Onions are well worth growing and pretty easy  as they do not suffer from many pests and diseases. However, they are prone to bolting in dry weather which can be a problem in a typical summer in France.

It is a good idea to buy onion ‘sets’ rather than growing them from seed; sets are immature onions, part grown and then dried and stored in a dormant state. They have usually been given ‘hot water treatment’ which can help to kill off any diseases and prevent bolting. (bolting is the term used to describe early production of the flower which will make the bulb unsuitable for storing and reduce the yield considerably). Sets not only give you a head start and therefore a longer growing season but are easier and more reliable than growing from seed.

This very cold wet start to the year means that for most of us the soil is still far too wet and cold for sowing or planting but you can get your onion sets off to a good start by planting them into trays of modular cells or seed trays. This will endure that a good root system has developed before you plant them out into the soil and that the sets are viable. It can also help to prevent birds or rodents from disturbing the newly planted sets, without roots they are easy for them to steal!

They don’t need any warmth or protection – a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or polytunnel or just a sheltered spot in the garden. After about 3 weeks the shoots will be about 5-10cm long and ready for planting out in rows at about 15cm apart. You can start garlic and shallots off in the same way.

Before planting make sure that you have added plenty of well rotted organic matter to the soil to retail water and therefore helping to give the onions an even supply over the summer. If necessary you can irrigate using a seep hose laid alongside the row, keeping the soil moisture topped up by watering in the evenings when necessary. This will deliver water directly to the soil. Onions need a regular water supply to swell to full size and can split and rot if a period of drought is followed by heavy rain or watering so managing the irrigation is important.

Onions are ready to harvest when the tops have dried out and tumbled over, lift the onions on a dry day and allow to dry out on well aired racks in the sunshine for several days before storing. Onions should be stored in a light, airy and frost free place – keeping them in the dark will induce growth. You can plait them into strings or hang them in onion sacks.

Greenwood crafts: Use a traditional pole lathe to turn a dibber or a string line. 10.00-4.00 either Thursday 8th March or Saturday 10th March. 35 Euros per person including materials and light lunch: Greenwood crafts info and booking
Introduction to Tree identification Learn the basics of plant identification and get to know some common trees in winter to enhance your enjoyment of your garden and the surrounding countryside. 17th March 20 €: Tree Identification info and booking
Tool maintenance: learn how to service and sharpen your hand tools. 22nd March or 24th March. Bring along your secateurs, loppers, axe, shears etc. 2 hour session 20 €: Tool maintenance info and booking 
Make a bird box or bird table: be creative and make a quirky bird box or feeder. 12th April 10-2.30 35€ inc materials and light lunch: booking form coming soon

Willow weaving: learn basic weaving skills and weave an ‘acorn’ lamp for your summer garden 14th April 35€: Willow lantern info and booking

Garden design: Learn the principles of garden design, garden surveying and planting plans and create a design for your garden. 2 days 26th April /3 May 80€: Garden Design info and booking
Chicken wire sculpture: Create a chicken in wire for a bespoke garden feature. 28th April 10.00-4.00 55€ inc materials and light lunch: Chicken sculpture info and booking

Watch this space for details of forthcoming courses: eco-printing, dye your own silk scarf using plants and natural dyes, organic growing, willow sculpture, Basic botany

Helleborus orientalis is a very variable species that will self-seed readily and will

produce a wide range of flower colours and shapes in its offspring, it also hybridises freely and the resulting Helleborus x hybridus are equally variable. You will often see different variants and hybrids offered for sale as unnamed varieties and this is because they are grown from seed and each individual can be distinct from others within a batch of seedling plants, there are far too many attractive variations to name them all. If a particularly attractive seedling is to be named and sold as a cultivar it must be cloned (vegetative propagation such as cuttings and division). This is a lengthy process because it takes several years for a clump to reach a large enough size for dividing and Hellebores dislike disturbance. They do not produce stems with nodes so cuttings are not possible.
Named cultivars are often expensive because of this process but the desire for double flowers, dark purple to black and upward pointing flowers is such that plants that display some or all of these characteristics are sought after and therefore worthy of the process.
Helleborus are typically under story plants and are at their best when planted in natural drifts under trees and shrubs to give an early display of ground cover, they complement early spring bulbs and other winter interest herbaceous perennials such as Arum italicum ‘Marmoratum’ and thrive in humus rich, neutral to alkaline soils in shade or semi shade. They do best in a moisture retentive soil but can cope with dryer soils as long as they are not in full sun.
The leaves are evergreen but leaves from the previous season should be cut off at ground level in mid-winter just before the flower buds start to develop. You will then benefit from a stunning display of flowers that are not hidden by the tatty older leaves, new leaves will start to grow as the flowers fade. Division can take place every 5-8 years in autumn but don’t be afraid to let them self-seed or save some of the developing seeds and cultivate them, sow in autumn but don’t treat them too kindly, they need exposure to cold over the winter in order to break the dormancy and they will then readily germinate in spring.

Hellebores do not make great cut flowers because the stems soon flop and the real beauty of the flowers is mainly hidden on the inside but you can snip off just the flowers and create a stunning floating display as a table centre piece which lasts longer than the cut stems.