Page 17 - ALG Issue 4 2018

GENERAL
January is usually the coldest month of winter when we can
expect plenty of disruption to
plans for outdoor work. After
the Christmas and New Year
celebrations there is no need
to feel guilty about sitting down
in the warm with a cup of tea
and a slice of leftover Christmas
cake. Check through the seed
box, throwing away any packets that are more than two years
old. The germination rate of seeds can deteriorate quite rapidly under the hot, cold, damp, dry conditions found in sheds and greenhouses. With valuable early crops you want quick reliable germination and the best way to achieve that is by always using fresh seeds. Browse the pages of Kings Seeds 2019 catalogue looking out for new introductions or maybe trying something that is new to you. Don’t be in too much of a rush to chit potatoes, wait at least until the end of the month. Try to get to a ‘Potato Day’ event; they are a great way of discovering a new or heritage cultivar
and you can select the tubers yourself. If not done already get all machinery serviced this month.
OUTSIDE
Try to complete any repairs or reorganisation of the plot such as path edges, frames, compost bins etc. Digging in plenty of organic material,
or organising mulching with shreddings are a couple of ways of conserving soil moisture. Create
a separate wood chip stack to allow them time to break down before using. To prevent any risk of hosting any overwintering pests
GENERAL
By the time February arrives we should be able to think about getting out
and working on the soil. But again, it depends on your soil type. If it is free draining you will be able to make an
earlier start than others on heavy, water holding soils.
Wherever we are, gardeners are always at the mercy
of the weather gods. Set early seed potatoes up for
chitting ready to plant out during March. The chitting
process isn’t so critical for second early and maincrop potatoes. To help make an early start next month cover areas of the soil with cloches or sheets of heavy duty black or clear plastic to help warm it up beforehand. If you buy onion sets unpack them immediately and spread them out in a shallow seed tray. Remove any that are damaged, diseased or showing signs of sprouting. Keep them somewhere cool, light and frost free until they can be planted.
OUTSIDE
As always if the weather is kind enough and the soil surface is dry enough, try to complete any outstanding winter digging. You don’t want to be turning the soil over in late spring which allows precious moisture to evaporate from the soil.
Keep a soil thermometer handy, taking regular readings to track when the soil begins to show signs of warming up. Wait until the reading is around 7°C (45F) over at least a week before you can consider carrying out seed sowing or potato planting. Feed spring cabbages. Apply lime if it is required.
Plant – Garlic always appreciates chilling. Mid-February should provide the ideal conditions to plant out spring garlic and for it to
JANUARY
and diseases keep on clearing and cleaning up behind crops that have finished. Start to force chicory and rhubarb.
Plant – If you haven’t been able to
protect the soil with a green manure,
January is a good time to cover the
ground with heavy duty sheets or
tarpaulins to prevent the soil becoming over wet, at the same time smothering early germinating weeds. Come springtime the soil will be dry and workable under the covering allowing a quick start. If then the weather turns bad you can always re-cover and protect the work you have managed to get done. Make haste slowly.
Fruit – January is not a good planting month as the soil is too cold, but it is always worth inspecting all fruit trees and bushes for damage and to make sure that they are safe and secure. Don’t be tempted to carry out any pruning this month especially in freezing conditions. Renew grease bands on fruit trees.
GREENHOUSE
It is always tempting to make a few early sowings of vegetables. The further south you live the better your chances of success because light levels are higher. In other parts of the country it is better to wait until next month when the days are beginning
to stretch out and growth will be continuous. Check over pots and trays to make sure that you have enough to meet your sowing/ growing needs and that they are washed and ready to go.
HARVEST
From the plot - Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, kale, leeks, Oriental vegetables, parsnips
Out of store – carrots, onions, potatoes,
FEBRUARY
still benefit from cold nights and days. The soil may still be too wet even for direct sowing early peas and beans. Hold back on the sowing of parsnip seed. Parsnips like a warm soil. The older cultivars used to be notorious for slow and poor germination. Modern breeds of parsnips are much more reliable and sowing can be delayed as late as May and you will still grow a decent crop.
Fruit – This month is the ideal time to give all of
the plot, especially the fruit trees and bushes, a top dressing of general fertiliser. On warm sunny days complete the winter pruning of fruit trees and bushes. It is also a good time to apply a ‘winter wash’. If you are going to use one of the modern winter washes try and get the operation completed before the buds begin to swell. Prune autumn fruiting raspberries.
GREENHOUSE
Sow early broad beans, peas, lettuce, round carrots in modules. The temperatures inside the greenhouse will be flying up and down on sunny days. Try to manage the ventilation to prevent too much fluctuation. Shut up in the early afternoon to
trap the heat. Keep fleece or sheets of newspaper to throw over crops on frosty nights.
HARVEST
Off the plot – broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, kale, leeks, Oriental vegetables, parsnips From store – carrots, onions, potatoes
Regular
1
17
7