Posts Tagged ‘vegetable gardening’

April Gardening Advice

April 1st, 2022 | News | Comments Off on April Gardening Advice

At last, it’s time to take our foot off the brake and dive headlong into sowing and planting. Although the days may feel balmier, watch out for Jack Frost, who’s still keen to ruin gardening plans with an overnight frost, so keep cloches and horticultural fleece close at hand to protect young plants and newly sown seeds.

Whatever the challenges are this month, the gentle music of birdsong and buzzing bees returning to our gardens will guarantee to lighten the heart.

In the flower garden

Fading displays

Spring pansies and violas will be keen to set seed, so remove faded flowers to encourage new displays.

Winter primroses will now be past their past, but by lifting and dividing you can increase plant stock for next season. Whether it’s with your hands or a trowel, prise the plants apart. Don’t worry about damaging them as they’re quite tough. Re-plant where you’d like to see them appear next year.

Before daffodils go to seed, deadhead them. This will transfer the energy back into the bulb in readiness for next year’s display. Also let foliage die back naturally.

Maintenance

Young plants need all the nutrients they can get, so don’t let them be bullied by emerging weeds. Remove all weeds from beds, making sure you pull them out by the roots.

As climbing roses, clematis and honeysuckle start to flourish, tie in the new growth. There’s still potential for a late frost and high winds, so secure them safely and you’ll be rewarded with a display of stunning blooms later in the season.

Growing perennials will be swaying under their new growth, so stake them to prevent damage. Do it sooner rather than later, as the root ball is keen to grow and you run the risk of damaging it if you leave it too late in the season.

The warmer weather will encourage slugs and snails, who will be eager to devour fresh foliage. There are numerous methods to reduce slug and snail numbers, including beer traps. However, the easiest method is to take a turn about the garden early in the morning, at dusk or after a rainfall, when numbers are high. Pick them off and remove from site. Other pests to be aware of and remove if found are vine weevil and the red lily beetle.

Harden off

Depending where you are in the country, towards the end of the month you may want to start to harden off certain plants. To do this, you’re simply getting plants that you’ve sown indoors acclimatised to cooler, outdoor temperatures. For example, if you’ve been growing sweet peas, they will grow all the better for a few weeks in a cold frame before planting out into their final position. If you don’t have a cold frame, then place plants outside on a bright day for a few hours, then bring them in before the temperature drops or the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Sow

Get your summer flowers, such as marigolds, nasturtiums and petunias, off to a good start by sowing them indoors. Fill a tray with multi-purpose compost, tamp down and sow thinly across the surface. Lightly cover over with compost, label and place in a larger tray of water, allowing the compost to soak the water up – watering from above may cause the seed to disperse. Place in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame. Germination can take up to 28 days, depending on the seed variety.

Bulbs

If you’re planting summer bulbs and corms in pots, ensure the compost has plenty of grit so water can drain off easily and not cause the bulbs to rot. It’s also a good idea to place crocks at the base of the pot to improve drainage.

For planting straight into beds, think about how you want your floral display to look and plant accordingly. If you haven’t grown bulbs before, the rule of thumb is to plant the bulb at a depth of three times its height. If your soil is heavy, add grit to the base of the hole and then fill with a gritted-compost mixture to help drainage and prevent the bulb from rotting.

Hanging baskets

Pre-ordered annuals for hanging baskets could now begin to turn up on your doorstop. Plant them up with good compost and a slow-release fertiliser. Add water retention granules, as this will help retain moisture during the height of summer. Once potted up, keep them in the greenhouse until the last frost has passed, giving a chance for your plants to grow on. Before hanging them in their final growing position, harden off for a week or two. Ensure you establish a regular watering regime for the season ahead, as baskets can dry out quickly.

Plant out sweet peas

If you pinched out your sweet peas last month, they should now be starting to bush up. Towards the end of the month, you should think about planting them out. Whether it’s directly into the ground or into a container, make sure you use a support so the tendrils have something to latch onto. Keep an eye on their growth, as they will quickly need to be tied in.

On the veg patch

Sow

Salads, radishes, beetroot, chard, kohl rabi, carrots and parsnips can now be sown. Remember to sow little and often, otherwise in a few months’ time you could end up with a glut.

If the ground is still too cold, sow into modules, trays or pots, then keep them somewhere warm, with plenty of sunlight, such as a greenhouse or polytunnel.

