Okay, it is a little early, wishful thinking…. I have started sowing though. This week the first batch of stocks, I use the Lucinda series from Moles seeds. They are a bit of faff, once they have germinated in the heated propagator they need to grow on at a cooler temperature until one can distinguish the light green seedlings from the dark green ones. It's the light ones your after, they are the double flowered plants. All of this carry on and you only get one flower per plant! But I love the scent, nostalgic value and they come into flower when there is a slight lull at the end of May which is always a busy wedding time.
I have also sown more sweet peas, this time a range of 'Modern Grandifloras', these combine the large flower and stem length of the Spencer types with the knockout scent of the 'Matucana'. I don't usually do a spring sowing of sweet peas, I am a big believer in the first week of November sowing for strong, stocky plants. But I am looking for some succession this year, after all they are my best seller. I am going to run a sweet pea masterclass as one of the courses this year for anyone who wants to hone their sweet pea growing skills check it out the courses page.
Other jobs which have kept me running around this month have been mulching, good for working off those extra Christmas kilos! I use well rotted horse manure and green waste from the council, an excellant sterile weed suppressor. I have also been busy with hazel, building wigwams and arches for clematis, roses and sweet peas. I use tarred jute string to hold them together and they usually last two years before they become too brittle. One of the hedge lines is a hazel coppice which is rather handy.