Bob explains how to get set for the growing season ahead.
I don’t know about you but I kind of let things get a bit cluttered, there is a place for every tool, it’s just they’re all in a pile by the door. So now’s a good time to sort and tidy -rather than searching for something in panic mode when desperate to get going in spring.
Get tools oiled and sharpened
Whilst sorting tools give wooden handles a wipe over with an oily rag. I use old frying oil, it’s kind to hands and wood (and means I can locate my tools in the dark by their slight odour of chips). Also, sharpen all their edges, not just your hoe, knife and secateurs but also your spade and trowel as that’ll make for easier work.
You can sharpen quickly enough with a file or carborundum stone (cucumber shaped, originally made for sharpening scythes, still sold and really handy) though if you have many tools and they’ve got very blunt maybe find a friend with an electric angle grinder or similar. Likewise sharpen or get sharpened the blades on your lawnmower ready for that first cut, this used to come in March or April but now may come earlier so be ready.
Remove pesky slugs and snails from pots and trays
Next there are the sundry containers to sort, and to wash clean if you want though I seldom bother unless they’re going ‘on display’. True, washing might rid some over-wintering pests, though I suspect that was more a problem in the days of earthenware pots and wooden seed trays. Even so keep an eye out as you tidy for slugs and snails and so on as these often hide inside stacks of pots and trays.
Likewise check your propagator and frame if you have one, and any over-wintering plants, it’s amazing how many molluscs can be found underneath and behind plants in pots. Next carry on your mollusc hunt looking through stored fruit and vegetables, compost any rotters and process any going over before they deteriorate further.
Planning what to grow
Of course all your seed packets are kept in a mouse proof box or tin? If not best find one. Then go through your seeds noting those you need to buy, do so quickly asunder cover we can start sowing tomatoes, cucumbers, leeks and onions the end of this month, sweet & chilli peppers, aubergines soon after. It’s also getting late to order your potato sets as the most popular often run out, likewise onion sets. Buy fresh sowing compost, ideally keep this undercover to help it warm up ready for planting into. Finally, on a nice quiet evening why not spend time writing out labels, and keep these with their seed packets, ready and raring to go.
You can find out more about Bob via his website www.bobflowerdew.com and what’s happening in his garden via Twitter (now X) @FlowerdewBob
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