Jobs for February
As the first signs of life appear, it is time to start gathering your supplies for the growing season. First things first, potatoes!
20 January 2021
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Prepare vegetable seed beds, and sow some vegetables under cover or indoors.
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Chit potato tubers ahead of planting. ‘Chitting’ means encouraging seed potatoes to sprout before planting.
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Protect fruit and vegetable crops from birds by covering them with net.
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Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering, but leave them longer if they still have berries on them as this is a good food source for birds.
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Plant garlic sets.
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Divide bulbs such as snowdrops, and plant those that need planting 'in the green' (with green leaves).
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Prune hardy evergreen hedges and renovate overgrown deciduous hedges. ‘Deciduous’ is a term that refers to trees and shrubs that shed their leaves annually.
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Cut back deciduous grasses left uncut over the winter, remove dead grass from evergreen grasses.
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If not done due to harsh weather, cut autumn raspberry canes to the ground, so they are ready to re-grow in the spring.
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Plant bare-rooted fruit trees and bushes.
Looking for more green-fingered gems? Find more ideas on the RHS website.
Check out these indoor activites for home learners
Paper pots - Using old newpaper and a jar, you can make compostable paper pots ready for sowing season.
Store cupboard scientist - Set up an experiment using odds and ends from your kitchen cupboards.
Make a mini bug home - Perfect for a balcony, make a mini house for local mini beasts to enjoy.