Hardening off, clearing up, mowing and BULB LASAGNE!
Hello friends!
My five minute forays this week:
Monday - I had a day off the insta but pulled out and dusted off my old cold frame so that I could begin to harden off my hydrangea cuttings. This (as with many things I do) should have been done rather a long time ago, but I'm human, so it wasn't. If you've got any cuttings of hardy perennials or shrubs still sitting on your kitchen windowsill then now is the time to get them outside and used to the weather so they can spend winter enduring the cold weather and be really tough come spring. The rules I follow (and everyone's different, so do what feels right for you) are to put the plant or plants in a protected space, like a cold frame or porch, or anywhere they are exposed to outside air, but sheltered from wind and rain every day for ten days or so. For me this means that if it's a warmish, dry, still-ish day then the pot can be outside on a table or in the cold frame with the lid off. Anything else and it's in the cold frame with the lid on. I always bring the plant inside at night and put it back first thing in the morning. This is less of a faff than it first seems, and if you put the whole thing in a clear plastic box with a lid, then so much the better. After about ten days then I start leaving the pot out in the cold frame at night with the lid closed for another week or so, and then I'll start leaving the lid open...you get the idea; within about a month, the thing will be happy outdoors, and its growth won't have been compromised by the shock of the different conditions.
Tuesday - I planted six hyacinths in little bowls for the house. If you didn't see my tutorial on stories, it's super-simple. Buy prepared hyacinths (bulbs that have been kept in cold storage to simulate winter. Fill any pot of your choice with bulb fibre, which contains charcoal so that the compost won't rot - this means that you can use your pretty china (without drainage holes) if you wish. Put the bulbs quite close together but not touching, in odd numbers and bury them so that a quarter of the bulb (and the tip) are proud of the compost (see below). Water carefully and leave the pots in a cold place like a shed or a cellar (light not necessary) until you see the flower buds. At this point you can bring them into the warmth of your home (Spring has sprung!) where they will flower and pump out that amazing scent.
Wednesday - I did a five minute clearing spree, yanking out all of the gone-over nicotiana and a few weeds. I filled a wheelbarrow (like I said I would) and as usual, felt really rather marvellous. I've said it before, but doing a bit of clearing in the garden is just as rewarding as doing the same to any area of your home...in fact, more so, because you are outdoors, and outdoors is GOOD FOR YOU mkay?
Thursday - I mowed. Mowing is as good for the soul as taking all of your junk to the charity shop. You feel lighter, and happier, and accomplished and generally ON TOP OF THINGS. Sweeping can engender the same feeling, as can pruning and weeding. In fact most of the 'mundane' gardening jobs can do this, and that is why in the end, it is these rather mindless tasks that I most enjoy. Important to note that these things are not the same as indoor things like ironing or washing up, or laundry, again because they are being done outside and you are breathing oxygen and you are near to the earth ( If I sound like someone to whom this sort of stuff actually matters, then yes, being 'close to nature' actually makes a difference to my general wellbeing).
Friday - I made a layered pot of bulbs (or 'bulb lasagne')...It's a great way of getting some bulbs into your life when you don't have lots of space. Here, below, is the recipe for it:
Layered bulbs
You need bulbs. Choose ones that have different flowering times in order to get a succession of blooms.
I used:
Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple' - my favourite crocus with flowers from December through January
Narcissus canaliculatus - a new one for me...very miniature and pretty with eggy yellow centres and flowers in April
Tulipa 'Black Parrot' - sexy gorgeous dark thing with frayed edges and flowers in mid May.
Of course you can use what you like, and have more layers than this...up to you.
You also need a large wide container, and some multi-purpose compost.
All you have to do is sort your bulbs out in order of size. The largest will go at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Don't pay attention to planting depths or flowering dates here. Use a large wide pot, and estimate where your deepest layer of bulbs is going to be, given that the top layer of bulbs need to be covered by compost two or three times their depth. My tiny crocus bulbs, which are about 1cm high, need to be under 2-3cm of compost.
Cover each lot of bulbs with enough compost to provide a nice cushioned base for the next layer to get their roots into (2-3cm is fine).
Finish by watering the whole thing until you can see water coming out of the hole in the bottom of the pot, and put it somewhere safe where you can keep an eye on it. Squirrels and other creatures love digging up bulbs, so I often put a bamboo cloche, like this one over my pot to prevent them from doing so.
Five minute things I might do next week
Dividing my iris sibirica, whose centres have gaping holes, clearly crying out for some division.
Moving my rudbeckia to another area of the garden...I LOVE them but their yellow is too strong for what I want. This will give me some lovely spaces in which to plant some bulbs.
Scatter some more annual seed in my path
Sow some sweet peas for next year
Weeding, mowing, training, pruning, and generally messing around
Let me know what you're up to by tagging your posts with @thefiveminutegarden, and do get in touch if you have any questions...gardening and plants are my FAVOURITE subject!
All good things, always
x Laetitia
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