Gourmet Gardener: Planning for pollinators
As Spring has sprung, our Gourmet Gardener, Tara Kate Linnane, looks at planning and preparation for the growing season...
As the stretch in the daylight becomes more noticeable and birdsong begins to sweeten the evening air, the thoughts of warmer spring days are in reach.
Planning and preparation for the growing season is in full swing. When thinking about growing fruit and vegetables, we should also draw thoughts to attracting our pollinator friends into the garden to do their important jobs. Pollinators facilitate the reproduction of most plants and are a vital factor in food production. Butterflies, beetles, bees, all rely on a balanced ecosystem for food and shelter.
We have a responsibility to support these ecosystems, even on a small scale in our gardens. It can be a simple thing such as leaving a patch of grass to grow wild or a more hands-on approach by providing attractive flowers and nectar for insects to feast on. Try to grow a suitable range of plants across the year so they have enough food in our gardens.
Pollinators, particularly bees, like big open flowers that have open flat heads, such as sedums or verbena or yarrow. These can be planted and will come back each year, providing nectar. Planting early flowering shrubs such as hazel, mahonia and willow provide a spring feast for bees to enjoy in the early months when there is little else to eat.
Now we are approaching a more active time in the garden, some attention might be turned to mowing the lawn, but leaving a section to grow is beneficial. Dandelions are a common weed, but are underestimated as a super food for pollinators, so perhaps this year let them cover an area and watch the wildlife come in.
In order to attract pollinators, plant an array of flowers in bright colours and different heights, using pots or along a flower bed (try lavender, hyssop and buddleia).
This time of year is a great time to sow some annual flowers such as cornflowers, calendula and borage – another bee favourite. These seeds can be picked up at garden centres and sometimes can be purchased from supermarkets. You can sow them indoors in trays until the seedlings are strong enough to be pricked out and planted out, or you can wait a few months longer and sow them directly into the garden. These will flower later in the summer.
Shelter is another important factor in attracting pollinators. Give our friends a staycation in your garden by building a bee and bug hotel. This can be a really fun activity to do with kids and a fantastic way to learn about the importance of our wildlife. Solitary bees can nest there and remain from predators. Leave the grass long for pollinators to nest in and hedgerows slightly wild for bumblebees to take refuge.
About the author
• Tara Kate Linnane is passionate about sustainability and growing all things edible. Together with her husband Barry, she has embarked on a journey of designing edible spaces and getting others started on their gardening adventures.
Follow their journey on Instagram @twopeas_inapolytunnel or visit thefoodscapedesignco.com to make contact for information.
Competition time!
If you have already started a pollinator project with an area for flowers this year, or are thinking of building your own bee hotel I would love to see and share some of your pictures. Please send them directly to foodscapedesignco@gmail.com or you can share them on instagram and tag @twopeas_inapolytunnel to be included in the competition. Remember to include a caption and names.
Entries Must be in by Tuesday, March 16 and a winner will be selected and announced the following week in this newspaper and online.
Timely tips for the garden
● You don't have to buy seeds in a packet. You can always try to dry out seeds from the foods you have bought, for example tomatoes or chillies. I would suggest using organic fruit and washing the seeds before letting them dry out. Then you can sow them in a tray of compost and see what happens.
● Sowing should be getting started now you can sow tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli broad beans to name a few to get you started. The earlier you sow, the earlier you will have a crop.
● It is still important to leave some food out for birds.
● Keep an eye out for Spring colour, bulbs will be popping their heads up such as crocus and you might also notice some wild primrose in the hedgerows while out on a walk
● Final tip if you have a project in mind for attracting pollinators or insects into your garden get going and make sure to enter the competition to be in with a chance of winning!