Gardening in Hérault - February 2015

In the garden – February 2015

The beginning of February often still seems like a quiet time of the year in the garden but as the weather starts to warm up and the days lengthen there are lots of gardening jobs to be getting on with to prepare for the coming season:

• General weeding, digging and mulching of flower beds
• Check that stakes are holding firm with the winter winds
• Turn some organic material (compost, rotted manure etc) into your flower beds and perhaps add some general organic fertiliser
• Towards the end of the month start to cut back ornamental grasses, other perennials and sub shrubs such as Gaura, Salvia microphylla and it’s cultivars, Perovskia, etc  If possible shred these prunings to  use as mulch for your garden.
• Deadhead winter flowering pansies to encourage repeat flowering.
• Check on the watering requirements of container grown plants, even at this time of the year they can dry out.
• During February or March prune summer flowering shrubs (eg Lavatera, Buddleia) that flower on the current year’s growth, prune winter flowering shrubs such as winter jasmine and Mahonia after flowering. Start to prune roses.
• Planting and moving plants
• If you haven’t yet done so, prune woody climbers such as Wisteria, Kiwis and Campsis back to two or three buds on sideshoots.  Late flowering clematis should also be pruned now, as can Virginia creeper and ivy
• Make sure that you have finished pruning hedges before the bird nesting season begins, hedges are ideal nesting areas for many garden birds.  Nesting boxes can also still be put up in February.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast and protect tender plants if severe cold is forecast again
• Start to sow seeds

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At the nursery we are often asked about growing culinary herbs and constructing herb gardens so it seems useful to make some comments about herbs to try and clarify things.  The term "herb" has more than one definition. Botanists describe an herb as a small, seed bearing plant with fleshy, rather than woody, parts (from which we get the term "herbaceous"). For the gardener the term “herb” refers to a far wider range of plants. In addition to herbaceous perennials, herbs may include annuals, trees & shrubs, which are valued for their flavour and fragrance as well medicinal qualities, economic and industrial uses, pesticidal properties, and colouring materials (dyes).  Most people are interested in the flavour aspect and wanting to grow culinary herbs in their gardens.  The most popular culinary herbs are probably rosemary, sage, oregano, basil, parsley, coriander, chives, mint, thyme and bay.  Far from combining all these plants in one herb garden it is better to think about their individual cultivation requirements and how to meet them.

Rosemary in flower in February.

Many of these plants are Mediterranean native plants and will grow easily in this region, they simply need sunshine and a well drained soil, this would include rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, bay and savory.  Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is well known and can be found in various forms including some lovely dark blue flower forms and a prostrate form, all are equally useful for cooking.  The sage most frequently used is Salvia officinalis which has a number of cultivars including crinkly leaved versions and coloured forms such as Salvia officinalis var Icterina (yellow variegated) and var purpurascens (purply foliage); a group of different foliage sages can make a very effective display in the garden.  

Origanum syriacum or zatar is an attractive garden plant which flowers in the summer.

Some people swear that the sage flavour is even better in the Spanish sage, Salvia lavandulifolia.  Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) needs no introduction, you can find it growing all over the garrigue but there are also some good lemon scented forms of thyme that are great with fish or chicken!  Oregano can also be found growing wild but forms vary considerably as to how much flavour they have so it is best to buy a good form.  Origano itself is from Origanum vulgare ssp hirtum while Origanum majorana is sweet marjoram and for fans of Middle Eastern cookery Origanum syriacum is zatar.  Bay trees (Laurus nobilis) are widely grown but do make a large tree so need careful siting in the garden.  Winter savory (Satureja montana) is another Med native herb that is less well known but goes well in soups and stews.

I’ll comment next month on how to grow some of the other herbs mentioned above.

At La Petite Pépinière we continue to receive positive feedback about our programme of gardening courses and this is our programme for the spring of 2015.  Our courses are aimed at gardeners in the Languedoc and our intention is to provide information and promote discussion in a relaxed and informal atmosphere which will help those interested in creating interesting, easy to maintain and colourful ornamental gardens.  The courses detailed below will be held at La Petite Pépinière in Caunes-Minervois (11160) and will be tutored by Gill Pound, nursery proprietor.  All courses are designed for a group of seven to eleven participants.  Course fees quoted include coffees, teas etc and you are asked to bring a packed lunch.

An Introduction to Pruning – Wednesday 18^th March, 10am to 4pm
This will be an introduction to the principles and practice of pruning, why, when and how.  Practical work in the garden here will be included and we will focus on pruning practices relating to plants frequently found in gardens in the region.
Course fee:  45€

Propagation:  Thursday 19th March, 10am to 4pm

An introduction to the principles of propagation - how to increase your own plants by layering, division, seeds and cuttings.  Plenty of practical work

 Course fee:  45€
If you are interested in either of the above and the dates are inconvenient do get in touch anyway, it may be possible to change dates or to run an additional course.

Tailor made courses: 
For groups of six/seven people it may be possible to tailor make a course to meet your needs; if this is of interest to a club/society/group of friends that you belong to then do get in touch indicating your area(s) of interest.  Guided visits of the garden at La Petite Pépinière are also available.

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For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, unusual plants and plants for dry climates), 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois.

Tel: 04 68 78 43 81 or 06 85 966 572, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com  www.lapetitepepiniere.com