Spring Jobs on the Allotment
Sowing and planting
Put up the runner bean poles and start to support the growing peas with brushwood or netting.
Prepare seed beds for outdoor sowing of main crop vegetables next month.
This year because of previous poor crops I am trying out a tip from Tom a fellow plot holder for Parsnip seed planting. Using a dibber make holes roughly six inches deep, drop in some light sand and then a pinch of seeds and fill with soil. Thin out once seeds have made a good start.
Albemarle plot holders are making some fabulous wigwam and bean supports on the allotment this spring.
Pest and diseases Check over top and soft fruit for the first broods of aphids and take appropriate action; spray the plant with soapy water (diluted washing up liquid) or squash the flies with your thumb and finger. Protect any early strawberries with netting to keep birds and squirrels out.
All the best, Kath.
Thank you to National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Ltd for information.
Sowing and planting
- Continue planting out seed potatoes and complete by the end of April. Be prepared to cover the emerging shoots of the earlies with soil if a frost is forecast.
- Finish planting of onion sets also making successional sowings of beetroot, carrots, parsnips, lettuce, spinach, spring onions, radish, turnips, early peas, Swiss chard.
- Sow maincrop peas and make the last sowing of summer broad beans. Sow climbing French beans towards the end of the month. Prepare a seed bed to sow the seed leeks and summer cabbage.
- Sow under glass, in pots and trays filled with fresh seed compost, the seeds of runner beans, sweet corn, courgettes, pumpkins, squashes, outdoor/ridge cucumber.
- It is now safe to transplant the cold greenhouse tomatoes in to their final positions keep some frost protection handy.
- Plant out Jerusalem artichokes but don’t allow them to overrun the allotment, if left unlifted at the end of the summer they will quickly develop into an impenetrable jungle.
Put up the runner bean poles and start to support the growing peas with brushwood or netting.
Prepare seed beds for outdoor sowing of main crop vegetables next month.
This year because of previous poor crops I am trying out a tip from Tom a fellow plot holder for Parsnip seed planting. Using a dibber make holes roughly six inches deep, drop in some light sand and then a pinch of seeds and fill with soil. Thin out once seeds have made a good start.
Albemarle plot holders are making some fabulous wigwam and bean supports on the allotment this spring.
Pest and diseases Check over top and soft fruit for the first broods of aphids and take appropriate action; spray the plant with soapy water (diluted washing up liquid) or squash the flies with your thumb and finger. Protect any early strawberries with netting to keep birds and squirrels out.
All the best, Kath.
Thank you to National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Ltd for information.
Runner bean support
Holes for parsnip seeds
March Jobs on the Allotment
Some birds are starting nest building and I take this as a good time to begin preparation for Spring planting.
- Make compost area or bring in compost bins
- Finish Winter digging and pruning.
- Plan your growing beds and should the weather remain good prepare beds for seeds to be sown direct.
- Clear around strawberry plants and give a fertilizer dressing.
- Put fleece over any strawberry plants starting to flower if frost is forecast
- Give your fruit trees and soft fruit bushes a dressing of fertiliser
Getting ready to grow
The tomato seeds I have sown early this year in a heated propagator along with a packet of free sweet pea seeds from a gardening magazine are now in the green house. I have sown basil, sprouts, mixed salad leaves and some more beans. Give the propagator a check to make sure wiring and base are in good condition. Label the pots with name of plant.
Start to transplant seedlings into bigger pots or individual modules, a great stress busting job as taking the care to not damage the delicate plants handling by the leaf and not the roots will ensure all other thoughts have vanished till all are replanted. Can cause your eyes to cross and you may find your tongue sticking out whilst concentrating very hard doing these jobs.
If you have a small patch of well weeded soil try using this as a nursery bed for Brussels sprouts, summer cabbage, broccoli, onions and leeks. Sow in short rows and label. Grow these on to be transplanted in April into your bigger beds. These seeds can also be sown into fairly wide pots and then transplanted.
Plant onion sets, shallots and garlic before they start to produce shoots.
Potatoes
We can soon start to plant out seed potatoes that have been chitting. Only do this when reasonably sure that the worst frosts have passed. Or plant into warmed beds and cover with thick fleece or plastic.
Follow on planting out at regular intervals with the second earlies and first maincrops until the end of the month. Take care not be tempted to plant out more potatoes than you can protect from any frosty weather that may appear later in the month. Last year was really difficult as frost lasted till early May.
Bird nesting season
As we are legally required to not disturb any bird nests this would be the ideal time to check your hedges and blackberry bushes are trimmed now and kept in good order before the nesting season begins in March.
All the best, Kath.
Thank you to RSPB.ORG and National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Ltd for information.
Bean Seedlings
Beans, Tomatoes and Sweet Peas
Just Keeping the Propagator Warm!