Strawberry Just Add Cream is new pink-flowered ornamental strawberry that also tastes very sweet.  It has taken eight years of breeding by Thompson & Morgan to develop the new strawberry, which produces masses of pink flowers and up to 1kg of fruit per plant over a long growing season. The berries are very aromatic and combine the sweetness of cultivated strawberries with a hint of the flavour of the wild plants. It is now on sale at £12.99 for five bare roots. (www.thompson-morgan.com)

 

TOP TIP

Mulch under shrubs, around fruit bushes be around spring bulbs as the foliage starts to die back,to lock in moisture and add nutrients to the soil.

Scottish Gardener:

WHAT TO DO NOW

  • Prune buddleja now to delay flowering until August when butterflies are in need of pollen.
  • Sow half-hardy annuals including zinnia, cleome and ricinus in a greenhouse or bright windowsill and plant out once all danger of frost has passed.
  • Rejuvenate plants that have been growing in containers for several years by removing old roots and compost around the rootball and adding fresh compost and slow-release fertiliser.
  • Remove dead flowers and damaged leaves from spring bedding and feed with a high potash fertiliser.
  • Put supports in place before perennials start into strong growth. Twigs, string and metal plant supports will soon be hidden by fresh growth and will prevent flowers and foliage from being flattened by wind or heavy rain.
  • Where conifers have been damaged by frost, prune away the affected area but do not cut below the bottom growth as conifers do not re-sprout from old wood.
  • Water houseplants more frequently as they emerge from winter dormancy. Place in a bright position but protect from strong sunlight.
  • Prepare the soil in areas where new plants are to be added by digging in compost or well-rotted manure.
  • Plant lilies in pots for dropping into gaps in the summer border.
  • Wash the leaves of camellias with a mild soap solution to remove aphids, their sticky excretions and the black mould that grows on it.
  • Use a spade or an edging iron to create a crisp edge on lawns. Aim to create a 7cm-deep gully between grass and soil.
  • Sow sweetcorn under glass in small pots and plant out in blocks once the soil warms up.
  • Prune hardy fuchsias close to the stump to promote a strong flush of new flowering shoots.
  • Spike lawns that are compacted or have been damp over the winter. Go over the area with a fork and top dress with sandy loam, brushed into the holes.
  • Cover the vegetable patch with heavy black polythene to warm up the soil before planting, but be vigilant as the protection will encourage slugs.
  • Cut back deciduous grasses including miscanthus. Comb out old foliage from Stipa tenuissima.