March 2023

Ornamentals:

 If you have any large plants growing in pots that you are unable to pot on or have already been in a large pot for several years, now is a good time to remove about 2 ins (5cms) of the top of the old soil and top dress with fresh good quality compost such as John Innis No 3 potting compost. If the plant has been grown in a no soil compost, use a good potting compost that is derived from recycled material. Do not use multi-purpose compost for this task as it does not contain enough nutrients. Also be careful if your plant is a Camellia or other ericaceous plant, you must use this type of compost to top dress them. Cut down any herbaceous perennials that have been left over winter such as Penstemon and Pervoskia to 3 buds or so above ground level. Any old clumps of herbaceous perennials which have not been divided in the last 3 or 4 years should be done now. Replant only the younger shoots from the outside of the clumps and discard the rest. Complete the pruning of hybrid tea and floribunda (cluster) roses this month. Cornus varieties which are grown for their winter coloured stems should be cut down now to a few inches above ground level.

This will encourage new growth to come from the base which will give you good colour next winter. If not already done, mulch your plants with garden compost or well-rotted manure before too much growth starts to appear. Start the sowing of annual summer bedding plants and cut flowers if you have a greenhouse but do not be tempted to rush into direct sowing outside while the soil is still very much on the cold side, far better to leave until early April when conditions should have improved. Most failures are the result of sowing too early at this time of year.

Vegetables:

If you have a greenhouse, sowings of Brussel Sprouts, which need a long season of growth to crop well, can be undertaken now. Also Cabbages, Leeks, Onions, Lettuce and Peas can be sown now under glass. Potatoes should now be chitting well (producing small green shoots from the eyes). From around mid-March but not before you can start planting them. These days I plant all my potatoes in March whether early, second early or maincrop.

I find that this helps me to get a good crop before the onset of Potato Blight season in July which can devastate any of the later planted tubers. Softneck Garlic can be planted now using varieties such as Tuscany Wight, Picardy Wight and Solent Wight. Parsnips and Beetroot can be sown directly outside when the soil temperature reaches 7°C (45°F) or above, as with flowers do not be tempted to sow too early otherwise failure will result.

Fruit

Apply a good dressing of Blood Fish and Bone meal or Growmore around top fruit now. Apples, Pears and Plums will benefit from this if done early enough. Fruit bushes, such as Black, Red and White Currants and Gooseberries will also benefit from a similar application.