APRIL
Potatoes
Main crop are best left until the end of the month. There are any number of ways to plant potatoes. Most gardeners draw out a v shaped furrow about 5 inches deep and place the potatoes in this with a spacing of between 15 and 18 inches between each potato, chits uppermost. Pull the soil over the seed potatoes and incorporate a light sprinkle of general purpose fertiliser. Any subsequent rows should be 2 feet apart. When the first evidence of green shoots appear draw the soil up from each side of the row to cover the shoots and generate a flat topped ridge. Repeat this until all danger of frost has passed or as long as you are able to, depending on the amount of growth. Potatoes need a lot of water when the tubers are forming so when the first evidence of flower buds appear start to water if the ground is not sufficiently moist.
General sowing
Do follow the advice on the seed packets especially about sowing depth. You can start to sow seed for the annual bedding flowers as well as carrots, lettuce, cabbages, beetroot, radish, parsnips and sweetcorn.
Sweetcorn
At the end of the month place two seeds into 3 inch plant pots in the greenhouse. When they germinate pull out one seed to leave the other to grow on. Plant out as soon as the corn is 3 to 4 inches tall. Set the plants into the soil in late May with a trowel, creating a square with the plants about 12 to 15 inches apart. The square pattern is important because the plants need to fertilise each other for the corn to be produced. Harvest when the tassels on the corn cobs turn dark brown.
Parsnips
The number one rule with all parsnips is to ensure the area you grow them in has not been manured recently. If the soil contains manure then the roots will end up like fingers on your hand rather than as one nice long tapering root. Follow the packet instructions, but also recognise that parsnip seeds are very poor germinators hence the large quantity in a packet. Seed can be sown in a continuous row but you will then need to thin eventually leaving one parsnip every 6 inches.
Tomatoes, Peppers and Chilli Peppers
If you have not yet started peppers and tomatoes in the Club greenhouse then get cracking. Sow seeds in a small pot and transplant individually into 5 inch pots when the first real leaves appear. Grow on until all danger of frost has passed and then plant them out in a warm and sheltered area.
Brassicas
If you want Broccoli, Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Brussel sprouts etc. then this is the best time to start these off with a few seeds in pots in the greenhouse for transplanting later.
Marrow, Pumpkin, Cucumber and Squash
At the end of the month sow the seeds in a small seed tray in the greenhouse. The seeds are large and therefore easy to handle. They are best sown with the seeds on edge rather than flat. Do not over water as they are prone to rot. As soon as they are showing transplant the seedlings into quite large pots, about 8 inches, and grow them on. Plant out in June or as per the packet instructions.
Cold Frames
If you are raising tender plants in the Club heated greenhouse do not forget to harden them off in the cold frames or unheated greenhouses before planting out.
Main crop are best left until the end of the month. There are any number of ways to plant potatoes. Most gardeners draw out a v shaped furrow about 5 inches deep and place the potatoes in this with a spacing of between 15 and 18 inches between each potato, chits uppermost. Pull the soil over the seed potatoes and incorporate a light sprinkle of general purpose fertiliser. Any subsequent rows should be 2 feet apart. When the first evidence of green shoots appear draw the soil up from each side of the row to cover the shoots and generate a flat topped ridge. Repeat this until all danger of frost has passed or as long as you are able to, depending on the amount of growth. Potatoes need a lot of water when the tubers are forming so when the first evidence of flower buds appear start to water if the ground is not sufficiently moist.
General sowing
Do follow the advice on the seed packets especially about sowing depth. You can start to sow seed for the annual bedding flowers as well as carrots, lettuce, cabbages, beetroot, radish, parsnips and sweetcorn.
Sweetcorn
At the end of the month place two seeds into 3 inch plant pots in the greenhouse. When they germinate pull out one seed to leave the other to grow on. Plant out as soon as the corn is 3 to 4 inches tall. Set the plants into the soil in late May with a trowel, creating a square with the plants about 12 to 15 inches apart. The square pattern is important because the plants need to fertilise each other for the corn to be produced. Harvest when the tassels on the corn cobs turn dark brown.
Parsnips
The number one rule with all parsnips is to ensure the area you grow them in has not been manured recently. If the soil contains manure then the roots will end up like fingers on your hand rather than as one nice long tapering root. Follow the packet instructions, but also recognise that parsnip seeds are very poor germinators hence the large quantity in a packet. Seed can be sown in a continuous row but you will then need to thin eventually leaving one parsnip every 6 inches.
Tomatoes, Peppers and Chilli Peppers
If you have not yet started peppers and tomatoes in the Club greenhouse then get cracking. Sow seeds in a small pot and transplant individually into 5 inch pots when the first real leaves appear. Grow on until all danger of frost has passed and then plant them out in a warm and sheltered area.
Brassicas
If you want Broccoli, Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Brussel sprouts etc. then this is the best time to start these off with a few seeds in pots in the greenhouse for transplanting later.
Marrow, Pumpkin, Cucumber and Squash
At the end of the month sow the seeds in a small seed tray in the greenhouse. The seeds are large and therefore easy to handle. They are best sown with the seeds on edge rather than flat. Do not over water as they are prone to rot. As soon as they are showing transplant the seedlings into quite large pots, about 8 inches, and grow them on. Plant out in June or as per the packet instructions.
Cold Frames
If you are raising tender plants in the Club heated greenhouse do not forget to harden them off in the cold frames or unheated greenhouses before planting out.