Blog: Extremes of weather in a mercurial month
Well, that was a month of contrasts, wasn’t it? From cold and snow to warm, sunny weather in the last week, here’s my February garden in photos. Here’s more on my February garden.
Ornamental
Everything is way behind the last couple of years. It’s only in the last week that you can sense the plants making up for lost time. Isn’t that what winters were always like?
Cold damage
Storm Darcy really messed up my plans, despite covering anything tender with fleece. Two nights at -7C in a run of sub-zero temperatures and lying snow for nearly two weeks does nothing good. On the casualty list are the Echiums, which survived but look in a state; the Chinese rice paper plant (Tetrapanax rex) has lost all its leaves; even Photinia Pink Crispy’s leaves look browned.
The wilted bear’s breeches (Acanthus mollis) will come back, but the variegated Acanthus Tasmanian Angel has died back to the ground (update – it’s alive and kicking).
Edibles outdoors
There’s really not a lot going on outside yet, but there are still pickings from the Italian giant parsley and kale. I’ve pruned the autumn raspberries for double cropping, and the garlic is still putting on good growth.
In the conservatory, seeds and seedlings
Things are certainly ramping up in there – four varieties of chillies and five of Coleus pricked out. The fast-growing sweet peas have been nipped out after two pairs of leaves.
I sowed four varieties of tomato, a vast packet of Mac’s Mix XV (assorted tender and tropical seeds from Chiltern Seeds), Dahlia Mignon Mixed, Echinacea and the snail vine (Vigna caracalla) on February 26 (a busy day)!
I’m giving Colocasia (elephant ears or taro) a try. My sister-in-law Sue bought me a voucher for my birthday from The Plant Workshop – houseplants delivered to your door! I chose a selection of succulents – mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria), Aloe and Crassula.
On a bleaker note, I cut my losses literally and hacked back the bananas as they were covered with aphids. Within a week, new leaves are sprouting. Thanks very much for looking at my February garden in photos – hope you didn’t have as much damage! For more tasks to do in February, visit my Gardening Jobs Page.
