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Welcome
…tothe April issueof Grow Your Own.Whata gorgeous time of year forusgrowers!Longer, lighter andbrighterdays, seedlings cheerfully poppingtheir headsabove the soil andblossom outonthe trees -it reallyisgoodfor the soul.
Whenitcomes to sowing,itiseasytoget carried away with theexcitement, so we aretakingalookat howsuccessionalsowingscratches the itch butdoesn’t leaveyou with glutslater in the year (page 46). We are also lookingatgettingcucumbers (page 24), beetroot (page 43) andasparagus (page66) outofthe starting gatesfor deliciousharvests laterinthe year.
If you’re lookingfor somethingalittlemoreunusual to grow in the garden, we’vegot youcovered, with our handyguide to exotic crops(page 57), as well as those that areexpensive to buyinshops, butinexpensive to grow yourself (page26). Simon Akeroydisplanting pomegranates (page50), showingyou howtoexpand your fruitgarden, too!
As ever,the RHSand GardenOrganic areonhand with some wonderful seasonaladvice, andweare hearing from youonyourdesert island crops. We hope youenjoy theissue!
Happy growing!
Editor LauraHillier
If
GYO is proudtosupport the organisations shown below.Their members write regularlyfor this magazine, ensuring that youreceive the very latest top-notchadvice fromindustry experts –it’s crucial to us that everything youread on these pages can be trusted implicitly.We’re also keen to protect the environment and act responsibly in thegarden,sowill only list man-made garden chemicals whereorganic remedies are not deemed suitable. Once you’ve read this magazine, why not donate it to your local doctors’ or dentists’ surgery?Failing that,magazines can be putout with your recycling forcollection
TOPC ROPS! April’s
JobsPlot on the
The growingseasonisofcially underway,and your plot will be packed with sowingpotential and plenty of importanttasks to keep youbusythismonth.Get your seedlings of to agreat start and prioritise the essentials, as well as preparefor thecomingmonths with plot plans, successional sowings andmuchmore.
Containergrowing
Broadbeanscan be sown in pots this monthand left to germinateinan unheatedgreenhouse or acoldframe Remember to use good quality compost andkeep thesoilconsistently moist.
Kale andmustardgreensare great examplesofseedsthatcan be sown as microgreens. Startthemin seed trays filled with compost forfresh pickings in amatterofweeks. Harvestthe leaves withasmall pair of scissorsand use them as thefinishing touchtoyour home cooking.
Courgette, pumpkin andsweetcorn seedscan all be started incontainers this month, provided youhavea greenhouse or similarunder cover spacetokeep temperaturesright
TheHerb Garden
If conditions arefavourable, youcan start sowingchervil, corianderand dill outdoors. Just make surethatthe risk of frosts has passed andtemperatures are consistent.You can continue to sowmoretenderherbs such as chives, basiland parsleyunder coverduringthismonth.
Seasonaltasks
Thevegetable patch
Prepareveg beds forplantinginthe coming months.Itisimportantthatthey areweed-free andclear of largestones.
If you’dliketoadd some more unusual cropstoyourplotthisyear,try sowing salsifyand scorzonera, forexample
Plantasparagus crowns nowtoensure atasty andgourmet harvestina fewyears’time. Makesurethe soil is nutrient-dense by diggingina dose of well-rottedorganic matter afew weeks beforehand
If youplanted asparagus crowns afew years agoand thecrops have matured, youcan start harvestingthose delicious spears with asharp gardeningknife
Summercauliflower, beetroot, radishes, turnips, springonionsand kohl rabi are justa fraction of theabundanceofveg that youcan start sowing now. Take a look at ourfull list on p. 91 to make sure you’re makingthe most of your plot
Buildsupports foryour bean andpea plants now. If your cropsonlyrequire minimalsupport in theearly stages, consider usingthintwigs foryour peaplants.
Remembertothinyour carrotseedlings to give your cropsplentyofspace to grow.It’sa good idea to do this in the eveningwhencarrotfly is less active
Undercover
If outsidetemperatures arestill low, covertrays andpotsofseedlings with clochesovernight to protectthemfrom frost damage
Once your youngcrops have developed their first pair of ‘true leaves’, potthem on into individual containers filled with a good quality compost.
Start sowingtomatoseedsthatare destined to be transplanted outside in afew months’time. Choosingblightresistant varieties will help to avoid problemsinfuturemonths. It’s also worth investinginaminigreenhouse coverto getthe best from this edible
Give greenhouse windows awipe down to ensure that as muchsunlightas possiblecan filterthroughtoyour plants. This will also help youtoremoveany lingeringpests anddiseases.