Any seeds sown back in March may now need thinning out, or even re-potting. Remember, as you carry out this task, it’s important to hold the seedling by their ‘true leaves’, not their stems. While a damaged leaf won’t hamper the plant’s growth, a damaged stem will leave the young plant helpless.

Towards the end of the month, you could consider sowing members of the cucurbit family; pumpkins, squashes, marrows, cucumbers and courgettes can all be sown indoors. Also, consider sowing runner beans, French beans and sweet corn.

Potatoes

This is the month to finish planting the last of your chitted tubers, but it’s a good idea to keep horticultural fleece handy. If the weather turns, you may have to protect exposed foliage from frost. For potato plants with substantial growth, consider earthing them up. This will not only protect the plant, but will encourage it to produce more potatoes, stop them turning a poisonous green, and can even prevent blight.

Herbs

If you don’t have space for a herb garden, then grow them in pots and containers. Give them plenty of sunshine, and plant them into some well-gritted soil. As herbs often originate from hot Mediterranean climates, it’s advisable to try and replicate these conditions, so don’t overwater.

April is the time to prune lavender, sage and rosemary. Remove any dead and diseased foliage, but avoid cutting into the woody parts of the plant.

Structures

If you’re growing beans and peas, then think about setting up your runner bean poles. Peas will also need a support structure, such as netting, poles or twiggy hazel sticks. Prep the beds and get your structures ready.

Fruit trees and soft fruit

A warmer climate will encourage hungry pests to seek out buds and blossoms on fruit trees. Be vigilant and remove pests by hand or spraying the affected area with diluted soapy water. Keep an eye out for their eggs as, once hatched, the damage can be devastating,

Other jobs

  • Longer days and warmer temperatures will encourage your indoor plants to grow, so you may need to step up your watering regime. Larger plants will require extra watering, and possibly a liquid feed.
  • Cut back forsythia to a strong pair of buds once it has ceased flowering.
  • If you have a bare patch in a sunny part of the garden, encourage wildlife by sowing wildflower seeds.
  • If you don’t have the space to grow from seed, consider buying plug plants.
  • Begin a regular routine of mowing the lawn. At this stage, keep the blades fairly high. Scarify and apply a good fertiliser.
  • With warmer weather on its way, this is a good time to install a water butt. There are plenty to choose from and they can help keep your water bills down.

Written by Ade Sellars, garden writer and presenter.

March Gardening Advice

March 1st, 2022 | News | Comments Off on March Gardening Advice

March Gardening Advice | Mr Fothergill's

Whether you’re guided by the meteorological (1st March) or astronomical (20th March) calendar, it all comes down to the same thing: March means spring! Where once snowdrops reigned, trumpets of daffodils announce themselves as the new floral attraction. Moods start to lift, gardeners start to twitch, and gardens begin to stir. Whether it’s buds on the roses or shoots emerging from ground planted bulbs, Mother Nature has finally called time on winter.

This is the month where gardeners’ skills will be tested. But get things right now, and you’ll be rewarded with a summer of tasty fruit, veg and blousy blooms. So, while spring is here, enjoy the moment and relish those new beginnings.

In the flower garden

Flowers

Roses will now be stirring from their long winter sleep. With new buds forming, it’s time to give your plants a feed and set them right for the growing months ahead. Using a hand fork to disturb the soil at the base of the plant, and apply a well-balanced granule rose feed. Cover over the feed, and water in.

As the temperature starts to rise hellebore leaves can be prone to disease, so remove affected foliage to keep plants healthy. Also, removing foliage will help make the floral displays stand out.

If you’ve been storing dahlia tubers over winter, it’s time to get them out. Disregard any that are damaged, or have succumbed to the winter weather. Using a good multi-purpose compost, pot up healthy tubers into 2ltr pots with their stems facing upwards, and water in. Then place pots in a greenhouse or cold frame, and let tubers slowly respond to the change of season.

Sow

For a summer display, consider sowing Petunia, Lobelia, Marigold, Larkspur and Impatiens. Fill a small pot or tray with seed compost, tap the container gently and brush the excess soil from the rim. Sow your seeds sparingly across the surface, and then cover over with a thin layer of compost. Once labelled, place your container in a couple of inches of water. It’s preferable to let the pot draw the water from the bottom, leaving the seeds undisturbed, as watering from above can easily scatter them, disrupting their growing environment and hampering germination. Finally, place somewhere warm and bright. Once they’ve become young seedlings, individually pot up and grow on.

