THE GARDEN IN EARLY MARCH

There's a lot of gardening activity going on, although it's not the sort that makes for pretty pictures.  At the start of March, the Hellebores are still looking lovely, although most of the snowdrops have finished.  Here and there daffodils continue to open, but are not putting on their full show yet.

1. Seed sowing

The time has come to begin seed sowing, and it has the advantage of being a job that can be done under cover, sheltered from the wind.  Many of the seeds I've chosen this year are ones I haven't grown before, including, I'm ashamed to admit, the Sweet Peas.  The Bupleurum may be a challenge as it requires the warm/cold/warm cycle to break dormancy.  I've not had much success with this previously as any seed trays left outside for the cold phase seem to get poked (or dug over) by the cat or the squirrels.  

These are all in seed trays cluttering up the kitchen and annoying the other members of the household who cannot get to the toaster (Mr Baileyana) or stare out of the window at the pigeons (the Cat).

2. Potato Chitting

I always grow a few early potatoes as they are so easy.  This year I've gone for Pentland Javlin and Charlotte.  I've got a strip of ground next to the greenhouse which was over run with ground elder, nettles, docks and couch grass which I cleaned up last year and will grow the potatoes in as they are supposed to be good for clearing the ground.

3.  Crocus and Pansies

I planted up the urns on the front terrace with white Crocus and pastel Pansies.  They've attracted this bee.

4. Hollyhock Nigra

I plant these dark red Hollyhocks in the Long Border.  These were grown from seed which I collected last autumn and sowed fresh.  I'm pleased with how well they are doing.

5. Long Border

And talking of the Long Border, it's had its hair cut.  Everything has been cut back now and it all looks very bare.  It seems impossible to believe that by the end of May all of it will be full of plants again.

6. Polyanthus

These are in a pot by the back door.  Nothing very special about them I'd admit, but they have continued flowering in the poor weather, when the pansies have found it too inclement.  They are actually last year's bedding plants, which spent the summer planted in a spare bit of border and were moved back into these pots in the Autumn.  

That's all from my garden this week, but if you'd like to see more from gardens in the UK and beyond, then please visit The Propagator, who is kind enough to host Six on Saturday.  If you'd like to take part in Six on Saturday yourself, then all the instructions you need are there.