Sowediblessuchasmarrows, squashes andmelonsinaheatedpropagator later this monthtoget this pickycropoff to a good start.
PROBLEM OF THE MONTH: Weeds
As te mper at ures begin to ri se, an ar my of we ed sw ill begin to sp rin gu pa mo ng yo ur ve g bed s. From nowu nt il th ee nd of th es umm er,t hi si sab at tle th at all ga rden ers ne ed to ke ep on to pof, pa rticul arly in th e case of invasive we ed s. Th e best pr ac ti se is to do aq uick scan yo ur grow in gs pa ce ea ch daya nd re move anyu nwante d pl ants th at ap pear whilet hey ares till sm all. Yo uc an al so use mulch es to sup pres st he grow th of futureweed s.
Fruits of your labour
Save spaceonyourplotfor astrawberry bed anddig in adose of organicmatter suchas manuretogivethese productive fruitcrops agood start.
If they’vestruggled in previous seasons, tryhand-pollinatingthe blossoms of peaches andnectarinestohelpwiththe developmentofthese juicy yields.
Floweringfruittrees can still become damagedfromlatefrosts this month. Protect your futureharvests by covering them with fleeceovernight when cold weatherisforecast.
Manyediblesincludingraspberry canes andfruit busheswill benefitfromthe applicationofaslow-releasefertiliser over thenextfew months.Thisshould help ensure steady growth throughout theseason.
Provideshelter foryourpeach trees duringwet weathertoguard against peach leaf curl. Preventive sprays are also availableifthisproblem worsens.
Potting on
Focus on this :
This month, crops that have been sown from seed indoors or under coverwillbeready to escape the confinementofmodules or seed trays. It’s importanttomove these ediblestoalargergrowing space as soonasyou seeroots poking throughthe bottom of drainage holes. Seedlingsintrays will need pricking outgentlywithadibber or pencil whileholding theleaves, andplantsinmodulessimply requireteasing from themould .
IGARDEN DIARY MARK’S
Markisturning hisattention to hisunder cover spacethismonth,and also focusing on pots
’m reallyexcited about Aprilthisyear I’veordered over40dahliatubers, andI’m startingthemofindoors in my greenhouseinshallow seed trays flled with moistcompost
This is agreat waytoget ahead with your dahlias,and thereisalsothe added beneft of beingabletotakebasal cuttings once fresh, newshootsemerge. Each tuber shouldprovidec.5shootsthatyou can take as cuttings,which meanspotentially fvenew plants.
Iused to take my dahliacuttings in March when we livedinKent, but early April will work just as well here in north Lincolnshire.
Takingbasal cuttings is easy to do
Once thenew shoots areabout 10cm long take asharp knifeand remove it,takinga sliceofthe tuber as well. Trim of thelower leaves, pinchout thegrowingtip andplant immediatelyintofree- draining soil. You
candip thecut endinhormone rooting powder or gel. Once thecuttingisfrmed into asmall 10cm pot, coverthe soil surface with grit andthenplace aclear plastic bag over thecuttingand potand secure in placewithanelastic band.The cutting will more than likelywilt, initially, but will perkuponcewatered.Then, placeyour newlyplanted cuttings in abrightspot away from direct sunlight. They will root in afew weeks, at whichpoint they will need repottingintoalargerpot
By summer these will be fowering, and by October newtubers will have formed. Thesecan either be left in thegroundand protectedwithathick mulch overwinter, or lifted andstoredina cool,darkplace, suchasashedorgarage. Next springyou canrepeatthe wholeprocess andnever be without colourful dahlias in your garden. Whilethe dahlias aregrowingindoors, I’llprepare thesoilbyworkinginsome
homemade garden compost, as well as a slow-release fertiliser, suchasfsh,blood andbone. Before Iplant thedahlias,I’ll insert asturdy stakeintothe soil. Dahlias, especiallydinner platevarieties, can be heavy, so they ’ll need to be tied in to the stakeastheygrow. As themajorityofthe dahlias that Iordered this year will reach 1.0m -1 .2minheight, I’ll pusha1 .0mlong stakeathird of theway into thesoil. This way, thestake shouldbeobscured by the leaves andfowers.
