March on the Farm

It’s been a busy start to the year - 20 new no-dig beds have been added to the field and drip tape irrigation systems have been installed in the polytunnels. I’ve been spreading many wheelbarrow loads of homemade compost and boosting spring crops with a delicious seaweed feed. All of this should hopefully mean an even more efficient and productive season of flowers.

The last couple of months have certainly brought their challenges - January and February saw a hard battle against mice eating tulip bulbs and ranunculus corms. It was really tough and especially demoralising to find expensive ranunculus corms dug up and chewed, they are such a fussy plant to grow and I spend a lot of time and money on getting their growing conditions just right.

But March is finally here and things are starting to grow! Spring flowers are moving at a slightly slower pace compared to last year, most likely due to the very wet and grey start we had to the year. I harvested my first ranunculus and anemone on April 11th last year, we’ll see how this spring compares.

Autumn-sown sweet peas are looking strong and have started to climb their netting in the tunnel. They are such a special crop for me, their scented flowers and twisting foliage is hard to beat. They became a huge favourite with florists last year and I saw them used in both large wedding installations and beautifully delicate buttonholes. They were also our most popular seller at the Rosemains markets, so it was an easy decision to double our production of them this year.

Perennials are starting to wake up in the outdoor beds and I expect to start harvesting the first tulips within the next couple of weeks. The woodland surrounding the field, which was full of snowdrops at the start of the month, is now a mass of gold and cream narcissi.

Seed sowing started in February. One of the most important factors I look at when planning my sowing schedule is the last frost date. In our postcode the average last frost date is April 20th, so I plan all my seed sowing to make sure the young plants grow in the most favourable conditions and have time to develop a healthy root and stem system before being  planted out as soon as the risk of frost has passed. Most seeds packets will recommend how many weeks before your last frost date that you should sow the seeds and you can check your average last frost date by postcode area at lastfrostdate.co.uk/map/

First on my list to sow was annual Rudbeckia, a late summer favourite and something I’m growing a lot of this year. Annual Rudbeckia takes around 100-120 days to reach maturity, which is quite a lengthy DTM (days to maturity), which is why they’re one of the earliest seeds we sow. I start them at home on a warm windowsill before they’re moved to the polytunnel as soon as they germinate, which ensures maximum light levels, good airflow and lower temperature/humidity, all of which creates strong roots and shoots and prevents rotting. I sow three successions, the first of which was on February 16th and with their cut-and-come-again habit, I should have flowers from the end of June all the way until early October. They are a florist favourite too, lasting very well in the vase and satisfying the need for warm summer caramels, ruby and gold.

Mark your diary for the Rosemains Steading Market on Sunday 26th April, where we’ll be selling spring stems, including our double tulips. Set inside the beautiful stone courtyard, the Rosemains markets are always a wonderful celebration of Scottish produce and the perfect opportunity to support local businesses.

The first guest stallholders have been announced and include a few of my favourites - Chesterhall Honey, Pinkminis and Company Bakery. Rosemains quarterly markets are currently the only opportunity for the non-florist to buy our cut flowers, so it would be lovely to see you there!

The clocks going forward an hour tonight marks the start of longer, lighter evenings and more chances to get outside. I hope this means you can get out in the garden or out for a walk somewhere lovely and green.