Seeds to plant now:
Indoor or in a heated greenhouse
Aubretia, Rock cress, Aubrieta, Aubrietia
Brussels sprout
Lobelia
Ornamental Pepper
Petunia
Salvia
Tomato
Outside
Runner bean
Outside
Cabbage
carrot
Onion
Radish
Turnip
Shows and events:
Update 06/01/2021
Following the Government's announcement that the UK is now in lockdown, I have checked the 2020/2021 events and have added comments as necessary.
It is highly likely all events in 2021 will be affected, with those in the near future being affected more than those later in the year.
Even when an event is going ahead, the current UK Government guidelines state "You must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a ‘reasonable excuse’." Going on to say about excercise "This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area." So unfortunately, I think unless the event is happening locally, we aren't able to travel to attend.
I'll try to keep this list up to date as the situation changes. Regards Nick.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
The World's largest wildlife survey, taking a hour of your time to record the birds and wildlife in your garden.
Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill: Snowdrop Festival at Anglesey Abbey Confirmed going ahead
Snowdrop Festival at Anglesey Abbey @ Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill
Woodland paths lined with snowdrops and aconites. Guided tours available daily.
Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9EJ
Hodsock Snowdrops Now cancelled
12 acres of snowdrop covered woodland. Plant sales gift shop and tea room.
Hodsock Priory, Blyth, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S81 0TY
Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park Confirmed going ahead
Colesbourne Park home to the historic collection of 250 snowdrop varieties. Gardens are open 1pm to 4:30pm on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th then Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th Feb and Thursday18th to Sunday 21 Feb.
Colesbourne Gardens LLP, Estate Office, Colesbourne, Nr. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NP
RHS Garden Hyde Hall: Spring & Orchid Show
Spring & Orchid Show @ RHS Garden Hyde Hall
One of the earliest shows in the gardening calendar, showcasing spring flowering plants and orchids from around the world. This exhibition used to be at the RHS halls in London, 2021 sees the show move to RHS Garden Hyde Hall for the first time.
Creephedge Lane, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 8ET
Robin Hood Country Show
Robin Hood Country Show.
Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9NN
Three Counties Showground: RHS Malvern Spring Festival
RHS Malvern Spring Festival @ Three Counties Showground
Information from show organisers: Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and current Government advice all RHS shows have been cancelled until at least 30th June, 2020. For further details please see the RHS website (https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/policies/coronavirus-state
Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6NW
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Information from show organisers: Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and current Government advice all RHS shows have been cancelled until at least 30th June, 2020. For further details please see the RHS website (https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/policies/coronavirus-state
Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4SR
Alresford Watercress Festival
The May 2020 festival was initially moved to September, unfortunately this has now been cancelled. A celebration to mark the start of the watercress season.
Alresford, Hampshire, Hampshire
The Royal Bath and West Agricultural Show
A festival of agriculture entertainment and food & drink. The Royal Bath and West show is one of the oldest agricultural shows in England. Taking place over 4 days.
The Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Royal Highland Centre: Royal Highland Show
Royal Highland Show @ Royal Highland Centre
Annual Scottish agricultural show. Exhibiting country pursuits, lifestyle, machinery and equipment.
Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB
RHS Garden Harlow Carr: RHS Garden Harlow Carr Flower Show
RHS Garden Harlow Carr Flower Show @ RHS Garden Harlow Carr
Harlow Carr's flower show is a three day event hosting specialist nurseries and trade stands with stunning displays, food stalls and family entertainment.
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QB
Hampton Court Palace: RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival @ Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is the largest annual flower show in the World. Hampton Court has 34 acres of parkland so the flower show is able to spread out more than Chelsea. Unlike Chelsea where you can only purchase plants on the last day sell-off, at Hampton Court you can purchase plants and garden sundries on all days. In the last couple of hours in the afternoon of the last show day, a lot of the plants that have been in the display gardens are sold off at a reduced prices, so you may get a bargin. However, this also means that in late afternoon it's a bit frenetic and difficult to see the displays at their finest. 30 minutes by train from London Waterloo.
London,
Tatton Park: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park @ Tatton Park
Knutsford, Cheshire,
RHS Garden Hyde Hall: RHS Garden Hyde Hall Flower Show
RHS Garden Hyde Hall Flower Show @ RHS Garden Hyde Hall
A five day flower show set in the grounds of RHS Garden Hyde Hall.
