Wow! Where has the first three months gone? it’s exciting to see the first seedlings appear, and when the magnolia trees burst into flower, April has arrived. However, be mindful of those cold snaps and occasional frosts. Keeping seedlings protected is better than losing them to the cold. Some of the indoor sowing April jobs include :
* Top tip A plant mister is a great way to avoid over-watering, mould, rotting or drowning of seeds before they sprout. Visit My Shop for a choice of three lovely plant misters in charcoal, stainless steel or cream. Click of Plant Mister picture.
April Jobs
- Cucumbers – April is the best time to sow cucumbers to be grown in an unheated greenhouse, polytunnel or large cold frame. Ideally sow the cucumber on their sides at 1cm depth in 7.5cm pots of free draining. Once established you can grow up supports, garden twine, bamboo canes of trellis and are great for small gardens, patio containers or small greenhouse. Last month I mentioned indoor varieties, but outdoor varieties include: Marketmore, Venlo Pickling (good for pickling), Bush Champion (compact).
- Broccoli, Spring Cabbage and Summer Cauliflower all require the same needs and grow well together in the same area but must have space. This is great for protection when growing, especially from birds and butterflies. Sow individually in compost-filled modular trays to avoid root disturbing when transplanting. Seeds germinate in about two weeks. Keep the seedlings warm and in good light, and water regularly. After about six weeks, they are ready to transplant outside. Varieties include Belstar Broccoli or Early Purple Sprouting, All-year-round cauliflower, and Greyhound Cabbage.
- Outdoor Carrots sow seed thinly 1cm deep in rows 15-30cm apart, cover with a thin layer of soil and water with a watering can with a rose attached. Seeds germinate in a couple of weeks. Avoid thinning carrots to avoid carrot root fly, cover with fleece and secure edges once sown, keep the area weed free and water only in very dry spells. Carrots will take 14-16 weeks until harvesting. Varieties include Autumn King 2, Bangor or Norfolk.
- Carrots can be grown in containers and Chantenay varieties are best.
* Top tip If growing carrots in containers, opt for round-rooted or mini baby carrots to easily grow and harvest, such as Parmex or Paris Market 5, or Chantenay Royal
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Sweetcorn seedlings hate having their roots disturbed, put one seed in each compost-filled pot. Place the seedlings in a greenhouse or on a warm, sunny windowsill with ample water. As they are wind pollinated, plant out in a grid at least 45 cm apart when the threat of frost has passed. When the silky tassels turn brown and the kernels release a milky liquid when pushed with a thumbnail, usually around August time, corn is ready for harvest.
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Maincrop Potatoes should be planted now as they require a significantly longer development period. They also require a little more care and attention during the growing season, particularly with watering. However Northern England should wait a couple of weeks to avoid frosts. They need about 15- 20 weeks to reach full size. Maincrop varieties include Desiree (red), Valor, Cara, Maris Piper, Orla, Carolus & King Edward.
“According to the traditional gardening folklore, potatoes grow better when planted on Good Friday.”
* Top tip – Don’t forget to protect your hands when sowing and planting seeds. Available in 5 exquisite designs including stylish Red Tweed, Grey Tweed, Artisan, Berry, & Oak Leaf Poppy. For some stylish comfortable and durable gardening gloves Visit My Shop or click on the picture for different coloured garden gloves – A perfect gift for Easter.
Companion Planting
Diveristy of plants and flowers with varying flowering times are beneficial for insects. There are certain things to avoid, including planting tall and short plants together as they will block light and prevent them from growing well. Planting drought-tolerant plants next to thirsty plants as one plant will either be getting too much water, or too little. Also be weary of mint as it can take over, it is best kept in a container.
