GINA PARKINSON welcomes the spring crocus and the suggestion it gives of what is to come this year.

OUR gardens have changed over the past month, from late winter to spring, and as we arrive in March the plants are beginning to flower to reflect this move.

Snowdrops are still out in force, joined by more and more blooms as they reach their peak.

However, they have had their moment in the centre of the stage and are not the only stars. Other plants are beginning to jostle into the spotlight and on to the front row.

Early spring is perhaps my favourite time of year, although I hesitate to make a full commitment to this idea.

There is something special about going into the garden at the end of February and beginning of March and seeing the small changes that are taking place, knowing that these signs are just a tiny indication of the potential for growth the garden holds.

In our garden I notice crocus have come out over the past few days. This mix of deep purple and gold flowers sit near the Lenten rose I mentioned last week and which is now fully open.

The contrast of the beefy hellebore and dainty crocus is acute, large-fingered leathery leaves above thin grassy foliage, big open flowers sheltering silken petalled blossom; but somehow they look fine together.

The crocus will open out given a little sun but are not long lasting, so they need to be spotted and enjoyed as soon as they emerge.

Other, longer lasting spring plants include pulmonaria.

The earliest of this family of plants has been blooming for a couple of weeks and is being joined by the old cottage garden favourite Pulmonaria officinalis.

This first one in our garden is a pinkish red-flowered variety, which in a sheltered spot can open as early as late January. Officinalis is a little later and is now just opening the first few blue and pink blooms.

 

Weekend catch-up

THERE is still time to trim back the dead flower stems and leaves from herbaceous grasses.

Many provide pretty winter colour through the latter part of the year, but they will now be starting to send new shoots up through the remaining old growth. It's best to get any trimming out of the way before the new growth gets tall and makes it difficult to avoid damaging it with overzealous snippers or shears.

Evergreen grasses are treated differently and don’t generally need cutting hard back. They can be tidied up by removing any remaining flower stems from last summer and gentle combing through the leaves with the fingers. This pulls away any dead foliage but wear some thin, strong gardening gloves as it can be quite sharp.

 

In the veg patch

NOW is the time to cut back autumn-fruiting raspberries. These fruit much later in the summer and provide a crop of soft fruit when everything else has finished. Autumn-fruiting raspberries can be cut hard back as they will fruit on growth made this spring. Cut all the old fruited stems down to the ground, even if it has begun to sprout.

New shoots may have already begun to appear at ground level, these can be left alone as they will carry this year’s crop. It seems brutal to be so harsh with the secateurs, but once established these plants will make a thicket of growth in just one season. They also spread underground; ours have managed to travel from the original three plants, under the lawn and into the veg patch in two years. Don’t let this put you off growing them. They are so easy and provide delicious fruit which the birds seem to ignore, so no need for netting.

 

Spring plant weekend

PRIMROSE Bank Nursery in Kexby will hold their 2014 Hellebores and Spring Flowers Weekend on Saturday and Sunday March 8/9 from 10am-5pm. There will be information about hellebores and other spring flowering bulbs, shrubs and perennials as well as a woodland garden walk which was planted in 2000.

Primrose Bank Nursery is set in nine acres of land, with Hebridean sheep grazing in the fields around the nursery. Owners Sue and Terry Goodwill have won many awards for their show gardens, all of which are designed by Sue. 2013 saw them awarded five silver gilt medals and one gold medal at shows including RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Harrogate Spring Flower Show and Gardening Scotland.

Primrose Bank Nursery can be found at Red Roofs, Dauby Lane, off the A1079 Hull Road, Kexby, YO41 5LH.

 

Gardening TV and radio

Tomorrow

7.40am, BBC2, Monty Don’s Italian Gardens. This week Monty is busy visiting gardens in Florence and the surrounding Tuscan countryside.

8am, BBC Radio Humberside, The Great Outdoors. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart.

9am, Radio York, Julia Lewis. Out and about in North Yorkshire plus gardening questions answered in the studio.

9am, BBC Radio Leeds, Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

2pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Eric Robson hosts the programme from Nottingham. With panellists Chris Beardshaw, Matt Biggs and Pippa Greenwood (repeated from Friday).