Cecilia Cran launches our regular garden feature – tips and ideas to meet your growing concerns.

What to grow this month: whether you have a windowsill, a balcony, or even a spot of outdoor space, no area is too small for gardening.

I will be sowing dahlias in my plant pots, to decorate our thumbnail outdoor space. Dahlias are so versatile, they come in all colours, shapes and sizes and are guaranteed to brighten up any area – big or small.

Dahlias are so easy to grow and low maintenance. Just be sure to dead head them and they will keep producing flowers continuously throughout the summer.

How to grow: Dahlias are what’s known as ‘tender tubers’ and need to be started off under cover, or indoors, so they don’t get caught by frosty mornings and chilly evenings.

They like well-drained soil (so I recommend adding some small pebbles to the bottom of a pot to aid drainage) and rich manure or compost. Plant them no less than 10cm deep and if you’re planting a number together, space them around 45cm apart from one another.

Dahlias love the sun, so put them in a south facing spot that will get maximum light. Keep them well watered, but the soil should not be soggy to touch, if the plants are waterlogged then the tubers will rot. Consider adding a liquid plant feed to the plants in the early weeks, you’ll set them up for a great flowering season.

It will take about five weeks for the tubers to sprout and you can expect flowers in early summer. Green escape: West Ham Park in the west of the Borough is a firm favourite of mine. The crocuses have been impressive this month – with their vibrant purple, yellow and white flowers scattered around the park. As they start to come to an end, we can still enjoy the camellia bushes and daffodils, which bring beautiful colour to the area. We can start to look forward to the magnolia trees, which are set to come into bloom in the next few weeks, along with the beautiful blackthorn blossom.

It’s the perfect spot to get some air and have a wander around the gardens. There’s an excellent playground for kids, an urban gym and tennis courts too.

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