Thanks for the extra day. Thanks for more rain and wind. Thanks Jorge. It’s all a bit much and I’m not even flooded out. I am so sorry for those who are, the photos are terrible and the real thing must be so much worse. I am encouraged by the fact that this is the last day of meteorological winter and spring arrives tomorrow. In theory. Here’s six gardening related things.
One
March is the time to start a few seeds going. First on my list and a first for me, is trying to grow some dahlias from seed. I collected the seed from ‘Orange Cushion’ that was new to the garden last year. I liked it so I am having a go at growing from seed and if that fails I might have a go at taking some cuttings from the tubers later in the year. If the tubers have survived. I left them in the ground and although the weather has been mild the constant rain might have done for them,
Two
Lupin seeds collected from last year’s plants. I am starting these and the dahlia seeds off inside the house as the greenhouse has no heat or electricity supply. Indeed the greenhouse is very leaky at the moment and I feel sure the pools of water on the floor can’t be the best environment for the overwintering plants.
Three
The sun is out so I’m off to the garden for more photos! Some time later: The fig tree was pruned a few weeks ago but I was so excited by primroses, pulmonaria and such like that I didn’t show it. Hey, Mr P I also have wood chip! This the large fig tree that shades much of the long border in the summer. The height was reduced by a third and next year it will get another third taken off. I’ll lose the fruit this year but it needed to taken in hand.
Four
The mild weather seems to have suited the salvia ‘Amistad’. I took cuttings as a precaution against the garden plants dying off over winter but so far they have survived outside and are putting on new growth. I think they will need a cut back to some strong growing points.
Five
The first cowslip is just about in flower. These grow in the damp border. A small border that is guaranteed to be wetter than the rest of the garden and today there is standing water. This should be perfect for the Siberian irises that grow there as well.
Six
Oh dear. It looks like I’ve missed the moment to cut back the grasses. When did they start sprouting? These are the melica altisssima ‘Alba’ that were planted in the north border last year.
I’m hoping for a dry day tomorrow as I have some free time. Seeds to be sown, more FBB to be sprinkled around but it may be too soggy to tackle those weeds. We shall see. The Propagator will miraculously host this meme, comment on posts and have time to garden I am sure. He may also throw in a long run. All hail the Caesar!
n20gardener 
Despite the bad weather and the coming storm, you managed to take some pictures. And bonus, you took some with blue sky ! Nice fig tree pruning: I like the shape
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I hope you do well with your dahlia seeds – that’s all to advanced for me – but good luck I hope it works for you.
Ahh, your greenhouse sounds just like mine. Husband has been out with some silicone to try to stop water getting in – but I’m still having to work in there with a waxed hat on my head! My greenhouse is also unheated, and I fully agree with that comment about the pools of water on the floor.
Love your fig tree – and the lovely blue sky, my goodness we haven’t seen much blue this month!
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I hadn’t thought about silicone for the gaps, now that’s an idea. More blue skies today so things are beginning to get done.
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Nice cowslip. You have now got me wondering when they flower in the wild. I recall seeing them in June on the coast, well over flowering and in seed, but surely they wouldn’t have flowered this early? Well I’m not venturing there until this wind has calmed down! I’m thinking April possibly. And how wonderful to see that blue sky!
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The blue skies of today have got me out in the garden, still cold but things are on the move.
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I’ve had the same problem with grasses. I just tried to pull out as much of the dead stuff as I could. Interested in how you’ve pruned your fig – we had ours done but much less off, maybe we should have been more radical?
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Yes, I think I’ll just have to do the best I can with the grasses. I had the fig cut back quite a lot because it really is a big tree and it hadn’t had a proper prune in three years. It was getting quite dominant. It will be interesting to see how much growth it puts on this year.
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I chopped down my Amistad a few weeks ago, as it looked a bit straggly, but there’s a house nearby where their Amistad’s in a shelter place & it’s been in full leaf all winter. That’s one impressive fig tree. And good luck w/the seeds, especially the dahlia. We wait for results.
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I’m going to leave the Amistad for a bit longer, probably until I do the hydrangeas. Fingers crossed here for the dahlia seeds!!
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I must inspect my outside amistad, see if they made it. I have spares from cuttings anyway…
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I lost a couple of cuttings – too damp in the gh I think but about four have made it so far.
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Your fig tree is huge! I’m wondering how you protect the figs from birds. The pruning looks very nice though.
Good luck with the seed growing. I am going to try some species tulips from seed this year, something I haven’t done before.
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The previous owner left some very large nets which were mainly used to stop the squirrels climbing up the trunk. It was a losing battle so last year I didn’t bother to net and we still had enough for our needs. Good luck with the species tulips, they will be magnificent.
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Blue sky?! A rare thing these days. I really need to try saving seed from my plants and see what happens.
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Does your fig tree produce only early figs? Most produce twice. Those that produce best early get pruned less because early figs develop on last years growth. Those that produce best late get pruned more aggressively because late figs develop on current years growth. Most get pruned lightly, to produce both early and late fruit. Anyway, your tree seems to have a few stems from last year, so might make a few early figs. Otherwise, if it did not make many late figs before, it might this year.
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I do get two crops from the tree but the second crop doesn’t come through until October and the weather here just isn’t good enough to ripen them well. We get enough from the summer crop to enjoy them despite being in competition with birds and squirrels.
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For this year, you can find out if aggressive pruning accelerates the second crop enough to ripen. I have grown several cultivars, and there are some that I still have not figured out. I know honey figs do best with minimal pruning, but I prune mine anyway just because it would otherwise get so big. I get plenty of late figs, but they are not as good as the early figs.
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Nice to see some blue sky. Good luck with your seeds. My lupins are doing well. They’ve formed their first true leaves. I’ll hold off on the dahlias a bit longer.
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Lupins are sown and dahlias will get done tomorrow I think. But the weather is good right now so maybe I can be tempted out again! Good to hear your lupins are progressing.
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The idea of being able to grow your own figs has me salivating. I’m eyeing up a spot for a fig tree now.
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Your fig tree is a lovely shape now. Lovely to see a Cowslip. I used to have some but I think it’s been too dry overall the last few years and they’ve faded away. Would do well this year!
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