Eastlife Spring 2020

PROPERTY
Gardens
by Ade
With the start of a new year and season,
we’re introducing a new garden columnist,
Ade Sellars. Last year he gave up a 20 year
London television career, to move to rural
Suffolk to lead ‘The Good Life’. Not only has
he started a gardening business, but has
built his dream kitchen garden where he
films, photographs and grows produce for
several seed companies.
Ade is a freelance presenter, blogger, vlogger,
writer and multimedia producer. Whilst a garden
presenter on the QVC Channel, he’s also a live
speaker, who can host stage garden events. This
year he will be appearing at various RHS & other
garden shows.
From filming, scripting, directing and editing;
Ade creates professional films of garden shows,
interviews and live events for various clients.
adesellars.com
Both Ade and his wife Sophie run the blog, ‘Agents
of Field’, which won the GMG Awards “Blog of the
Year 2016”. agentsoffield.com
Whether you’re guided by the meteorological calendar (1 March) or
astronomical calendar (20 March) March means one thing...spring! Vibrant
trumpets of daffodils emerge, sounding in the new season. Moods start
to lift, green-fingers start to twitch, and gardens stir from their slumber.
Mother Nature has called time on winter. Yet, with Jack Frost still lurking in
the shadows, it’s good to be prepared. Get things right now, and you’ll be
rewarded with a summer bounty of ripe fruit, tasty veg and vibrant blooms.
If you’re pruning roses, remove any shoots that are dead, damaged or
diseased. Shrub roses with flowering shoots should be cut back above a
bud by 8-12cms. Climbing roses should be cut back by two thirds, removing
old branches at the base, to promote new growth. Ensure all stems are
tied to a support. Disturb the soil at the base of the plant, feed with a wellbalanced
rose feed, and water.
Summer bulbs, such as gladioli and freesias, can be planted now. Plant
them in pots or straight into the ground at a depth of two to three times the
height of the bulb in well-drained soil. Add grit if necessary, as bulbs don’t
like sitting in waterlogged conditions. Place the bulb upright, cover over and
water in.
Lawns are ready for their first cut of the season. Nothing drastic, just a trim.
Remove weeds, and cut lawn edges with an edging tool.
If you’re growing potatoes, chitted first earlies can be planted into the
ground. If planting into a trench, tubers should be placed to the depth of
12cm, and 30cm apart. Keep fleece handy, as frost will damage growing
foliage. If using growbags, place no more than four seeded tubers on a base
of 10cm of soil, and cover over. Place in a sunny spot.
Tidy strawberry plants by cutting away old leaves, and apply a general
fertiliser. If you’re thinking of growing strawberries, consider bare root
varieties. Strawberries grow equally well in containers, pots and hanging
baskets.
Early varieties of carrots, beetroot, cabbage and onion sets can be
sown. If the soil is too cold, sow in modules, and keep in cold frames and
greenhouses, until you’re ready to plant out as young plants.
Whatever you get up to, bear in mind spring’s a fleeting season; take the
time to stop, be in the moment and relish new beginnings.
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