By Isle of Wight Observer
This time last year the sun had only just decided to make an appearance, whereas this year we’ve seen one of the driest and warmest spells on record over recent weeks.
Although it’s been sunny and warm during the day we have still seen some chilly nights with a touch of frost in places. It’s very easy to get impatient and start to plant out tender plants, but be aware that we could still get caught by a late frost.
If you have tender plants such as runner beans, courgettes, marrows and summer-bedding, then get them hardened off by leaving them outside for a week or so and cover them over with fleece at night if it is going to get close to freezing.
Bank Holiday weekend is traditionally the time to get planting. It’s not too late to sow vegetables such as beans, courgettes and marrows as they grow quickly now it has warmed up. Then there are carrots, beetroot and salad crops that can be sowed at regular intervals.
Any spring-flowering shrubs should be pruned once they have finished flowering as they flower on the previous year’s growth. The hedgerows and fruit trees have looked fantastic over the last few weeks with some lovely blossom, so there may well be a good fruit harvest later in the year, although we will need some rain at some point as it has been exceptionally dry.
I find it best to water early in the morning as you are less likely to suffer with slug and snail damage as they prefer to come out to graze at night when it’s wet. Try to avoid watering in the heat of the day.
If you are growing sweet peas, then these will be putting on a lot of growth now. Give them a good water every few days and tie them into their supports as they grow. Dahlia tubers can be planted out now and young plants from the end of the month.
Happy gardening everyone, I’ll catch up with you all soon.