhouse.
I have already sown some parsnips in the garden, but I have this sneaky feeling that I have been too keen, and the ground is too wet and cold. I keep looking for the tell tale sight of new seedlings , but maybe they are waiting for more appropriate conditions to germinate!
However, despite the weather there is always hope! My gooseberry bushes are covered in small green new leaves, the blackcurrants are budding, and a new redcurrant bush I purchased is showing signs of life. I also bought a blueberry last year and put it in a pot, and it is now producing buds and the start of new leaves. Raspberry canes are also starting to produce leaves which always seem to be startingly green when they first appear! Perhaps that’s because they appear after the drabness of winter and certainly become a harbinger of spring!
Then of course there are the daffodils! This year they seem to be particularly spectacular. They are tall, bright yellow and just seem to fill the garden with joy and colour! Perhaps they do that every year, but this year just seems to a good one!
If we continue to follow the song from ‘Carousel’, it talks about welcoming ‘pretty little May’ I don’t want to wish my life away, but I am looking forward to it.
Maurice Bard