January with its snow, frost and dull conditions was a no-go gardening month but we’ve had a rest and it’s time to catch up.

    Compared with other parts of the country we’ve been lucky in East Anglia. Snow was little more than an inconvenience, and we did not suffer the long-term hard frosts that damage plants.

     Where cold, east winds seared through exposed gardens fuchsias that were blooming until Christmas were cut back and soft growth on some evergreens was browned. Trim back browned branches and remove the fuchsia remains.

     More fuchsia varieties are classed as ‘hardy’ these days and come spring we’ll find out how many really were. Don’t grieve over a few dead plants, stock up with a few newer and more exciting varieties. You’ll find a wealth of healthy pot-grown young plants in the Highway glasshouses in early spring for planting out in May/June.

     Dahlia tubers left in the ground by gambling gardeners hoping for another mild winter may well have suffered losses unless well insulated by chipped bark. Another chance to restock with new varieties, and Taylor prepacks of pot-grown tubers will be available at Highway.

     Choose your favourites and either store them cool but frost-free until time to plant out (late March/April) or pot them up into 13cm pots of multipurpose compost and start them into growth in the warm greenhouse or conservatory. They’ll make bushy plants for early-June planting after hardening-off, and you can take a few cuttings to increase stock for free.

     Among summer-flowering bulbs are several exciting new lilies plus all the favourites. Pot up a few lilies this month into large pots using free-draining container compost, grow them on cool in the greenhouse keeping the compost just moist, and they’ll look great dropped into spaces in the mixed border when spring-flowering bulbs are over.

     Oriental hybrids are the scented ones, Asiatic hybrids in groups of up to half-a-dozen bulbs in the border make brilliant splashes of colour mid-summer. Remember that many lily bulbs are stem rooting (above the bulb) so plant fairly deep. You’ll find instructions on the pre-pack.

     Lilies are hungry plants so work in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost where you plan to plant. The red lily beetle has become a real pest so keep an eye open for it during early summer. Pick them off and kill them, or spray with insecticide such as Provado Bug Killer.

     It’s time to waken up begonia tubers. Take them out of store and check that no vine weevil larvae remain hidden in cracks. Use multipurpose or ericaceous compost for potting. Large tubers are best in half-pots. Don’t bury them, simply plant half-in half-out of the moist compost. Never soggy. The trick with begonias is to get strong root growth as early as possible. In good warmth pink shoots will quickly appear and develop into new green growth.

      A quicker way to kick-start growth is to put several tubers into moist peat in a large polythene bag, seal it and place in the warm airing cupboard. When pink buds begin to push out remove the tubers carefully and pot up in the greenhouse.

     Large double-flowered begonias are brilliant patio plants. Treat yourself to a selection at Highway Garden and Leisure and you won’t be disappointed.

PRUNING TIME

Buddleja davidii varieties put on plenty of growth last year and it’s time to cut back most of it. With sharp secateurs prune back to within a few inches of the base of last year’s wood.

     Also prune autumn-fruiting raspberries, removing weak canes and cutting strong ones right back to near ground level. Strong new canes will push out and should be self-supporting but picking is easier if you tie the canes to horizontal wires.  Leave one or two canes un-pruned and you’ll have a few earlier rasps.

     Finish off apple and pear pruning, opening up the centre of trees and removing dead or crossing branches. Prune back no more than one-third the length of new shoots. Pruning too hard stimulates new growth at the expense of fruit.

     Shorten the side growths on cordon-trained gooseberries, right back to near the cluster of fruit buds. Leave bush rose pruning until next month.

     Buds in leaf-joints of large-flowered clematis are showing signs of life. Prune back to just above plump buds about a metre from ground level. Do not prune the early flowering Montana varieties.

VEG PLOT ACTIVITY

January weather prevented the planting of shallots but it’s not too late. As soon as the ground is workable prepare the beds for them and onion sets, raking to a fine tilth and working in a small amount of general fertiliser. Take out a shallow drill and plant the bulbs in the drill drawing the soil back round them and firming gently with only the wispy tops above ground. This prevents birds from pulling them out or the strong roots from pushing the bulbs up and out. Check 10 days after planting and replant any that have been removed.

     There’s a big selection of seed potatoes at Highway this year including tasty new salad varieties and all the good old favourites. Try a few new ones. If space is a problem grow in special potato growing bags available at Highway. If blight is a problem in your garden grow only earlies and second earlies.

     ‘Chit’ the seed potatoes by placing them eyes-upwards in trays or egg boxes in good light and protected from frost. Avoid warmth and darkness. Strong shoots will appear by planting time (next month onwards) and if you want large potatoes reduce the number of shoots when planting. With earlies it’s best to leave all shoots on and lift as soon as the potatoes are golf-ball size. Really tasty.

     In the greenhouse sow a few tomatoes for early planting if you can keep the temperature above 10 deg.C. A selection of beetroot, lettuces, onions and leeks sown in cell trays give you plants to set out without root disturbance for early cropping. Cabbages and other brassicas benefit from sowing under glass and potting into 9cm pots to produce strong roots ahead of planting. Grow them cool and harden-off in the frame before planting.

      If you prefer not to raise your own plants, you’ll find an increased selection of vegetable plants at Highway this spring ready for planting out.

     Flower growers will find baby plants in the well-lit shop, ready for potting-up into 9cm pots or six-packs, or for working into flower pouches and baskets. Fuchsias, geraniums and other patio and container plants are available.

     Always use fresh compost when planting new plants. Left-over stock will have lost its nutrient value, and once-used compost could contain pests and diseases. Bring new bags into the greenhouse to warm up before using.

     Before starting the new season, clear out the greenhouse. Old pots, bags, sprayers, dead plants, broken canes, old sticky traps, etc could harbour pests and diseases so get rid. Pull out any weeds under benches and in borders, and remove moss from the glass and walls. Wash down with disinfectant and clear the old summer shading from the glass.  Start clean and stay clean. You’ll find all you need at Highway Garden and Leisure.

     Soon the new season top-quality container-grown trees, shrubs, climbers, conifers and perennials, mostly grown on East Anglian nurseries for Highway, will be available. Home-grown primroses and polyanthus are a Highway speciality and will soon be colouring the greenhouse benches.

     Finish-off the winter digging  -  slowly. Straighten the back after each spadeful, and take small bites. No more than 10 – 15 minutes to start then work up to half-an-hour once muscles are tuned in.