By Press Release
What a generally wet and cold spring we’ve had. We are slowly, and I mean ever so slowly, seeing a rise in temperatures and some welcome sunshine.
Everything seems to be running around two weeks behind where they should be. However, the long-range forecast seems a little more promising, so we can all now start to plant out all our tender young plants. Do not plant out straight from the greenhouse to your garden as your tender plants will be soft. Acclimatise them to their new outdoor conditions, first by standing them outside in a sheltered position for a week or so before planting out. A strong breeze can do as much damage to a young plant as a frost would.
It is an exceptionally busy few weeks ahead, but here are just a few of the jobs that can be done. Plant up your hanging baskets and patio containers. Top up any gaps in your flower borders, maybe with some perennial plants or some summer bedding. Plant your dahlias!
In the vegetable garden climbing beans, courgettes, brassicas, lettuce and pumpkins can be planted. Sow carrots, beetroot and radish. Although tomatoes can be grown outside, more often than not the dreaded blight will get to them before the fruits have ripened so best to grow them in the greenhouse if you have one. Tomatoes like fresh air, though, so keep the windows open, especially on warm days. Cucumbers, however, like more humid conditions so spray some water on the floor of the greenhouse in the morning and this will help keep the humidity up.
Next week is the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and, with a little bit of luck, we will be exhibiting there for the very first time, doing a sweet pea display and releasing two new varieties. It has been a very challenging few months with cold and wet conditions and even up to now we’ve had cold nights which makes the buds fall off. Will the blooms make it in time? Stay tuned to coverage on the BBC to find out!