My pots have looked greatthisyear and to prolongthe displays I’ll deadhead the winterpansies andviolasand deadhead thedafodilsand tulips. But, remember, don’ tbetemptedtotie up or cutbackthe leaves andstems as thebulbs need these to photosynthesizeand to putenergyback into thebulbs formorefowers next year
Our lawn is showingsigns of fatigue this spring, so my husband bought me an
electric scarifer to remove dead grass, thatch and to puncture the soil to allow for better
drainage. Thegrass has yellow patches, bare patcheswhere themolehillswere earlier on in theyear andgrowthhas been slow,sowe’rehopingthatbyremovingall of thedeadmaterial,and allowingbetterair circulationand drainage,the grasswill perk up.The dogs have also nothelped with the stateofthe lawn,but Idon’t want to deprive them of grassinthe garden. Of course, when work starts on thegardentocreatethe newlandscaped area, most of thelawnwill disappear.But, in themeantime, Iwanttoget it into abettershape so in case we have to wait forcontractors, we still have anicelawn to look at
Finally, my espaliered fruit trees will need mulching with a10cm, minimum, layer of well -rottedmanure, ensuringthe manure doesn’t touchthe centralstem/trunk. I’ll also keep an eyeonthe weatherforecastfor late frosts andwill keep thehessian ‘drapes’(as mentionedinmyMarch article)inplace to protect early blossom. On warmer,sunny days I’lllift thehessian so pollinatorscan getaccess
Cabbage ‘Greyh ound’
This variety of early cabbage, packed full with antioxidantsand vitamin C, appears slightlydifferent than othertypes due to its pointed head shape.
Preparesoilinanoutdoorsbed whereyou want to grow thecabbages. Sowseedsata depthof1.5cm –inaround14-21 days you willstart to see seedling growth Once plants have reached10cminheight they can be transplanted to adistanceof 45cmbetween each plant. This spacing is thesamefor rows. Makesureyou firm plants down when youput them in thesoil.
FR EE SEEDS!
This mo nthwea re ofer ings omekey crops to ke ep yo ur plot produc tive and beautiful th ro ug ho ut theyear
Alternatively, sowseedsindoors at adepth 0.5cm in seed trays, then placethemund coverinanunheatedgreenhouse or cold frame. When seedlings have developed to a sufficientsize, they can betransplantedtoa distance of 5cm between each one.
Hardenoff plants grown indoorsbeforeplanting them in theveg patch (spacingasabove). Harvest between June andSeptembertoenjoy this tastyveg
Kale Dwar fG re en Curled’
With frilled, compactand dark-green leaves, curlykalehas made acomeback inrecent years –this plant is no longer seen as atough,tasteless and bitterwinter vegetable, butisnow praisedfor its high levelsofvitaminA andK and the earthyflavour it brings to salads. Either steam or stir-fry, or massage theleaveswith lemon juice and eatraw.
Sow seed
Sowseed thinly outdoors from March to May, wheretheyare to crop,ata depth of 1.2cm. Make suretoplant in sunor partial shadeand in fertilesoilthatis well-drained andhas been pre-watered. Plantinrows, allowing23cm between each to preventovercrowding. Seedlings should appearwithinfour-five days.Whenlarge enoughtohandle, thin seedlings to 50cm apart. Keep well-watered until plants are established. Extremelyhardy,these plants will requirelittlecarebut make suretoprotect them againstaphids andcaterpillar attacksand netagainst pigeonsinthe winter.
Harvestthe leaves as andwhen required, usuallyfrom September to March
Carrot ‘R ed Cor ed
Cha nte nay 2’
An ideal root veg for early sowings,this carrot thrives even in shallow and stony soil, owing to its broad shapeand short roots. It’s relatively easy to grow, has asweet, crunchy taste and is packed
Leek ‘Elefant’
This hardy variety is great for overwintering, and you canrely on it to produce long, thick shanksfull of delicious flavour. For amilder flavour and better shank, itisrecommended to blanch the plants.
Choose afertile, well-cultivated seedbed andwater well. Then, sow theseedsthinly, 1.5cm deep,and wait forseedlingstoemerge. This can take anywhere between twoand four weeks.
Keep theyoungplantswell-watered until they areestablished.Then, transplant 15cm apart into 15cm-deep holes, allowing30cmbetween rows
Waterthe seedlings,but don’tfill the holeswithsoil–instead,asthe plants grow, draw soil up onto thestalk
g , p to improve the length of the white stem (blanching)
with awealthofvitamins, minerals, antioxidantsand fibre.Thesecarrots can beplanted straight into the garden, butyou canalsosow theseeds in pots if you prefer.
