Every year the daffodils are coming out earlier and earlier – it’s like they just can’t wait for spring. Dad used to say it was unusual to pick a daffodil for St David’s Day from the garden – now some people claim to have picked one on Christmas Day! I travelled down to Newbridge a couple of weeks ago and was amazed to see drifts of daffodils full out on the side of the road – they’re obviously a little shyer locally!Snowdrops are also a welcomed sign that spring is about to, well ‘spring’. If you’re lucky enough to have a white carpet (or even a rug) in your garden, I’ll bet someone has asked for a few. Remember they move best while still ‘in the green’ or before the goodness returns back into the bulb. They are quite stubborn little things though and it can be difficult to establish them somewhere that they don’t want to be! It is illegal to remove them from hedgerows and woodlands so don’t be tempted to ‘relocate’ these.
With Easter being in March this year, we get an early start in the garden. Statistics show that most people actually ease back into the garden during the Easter break and it’s no coincidence that the accident and emergency department at Neville Hall is busier at this time too. Remember prevention is better than cure and treat machinery, plants and tools with respect. Always use a circuit breaker with electric machinery and if you haven’t got one – ask for one as an Easter present, it’ll be far better for you than another chocolate egg.
If you only do one thing in the garden this month – plant some early potatoes – you’ll be so glad that you did when you are harvesting them early in June. They’ll be quite happy in pots on the patio, so there’s no excuse and many garden centres are now stocking ‘kits’ and even special potato grow bags too. Choose an ‘early’ variety of potato (like Rocket, Swift or Maris Bard) and leave to chit (or sprout) on a windowsill before planting out at the middle of the month. ‘Chitting’ just gives them a head start really, commercial growers don’t bother. In 100-110 days they will be ready to be eaten. Some gardeners don’t rate ‘earlies’ as they don’t store very well but in my own experience, they are so delicious, storing is never even an option!
