Page 21 - ALG Issue 1 2019

Regular
We are now into longer days; the sun is getting stronger each day and the quality of light is improving. It may not feel like it to us,
but the seeds and plants in the soil are responding to the better growing conditions. But there is always the danger of frost around and we should always expect a hard, damaging frost at any time this month. Sunny days and clear night skies are the perfect partners for producing frost. There is a lot of work to get on with but take care not to over reach yourself and leave too much to protect.
Set up the bean poles in advance of transplanting the climbing French and the runner beans. Be prepared to cover up any emerging shoots on the potatoes if a frost is forecast. If you can get on site before the sun shines on the leaves you can
water over the foliage first to break the frost first. You may have enough time to earth up the potatoes if a frost is forecast. Organise brushwood and netting to support peas.
HARVEST
Sprouting broccoli, lettuce, leeks, cabbage
PESTS &
DISEASES
Aphids and whitefly under glass, and the first signs of aphids appearing on the allotment especially in the more sheltered and warm areas of the site.
GENERAL
APRIL
final positions.
GREENHOUSE
Sow the seeds of outdoor tomatoes, pumpkins, squashes, courgettes, sweetcorn, outdoor/ridge cucumbers. Sow runner beans, dwarf and climbing French beans.
Plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers into their
OUTSIDE
Sow the seeds of maincrop peas, broad beans, lettuce, beetroot, kohlrabi, early turnips, Swiss chard, spinach, radish, carrots and parsnips.
On a seedbed, sow the seed of leeks, summer cabbage and broccoli. Carry on thinning previously
sown seedlings ready to transplant towards the end of the month. Plant – Complete the planting of onion sets and the second early and maincrop potatoes. Transplant any earlier sown lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, celeriac, peas, broad beans, beetroot and spinach.
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The allotment will now be growing flat-out and it is time for us
to enjoy the rewards of our earlier efforts. The early peas, broad beans, lettuces, spring onions, beetroot and round seeded chicory will be ready to harvest. There will still be the last of the leeks, parsnips, broccoli, kale and spring cabbage to pick. The first of the asparagus crop will just be ready for cutting; last year’s crop was damaged by the cold weather and late spring. Over large areas
of the country this year’s crop will have suffered from the floods or waterlogged soil we had earlier on. The heavy clay soils will take longer to recover but the thinner more sandy soils will drain more freely although they will have lost a lot of their nutrients. Keep a look out for steady growth; if crops look as if they are suffering, give them a foliar feed with liquid seaweed. The fear of frost
should have passed in most parts of the country but still keep frost protection handy until the end of May/early June.
GREENHOUSE
Last sowings for planting out towards the end of the month. Don’t start feeding tomatoes until the flowers on the first truss
has set. Keep on top of the side shoots; snap them out when they are about 5cms/2ins long.
Set up sticky traps to catch aphids and whitefly. Order biological control.
OUTSIDE
Savoy cabbage, Kale, winter cabbage, broccoli, Calabrese, winter cauliflower, radicchio, endive, chicory, Witloof chicory, Florence fennel, swede, beetroot, turnips, mange tout peas, carrots.
Last chance to sow parsnips, main crop beetroot and peas.
Keep up with catch crops of lettuce.
Plant – Celeriac, sweetcorn, courgettes, marrows, pumpkins and squashes, outdoor tomatoes, leeks, French beans, runner beans, Brussels sprouts, leeks. Leave the job until the end of the
MAY
month if you live north of the River Trent. Always listen to the local weather forecast and don’t transplant during cold spells to avoid giving the plants a check.
GENERAL
The first waves of pests arrive during this month and broad beans are an easy target for black fly. Pinching out the soft growing tips can help to delay and attack until the ladybird larvae hatch and begin to clear the crops. Insecticide will knock down
aphids and Bacillus thuringiensis, which is sold as a caterpillar killer, is safe to use on gooseberries and brassicas. Earthing up of potatoes begins earnestly in this month; allow about 18cms/9ins
of growth to develop before drawing the soil up around the
haulm, leaving just the tips of the shoots above the soil. Two more earthings should produce a decent crop before the end of summer. Train peas and beans against their supports.
Keep the hoe moving through the soil at every opportunity to control weeds and create a dust mulch.
HARVEST
Asparagus, sprouting broccoli, cabbage,
spinach,
rhubarb, spring
onions, early sown lettuce, beetroot, radish and peas.
PESTS & DISEASES
Black fly on broad beans, greenfly on peas, lettuce, cabbage root fly, carrot fly, thrip damage on brassicas, especially on the small plants.