Pat’s Jobs for April

1. Prune hardy fuchsias now both in pots and in the ground to promote new growth and to prevent the plants from becoming too woody.

2. Plant out pot grown sweet peas now making sure to pinch out the shoots to promote bushy plants. You can also sow directly in the ground now if you didn’t sow earlier but watch out for slugs munching new seedlings.

3. Someone said the other day that they hadn’t cut back their clematis but I don’t think its too late as the growth on them is phenomenal. It just means they will flower a bit later but then that extends the season.

4. Take basal cuttings on delphiniums and penstemons cutting close to the base and cut to below a node, pot up and place in plastic bags on a sunny window sill after keeping in the shade for a few days.

5. Split pond plants now to prevent choked up ponds but making sure to leave any unwanted growth next to the pond to allow wildlife to go back in and trying not to disturb tadpoles.

6. Split agapanthus both in pots and the ground and repot into fresh compost or ground. I had to take a pruning saw to mine its roots were so congested and then give them a liquid feed thereafter at least fortnightly. Once split they may not bloom until next year but will be all the better for splitting.

7. Sow some cosmos and nicotiana now and they will germinate quickly and pot up individually when they have a set of true leaves. Any spares to our plant sales please.

8. Harvest asparagus if you are lucky enough to have any by cutting with a sharp knife just below the ground. But watch out for brightly coloured asparagus beetles which will chew your crop.

9. Plant out chitted early and second early potatoes now in pots or in the ground. Maybe leave maincrops for another week or so and don’t forget to plant your CABAHS potato for the competition in the autumn.

10. Pot up tomato and pepper seedlings once their true leaves are formed and label ready to donate some for our plant sale in May and every month.

Happy gardening all.

Pat K