Sowseedsoutdoorsbetween Marchand June, directly wheretheyare to crop
Setinfinely-prepared, light, fertilesoilat 1.5cm deep.Allow 30cm between rows. Make surethe soil is pre-watered, so that it is moistbut nottoo wet. If youare sowingearly in theseason, then usinga cloche mayberequired.
Seedlings will usuallyappear within 14-21days. Thin thecropbyharvesting youngcarrots evenly, leavingthe rest to reachfull maturity
Waterwelluntil plants areestablished. Harvestbetween Juneand November. Simply remove thesoilfromthe roots andstore in drysandifyou aren’t using immediately.
Or,tostart indoors, sowyour seeds 0.5cm deep in atrayofcompost and waterwell. Placethe tray somewhere cool,likeacoldframe or unheated greenhouse,and keep moist.
Once theseedlings arelarge enough to handle,transplantthemtoother trays, 5cm apart. Harden theyoung plants offbefore planting out.
Lettuce ‘Tom Thumb’
L tt
This lettuceisa speedy grower,and as the name suggests, is asmall-hearting type.This compact nature makes them the perfect choice for small space growers,without missing out on any of that gorgeous butterhead lettuceflavour you would expect.
Sowthe seedsthinly, wheretheyare to crop,atadepth of 1.5cm. Soil should be well-preparedand wateredbeforesowing.
Pak Choi
Make the most of this crop–eat the baby leaves or leavethe produce to mature. This veg is aperfect additiontostir-fries and summer salads.
Choose asiteoutdoors, andprepare the soil beforesowingthe seedsatadepth of 1.5cm andspace rows at 40cm. If you want baby leaf cropsthensow from May, andfor matureplantssow from June. It will take around14to21daysfrom sowingfor seedlingstobecomevisible.
Give aspacingof25cm between rows to allow theheads to grow on Earlysowings maybenefitfromcloche protectionagainst late frosts. Seedlings will usuallystart to appear in 7-14 days.
Thin theseedlings out to 15cm spacings when they arelarge enoughtohandle, and waterwelluntil theplantsare established. Successionalsowings will ensurea continuous supplyoflettuces throughout thesummer andautumn months,
Harvest baby leaves as they grow,but if youwanttocultivate plants to full size then thin them to adistanceof25cm between oneanother
Sowfrequently, everytwo to threewee fora regularharvest of this crop
Once leaves reach5cm they can be harvestedasbabyleavesand will grow as cut-and-come-again so plants can produce foraroundfour harvests.
Roc
The distinctive peppe marks it out as a must lot of kitchen gardene gourmet salad leaves and harvested as a ‘ again’ crop, snipp foliage with scis 15cm high a re-growt t
rytaste of rocket -grow for a rs. Like many it is best grown ut-and-comeng off young ors when it’sabout dwaiting for the .Ifyou allow them get anylarger then will become increasingly tough andbitter.
Youcan sow rocket seed thinly in very shallow indents(6mm deep), everytwo weeksfromearly springuntil to late summer.Itpays to start in late Marchasthe initial sowings arelikely to be themost rewarding–the furtheryou getinto theyear,the more likelyitisthatrocket will bolt (run up to flower andseed) in theheat. This causesthe leaves to becometough andcoarse. Waterthe seedsinwellusing awatering can with aroseend attached –thiswill minimise anydisturbance to theseeds. Keep wateringeachday andthe first leaves should be readytopick in amatterofweeks –snipthemoff as required, taking afew from each plantratherthanrisking weakening individualsbyover-croppingthem. If younoticeany flower budsappearing remove them to trytoprolong cropping
Cornflower ‘T all Mix ed’
Looking to decorate your borders and adorn your vaseswith homegrown blooms? Look no further than these cornflowers,which arejustas attractivetopollinatorsastheyare to us!They’re really simpletogrow, too.
Chooseawell-drained, finely-prepared flowering site andwater well. Then, sow0.5cm deep.MrFothergill’s recommends sowingincurvesinstead of straight lines to create apleasing visualeffect
Seedlings oftenemergewithin14to 28 days,after whichtheyshouldbe thinnedto20cmapart. Keep plants well-watered untiltheyare established, andsow everytwo to three weeksfor non-stop blooms lateron.
Sowinginlatesummer andautumn will mean flowers thefollowingspring, usuallywithaheadstart on spring sowings andofferingamuch-needed splash of colour afterwinter.
