|
APRIL
April is a busy time as early started tubers are ready for their
second pots, (A) and others are ready
for their first pots having been carefully removed from the tray. An example of
the root growth in my plain peat starting medium
(B). Here is another showing little top growth with plenty
of roots (C). I will regularly check
through the tubers making sure that things are OK. There are always a
few losses at this time of year (D).
Some of the cutting tubers can show potential for throwing many new
growths, this small tuber only 25mm or an old inch shows nearly 50
growths (E). Another even smaller
tuber shows 12 new growths (F).
My tubers in their trays are virtually covered by my peat,
this is to ensure that roots will also grow from the top of the tuber as
seen in this picture (G). Basal
cuttings are also starting to appear in numbers. All my plants require
only one stem as I grow for cut blooms, all others can be used for
cuttings, but due to limited space and already having too many plants I
will be very selective on the cuttings I take, these are for the compost
heap (H).
Early April will see the fleece & bubble wrap
removed to allow more natural light in (I).
Make sure that shading is in place as the weather can throw the odd warm
days and we are only just into April (J).
Space is used up very quickly at this time of year as my
tubers for the mini show at Portchester and my other show are moving
quickly (K). Also my tubers for the
National at Birmingham are now starting to be placed into there first
pots (L). With space running out
rapidly (M) plants will have to be
moved to the shade house (N) with
plenty of fleece on standby, no doubt it will turn cold soon.
|
