By Isle of Wight Observer
Happy New Year to all you gardeners out there.
Well, as always, I’ll start off with a comment about the weather. Some cold frosty nights and some welcome sunshine. It might be cold outside, but it’s nice to get out into the garden and start preparing for the coming year ahead.
A lot of the tasks at this time of year are not necessarily that much fun, but they all go towards producing the fruits of our labour later on. If you haven’t had the time to clean out the greenhouse or polytunnel, or if the shed is in need of a tidy up, then now is a good time to get these jobs done. Although it might seem a daunting prospect, stick a few tunes on the radio and, before long, it’ll be done.
There are a few things you can start to sow if you have the luxury of a heated greenhouse or a propagator. Tomatoes and some brassicas can be sown, along with annual bedding plants such as begonias; however, these will require heat for many weeks to come so be prepared for a hefty electric bill!
Onion sets and shallots can be planted, direct in the ground or in cell trays or individual pots prior to planting. Also think about sowing your sweet peas, but they will benefit from some gentle warmth to help them germinate. Once they are up, you should grow them on in a cool but bright place such as cold frame. These will provide you with some wonderful early summer colour and scent.
It’s too early to sow many other flowers and vegetables but it shouldn’t stop you visiting local garden centres. Seed potatoes have started to become available, so now is a good time to get them in and start to chit them. They need to be laid out into trays in order for the new eyes to form prior to planting.
I will be doing a talk entitled ‘My Gardening Year’ for the Yarmouth Society at the town’s Community Hall on January 21. Doors open 6pm for 6.30pm start. Visitors £3 and the bar is open, plus tea/coffee and biscuits.