With such a mild start to the new year, the snowdrops, aconites, crocus and early daffodils will be in flower this month. We have had a great deal of rain and the water butts are overflowing. At the garden centre there are still the special subsidised water butts for Hertfordshire residents, so it might be a good idea to add an extra one or two so that there will be plenty of water for the dry weather which is to come. This is the month when we get busy in the glasshouse so it is a good idea to ventilate and spring-clean the house, using a sulphur candle (provided all plants are removed) and Jeyes Fluid as a disinfectant. Later in the month, seed sowing can commence with annuals such as alyssum, ageratum, antirrhinums, cosmea, dahlia, dianthus, gazania, geraniums, gerbera, marigolds, mesembryanthemum, nemesia, nicotiana, petunias, salvias, stocks and verbena. Then vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes can be sown under glass. This month the plug plants will be in the garden centre and these little plants are ideal for those who do not wish to do their own sowing.
If the kitchen garden has not yet been dug, this should be done without further delay, adding manure where root crops are not being grown. It is a good idea to warm the vegetable beds for a few weeks before sowing using polythene sheeting. Long-pod broad beans, carrots, parsnips and early peas can be sown outside at the end of the month.  Seed potatoes should be purchased as soon as possible and laid out in a light place to sprout or ‘chit’ ready for planting out in the spring. Do make sure that they are not allowed to get frosted.
This month new lawns can be put down and new beds cut in existing lawns. Planting of trees and shrubs as well as roses and hardy perennials can be done now and bare-root plants, such as raspberry canes and hedging plants must be planted out as soon as possible. This is the month when the late-flowering clematis (such as jackmannii) are pruned and sprayed. Do make sure that any peach trees are sprayed against peach leaf curl using Dithane or Copper Fungicide. Heathers will need to be trimmed once they have flowered. Now is the time to buy bulbs such as gladioli,  lilies and begonias,  also dahlia tubers and cannas and these tubers can be boxed up straight away in a frost-free place. Plant shallots and Jerusalem artichokes this month and, as the grass will soon be growing, do make sure that the lawn mower gets its annual service in good time. Although the Chelsea Flower Show is not until May 22-26, tickets are already on sale! (Phone 0870 247 1224 as soon as possible).
Terry Simmonds