Parsnips like a deep, well-drained, fertile soil.
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Sow fresh seeds thinly in drills 1.5cms deep and 30cms apart. Firm down seed to ensure contact with soil moisture.
Keep moist until germination has occurred.
Sow mustard seed in a sunny or part-shaded position. Cover carefully with seed-raising mix.
Leaves are ready for picking about three weeks after sowing.
Plant garlic cloves in a rich soil in a sunny position.
Bulbs should be ready to harvest in about six months from planting when the flowers have faded and leaves begin to yellow.
Loving leeks
Leeks grow steadily through the cool months so now is a good time to plant seedlings.
Make a furrow about 20cm deep, stand the baby leek plants upright in the base, cover their roots and fill in with soil as they grow.
This helps them develop that white stem.
Grass goings-on
Festucas are hardy plants in the grass family able to tolerate dry, frosty or salty conditions making them ideal choices for gardens near the sea.
These ornamental grasses often have distinctly coloured leaves.
Plant in full sun or partial shade.
Full flower
Salvias are lovely, low maintenance plants with gorgeous flowers in a range of shades through blue to purple, pink to red as well as white and yellow.
These shrubby plants add so much to the mixed border and are often used as background plantings.
Old established plants tend to become woody if not pruned back. There are some lovely new varieties available.
Poppies look stunning when combined with foxgloves, violas, larkspur and linaria to make a free-flowering bed that will continue blooming for months.
Cutting back iris stylosa's leaves allows the sun to reach the clumps which helps with their winter flowering. Also give the clumps a dusting of superphosphate and lime.
Looking rosey
There are probably more stories and fables attached to the rose than to any other flower.
The rose is one of the longest known flowers being an emblem of England for centuries while allusions to its fragrance and purity have been sung throughout the ages.
Shakespeare often mentioned the rose while artists and musicians have drawn on its beauty for inspiration.
There is always room in the garden for this timeless beauty and with the range of varieties in shrub, miniature, standard and carpet roses in plant centres now there is one that is sure to please.
A rose makes the perfect living Mother's Day gift.