Page 47 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2021/22

so early, choose a round seeded variety such as “Douce Provence” rather than a wrinkled seeded variety because they are hardier. Broad beans can also still be sown as I said last month.
I mentioned starting to sow half hardy annual flowers last month. There are many more that can be sown this month, including stocks, African and French marigolds, zinnias, ageratum, nicotiana’s, rudbeckias, nemesias and many more. Hardy annuals are normally sown outdoors but I prefer to sow them in the greenhouse like the half hardy varieties because I have more control over them. None of these seeds need to go into a propagator now. Just put them on the staging or on a shelf.
Sweet peas are often sown in October and overwintered in a cold frame, but I don’t sow mine till spring. They can be sown direct but in this case the supports need to be put in first. They can be grown up trellis, netting or, as I do, a framework of canes. Sow the seeds at the bottom
of the canes or other supports. I
sow mine in individual pots in the greenhouse, as I do for peas and plant them out later after hardening off.
So much for sowing, so what can
we plant? You can start planting early potatoes. You should have bought them earlier in the year and started them ‘chitting’ as I said in January. If you haven’t got any, they will still be available in garden centres and chain stores. Plant them in trenches 6 inches deep (15cm) 12 inches (30cm) apart,
in rows 18 inches apart (45cm). Rake some Growmore into the soil first.
You can also plant onion sets. They are also readily available in garden centres. If planting so early, it would be better if you could warm the soil first with cloches. I give mine a head start by planting them in pots in the greenhouse. If planting outside, plant them 6 inches apart (15cm) with the top just visible above the soil. The most widely available varieties are Stuttgart, Sturon and Centurion. If you want a red one, Red Baron is the one to choose. All these varieties are readily available.
Asparagus can be planted. You
can order the crowns from most
seed companies. They are planted
in trenches about 10 inches deep (25cm) with a ridge about 3 inches deep (7.5cm) in the centre. They are planted about 15 inches apart (38cm), spreading the roots over the ridge before replacing the soil.
Sprouting Brocoli
planted 15 inches apart (38cm), 6 inches (15cm) deep. The most widely available variety is Fuseau. Garlic and rhubarb can also still be planted as I have described before, and this is the last month for planting fruit trees and bushes. All these crops
I have just mentioned
for planting benefit
from garden compost or
manure forked into the
ground first.
or a propagator to help rooting. If you didn’t start them into growth before, there is still time but, of course, the cuttings and therefore the flowers will be later. If you haven’t got the facilities for taking cuttings, you can
plant dahlia tubes outside where they are to grow, but not till late April or May as I said last month.
If you sowed your onions and leeks in January, the seedlings should now be big enough to be transferred to individual pots.
Rose’s can be pruned any time in the dormant season (November to March) so if you
haven’t done them, now is your last chance. Cut out any dead or crossing branches and prune the rest by half to an outward pointing bud.
If you didn’t tidy your strawberry bed last month as I suggested, there is still time to do it.
Crops you may have for harvesting this month are broccoli, celeriac, spring cabbage, kale, leeks, winter spinach, and Brussel sprouts.
Back with flowers, if
you grow perennials,
this is a good time to
split congested clumps.
The clumps can be split
using two forks back-to-
back or broken apart by hand. Before re-planting, work in some garden compost and fertiliser such as fish, blood and bone or Growmore.
If you started you dahlia tubers
or chrysanth stools into growth last month, they will soon be ready for taking cuttings. Cuttings should be about three inches (7.5cm) long, cut just below a leaf joint and planted
in a good seed or multipurpose compost in trays or pots. They need the bottom heat of a warming bench
if you grow
perennials, this is a good time to split congested clumps
Jerusalem artichokes can also be
Dahlias starting
Tomato seedlings
Simply Vegetables 47