Gardeners should get out and plant their tulips now

Crisp sunny days followed by non-stop gusty rain and vice versa.

Some of it conducive to getting out in the garden, some not at all.

The wet days have given us the chance to tidy up inside, weeding the pots of plants which will overwinter in the greenhouses, potting on a few which needed it, cleaning used plant labels so we can reuse them next year, sorting through empty pots and getting rid of any which are broken.

Asssessment Day Hmmm, do I recognise that plant.. (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

And on the sunny days, there has been so much to do outside.

It is finally cold enough to plant tulips and even though I ordered fewer than last year (after what seems to be ever increasingly widespread tulip fire affecting a lot of our containers) it still took a couple of days, and we haven’t quite finished.

A lot of foliage has been frosted in the past week and the plants have just collapsed.

Nasturtiums, which really got going as the temperatures dipped a little in September, have finally given up and dahlias are looking very sad too.

We have begun to cut them back but have yet to decide just how many we will lift, and how many will take their chances in the ground.

Last Friday was Assessment Day for the Certificate in Practical Horticulture students and it was so cold!

Pruning roses (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

Happily, the ground was not actually frozen (as it was for the assessment in November last year) and at least it was dry, so with plenty of layers and hot drinks everyone made it through the day and we ended up by the fire in the local pub afterwards.

Next term’s course has one or two spaces still if you would like to find out more or book a place.

If you would like to make your own wreath for your door or table centre this Christmas, you just have time to join one of our lovely festive workshops.

We will be using locally foraged foliage, berries and seedheads and sustainably grown moss.

You will make a truly unique wreath, inspired and guided by local flower farmer and florist, Sarah Hammond.

Assessment Day still smiling (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

We start with coffee and homemade biscuits and end with a glass of fizz and homemade mince pies.

It’s a lovely way to get into the festive mood in the next couple of weeks.

Get in touch to book one of the last spots.

And finally, a reminder of the perfect present for the gardener in your life: we offer personalised gift vouchers for the value you choose.

We can email them or put them in the post to reach you in time for Christmas.

Let us know if you would like one!

Upcoming courses:

– Christmas Wreath Workshops – 4 & 5 December

– Introduction to Garden Design – from 8 January

– Certificate in Practical Horticulture – from 9 January

– Advanced Practical Gardening – 14 January

– Chainsaw Use & Cross Cutting – 25 February

Cotoneaster Cornubia (Image: Norfolk School of Gardening)

Plant of the Week

Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’ is one of the largest cotoneasters, often forming an enormous bushy shrub but it can easily be trained into a standard to make a handsome tree with graceful branches that bend beneath the weight of fruit.

Flowering is spectacular, the white open booms clustered densely in flattened heads, while the berries which follow are pea-size and vivid red in autumn and winter.

The flowers are a magnet for bees and the berries are eaten by birds.

The RHS has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).