GARDENING DIARY

THE GARDENING DIARY

2008
JANUARY		Plant out late varieties of garlic cloves e.g Printanor. Continue to plant out new fruit trees and fruit bushes. Choose a mild day when the soil is workable. Prune established apple and pear trees. Order any seeds and gardening equipment you require from mail order seed catalogues. Items you may need to order early include: onion sets, shallots, rhubarb crowns, strawberry plants, early peas and broad bean seeds and seed potatoes. Make a lay out plan of the crops you intend to grow this year, trying not to leave areas of soil bare for long periods. If you do not intend to use an area for a while, then sow a green manure crop there instead. Practice crop rotation and avoid growing the same family of crops where you grew them last year. Place seed potatoes in trays to sprout as soon as they are delivered. Arrange them rose end upwards in a single layer. Be sure to keep the trays in a place where they will not be exposed to extreme cold or frost. Prepare the ground ready for planting peas and broad beans. After weeding, cover the area with plastic to warm the ground up. Thinking ahead to summer. Why not liven your garden up this year by planting some colourful bedding and container plants? Petunias, begonias, geraniums, nemesia, pansies/violas and alyssum will attract pollinating insects, as well as brighten up your garden, patio, or windowboxes throughout the summer months. Many bedding plant seeds need to be sown indoors in January/February, so acquire these seeds now.
CROPS IN SEASON		Leeks, Brussels sprouts, winter cabbage, kale, endive and Jerusalem artichokes.

FEBRUARY		From about mid-February onwards it should be possible to make sowings of a winter hardy pea such as Feltham First. If weather conditions are suitable sow broad beans e.g. Aquadulce Claudia or The Sutton. Plant out shallots and Jerusalem artichoke tubers. Plant out new rhubarb crowns. Established rhubarb crowns can be forced in order to give an early crop in April. To Force: Place an upturned bucket/barrel over the rhubarb crowns, after first covering the crowns with leaf mould or compost. Plant seeds of sweet and chili peppers in pots of compost and leave them to germinate in a warm place. (I start mine off in the airing cupboard, but remove them from the airing cupboard after germination and place the pots in a warm position such as on a sunny window sill.)
CROPS IN SEASON		Leeks, Brussels sprouts, winter cabbage, kale, endive and Jerusalem artichokes.

MARCH		Plant out untreated onion sets. Continue to plant out shallots. Continue to make sowings of early peas (e.g. Feltham First) and broad beans. Make an early sowing of perpetual spinach. Continue to sow parsnips, carrots, turnips, salad onions and hardy lettuces such as Winter Density or Little Gem. Sow seeds of cauliflowers, cabbages, Brussels sprouts and leeks, either indoors or in a cold frame outside. Towards the end of the month sow tomato seeds in trays of compost, placing the trays in a warm place e.g. on a sunny window sill indoors. Why not create a herb garden this year? Visit your local garden centre/nursery to see which herbs they sell. Alternatively, grow your own herbs from seed. Parsley, chives, basil and mint are probably the most useful herbs to grow for culinary purposes. Whereas hyssop, lavender, lemon balm and oregano are great for attracting wildlife into your garden. (For more guidance on this consult the herb article.) Plant Aubergine seeds in pots of compost, placing the pots in an airing cupboard or in another suitable warm position.
CROPS IN SEASON		Jerusalem artichokes, Brussels sprouts, leeks, spinach, sprouting broccoli.

APRIL		Continue to make outside sowings of parsnips, lettuces, carrots, peas, broad beans, spinach and radishes. Perhaps make an early sowing of beetroot at the end of this month if soil conditions are favourable. Don't be tempted to sow too early though as beetroot does not like the cold! Sow landcress and parsley outside in April. Plant up new asparagus beds. Prepare the ground before planting by adding plenty of compost. Buy root clumps that are about 1-2 yrs old and plant according to instructions. Plant out chitted second early potatoes, protecting the potato shoots with polythene if night frosts are forecast. Young Brussel sprout plants can also be planted outside as soon as they are large enough to handle. Make indoor sowings of tomatoes in early April, if this was not done at the end of last month. Start making sowings of sprouting broccoli and kale in a cold frame. Don't forget to sow those herb seeds you bought last month! Plant cucumber seeds in pots of compost and place in a warm position to germinate e.g. in the airing cupboard. Towards the end of this month melon seeds can be planted in pots of compost and placed in a warm position such as an airing cupboard.
CROPS IN SEASON		Asparagus, sprouting broccoli, cabbage, early lettuces.

