The phrase March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb is often true and we often have our many ost wintery weather in March. I recall a day on a nursery right at the beginning of my horticulture career when I was pruning three metre tall containerised Wisterias, with the wind whistling and that kind of rain that almost cuts stopping and starting. It was the end of March and for a moment I questioned whether this was the life for me………
It’s also statistically more likely for it to snow at Easter than it is at Christmas, but despite this Easter is for many the beginning of the gardening/growing year. People unseen on allotments appear and get going, in community gardens there is renewed vigour and if you’re lucky a few new gardeners, and across the land the grass starts to grow, alongside the weeds. The herbaceous perennials are beginning to appear through the soil, buds are swelling and starting to open their leaves. Seedlings are appearing and the industry is gearing up for the busiest weekend of the year.
But whereas usually Easter is well into March, this year it’s the last weekend in March, and whilst we hope that it might be ending like a lamb, there’s definitely no promise.
Why am I telling you this?
Because next week there are some very cold nights forecast and snow has been mentioned. And there are some important things to remember re freezing temperatures and snow. Firstly if it snows don’t be in a hurry to knock that snow off plants. It actually gives them an element of protection and so unless it’s obviously damaging stems leave it be.
However, if snow is covering your greenhouses and there are young plants in them they will struggle to get enough light and may shoot for the sky, so do brush off greenhouses and polytunnels.
But, the most important thing I ever learned about growing plants, (that might be a bit of an exaggeration but definitely about coping with frost and ice) is that once plants are in frozen ground they cannot access water. Often we look at plants after a cold snap and think they are dying, because at this time of year we are not expecting them to be showing signs of drought, but that is, indeed, what they are showing. So once they are defrosted thoroughly give them a drink. But not until they are defrosted and the temperature is back to where you’d like it to be or you risk them freezing again, surrounded by wet soil. And that would be enough to finish anyone off!
Also a reminder that fleece gives you an extra 2/3 degrees of protection so it’s worth having some around. And keeping eyes on weather forecasts!
This week I have been supporting the Soil Association in their Stop Killing Our Rivers campaign. This campaign is asking, quite reasonably, that we stop polluting or rivers both in the UK and globally, with waste from the industrial farming system. The River Wye, which is literally on my doorstep, is dying in front of our eyes, and I will write more about this over the weeks. Over eight thousand people signed the petition yesterday and I have include the link below so you can read more, watch their film and, I hope, sign the petition.
https://act.soilassociation.org/stop-killing-our-rivers
This week I have been listening to Phillipa Gregory’s podcast Normal Women. It’s a brilliant insight into the history of everyday, normal women and is a great listen. Give it a go.
Until next week, happy growing