We are delighted to welcome back Calne-based gardener and designer Alex Heath for another year of gardening columns. The creative mind behind Sulis Design Ltd, Alex specialises in low-maintenance, climate-resilient gardens and planting schemes, alongside bespoke garden lighting plans designed to add atmosphere, improve security and make outdoor spaces enjoyable long after sunset – all with sustainability in mind.
by Alex Heath
Half way through January and a full year of gardening articles in Calne News. This year I hope to bring more garden technique and skills into the writing; alongside the usual design tips and monthly tasks you may want to consider for your gardens.
One of the many tasks that I undertook between Christmas and New Year was cataloguing all the seeds that were kicking around the garden shed and house. Using a spreadsheet, I was able to see all the details in one place and it is a great way to plan for the year ahead. In this catalogue I could see details such as the expiry dates of the seeds. Unfortunately, they don’t age like wine and the chances of germination and growth are greatly reduced as the seed gets older.
For older seeds, in the past I have set aside a piece of soil (although you could use any pot or container) and put them in the ground just to see what happens. You aren’t dedicating valuable growing space to dud seed, but you still may get a surprise.
This is quite fun for the free promotional packets of seed you may get with gardening magazines. I combined all the flower seeds into a tray to scatter on to the ground before giving a gentle rake, which creates some new combinations of flowers. Some work together; others don’t but at worst you have a patch of flowers to pick or leave for pollinators.
I have also found that with peas and beans, there were many seeds in the packet which I was never going to plant, so in future I will be sharing out the seeds with friends and family and taking part in the seed swap that was held in the library before Christmas. I am sure many of you have already started an early sowing indoors to get things going, and hopefully you will have a bountiful crop of fruit, vegetables and flowers in the coming months, but don’t forget to prepare the areas you hope to plant.
Recently my wife and I started having a look at our vegetable area, planning what we would put into the various beds. We ensured there was crop rotation, taking the knowledge of what worked previously, to try and get a more successful year of fruit and vegetable growing. We considered sunlight now that neighbouring trees and shrubs have grown and companion planting such as the three sisters (beans, corn and squashes). Particularly with squashes as ours decided to grow all around our garden last year.
When you are planning your space to plant your new seedlings or direct sowing consider how far you need to lean across the beds in order to prepare, service and pick your crop. A good rule of thumb is to plan your beds to be no wider than 600mm across (doubled to 1200mm when you can access them from both sides), although this is dependent on your stature and physical ability. For wheelchair users, horseshoe shaped beds allow greater accessibility allowing the grower to access more surface area of soil to plant into.
Whatever you plan to plant, it is a great time to go ahead and try new varieties or trusted favourites.
Garden tasks
- If you haven’t started yet sow tomatoes, chillies and sweet peas according to the packet
instructions. - Leave the pruning of hydrangeas and ornamental grasses until warmer months. The older
heads will provide architectural features and habitat for wildlife. - Keep replenishing bird food and water and don’t forget to register for the RSPB Garden Bird Watch and see how many species of birds you have in your garden.
- Now is the ideal time to prune fruit trees. Look for crossing stems, damaged and diseased wood and remove them.
- Before the spring identify and move shrubs that you have already or plant new ones whilst they are dormant. The warmer weather will kick start growth and hopefully establish plants.
- If growing rhubarb get a sweeter crop by blocking light and forcing the rhubarb.
- Take a look through seed catalogues and buy potatoes, onions and garlic to arrive ready for a spring planting.
- If you haven’t already, clean your greenhouses and cold frames to ensure plenty of light
reaches your plants during the spring. - Look at the schedule for National Garden scheme open days and RHS flower shows and make a note of when to book. Particularly the new and local RHS Flower show at Badminton.
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