Page 13 - ALG Issue 1 2016 No social share

MARCH
APRIL
It is always a very satisfying feeling to be able to gather an early harvest from the allotment and any peas, broad beans, beetroot and lettuces, started off in pots or modules last month, can be transplanted to the open ground when the weather and soil conditions permit. Cloches or frames are a great help towards doing this but always remember to give plenty of air on sunny days because the temperatures can soar into the 90’s F/32’sC under glass or plastic. Close up the ventilation by the end of the afternoon to conserve the heat overnight.
March is an exciting month in the garden. It is that time when everything is starting to wake up after winter, but always make haste slowly and reap the bene ts later in the summer.
SOW
By the middle of the month it should be safe to make outdoor sowings of early beetroot, lettuce, round seeded spinach, radish, kohl rabi, wrinkled peas, Longpod broad beans and spring onions in the open ground.
Sow short rows of Brussels sprouts, summer cabbage, broccoli, onions and leeks on a nursery bed. They will be thinned out to transplant to their nal growing positions by mid-April.
GREENHOUSE
Sow the seeds of
early lettuce, early
beetroot, celeriac,
celery, early wrinkled
seeded peas, Longpod broad beans and
spring onions in modules to transplant in the open later on.
It should be safe from now on to sow seeds directly in the soil. Pick a warm, still day to do the job. Give the seed bed a nal gentle raking to create a light, ne tilth. I always enjoy sowing as much seed as I can in one session. I prefer to draw the drills out using a short stick because it allows me to have better control of maintaining a constant depth to the drill because if the seed is sown too deeply it will take longer to reach the surface of the soil or worse still, never make it to the surface. If the weather
is kind to us, it is the ideal time to sow early beetroot, carrots, broad beans, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsnips, peas, radish, salsify, scorzonera, spinach, spring onions, turnips and Witloof chicory for forcing.
Some later cropping vegetables are better sown thinly in short rows on a separate seed nursery bed. They are later thinned to space them out and allowed to grow on before transplanting them to their nal positions. These include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauli ower, Calabrese, leeks.
SOW
Outdoors: Sow seeds of maincrop peas, broad beans, lettuce, beetroot, kohlrabi, early turnips, Swiss chard, spinach, radish, carrots and parsnips. On a seedbed sow the seed of leeks, summer cabbage and broccoli. Carry on thinning previously
sown seedlings ready to transplant towards the end of the month.
GREENHOUSE
Sow the seeds of outdoor tomatoes, pumpkins, squashes, courgettes,
sweetcorn, outdoor/
ridge cucumbers.
Sow runner beans, dwarf and climbing French beans.
Plant tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers into their nal positions.
PLANT
Plant garlic and shallots before the middle of the month; wait until towards the end of March before planting out onion sets.
Plant out the rst early potatoes and be prepared to cover the soil with a plastic sheet to keep it warm. Potatoes resent being planted into cold soil and it sets them back several weeks.
Transplant any peas, broad beans, cabbages or lettuce that are ready from earlier sowings.
GENERAL
Spread onion sets out in a seed tray and keep them somewhere cool. Remove any that are damaged, diseased or are producing leaves.
Stand seed potatoes up in trays to chit them. Keep them in a good light to produce short, strong green
shoots. Remove and discard any that are damaged or diseased. March is the ideal time to feed the allotment with a general fertiliser. Spread it over the surface of the soil according to the manufacturer’s instructions. There is no advantage in applying
it any more than recommended. Something like pelleted poultry manure will act as a slow release fertiliser
lasting all of the growing season. It will feed the bene cial soil bacteria at the same time. Keep plenty of plastic and eece protection handy to cover up early crops if a frost is forecast. This is especially important if you have any strawberries in ower during the month as the frost will kill the owers and you will lose the crop.
PLANT
Complete the planting of onion sets and the second early and maincrop potatoes. Transplant any earlier sown lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, celeriac, peas, broad beans, beetroot and spinach.
GENERAL
Set up the bean poles in preparation for transplanting the climbing French and the runner beans. Be prepared to cover up any emerging shoots
on the potatoes if a frost is forecast. If you can
get on site before the sun shines on the leaves
you can water over the foliage rst to break
the frost. You may have enough time to earth
up the potatoes if a frost is forecast. Organise brushwood and netting to support peas.
HARVEST
Sprouting broccoli, lettuce, leeks and cabbage.
PESTS AND
DISEASES
There may be aphids and white y under glass and the rst signs of aphids appearing on the allotment
especially in the more sheltered and warm areas of the site.
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