Page 35 - Simply Veg 1 2024

Garlic growing in pots
have to take more soil out or put some back in till you get the correct depth. At this stage, knock a strong stake into the ground next to the tree before planting the tree to prevent damaging the roots. When replacing the soil, tread it down round the roots but make sure the tree stays at the same depth. Secure the tree to the stake you can buy special ties for this purpose. Most fruit trees can be pruned this
month, the exception being stone fruits these are not pruned in winter due to the risk of silver leaf disease. Tip bearing apples form fruits at the end of the branches. Prune back any branches that do not have fruit buds. Spur bearing apples form their fruits on short spurs. With these, remove any diseased wood or crossing branches then prune the laterals to three buds. Pears are pruned the same way as spur bearing apples.
Gooseberries and red and white currants
February 2024
The most important outdoor job this month is to try to finish all the ground preparation and get the beds ready for planting if not done before. This is often the coldest month of the year, with the ground being frozen part of the time
so take every opportunity to get on the ground when it is workable. Remove
as many weeds as you can before they go to seed. Dig the trenches for runner beans as I described last month if you haven’t done so, to allow the soil time to
Onion seeds germinated
are all pruned the same way. Cut out any crossing branches then prune new shoots by half and side shoots to two inches (5 cm.). With black currants cut out any diseased shoots then remove half of the branches
that have fruited. Autumn fruiting raspberries should be cut down almost to ground level.
Bush roses can also be pruned now. Cut out all dead wood, then prune the remaining branches back by half to an outward pointing bud.
This is the month when seed potatoes begin to appear in garden centres. They need to be stood upright in trays or egg boxes and put in a light place such as
a greenhouse shelf to start them into growth, which is referred to as “chitting”. An important job I do this month is to
wash all my seed trays and pots, of which I have hundreds ready for the coming season.
settle before planting.
When the weather is too frosty to do outdoor jobs and you have a heated greenhouse, preferably with a propagator, you can go in there and sow some seeds. You can still sow onions and leeks as I described last month. Tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines can be sown if you have a propagator. Use a good quality seed or multipurpose compost in small trays or pots. Sow the seeds thinly and cover with a layer of fine compost. Celery is sown the
same way but the seeds are the smallest of all vegetable seeds, so they are not easy to spread out thinly. One way is to mix the seed with some fine sand. Cucumbers
are also best sown in a propagator. These seeds, though, are large enough to sow individually so I sow mine in small pots (drinking cups) just one in each pot. Keep the seeds upright if you can and about one centimetre deep.
I don’t sow my broad beans so early, but you could do so if you want an early crop.
Sprouting broccoli growing well
Potatoes chitting on greenhouse shelf.
Plan of my allotment
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