Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 95

gardening

Island Life - February/March 2011

Tina's latest
gardening tips

Little
charmers
Galanthophiles of world unite, its

petals, and the enormous variations

snowdrop time again! For many

in the green edging on the inner

people this cold and unpromising

petals. One variety has yellow

time of year holds a special magic

markings, whilst some varieties

as the first snowdrops appear,

are also double and resemble the

often in great swathes under trees,

massed petticoats of a victorian

as they come into flower so they can

hinting that spring really is on

lady.

be seen clearly, and to reduce disease

its way. However THIS is not the

Snowdrops generally flourish in

•

Remove the old leaves from hellebores

problems. They can be lifted and

reason that these quiet harbingers

most soil types and light shade

of spring are such a welcome sight

especially cool, heavy soils.

to a true snowdrop afficionado, the

Generally they are less successful in

clematis down to the lowest pair of

fascination lies in the astonishing

hot dry or sandy soils where they

healthy buds at the base of the plant

variations shown by these seemingly

tend to die out over time. One of

to ensure a good display of flowers.

simple flowers.

the quirks of these bulbs is that they

There are twenty different species,

divided at the end of March.
• Cut late summer and autumn flowering

• Start mowing the lawn again in late

can be hard to establish as bulbs

February if the ground is dry. Neaten

and 600 different cultivars each

in the traditional way and are best

up the lawn edges using a half-moon

looking very similar to the other.

lifted and replanted whilst they are

edger to smarten up the garden

Their true charm is only revealed if

still ‘in the green’ just after they

instantly.

you look carefully to discover the

have finished flowering, it is also

• Divide and replant winter aconites and

astonishing range of variations in

possible to buy them in this way

snowdrops as they finish flowering.

the length of the inner and outer

from specialist growers.

• Start chitting early potatoes in March
and pricking off any seedlings once
they have produced the first true
leaves.
• Sow poached-egg plants (Limnanthes)
near vegetable crops to attract
hoverflies as their larvae eat aphids.
• Cut out the old canes of autumn
fruiting raspberries avoiding the new
shoots that are emerging.
• Sow hardy flowers and vegetables in
an unheated cold frame or greenhouse
to give them a head start over outdoor
sowings. Start sowing tender varieties
such as tomatoes, aubergines, and
peppers which need the warmth of a
heated propagator (15 C)

NEXT EDITION :
Creating a wildflower meadow, and Lunar
gardening.

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