Planting

Towards the end of the month, you might want to consider planting summer bulbs. Whether it’s freesias, lilies or gladioli, the rule of thumb is to plant them three times the depth of the bulb. Not only are you giving the bulb protection from late frosts, but also a firm base to anchor its roots to stop the flowering bulb from toppling over.

Prune

You may now notice the fiery colours of Cornus are starting to wane. March is the time to cut back to just above ground level. This may seem a bit drastic, but this will give you a larger, more vibrant display next winter.

Once Winter-flowering jasmine has finished flowering, cut back last year’s growth to several cms above the old wood. And before new growth appears on hydrangeas, reduce stems by up to a third. Ensure you cut above fresh buds.

Maintenance

If you have an established lawn and it’s a dry day, this might be the opportunity to give it the first cut of the season. Nothing drastic, just a minimal trim. Remove weeds, and cut lawn edges with an edging tool.

After a harsh season, patios, decking and paths may not be looking at their best. With the build-up of dirt and lichen, they might also be slippery. Choose a dry, sunny day, and clean the area thoroughly with a pressure washer, being careful not to damage brickwork. Also, prevent any used cleaning chemicals from draining into flower borders, as it can potentially damage plants and soil.

With the garden still mostly bare, it’s a good time to check structures and fences, making repairs where necessary. By doing this now, you’ll avoid trampling on emerging plants.

Pests

Check garden pots, containers and hanging baskets for pests such as slugs, snails and vine weevil. Also, examine emerging plants and lush growth areas in the garden, as these are ideal places for pests to holdup over winter. With a change of season, they’ll now be looking for a food source and an opportunity to breed. Remove and dispose of pests immediately, before they damage roots and foliage. Introduce beer traps and nematodes to reduce slug numbers.

Wildlife

Spring might be here, but our garden wildlife will still benefit from a helping hand. Continue to replenish bird tables and feeders, ensuring there’s always a fresh water supply.

Solitary Bees will be leaving their winter homes and looking for somewhere new to set up for the summer. If you can, invest in a bee hotel, or make one from scratch. Whether it’s an air brick or a bunch of tied bamboo in a wooden box, they will appreciate somewhere safe to nest.

On the veg patch

Fruit

Fruit trees will have new buds growing, so fleece peach and nectarine to protect them from overnight frosts. However, remove protection during the day, allowing pollinators to get to the emerging blossom.

Early varieties of forced rhubarb, such as Timperley Early, could be ready for harvesting by the end of the month. Once picked, refrain from forcing further as you’ll weaken the crown. Instead, leave the crown to rest for a year.

Strawberry plants should now be tidied. Cut away old leaves, weed the bed and apply a general fertiliser. However, if your strawberry plants are over four years old, or you’re thinking of growing strawberries for the first time, consider ordering bare root varieties. Once your plants arrive, rehydrate them for up to half an hour by placing their roots in a tub filled with several inches of water. With the growing area prepared, plant your runners, firm in well, water and give them a top-dressing feed. Until they become established, keep fleece handy to protect them from a late frost. Strawberries are versatile plants, so if space is an issue, think about growing them in containers, pots or hanging baskets.

Soil

Well-rotted organic matter, and growing green manures, that have been sitting on the surface of your beds throughout winter can now be dug in. Remove weeds, large stones and break the soil down until it’s workable. If you’re not planting straight away, place a fleece or cloche over the top to warm the area. This will make germination easier for newly sown seeds.

Sow

If you have been warming your soil with cloches and horticultural fleece, consider sowing early varieties of carrots, beetroot, parsnips, and cabbage. You can also sow into seed module trays and grow the emerging seedlings in cold frames and greenhouses. These can then be planted out as young plants when the weather is warmer, or when space becomes available to plant.

Potatoes

Chitted first early tubers can now go into the ground. If you’re planting them into a trench, make sure the area gets plenty of sunshine. Seeded tubers should be placed to the depth of 12cm, and 30cm apart.  Keep fleece handy, as frost will damage the emerging foliage and possibly kill the crop. If you’re growing potatoes in growbags, or large containers, place no more than four seeded tubers on a base of 10cm of soil, or compost, cover over thoroughly and place containers in a sunny spot.

