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Get green fingers this winter

Although stepping outside into the frosty cold may not be the most appealing idea, some time spent in the garden or an allotment will bring plenty of rewards come spring.

Here in Chapelton, members of the Cairnhill Community Allotment Association have been able to remain active on plots during COVID-19 and throughout the pandemic have found the green space an area for safe activity and wellbeing.

Some of the original plot holders may have given up their allotment sites but with plenty of enthusiastic new members joining, the waiting list continues to grow. Those keen to get green fingers can contact info@cairnhillallotments.uk to share their interest, but in the meantime here are some ways to keep your own garden or allotment flourishing this winter.

Prune for productivity

The colder months are great for maintaining allotments or fruit and veg patches. Use this time to prune blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants to control their shape, size and increase their productivity.

Cut off the old foliage from strawberry plants to allow new leaves to come through. Cairnhill Community Allotment Association recommends cutting to about 10cm (4in) above the crown for the best results. Reduce pests and diseases by cleaning away the cut foliage or other debris from around the plants.

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Keep up maintenance

Recently, the allotment association has been focusing on maintenance around the plots. Members have pruned the beech hedges around the perimeter fence and laid bark under the hedge to prevent weeds. Spring flowering bulbs have also been planted in areas around the site which will bring a lovely display of flowers in the coming months.

In addition, at the south end of the site, an area has been levelled with bark laid as preparation for a new seating area. A senior pupil at Mackie Academy was very helpful in making two picnic benches which are now in place – we can’t wait to put our feet up!

Create rich soil

It’s not too late to lift and divide large clumps of rhubarb, replanting the outer sections into soil enriched with well-rotted manure. Alternatively, select a large clump to force for an early crop in the spring.

Start planning

If it’s too cold to go outside, you can stay inside and plan a garden or allotment plot for next year. December and January are the traditional months for placing seed orders.

Thanks to the Cairnhill Community Allotment Association for their excellent tips and tricks.  

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Three Ways to Get the Most from Your Garden This Spring

One of the best things about living in Chapelton is easy access to green space and the great outdoors. So with longer days and slightly less bite in the breeze spring is a wonderful time to get outside and do some gardening.

To help you get the most out of your garden this year we’ve pulled together some handy tips for budding gardeners.

Save yourself work later

We all know that it is much easier, and more fun, cooking in a clean and well organised kitchen and the same applies to gardening.

Weeds are the bane of every garden and as with most things it is best to deal with them early. Doing weeding in the spring can save a lot of time in the summer and gives your garden the chance to look its best when barbeque season comes around.

The first step to dealing with weeds is to run a hoe over your flower bed to kill most weed seedlings. This is best done on a dry day with a light wind, not just to save yourself from getting wet but because weeds will dry out on the surface rather than re-rooting into moist soil.

For particularly persistent weeds digging them out with a fork can be a quick and effective solution.

Brighten up your garden with butterflies

Spring is a great time to plant flowers and doing so will make your garden a riot of colour when summer rolls around. But if you want to add an extra special touch this year then consider planting some flowers rich in nectar to attract butterflies.

There are lots of options here but Verbena Bonariensis, commonly called Brazilian Vervain, is particularly effective. These delicate purple flowers grow wild in some places but can bring a lovely sense of calm to your garden and are butterfly favourites.

Lavender is another great option for attracting butterflies but waiting until slightly later in the spring to plant is wise in case of any late cold snaps. Lavender also comes with the added bonus of adding a delicate and calming scent to your garden.

Get your summer vegetables ready

It is true what they say that a vegetable grown yourself tastes better, not just because they’re as fresh as can be but because of the added taste of success.

The good thing with growing vegetables is that no matter the time of year there is always something to plant. For early spring in Scotland there are plenty of options that will look and taste great on your plate come summertime.

Broccoli is a longstanding favourite and goes well in pastas, risottos and alongside a roast. Planting broccoli in March is ideal and will mean you will be ready to harvest in early summer.

Leeks are another versatile vegetable that if planted in early spring will be ready to eat by early summer. A good tip is to sow more seeds than you have space for and harvest them as baby leeks in the summer. These baby leeks are tender, tasty and much easier to harvest.

