DAFFODILS begin to make their mark this month. Miniature species are generally the first to appear, usually in February, so that by March they are well into bloom with clumps of gold scattered about the garden.

The variety Tete-a-tete' is popular and easily available as pot-grown bulbs on market stalls and in garden centres. They are not usually expensive, with a container of four or five bulbs costing as little as £1.

Tete-a-tete' is not the only miniature daffodil available to the gardener. Look out for Jet Fire' with yellow petals surrounding a bright orange trumpet. The flowers are slightly scented and it is best grown in a semi-shaded spot because direct sunlight can fade the colour of the trumpet. Jack Snipe' has white petals and a yellow trumpet, while the double petals of Rip van Winkle' are long and thin, giving the flowers a shaggy appearance. It is best grown on a windowsill where its individuality can be appreciated.

The choice of daffodil, or Narcissus to give it its botanical name, is endless with new varieties appearing every year.

The genus is separated into divisions, which takes into account the number of blooms on a stem and the length of trumpet compared to the petals. It is interesting to look into the different divisions and essential for people showing their blooms competitively.

For most gardeners, however, the important things to know is flowering time, height and colour. This information is usually included on packets of dry bulbs or on labelled pots.

Taller daffodils appearing this month include February Gold' and Peeping Tom'; both all yellow with swept back petals and long elegant trumpets. These two are included in division 6, the cyclamineus narcissi.

Division 1, Trumpet Daffodils is the only division that uses the term daffodil and it includes early varieties such as all yellow Golden Harvest' and King Alfred', as well as more unusual Spellbinder' with pale yellow petals and white trumpets. Mount Hood' flowers later but has beautiful pure white petals and trumpet.

Bridal Crown' is a double narcissus from division 4, with small very double white flowers, tinted orange at the base of each petal.

Two or three scented flowers are held on each stem and although full sun is recommended for this variety, I have found they will grow well in a sheltered spot in partial shade.

In fact, mine are in temporary' pots by the house wall in the semi-shaded front garden. They were transferred from a large container after flowering last spring and left to die back. Thinking it would be late April or May before blooms appeared again, they have been ignored until early flowers were spotted this week.

A more attractive pot and better spot for admiration needs to be found before the flowers are over.

Gardening TV and radio

Tomorrow
8am, Radio Humberside, Gardening Phone-in. Telephone number 01482 225 959.

9am, Radio Leeds, Gardening with Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

2pm, R4, Gardeners' Question Time. Peter Seabrook, Bunny Guinness, Bob Flowerdew and chairman Peter Gibbs are in Essex where they are guests of Great Notley Gardens Club near Braintree. The gardening weather forecast is at 2.25pm and tree expert Tony Russell looks at the effect of climate change on garden trees and shrubs.

9pm, BBC2, Around The World In 80 Gardens. Monty Don visits gardens in Morocco, Spain and Italy.

Friday
8pm, BBC2, Gardeners' World. Carol Klein is in her own garden and shows how to propagate plants and discusses seasonal blooms such as primroses and tulips.

Weekend catch-up

THERE is plenty of pruning required this month, with some jobs needing to done sooner rather than later.

Shrub roses will already have had a light prune last autumn, but further cutting back can now be done before the sap rises too much. Take out any dead or diseased wood, then cut back healthy stems to just above a strong, outward-growing shoot.

As soon as active growth appears, which in some sheltered gardens may have already happened, loosen the soil around the base of the plant and sprinkle on a handful of rose fertiliser.

This will slowly release nutrients the shrub can absorb to support all the growth and flowers it is expected to do.

Dogwoods can also be cut back. Those grown for their coloured winter bark are best cut hard back to just above ground level. It seems harsh but new stems will generate very quickly and will provide the best display next autumn and winter.

Keep the pruning to use as natural-looking support for floppy perennials elsewhere in the garden.

Members of the dogwood family grown for their variegated leaves as well as their coloured stems can be pruned less severely, but it is still a good idea to take some of the oldest stems right back.

Cut the rest back by between one third and a half for two or three years then prune hard back to stop the shrub getting out of shape and woody.

Gardening talk

TREVOR Rogers will give an illustrated talk entitled The Moon, Muck and Magic' on Tuesday at Askham Bryan College. Organised by Askham Bryan College (ABC) Gardening Club, the talk will begin at 7.30pm in the Conference Hall. Tickets are free to ABC Gardening Club members and £5 on the door for non-members.

Harrogate Spring Flower Show

THE Harrogate Spring Flower Show will be held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate from Thursday April 24 to Sunday April 27.

Organised by the North of England Horticultural Society, gates open at 9.30am and close at 5.30pm.

Entry to the show is £14 at the gate Thursday-Saturday and £12 on Sunday. However, tickets pre-booked before noon on Tuesday April 15 will each have a £2 discount. These can be booked using a credit/debit card by telephoning 0870 758 3333 (Mon-Fri 8.30-16.30) or on-line at www.flowershow.org.uk or by sending a cheque made payable to North of England Enterprises Ltd to Harrogate Flower Shows, 4a, South Park Road, Harrogate, HG1 5QU.