Other Jobs

  • Spring will bring the onset of weeds. Remove regularly.
  • Before you fill your greenhouse with freshly planted seeds and plants, give it a through tidy. Wash all glass with soapy water, remove unwanted pots, and brush floor. This will expose hiding pests.
  • Deadhead any spent daffodils. Remove the dying flower and seedpod, leaving the foliage to dieback naturally.
  • Re-pot plants that haver become pot-bound. Check for hiding pests, and plant up with fresh compost into a larger pot.
  • Clear ponds of fallen debris. Remove netting, and begin regularly feeding pond fish. Add barley straw bags to the water to keep algae levels down.

Written by Ade Sellars, garden writer and presenter.

January Gardening Advice

January 4th, 2022 | News | Comments Off on January Gardening Advice

January Gardening Advice 2022 | Mr Fothergill's

It’s a new year, and with the realisation that spring is on the distant horizon, gardeners are itching to get into their gardens. But it’s good to keep in mind that we still have the rest of winter to get through. Freezing temperatures, prospect of snow, and a landscape shy of colour, this is not the time to jump headlong into sowing all your seeds. Of course, there are plenty of jobs to be getting on with that will help you get the garden spring ready, but equally you should stop and take the time to think about how you want your garden to look in 2022. Are you hoping for fragrant blooms? Tasty veg? A garden left for wildlife to roam freely? Whatever your ambitions are this year, try drawing up plans, writing seed lists, and look to gardening magazines, books and social media for helpful suggestions.

Gardening is a rewarding, therapeutic and creative pastime, but you don’t always have to be in your green space to get those gardening ideas flowing. So, make a cup of tea, retreat to a cosy nook and let your mind wonder.

In the flower garden

Plants

Make way for new growth by cutting down and tidying up flower borders. Ensure you do not cut into emerging plants as not only will you lose vital young shoots, but an exposed wound will be open to the elements, which could potentially kill the plant. By applying a thick mulch to your beds not only will you release valuable nutrients for your flowers, but it’ll also help to protect plants from freezing temperatures and smarten beds and borders.

You can also take shears to ornamental grass. Cut the old foliage down to a couple of centimetres above the soil line, leaving space for new shoots to eventually emerge.

To keep winter flowers, such as pansies and polyanthus, colouring throughout the season, it’s important to deadhead and remove any yellowing foliage. Otherwise, they will set seed and your winter display will be lost.

If you’re lucky enough to have inherited a garden with established snowdrops, or planted bulbs yourself last autumn, they could be now starting to emerge from the soil. As they grow, keep fallen foliage and debris off them, as you won’t want to miss their delicate display.

Another plant that will now be coming into its own is the hellebore. As many varieties have flowerheads that face down, they can often go unnoticed. By cutting away the old leaves, this will make their blooms standout and minimise foliage that has hellebore leaf spot.

With a warm greenhouse you can still start sowing certain summer blooms, such as begonias and lobelia. If you’ve been growing sweet peas since last autumn, pinch out the tips. This will encourage side-shoots and result in a bushier plant.

Maintenance

If you haven’t done so already, protect your garden taps. Frozen water can expand, forcing taps and pipes to burst. Better still, turn off the external water supply altogether.

Keep fallen snow off greenhouses, cloches and cold frames. The weight can damage structures, and even break the glass, exposing your plants to the elements. Shake fallen snow from plants and shrubs to prevent snow damaging them. Also, try to keep off the grass as the freezing weather combined with your weight can cause permanent damage to a lawn.

Garden wildlife

If you have a frozen pond, avoid breaking the ice as this can shock the fish and possibly kill them. Instead, try to melt the ice gently with hot water. As the fish remain at the bottom of the pond this time of year, there’s no risk of harming them.

Continue to keep bird tables and feeders topped up. If you provide your garden wildlife with a fresh water source, do not let it freeze over.

Christmas tree

Recycle your old Christmas tree by shredding it into chippings, then spread it across the soil holding ericaceous plants, such as blueberries. The chippings can also be used as a general mulch, or an inexpensive option to help create garden or allotment paths. Try using the branches as plant supports for peas and broad beans.

Microgreens

For a quick crop, why not try sowing microgreens. Mustard and watercress make a welcome addition to any meal, and they’re easy to grow. Simply sow into a seed tray or pot filled with damp compost and place somewhere warm. Once they germinate, place your tray on a warm, sunny kitchen windowsill and watch them grow. They’re also a fun activity for children to try. Why not encourage them to draw faces on empty eggshells? Then, fill the eggshells with compost and scattered seeds. Within days, their eggshell characters will begin growing edible hair.

