If there is time over Easter and the weather is kind, its nice to be in the Garden. Easter moves each year and generally Easter falls on the first Sunday, following the first full moon after 21 March, but not always. The commonest time for Easter is 19th April and as the soil  is warming up its a good time to start planting vegetables depending on the weather. The only thing which varies more than the Easter dates, is the Easter weather, anything from a mini heat wave to hail and snow.

This Easter, if the going is good, it is an ideal time to plant potatoes although with an eye to any frost if the top growth comes through before frosts have passed. Ideal also for planting onions, and garlic. The soil should be warm enough to direct sow carrots, beetroot, lettuces, radish.  Both French beans and Runner beans are more tender and at this time of year need to be started either in the greenhouse or delay sowing until  the soil temperatures reach 12 degrees (54F).

Daffodils are going over and to ensure a good display for the following year, dead head and feed. Next year I am looking to growsome of the more of the unusual daffodills as in the image left, lovely and scented.

Around this time of year it is warm enough to sow annuals directly, such as sweet peas, which give such long lasted scented colour for the summer. You can directly sow marigolds, and I love the English pot marigold Calendula, image centre right, and much less attractive to the slugs. 

This year I am not going to plant much by way of bedding but instead fill in areas with wild flower seed. In recent years I have set aside an area to grow wildflowers which are suitable for seeding from now until late May, and I have really liked the results with the added benefit of being attractive to bees and butterflies. The image  far right  shows some of the wild flowers  from last year which this year I am going to extend to some of the borders which often have summer bedding in them. I guess I will still fall to the temptation of the garden centre and buy some but I have several packets of seeds and wildflower mats to lay and see how they look later in the season. Tips and advise on making a wild flower patch