Page 17 - ALG Issue 1 2020

...March, April, May
• Towardstheendofthemonth,sow carrots under cloches.
FRUIT:
• Lastwindowforplantingnew strawberry beds.
• Checktiesonallnewlyplantedfruit trees and check no newly planted trees or bushes have worked loose in winter winds and frost – re-firm if this has happened.
• Wherepeaches,apricotsor GREENHOUSE:
nectarinesaregrown,theearly blossom can be destroyed by frosts; cover with fleece or similar when frostisforecast,butremoveearly the next morning once the frost has lifted.
• •
Whereaheatedgreenhouseis available, sow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons and aubergines. Keepallyoungseedlingsasclose
to the glass as possible to prevent legginess.
FLOWERS:
• Plantoutautumnsownsweetpeas,or,ifnot already sown, sow direct in sheltered plots – prevent against mice.
• Bringdahliasoutofstorage,potupandmoveto greenhouse.
• Sowhardyannualsdirectintopreparedsoilin sheltered plots – cheap, easy to grow and great for attracting pollinating insects.
• Earlypotatoesalreadyplantedand showing above the soil may require frost protection – draw a little soil over any growths.
• SowKohlrabi.
• Feedspringcabbageand
overwintering onions, garlic, shallots etc.
GREENHOUSE:
• Ventilate greenhouses freely on warm days, and damp down a little in the mornings.
• Keep all seedlings pricked out and potted on before they become root- bound.
• Sow tomatoes, cucumbers, melons etc.
• Keep a close look out for pests.
• Sow courgettes, squashes, pumpkins, vegetable marrows.
FLOWERS:
• Stake sweet peas if not already done so. Plant out any remaining plants.
• Potupandstartdahliasifnotalready
done so.
• Plantoutgladiolicormsfor
successional flowering.
Keep all seedlings pricked out and potted on before they become root- bound
FRUIT:
• Watchfor‘BigBud’on blackcurrants – dispose of badly affected plants or pick off buds on lightly affected.
• Keepanynewgrowthon trained fruit trees well tied in.
• Removegrease-bands from fruit trees if used.
GREENHOUSE:
• Moveplantsoutofgreenhouseto harden off.
• Planttomatoes,cucumbers,peppers, melons, aubergines etc. in available space.
• Keepplantswell-wateredanddamp down more often.
FLOWERS:
• Plantoutdahliasattheendofthe month.
• Directsowannualsattheendofthe month for cut flowers – cosmos, cornflowers, larkspur, helichrysum, acroliniums etc. are all easy to grow and produce a lot of stems for cutting over a long period.
• Plantmoregladioli.
Keep plants well- watered and damp down more often
FRUIT:
• Mulchstrawberrybeds with straw or similar.
• Thincanesonautumn
fruiting raspberries.
• Keepallnewgrowthtied in on trained trees, canes
etc.
• Mulchfruittreeswith
well-rotted manure, compost or leaf mould to lock in moisture and keep weeds at bay.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 17