February 2025

JOBS IN THE GARDEN FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR

Ornamentals  

 Prune late flowering Clematis down to about 6 inches from ground level to a pair of healthy buds.  If you have overcrowded clumps of Snowdrops, now is the right time to lift, divide and replant in the green stage.  It is important to plant back at the same depth that they were in before moving.  Fuchsias which have been overwintering in the greenhouse can be pruned and re-potted now but do not do both jobs at the same time, better to prune first and then repot two weeks later.  When pruning do not be frightened to prune hard back and when repotting to move all the old compost from around the roots and repot back into a smaller pot, this will enable some room to pot on again into the final larger pot as the season progresses. If you grow Bougainvillea and Plumbago in your conservatory, now is a good time to prune them by cutting back all growth to two buds from the main framework.  This will produce many more shoots to flower later in the season.  If you have not already done so, purchase now all the flower seeds you wish to grow this year.  Also obtain your summer flowering bulbs and corms before supplies run out.

Vegetables  

 Seed potatoes are best obtained now and set up for chitting (to produce their shoots) by placing in egg boxes or trays in a light frost free place.  If you have a greenhouse and can keep it warm enough, especially at night, you can make the first sowings of vegetables such as Cabbage, Leeks and Onions in small trays and prick out into larger containers when they have germinated.  Alternatively seed can be sown into small pots or cell trays directly.  I would suggest sowing two seeds per cell and thinning out to the strongest one after germination has taken place.  The first sowing of Tomatoes can also be made this month but the warmth is of even greater importance with this subject. As with flowers obtain all the seeds you need for the season

Fruit 

  Autumn fruiting Raspberry canes should be pruned down to almost ground level now ready to induce the new growth to fruit for you this coming autumn.  Tidy up Strawberry plants by removing all dead or decaying leaves and any unwanted runners.