If the weather isn’t looking great there are a few things you can grow on your kitchen windowsill at this time of year to add that extra pizzazz when summer comes. Start off by planting some basil seeds and letting them grow inside until later in the year when the risk of frost has passed then move them outside. Basil is a great summer food and will add that extra special dash of flavour to your favourite dishes.

Winter Gardening Tips with Papillon Garden Design and Landscaping

Winter Gardening Tips with Papillon Garden Design and Landscaping

We’ve teamed up with Papillon Garden Design and Landscaping to bring you some tips on making the most of your garden throughout winter. So if you still want to get green fingered but you’re unsure how during the colder months, read the tips below.

As winter sets in, many gardeners feel they have to say goodbye to their flowerbeds and vegetable patches as the weather starts to cool. But it doesn’t have to be like this – you can prolong your season by growing winter vegetables.  Not only will it keep you busy during those short winter days, but it will also provide you with produce for wholesome dishes, for you to enjoy through the winter months.

There’s lots of choice with winter vegetables, but what you can grow will depend on your resources. 

Growing vegetables outside in the ground

If you’re thinking of growing outside in the North-east of Scotland you will need to plant hardy winter vegetables that will withstand the cold such as:   

Broad beans;
Garlic;
Onion setts;
Perpetual spinach.

Although these plants will fight the cold, frost can be damaging, so it’s important to protect against it.  Cloches act as a great defence; not only will they keep frost out, but they will let light in and protect against hail and wind too.  

If you don’t have a cloche, a cover or fleece can be used overnight instead, although this is likely to lead to more work, so a cloche might be a good investment. 

Window boxes
If your garden isn’t ready for growing vegetables yet, you can use window boxes to sow seeds for next season.  Consider sowing Spinach, Green Onions and Herbs. 

Use the winter downtime to plan ahead

Winter is a great time to think about what you want from your garden and how you can better use your space to achieve this. Environmental factors come into play and can limit choice, especially when it comes to growing not just veg, but plants too.  Seeking professional advice on this could help save time and money in the long run. 

Gardens are there to be appreciated, so make the most of yours and enjoy it!

Papillon is a garden design and landscaping company based in Aberdeen.  For more information on garden design, visit Papillon’s website:  www.papillonlandscape.co.uk. 

Ends

Gardening Tips from the Allotment Group

Having a garden in full bloom with beautiful plants and flowers is something we all would love, however for many it can seem like a whole lot of effort. Knowing which plants to grow, what soil is best and when to sow seeds can be confusing, putting people off.

To help those who’d like to get more green fingered this summer, we spoke to the Cairnhill Allotment Group in Chapelton to provide some gardening tips to help get your garden in shape this summer.

Consider Your Source of Sunlight

For any plants to flourish, sunlight is essential and should be considered before you think about planting anything.

First of all, think about your garden and how much sunlight it gets. Look at the direction the sun comes from and what parts of your garden get sunlight at what times.

Once you have thought about this, you can then choose the right types of plants to put in the right spots in your garden, depending on how much sunlight they need.

Research which plants enjoy shade, partial shade or full sun and then position accordingly.

Check Soil Type

If you want to get the most out of your garden, it’s a good idea to check the soil type as different types of soil provide different nutrients and minerals.

There are six different types of soil- clay, sandy, silty, peaty, chalky and loamy. Each is made up of different minerals and organic matter and will have different effects on your plants. It’s important to know the type of soil you are working with so you can make the right choices when it comes to plants.

To test your soil, have a look and feel of it in your hands and compare it to the six different types of soil. Once you know the type of soil that you have you can then research the best types of plants to grow in this kind of soil.  

Plan plants for the whole year round

To give structure to your flower beds, choose a few shrubs and space them out around your garden leaving space for them to grow. Opting for some evergreens will give your garden a year round structure, meaning that when certain plants are no longer in season, your garden won’t be sparse.

Look out for bargains

When heading out to buy plants and shrubs why not rescue some from the sale section of the garden centres. They will grow if given care and attention and will save you a penny or two.

Research when to sow and plant

Finally, by looking online and in gardening books, you can find out the best times to sow your seeds and plant your bulbs. However, it is recommended to add a month on to this time for gardens in Scotland.

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