Fruit

Continue to prune apple and pear trees, remembering the three ‘Ds’ as you carry this out (dead, diseased and damaged). Gooseberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant bushes can also be pruned. As you work around your fruit crop, ensure all fruit trees, bushes and canes are staked and tied-in. Otherwise, wind-rock and winter weather can cause damage.

For an early harvest of rhubarb, try forcing the stalks. As they emerge, cover over the crown with a rhubarb forcer or large container. By excluding light from the plant, this will encourage rhubarb stalks to shoot up. Once they are 20-30cm long, in about eight weeks, your rhubarb will be ready to eat.

On the veg patch

Winter veg

Continue to harvest brassicas, leeks and carrots. Once vegetable beds are empty, remove weeds, turn the soil and add a thick layer of well-rotted organic matter. The winter weather will breakdown the matter, releasing the valuable nutrients and help improve soil structure.

Sowing

Chillies, peppers and aubergines need a long growing season in a warm environment, so consider sowing them now. Seeds can be grown in modules, pots or trays to the depth of 6mm on a windowsill. Although germination can be slow, once their true leaves have been revealed, it’s important to pot them on. Keep them warm, well-lit and don’t allow the compost to dry out.

Although onions can be sown in sets in spring, providing you have a heat supply in your polytunnel or greenhouse, you can sow onions seeds now. With so many more varieties to choose from, you can really liven up your onion crop.

Seed potatoes

As we go into the new year, seed potato suppliers will start delivering orders. If you haven’t done so yet, order get your tubers now. The sooner they arrive, the sooner you can starting chitting.

Chitting is speeding up the aging process of a tuber, and letting its ‘eyes’ sprout. By the time you come to planting, ground temperatures still won’t be at their warmest, but those weeks of chitting will give your tubers a valuable head start.

Remember, stand the tubers apart (egg boxes make ideal holders), with their eyes facing upwards. Place somewhere warm, dry and with plenty of sunshine, such as a kitchen windowsill, porch or warm greenhouse. Try to keep sprouts down to three maybe four, so the energy isn’t too dispersed, thus producing weaker shoots. Six weeks on, and tubers should be ready for planting out.

Storage

Any fruit or veg currently in storage should be checked regularly to ensure they haven’t spoilt. Turn them over and remove any decaying or damaged produce. Ensure they aren’t touching to encourage a good air supply around them.

Other jobs

  • Check indoor plants regularly, as central heating can dry them out quickly. Ensure they receive the required watering and mist if necessary. Also check for pests such as scale insects and mealy bugs.
  • Dirt and algae on your patio can make it slippery throughout winter. Pressure wash it or brush it off with a stiff brush.
  • Apply a glue band to your fruit trees, as this will help protect them from the winter moth.
  • As you draw up your growing plans for 2022, don’t forget to order seeds.

Written by Ade Sellars, garden writer and presenter.

August Gardening Advice

August 2nd, 2021 | News | Comments Off on August Gardening Advice

Mr Fothergills August Gardening Advice 2021

Late summer brings golden coloured heleniums and fiery dahlias. This is the month to take a break, enjoy the sunny days and get out into our green spaces.

But with scorching weather comes the ongoing battle to prevent plants from drying out. Watering cans and hoses are the gardener’s ally, but use water sensibly. Water butts, drip irrigation systems and water retention gels are good items to have in your arsenal.

August is also the month for harvesting your homegrown fruit and veg. Try to manage your gluts by blanching and freezing any excess veg for a later date, or be the most popular person in your street by sharing produce with your neighbours!

Summer won’t last forever, but while it’s here, take the time to relax in the garden with a glass of something cold and enjoy the fruits of your labours.

In the flower garden

Holiday

August is traditionally the month to pack your suitcase and get away from it all. If you’re going away, ensure you make plans to keep your garden from drying out. Ask a neighbour to pop over once every few days to water and check on your garden. If you have pots and containers, group them all together under some shade to make the job easier. Keep greenhouses ventilated and, if necessary, create some shade to prevent your plants from getting scorched.

Maintenance

Deadhead regularly to keep flowers blooming into autumn. Fresh blooms not only look good, but continue to feed bees, butterflies and hoverflies, which are essential to a garden’s wellbeing. Sweet peas will be keen to set seed, so it’s important to deadhead daily. With heavy blooms and ever-growing stems, plants such as dahlias and gladioli will need staking. This extra support will not only prevent damage, but discourage ground pests from attacking low-lying plants.

