Paul Nicholls

January & February 2025

Worplesdon Garden Club is a friendly and enthusiastic club which meets every second Tuesday of the month from 8-10pm in the Old Church, Emmanuel Parish Centre, Stoughton, Guildford, GU2 9SJ with doors open from 7.45pm.

For more information on Worplesdon Garden Club contact Tim Bonnert on 01483 237702

Tuesday 14th January
Club Meeting in January:
Speaker to be confirmed – Check our website for more details.
8.00pm. Emmanuel Parish Centre.

Tuesday 11th February
Club Meeting in February:
Geoff Peach – ‘Solving Problems in the Garden’.
8.00pm. Emmanuel Parish Centre.

Gardening hints and tips for January & February

• January and early February are a good time for the winter pruning of apples and pears (non-stone fruit) and for making sure that any fallen leaves or old stems of herbaceous perennials don’t smother emerging bulbs or winter bedding.
• It is also the time for winter pruning of Wisteria where stems are cut back stems to two or three buds. Also prune other climbers such as Virginia creeper, ivy, Campsis, winter-flowering jasmine, and the late-flowering Clematis – ones that flower on the new season’s growth.
• Bare rooted roses, shrubs, hedging, and some trees can also be planted now through to end of February. Bare-rooted plants without a pot or soil are a very cost-effective way to buy new plants.
• Start to tidy beds and borders, especially as snowdrops and early spring plants start to emerge.
• In the vegetable garden, continue to harvest winter veg such as brassicas, parsnips, and any remaining carrots, then either dig over any vacant plots incorporating well-rotted manure or compost into beds that will be growing potatoes, brassicas, and legumes, or simply layer the beds with compost and allow the worms to incorporate it. Do not add manure to beds for root vegetables.
• Late January and February is the start of the seed sowing season if you have somewhere warm and light.
• Seeds that need a long growing season such as chillies, or even some lettuce and salad crops can be started early. However, don’t be in too much of a rush to start most tender annuals – they will often become pale and drawn (etiolated) unless they have lots of artificial light. Seed potatoes can be chitted in February – arrange them end-up in a tray or in old egg boxes and keep them in a cool but light area for short stubby shoots to grow from the ‘eyes’.
• Ventilate greenhouses on warmer or sunnier days if you are overwintering plants or perhaps give it a pre-Spring clean inside and out and ensure that the glass is clean to allow as much light in as possible.
• Dahlia tubers and Lily and Dutch Iris bulbs can also be started back into life under cover in late February.
• Finally, as January and February can often be the coldest time of the year, spare a thought for garden birds and put some food and water out – they will repay you later in the season by eating lots of the pests in your garden.

info@worplesdongardenclub.co.uk
www.worplesdongardenclub.co.uk

January & February 2024

Things to do in the garden in January.

• If you cannot garden because the soil is rain sodden or frosted you can use your time by studying plant catalogues which have arrived in the post on a regular basis.

…remember that this year’s novelty seeds are likely to be next year’s ordinary seeds.

• The same advice applies as when ordering spring/early summer flowering plants, the larger the plants you buy the better they will be when planted out in May. If you only need a few plants it would probably be better to visit a local nursery such as Elm Nursery at Sutton Green in May where you can select your plants first hand. New seed varieties which are usually F1 Hybrids are expensive to buy and often difficult to germinate, so look on the back of the packet to see how many seeds you are buying for your money, remember that this year’s novelty seeds are likely will be next year’s ordinary seeds.
• Whilst the fruit buds are still dormant Apple and Pear trees can be pruned, cut out any congested growth to increase airflow which will improve the quality of next seasons fruit, cut back to a fruit bud which is large and rounded on older growth, one year old shoots should be pruned back to a slender bud.

Things to do in the garden in February.

• Plunge shrivelled Dahlia tubers into a bucket of tepid water overnight, having removed any rotten tubers, they can then be started into growth to provide cuttings for new plants, place the tubers in a seed tray or pot and lightly cover with damp soil.
• Slow germinating annuals such as Antirrhinum and Lobelia should be sown indoors.
• Prune Summer flowering deciduous shrubs such as Buddleia which flower on the current year’s growth. Cut back Summer and Autumn flowering Clematis to the lowest pair of strong buds.
• Sow Sweet Peas and pot on those sown in the Autumn.

When it is mild Broad Beans, Carrots and Parsnips can be sown under cloches.

• When it is mild Broad Beans, Carrots and Parsnips can be sown under cloches.
• Sow Greenhouse Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Peppers at 21°C.
• Seed Potatoes should be placed on their ends in a light, cool, frost free place to sprout.