The Gardener's Diary: Spring at Kilver

The Gardener’s Diary: Spring at Kilver

Words from our Head Gardener, Chris Inchley

Spring is one of my favourite seasons here at Kilver. As the days lengthen and the sun begins to carry a bit more warmth, the garden starts to wake up and show signs of life again.

The bulbs we planted last autumn are now in full bloom. I’m particularly pleased with the dwarf narcissus nestled in the rockery – Tête-à-Tête is a dependable variety I always come back to. Crocuses and Scilla siberica are also looking wonderful this year, giving us a welcome burst of early colour.

Our ornamental grasses have been holding their own through winter, adding movement and interest with their seed heads fluttering in the breeze. But it’s time to cut them back now – we grow Miscanthus zebrinus, Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’, and Arundo donax. It won’t be long before we see those fresh, young shoots coming through to complement our herbaceous planting.

We’ll be pruning the buddleias this month too – cutting back last year’s growth to a tidy framework close to the ground. This helps keep them compact and encourages flowering at the right height later in the year.

Dahlia tubers lifted in autumn are now ready for potting on, along with some new varieties we’ve added to the collection. It’s always exciting to look ahead to their long season of vibrant colour. To add more drama to the borders, now’s also a good time to plant summer bulbs like gladioli and lilies – both reliable for structure and impact.

Our new vegetable garden is really starting to take shape. We’ve chitted and planted our first early potatoes – Maris Bard, a great all-rounder – and next will be Charlotte, a good, dependable second early. Onion sets are also going in this month, and we’re sowing the first crops requested by our new café chef. It’s always rewarding to grow produce that will end up on people’s plates just a few metres away.

There’s plenty to look forward to, and it’s a joy to be back out in the garden again!