Prune

Ideally, you want to prune wisteria twice a year; once in late winter and once now in August. There’s been a lot of growth during the summer months, so cut these newly-formed long laterals back to the fifth set of leaves on each shoot and tie-in where necessary. This restricts the growth, creates better ventilation, hardens the remaining summer growth, and encourages new flower buds for next year.

Stop lavender from becoming leggy by cutting the plant into a compact shape, but don’t cut too far back, as new flowers can’t grow on old wood. Use the cut flowers around the home by creating lavender pouches to scent drawers or pillow cases.

Hedges can become unruly in summer, so now’s the time to give them a prune. Whether you’re using shears or a hedge trimmer, think about how you want your hedge to look. Work from the bottom up in a smooth, controlled motion. Prune all sides and finish with the top. Wear protective clothing and use the correct height support if the hedge is high. Once completed, clear away all debris.

Perennial herbs, such as thyme and oregano, can now be pruned. This will create new growth and ensure they’re winter ready.

Watering

Whether there’s a hosepipe ban in your area or not, using water sensibly is a good habit to get into too. Make use of water butts, reuse old dish water, and water early in the morning or at dusk when the lower temperatures mean less water evaporation.

Keeping your garden well weeded also ensures the water goes to the plants that need it.

If you’re planting up containers and hanging baskets, add water retention gel to the compost. If you’re growing tomatoes, create a drip irrigation system.

Pond

In the warmer weather, check pond levels daily. Remove any build-up of algae and weeds, placing it beside the pond overnight. This will give any captured wildlife the opportunity to return to the water. If you have water plants, now is the time to thin them. Clean the pumps and filters of any water features you may have.

On the veg patch

Feed

You should be feeding your tomatoes weekly now to ensure a healthy, tasty crop, but potash/tomato feed can also be used for cucumbers, aubergines, peppers, chillies and even sweetcorn plants. Also, remove the lower leaves of tomato plants. This not only improves airflow and lets sunlight reach the fruit, but also lets the energy of the plant be focused on the fruit and not the excess foliage.

Main potatoes

As the leaves on your main crop begin to turn yellow and wither, start digging them up. If you’re not going to eat them straight away then rest them on the topsoil for a few hours to dry the excess moisture and place them in hessian sacks. Ideally, the sacks should be stored somewhere with ventilation, where it’s cool, dark and pest free. Check on them regularly to make sure none have spoilt.

Onions and shallots

With foliage bent over and turning yellow, onions and shallots are now ready for lifting. Once lifted, leave them on the surface of the soil for a few hours to dry in the sunshine. Then, shake off the excess soil from the roots – careful not to damage them – and place somewhere warm so they can dry out. After a week or two, they should be ready for storing somewhere cool, dark and dry. Either tie them together and hang them up or place them in onion bags. Both storage methods should prevent mould, but check regularly to make sure none have perished.

Pick regularly

Whether it’s runner beans or French beans, the key is to pick them regularly. By doing so, you’re preventing them from setting seed. Ensure they are well watered, and that the base of the plant is well-mulched. Once the plant reaches the top of its staked cane, pinch out the growing tip.

Courgettes, marrows and cucumbers will continue to produce so long as you pick regularly. Cut away excess foliage to help sunshine reach your crops and to prevent powdery mildew. Mildew can also be prevented by watering at the base of the plant rather than on the leaves.

Fruit

With gooseberries now harvested, it’s the perfect time to prune the plant. You want to create a ‘goblet’ shape to encourage as much ventilation as possible. Remove the inner branches of the plant and reduce the rest of the plant to about six leaves per branch. This will encourage fresh shoots to grow.

Keep an eye on plum and apple trees that might be weighed down by fruit. If the tree appears to be stressed, support and tie-in where possible. If you’re growing grapes, ensure the growing vines are being tied-in regularly.

Summer raspberry canes should have now fruited. Cut back the fruit canes and encourage fresh new canes by tying them onto a support.

Sow

Although we’re mostly harvesting now, there are still things to grow. Sow salad leaves and spring, beetroot, kohl rabi and pak choi can also be sown now for a late harvest.

