Plant name: Veronica, speedwell, sore eyes and bird’s eye. In the language of flowers, which was hugely popular in 19th-century Europe, Veronica represented loyalty and fidelity. The name Veronica is derived from Latin true, verus. The common name, speedwell, is a reference to its healing properties, as is sore eyes. Bird’s eye refers to the central spot of contrasting colour quite on blue flowers and blue on white ones. The name speedwell is often associated with a lawn weed that has blue flowers in April.

Botanical name: There are quite a few species of speedwell, notably the blue speedwell, Veronica gentianoides, arguably the best of the genus. The word gentianoides means looks like, a resemblance of some degree. This refers to the bright blue of the spring gentian, which appears around the same time and early summer. But, despite the name, it does not emulate the brilliant colour of gentian.

Family: Veronica has an upright shape to its flower spikes that is reminiscent of foxglove. It is now classified in the Plantaginaceae, the plantago family. Veronica spicata has narrow flower spikes. Veronica austriaca means from Austria. Veronica peduncularis is a fine rock garden plant.

Garden value

The blue border speedwell, Veronica gentianoides, which makes low-growing rosettes of leaves, closely clustered together a few centimetres over the soil surface. The dark-green leaves are no more than finger-length and rounded, but these little rosettes are tenacious and possess remarkable qualities of weed control for such a small, and apparently delicate, plant. Long-lived they can last for well over a decade unless they become squeezed out by some much larger plant.

In late May or early June, this little plant undergoes a transformation. When it flowers it is almost like a different plant, suddenly putting on a dramatic show. The rosettes produce several flowering stems and the whole plant is dominated by flowering spikes. Its principal garden value is early flowering, giving a show as good as any summer-flowering rival.

The plants are about 45cm tall, several times the height of the rosettes. The flowers are very pretty, pale blue, almost white. The flowers are carried on a slender flower stem that hold them slightly away from the main flower spike.

This gives the flower spikes a slightly airy appearance that makes them frothy and light.

Flowering so early in summer, these pale-blue flowers have a lovely seasonal freshness that goes really well with the new green foliage of shrubs and perennial flowers. There are white forms, occasionally seen, and a darker blue selection, ‘Robusta’, which is even more rare.

Later on, Veronica spicata, the spiked speedwell, with its spiky flower stems, comes into flower, not as airy as the earlier flowering kind. It too forms a dense mat, slowly spreading and sends up flower stems to about 60cm during mid-summer. ‘Rotfuchs’ has deep pink flowers over green leaves. ‘Wendy’ is short with grey leaves and bright blue flowers.

The species Veronica austriaca, represented by varieties, such as ‘Kapitan’ with bright blue flowers, or ‘Crater Lake Blue’ with dark blue flowers. It grows only 25cm tall with lots of small spikes of flowers and a spreading habit.

Growing Veronica

All kinds of veronica like full sunshine, and well-drained, moderately fertile soil, but not too dry. While these plants can effectively compete with weeds, it is wise to lift and replant every few years, planting good healthy rosettes of foliage.

This is not onerous to do because the plants are of relatively small stature.

Kitchen Garden

There is a relatively short list of vegetables that need to be raised under the cover of a greenhouse or polythene tunnel. These include: sweetcorn, runner beans, climbing French beans, pumpkins, butternut squash, marrow, courgettes, celery, celeriac and outdoor tomato varieties.

Any or all of these kinds can be raised without being damaged by frost in late spring or early summer. The seeds of most of these are relatively large as seeds go. This means they can be sown individually in small pots or cell-trays. They need to be sown about the middle of April, which leaves six or seven weeks before they can be planted out due to frost damage potential. At the same time, they must not be sown much earlier because they get setback in their development due to the small pot restriction of the roots.

Sweetcorn can be grown under the protection of a polytunnel

Around the end of May in the warmer parts of the country, or early June in cooler areas, these frost-tender vegetables can be planted into their new space, and given water every couple of days. Watch out for slug and snail damage to soft young plants. The space in the greenhouse that is freed up can be used to grow greenhouse crops such as melon, cucumber, chillis and indoor tomatoes.

This week

Trees, shrubs and roses

There is a show of blossom on many shrubs and garden trees, including magnolia, cherry, camellia and rhododendron. Wild plants such as gorse and pot-grown plants, evergreens and shrubs do well when planted as growth starts. Water well until they are settled in.

Flowers

In good weather, dahlias and gladiolus can be planted directly outdoors from now on. It is really too late to sow bedding flower seeds because they will flower very late. Wait and buy plants in May. Hardy annual flowers can still be grown as they will give a good show later in the year.

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

There were few, if any, opportunities to sow vegetable seeds as the weather did not settle much and showers were frequent. Be ready to sow when conditions are right. Onion sets can be put in too. Potatoes should be planted as soon as possible. Do not sow seeds if the ground is lumpy and wet.

Lawn

If a lawn is not showing good green colour by now, it needs some feeding. Mow regularly from now on. Use suitable moss killer if there is heavy moss growth. Sow lawn seed for a new lawn. Thin lawns can be over-sown with some fresh seed on the patchy areas.

Greenhouse and house plants

Prick out seedlings and be careful not to over-water. Re-pot house plants that are pot-bound and growing badly due to congestion. Feed and water heavily all greenhouse plants, if not already done. Sow sweet corn, courgettes and runner beans now for planting outdoors at the end of May.