Creephedge Lane, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 8ET
Taunton Flower Show
Organisers of Taunton Flower Show have decided not to hold a show in 2020 due to the uncertainties caused by the corona virus situation.
The show's directors announced that they have decided to focus their efforts on making next year's event the biggest celebratory garden party the town has seen for years.
Vivary Park, Taunton, Somerset
RHS Garden Rosemoor: RHS Rosemoor Flower Show
RHS Rosemoor Flower Show @ RHS Garden Rosemoor
2017 was RHS Rosemoor's first ever flower show, now in it's forth year it's back bigger and better with large floral displays, trade stands, garden advice and live music.
Nr. Great Torrington, Devon,
Mid-Somerset Show/Shepton Show
The one day agricultural show is a great family day out. Craft stalls, livestock displays, dog shows and cheese tasting.
Shepton Mallet Showground, Cannard's Grave Road, Somerset
The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
Over 250 trade stalls showing and selling garlic and other local produce.
Fighting Cocks Crossroads, Bathingbourne Lane, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 0LU
Edenbridge & Oxted Agricultural Show
A traditional county show.
Lingfield, Surrey, RH7 6LL
Chatsworth Counrty Fair
Held in the Chatsworth Park the Chatsworth Country Fair is one of the most spectacular annual outdoor events.
Chatsworth House, Chatsworth, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP
RHS Garden Wisley: RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show
RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show @ RHS Garden Wisley
Six day flower show featuring nurseries and garden trade suppliers. Including the National Dahlia Society Show, NAFAS floral displays and the Surrey Sculpture Society Trail.
Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB
All event details have been entered as accurately as possible, but please check with the event organisers before travelling to avoid disappointment.
The UKGardening web site has been running since 1998. The idea behind the site has always been to provide what we think will be interesting and useful information for the novice gardener.
Jobs to do in the garden this week.
- Prune gooseberries and cover with netting to prevent birds from eating the buds.
- Prune apple and pear trees and remove any "suckers". Cut these off as close to the trunk as possible.
- Prune fruit trees, rose bushes and wisteria.
- If you are ordering seeds or plugs from mail-order companies, you'll need to get your order in soon.
- Start off seed potatoes, standing them in seed trays with eyes uppermost.
- For an early crop of strawberries bring the pots into the greenhouse now.
- Pot up any cuttings that have rooted.
- Check produce and plants that are in storage for damage or drying out (dahlias, chrysanths etc.).
- Clear away old crops from the greenhouse, including grow bags, they can harbour hibernating insects and their eggs. Spread the grow bag compost on the soil as a soil conditioner.
- If you have had a fall of snow, gently shake shrub branches, a build up of snow and ice can cause branches to snap.
- If your pond has frozen over, melt a small area of ice with hot water to release any build-up of gases that could harm your fish. Don't be tempted to break the ice, the shockwave created can kill pond life.
- Refirm the roots of any shrubs that may have been lifted by frost.
- Switch outside water taps off at the mains and leave the outside tap open, draining any water, so the pipes don't freeze.
- Put out feeders for birds, not forgetting fresh water. Encouraging birds into the garden will help reduce the number of insects and slugs.
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Cover shrubs that are likely to be damaged by frost with garden fleece, sacking or an old light blanket.
- On a dry still day rake up fallen leaves, don't put them on the compost heap, as leaves break down in a cold process, whereas a traditional compost heap breaks organic matter down in a warm/hot process. Put them into a leaf composter, or make leaf mould. How to make leaf mould.
- If you have any decorative plant pots that aren't frostproof. Empty them of all soil and store them in the shed, greenhouse or garage.
- Plant or move roses. They like plenty of sun and a clay soil. Leave 60cm (24in) between plants to allow air circulation, which will reduce the chance of infection.
- Plant apple and pear trees. Check and adjust any stakes on young trees and remove stakes on any trees that have been planted more than 3 years.
- During autumn and winter, indoor plants will require less feeding and watering. However as the temperature drops outside, the central heating goes on and the temperature in the house tends to go up, so whilst it's a good idea to keep your pot plants on the dry side and not water them too often, you should check a couple of times a week to ensure they haven't totally dried out. Oh and if you have a water spray bottle, hold the plant over the sink or bath and give the foliage a quick little squirt (don't do this to hairy leaved plants like african violets).
- Don't go and buy an indoor (small) watering can, I find that the kettle does just as good a job, but obviously not after it has just boiled!! (the water should be room temperature or cooler).
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