Eastlife Spring 2021

Gardens with Ade
With clocks going forward on 28 March,
we can finally say goodbye to winter and
hello to spring. Fresh buds on roses, and
vibrant trumpets of cheery daffodils hailing
the new season in. It’s time to put those
plans, we drew up over the winter months,
into action. However, keep horticultural
fleece and cloches close at hand, as
winter still has a sting in its tail.
After a hard season, flower borders
aren’t looking at their best. Get them
spring-ready by removing all fallen debris
and weeds, and cutdown last season’s
perennial foliage to a few cms above the
ground. You can also increase your stock
by dividing and replanting these plants.
Finally, give the area a heavy mulch,
ensuring you don’t cover over plants or
shrubs, as this will prevent sunlight and
warmth reaching them and can cause
them to rot.
Before you sow your first seed, take
them time to clear up and clean your
greenhouse, cold frames and sheds,
including pots, trays and tools. Not only
will this get you into the right headset for
gardening, but it will get rid of unwanted
pests and potential diseases that could
harm young plants. Also, wash away the
grim on your greenhouse glass with warm
soapy water, as new shoots will need all
the light and warmth they can get.
If you’re looking for blooms this season, try
sowing French marigolds, cornflower or
cosmos. Sweet pea can also be sown, but
can be tricky to germinate. Try leaving the
seeds overnight in a bowl of water, or give
the seed a shallow nick before planting.
Fill a small pot or tray with either seed or
multi-purpose compost. Tap the container
gently, and brush the excess soil from
the rim. Sow your seeds thinly and then
cover over with a thin layer of compost,
or vermiculite. Once labelled, place your
container in a couple of inches of water.
The pot will draw the water from the
bottom, leaving the seeds undisturbed.
Finally, place in a bright and warm spot.
If homegrown veg is your thing, then early
varieties of peas can be sown indoors. As
legumes have a deep root system, ideally
you want to sow them in root trainers
as they don’t like their roots disturbed.
Not only are you providing the best
opportunity to grow strong plants, but
when you plant out, the roots won’t suffer
from stress.
There’s nothing more satisfying than lifting
and eating your very own homegrown
potatoes. So, if you haven’t started chitting
your tubers yet there’s still time. Chitting is
simply a process in giving your potatoes
a head start. Newly bought tubers should
be placed in a warm, dry area with plenty
of sunshine. Stand them upright, egg
boxes make a great holder, with their eyes
facing upwards. After several weeks they
should have healthy shoots. Try to keep
these sprouts down to the strongest three
or four. If you don’t have an allotment or
raised beds, consider growing them in
sacks or growbags.
Early varieties of forced rhubarb, such
as Timperley Early, will now have strong
growing stems. These could be ready
for harvesting by the end of the month.
Once picked, refrain from forcing further
as you’ll weaken the crown. Instead,
leave the crown to rest for a year.
Spring is a time of hope, optimism and
the temptation of a sunny day or two.
Whatever you get up to this spring, take
the time to enjoy the season and get
outside.
Ade is a freelance presenter,
blogger, vlogger, writer and multimedia
producer. Whilst a garden presenter on
the QVC Channel, he’s also a live speaker,
who can host stage garden events.
adesellars.com
Both Ade and his wife Sophie run the
blog, ‘Agents of Field’, which won the
GMG Awards ‘Blog of the Year 2016’.
agentsoffield.com
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