Page 26 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2023

Gardening in Jersey
GRAEME LE MARQUAND FNVS
All the raised beds are now ready for sowing and planting, it’s just a matter
of the waiting game with the weather.
I type this on the 1st of February here
in Jersey and the night temperatures
are starting to improve. Several of the beds have already had a good mulch of (Vraic) seaweed whilst the others have had a topping of old stable manure . One of the beds has already been planted with -Senshyu Autumn planting Onions, these were planted from sets last October along with shallots and garlic and in the next few weeks they will be given a feed of onion fertiliser .
Most of the Seed that have been sown so far have been in cell trays like the green curled Kale, the giant spinach and recently a trial of the German traditional cabbage Filderkraut all these will be planted in succession and as they mature hopefully giving me a long drawn out season. Most of the leeks have been pricked out into different sized containers and so have
the Roscoff French onions and all year round cauliflower, this will give them less root disturbance when they are eventually planted out .
My poly tunnel is also ready for planting except for a few minor problems to sort out. My first planting will be with the sweet peppers long red and yellow followed with the large square shaped red Californian, Aubergines early long, and finally for the moment my favourite cucumber Delistar. All these have just been sown in my propagator.
The next sowing will be the tomatoes, yet to be sown. These will include Apero my favourite small tomatoes for showing others will be Yellow Mimi, Sungold and seven or eight other varieties including our own heritage Jersey Tomatoes. Sunrise and Devon Potato Leaf, these must have, I
would have thought originated from Devon. Any clues!
My Jersey Royals that were planted in my poly tunnel on Boxing Day and are all doing well and should hopefully be ready for Easter.
26 Simply Vegetables