Page 33 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2024/25

though. I sow them in individual drinking cups in the greenhouse and plant them out later.
I don’t plant my potatoes till April, but early varieties can be planted now if you want an early crop. I dig out a trench and put in a thick layer of lawn mowings and place the potatoes 12 inches (30 cm.) apart on top of this. The purpose of the lawn mowings is to help prevent scab disease.
If you plant your potatoes early, though, you may not have any lawn
mowings to use.
Onion sets can be planted now. Plant them 6 inches (15 cm.) apart with the tops just sowing above the soil, or plant them in pots in the greenhouse ,as I do, to start them growing before they are planted.
Garlic can be planted the same way. There are varieties of garlic for planting in spring and some for autumn. Two popular varieties for planting now are Solent Wight and Picardy Wight, both of which are available from most suppliers.
Shallots can be planted if not done before. I wrote about planting them last
December which is the traditional time and have mentioned them in January and February. If you did plant them earlier in pots as I do they should be growing now and be ready for potting into larger pots then they will be larger when planted out.
Fruit trees and bushes can still be planted this month but no later if they are bare rooted because it is the end of the dormant season. Rhubarb can also be planted. I wrote about planting these in
Brassica seedlings
bench or in a propagator as I suggested there may be cuttings ready for taking. Chrysanth and dahlia cuttings are taken the same way. They should be about 3 inches (7.5 cm.) long, cut just below a
leaf joint and the lower leaves removed. Dip them into hormone rooting powder and push them into seed or multipurpose compost in trays or pots. They will need to go on a warming bench or in a propagator.
If you sowed your onions in February they should be growing now. When they are at what is called the “crook stage” they need carefully transplanting into small pots.
If you have bush roses and have not yet pruned them, you must do them this month. I described the method in January.
The purpose of the lawn mowings is to help prevent scab disease
Tomato seedlings
January so please refer to these notes.
Asparagus can be planted now. You can
buy the crowns from any good garden centre. They are planted in trenches 8 inches (20 cm.) deep with a mound in the centre. The crowns are planted 15
inches (37 cm.) apart with the roots spread over the mound before replacing the soil. Jerusalem artichokes can also be planted the same distance apart and 6 inches (15 cm.) deep.
If you planted your dahlia tubers in February and put them, and also your boxes of chrysanth stools on a warming
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