MAY		Sow French beans, runner beans and also any beans you are growing for drying. Sow sweetcorn. Continue to plant out young Brussel sprout plants. Continue to make sowings of kale, winter cabbage/cauliflowers and purple sprouting broccoli in trays of compost, for planting out later.
CROPS IN SEASON		Asparagus, broad beans, spring cabbage, lettuce, spring onions, rhubarb, spinach

JUNE		Plant out young tomato plants, squashes, cucumbers, aubergines and peppers in early June once all danger of frost has passed. Continue to make sowings of runner beans, French beans, lettuce, beetroot, swedes and carrots. Sow sunflower seeds in situ for a fine autumn display. Make sowings of winter cabbages in trays of seed compost. Plant out young celery plants when they are about 15cm high.
CROPS IN SEASON		Asparagus, broad beans, broccoli, lettuce, peas, potatoes, spinach, gooseberries, rhubarb and strawberries.

JULY		Plant young leeks out in mid-July, or as soon as they are pencil thick. Make further sowings of perpetual spinach, in July and August for autumn and winter use. Sow winter radishes from the end of July. Sutable varieties include: Belrosa and Black Spanish Round, or one of the daikon varieties. Make another sowing of parsley for winter use. This can be sown outside or in containers indoors. Start to plant out young brassicas (e.g. kale, winter cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli etc.) in July. Make some sowings of spring cabbage in trays of seed compost for later planting. Stop tomato plants when 4-5 trusses have been formed and feed and water them regularly with comfrey solution and/or a seaweed solution such as SM3. Stop runner beans when they have reached the top of their supports. Lift onions and garlic once the tops have died down. Store when dry. Many oriental vegetable varieties can be sown in July. (See the Organic gardening Catalogue.)
CROPS IN SEASON		Broad beans, runner beans, beetroot, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, potatoes, spinach, currants and raspberries.

AUGUST		Continue to make sowings of perpetual spinach, parsley and winter radishes.
CROPS IN SEASON		Broad beans, runner beans, beetroot, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, potatoes, spinach, currants, raspberries, sweetcorn, cherries, plums and onions.

SEPTEMBER		Some types of onion sets (e.g. Radar) can be planted out in September to give an early crop the following June. Make sowings of winter salad vegetables. Try sowing some grumolo verde (a type of chicory), corn salad, rocket, or a winter lettuce such as Rouge d'Hiver or Winter Density. Sowings of Mizuna or Mibuna can still be made under cover. Dig up maincrop potatoes and store. Plant out early varieties of garlic such as Sprint and Vitesse.
CROPS IN SEASON		Potatoes (maincrop), cabbage, cauliflower, celery, calabrese, onions, tomatoes, marrows, celeriac, carrots, spinach beet, apples, blackberries, damsons, plums and pears.

OCTOBER		Sow winter hardy peas to produce an early crop in June. Suitable varieties for autumn sowing include: Feltham First, Pilot and Meteor. Note: Protection with plastic bottles may be needed to avoid slug damage.
CROPS IN SEASON		Globe artichoke, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, parsnip, spinach beet, turnips, apples, pears and plums.

NOVEMBER		Plant broad bean seeds. Varieties suitable for autumn sowing include: Aquadulce Claudia, Futura RZ, Masterpiece and Supersimonia. Sow field beans. These are usually grown as a green manure crop, but if allowed to flower and seed they will produce a crop of beans suitable for human consumption the following autumn. Some varieties of garlic (e.g the variety Thermidrome) can be planted out in November.
CROPS IN SEASON		Brussels sprouts, red cabbage, celery, leeks, parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes, cabbage, chicory, swede and spinach beet.

DECEMBER		Plant out Printanor garlic cloves. Plant out any new fruit trees and bushes. Why not put your feet up and have a rest?!
CROPS IN SEASON		Leeks, Brussels sprouts, kale, endive, winter cabbage, swede, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, spinach, celery, cauliflowers and parsnips.

FINALLY......		This table is intended for guidance only as weather conditions can be extremely unpredictable. Therefore, if conditions do not seem suitable for planting at the time indicated above the sowing/planting time should be altered accordingly. PLEASE CONSULT SEED PACKETS FOR INDIVIDUAL GROWING & PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS.

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