Plants normally reach30cm in spread and90cminheight. Remembertokeep on topof deadheadingtoensurea longer flowering season!
Coriander ‘C ila ntro’
Perfect for seasoning awide range of dishes, coriander is afantastically versatile herb. Having your own fresh supply will top up the flavours of any curries, wraps, salsas andsalads that youproduce in the kitchen. If sown indoors, in good conditions, coriander can be sown all year round.
Indoors, sowseedsintrays or 7.5cm pots of free-draining compost.
Outdoors, preparethe soil, removingany largestones. Sow1cm deep in drills30cm apart. Plantbetween Mayand August. Thin seedlings when they arelarge enough to handle –thinnings can be used to top saladsorcan be addedtosandwiches, if youlike.
Harvest youngleavesasand when required, cuttingoff individual leaves, rather than harvestingthe wholeplant
Poppy ‘La dybird’
This eye-catching typeofpoppyisa hardy annual which is really easy to grow, so you can add somereal drama to your garden whether you are a beginner, or aseasoned grower.
Sowseedsoutdoors, 0.5cm deep, directly wheretheyare to crop.Soil shouldbefinelyprepared, with large stones andweeds removed, andshould be pre-watered.
Seedlingsusuallyappear in 14-28days, so keep an eyeonthe beds.
When they arelarge enoughtohandle, thin theseedlings to 15cm apart. Waterwelluntil theplantsare established.
Foracontinuousdisplay of gorgeous blooms,makesowings at twotothree weekly intervals– this is knownas successionalsowing.
Sowings made in curvesratherthan straightlines oftencreateamore pleasing effect.
Late summer andautumn sowings will flowerthe followingyear,often earlierthanspringsowings
RHS April
GuyBarter is on hand to answer some of your top seasonalquestions
Can Iplant broad beans between my spuds, and peas between my kale?
Interplanting as this is called is trickier than it looks. The mingled crops can compete and become, in effect, each other’s weeds. Planting radishes and lettuces in April in between where the Brussels sprouts and kale will follow in May is straightforward and usually very successful, butpeas, being larger plants, aremore of achallenge. However, sowing dwarf peas,‘Avola’ for example, now and planting sturdy
kale plantsinlate May or Juneshould be successful. There is no need to use pea sticking,thesesmall peas can rest on the ground. Pull up the plants forharvest. The roots will supplyalittlenitrogento the growing kale plants.Iftallerpeas are grown, pea sticking or net will be needed and inthiscasespace kalerows alittle wider than the usual70cm, 90cmsay,so avoid shading the peas
Sowingbroad beans between early potatoes once the spudshave been
Sowing broad beans betweenearly potatoesonce the spuds have been ridged is sometimes recommended
ridged is sometimesrecommended. Potatoes growvery vigorously however, and transplanting beans raised in pots might givethe beans more of achance to stand above the potatoes than sowing.
Iwas unwell over winterand have not pruned my blackcurrants and autumn fruiting raspberries –isit toolate? Nothing irrevocable here, simply leave theblackcurrantstocarry on and crop. If the bushes are largewithmanystems cut out some, athird perhaps, of the oldest stems at harvest time. Cutlow down near the base. Thiscan make harvesting easier. Otherwise, leavealone afterharvest and pruning inthe usual
way,removingone in three stems, afterleaffall.
Unprunedautumncropping raspberrieswillflower at thetop of th canes producing some very welcome fruit. After theseupper flowers have cropped,cut outthe cropped portion and the lowerbuds willflower in latersummerfor theusual,slightly diminished autumncrop. Then prune to ground levelnextwinterasusual.
Unpruned autumncroppingraspberries will flower at thetop of their canes producing some verywelcome fruit
Carrot andparsnip seed sown in February has only emerged sporadically –isit possible to lift and replantthese seedlings? Formostvegetables, beetrootand lettuce for example,carefullylifting andreplanting seedlings before they gettoo big, and ideally before they acquire more than four true leaves i agoodway to ‘gap up’. The transplantedseedlings migh be afew days laterthan theunmoved ones usefully spreading maturity timesfor alongerperiodofsupply.
Carrotand parsnip howeverdevelop deeplyfangedroots if transplanted. Thereare twooptions –if theseedlings are fewand sparse, sow more in thegaps. Theresulting seedlings andthe seedlings from the first sowing canbethinned later. They should not be damagedbycompetition from the more advanced butsparse previous seedlings
