By Press Release
It seems to have been a long time coming, but the weather has finally started to improve. Hopefully, the heavy rains will ease and we will get some well-needed sunshine to help dry out the soil enough to start getting things planted.
However, don’t get too carried away by some warm sunny days. We are still likely to get some cold frosty nights and, equally as damaging, some strong cold winds. Resist the temptation to plant out your runner beans, courgettes or other tender plants, as the chances are that they will suffer.
If you have sown some early then harden them off gradually, by putting them outside during the day and putting them back in the greenhouse at night for a week or so. I wouldn’t plant out until mid-May at the earliest and would have a later sown batch as a backup just in case.
You can start to sow carrots, parsnips, beetroot and other crops from now, once your ground is workable. Don’t forget what I told you last year about your parsnip seed. Parsnip seed doesn’t keep, so you have to use fresh seed each year. Those of you that have free-draining soil will be able to get going much earlier than those of us on heavy clay.
If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to plant out your sweet peas. I like to get mine planted in early April but it’s been far too wet; hopefully I’ll have them in by this weekend.
If you are taking dahlia cuttings, then they should root in around two weeks at this time of year and be ready to plant out by the first week of June.
It’s a great time of year to create new areas in your garden, so why not look at maybe putting in a new border or introducing some new plants to an existing one? Getting out in the garden at this time of year is so rewarding.
Happy gardening and I’ll be back again with more gardening tips next month.
