Blooming Times: New Year, New Start

It may still feel like winter to us, but many plants are wakingfrom their slumbers. Time to get ahead with some essential tasks before the springtime mayhem begins, writes Flo Whitaker 

A comprehensive tidy-up of a shed or greenhouse can be extremely satisfying! Pick a dry day, throw open the doors and fling everything outside. Sweep the floor and wipe shelves and benches with hot soapy water. Greenhouse windows should be cleaned, (yes, both inside and outside – alas). It’s amazing how much grime builds up on glazing during winter. Overwintering greenhouse plants are now stirring into growth andwill greatly benefit from the additional light obtained through clean glass. 

As the days lengthen, thoughts turn to seed-sowing. Now’s the time to browse seed catalogues and make your selections before stocks of popular varieties sell out. Make a calendar to remind you of sowing times. 

It doesn’t have to be a complicated affair; a simple, back-of-an- envelope list works perfectly well. Write identification labels in advance and keep them with the seed packets, ready to use. 

How many plastic plant pots do you have? Do you really need them all? Time for a ruthless sort-out; keep those you’re most likely to use and take the rest to a recycling hub, (many garden centres and DIY stores now offer drop-off points for unwanted pots). Sorting your pot collection by size will save space – and time when you’re searching for a specific type.

There’s no need to be overly houseproud with pots. For most situations,a clean-ish pot or tray brushed to remove soil residue will suffice, but those intended for seed sowing or transplanting seedlings really do benefit from a hot water scrub with washing-up detergent. This will remove unseen microscopic mould / fungal spores which can affect delicate early-stage growth. Watering cans may also harbour pathogens and should be given similar treatment. 

Inspect water butts, ensuring connectors, taps and pipework are in good order. They can become damaged or dislodged by frosty weather. Ensure gutters and downpipes are free of debris as blocked ones will inhibit rainwater collection. Don’t just assume a water butt is full – lift the lid and check. 

Sort bamboo canes and plant supports by type/length. Discard any split/damaged canes; they can be incredibly sharp and inflict a nasty wound. Check stocks of compost and potting grit. Make a shopping list of essential items so you have everything to hand when the mad springtime sowing season gets underway. 

Gardeners are too-often seduced by shiny gadgets, but your gardening kit should include a sharpening stone/steel. Use it to hone an efficient cutting edge on secateurs, shears, hoes and spades. If you’ve never used one before, there are many ‘how to’ tutorials online.

After sharpening, apply a little mineral oil or wax to the cut surfaces. Mangling with blunt secateurs is a hopeless, miserable activity – for you, and your plants. The humble-looking, yet indispensable sharpening stone will revolutionise your gardening world.