Pests and diseases

Heat, humidity, and occasional rainfall are the perfect conditions to encourage blight. Check both tomato and potato plants regularly. If you see any signs of the fungal infestation then remove plants from the growing area. If you catch it at an early stage with your potatoes, remove the effected foliage but leave the tubers in the ground, as they may not be affected. Do not place infected plants on the compost heap. Instead, either burn immediately or remove from the site altogether. To reduce blight, encourage a crop rotation system and try to use blight resistant varieties.

Cabbage White Butterflies will be eyeing up your brassicas to lay their eggs. Check your crops regularly and remove any eggs or pests you find. Net your crops, use brassica collars when planting out and introduce nematodes to control caterpillars.

Other jobs

  • Turn over compost bays regularly to create airflow and speed up decomposition.
  • For a display of spring bulbs next spring now is the time to order them, as they can go into the ground come autumn.
  • If you have a glut of fruit, beetroot or shallots, consider making jam and pickles. They’re great to eat, but also make lovely gifts!

Written by Ade Sellars, garden writer and presenter.

June Gardening Advice

June 1st, 2021 | News | Comments Off on June Gardening Advice

June Gardening Advice 2021

It wasn’t that long ago that we were in coats and scarves, coaxing seeds into life from the protection of our greenhouses. But now we’re in June, it’s a very different picture. Gardens are bursting with colour and fruit and veg are beginning to swell.

While it’s good to enjoy the weather and take stock of all we’re cultivating, this doesn’t mean we can kick off our wellies and reach for the flip-flops just yet. If we want our gardens to dazzle throughout June, then there are jobs still to be done to maintain their shine.

In the flower garden

June gaps

Most spring flowers will have come and gone, leaving gaps in your borders. If you’re in need of a splash of colour, consider dahlias. There’s no end to the choice of colour, shape and size available. The ground is warm enough now to plant them straight out into their final flowering position. Remember to water well and give a weekly feed once flowers appear. Finally, deadhead regularly to ensure the plant continues to produce blooms right up to the first frost.

If it’s height you’re after, nothing says summer more than a vibrant sunflower. Whether you want tall, small, yellow or orange, there are endless varieties to choose from. In this weather, the seeds can go straight into the ground and, providing there’s plenty of sunshine, they will germinate and grow quickly. Other flowers to consider are marigolds, cosmos and tithonia.

Summer bedding

Time to get the last of the summer bedding plants from the greenhouse and planted out. Ensure you harden them off before they go into their final growing positions. If you don’t have the space in your flower borders, think about using containers, troughs or hanging baskets. A basket of trailing blooms suspended beside a front door gives a warm welcome to any visitor. To ensure your containers don’t dry out, add water-retaining crystals, water and feed regularly. To encourage bushy plants, pinch out the growing tips.

Cuttings

This is the perfect month to take softwood cuttings from garden favourites, such as lavender, forsythia and fuchsia. Take 10cm cuttings from healthy tips of your chosen shrub, making a sharp horizontal cut just below a pair of leaves, and remove any lower set of leaves or buds. Fill a small pot with gritted compost and push the cuttings in, parallel to the side of the pot. Space cuttings equally, water and place in a greenhouse or warm windowsill leaving them to take root.

Upkeep

As some roses will now be looking past their best, deadhead the fading flowers. For many varieties this will encourage them to produce new blooms. For trailing and rambling varieties, continue to tie in as they grow tall. This also applies to sweet peas. Tie in and pick regularly to encourage new flowers and stop the plant going to seed.

Delphiniums, lupins and oriental poppies make a lovely addition to any garden, but their blooms can fade all too quickly. Once flowered, cut away the fading stem to just above the base. Not only will this make the plant look tidier and bushier, it could encourage a second bloom later in the season.

Pests and diseases will be at their worst, so keep a lookout and remove all culprits. Red mite may start appearing in greenhouses, so it’s a good idea to dampen down the paths each day and keep doors and windows open for plenty of ventilation. Introducing shading to your greenhouse will ensure plants don’t burnout on particularly hot days.

With plants eager to grow, so will weeds. Remove accordingly or they will hijack the nutrients from your precious plants, suffocating and possibly killing them.

Finally, introduce a regular water and feeding regime to flower beds, borders, containers and pots. Try to carry this task out either first thing in the morning or at dusk. With lower temperatures at these times, there’s less loss to water evaporation and you reduce the chances of scorching foliage.

Lawns

With warmer days and brighter evenings, the garden centrepiece this time of year will be your lawn. To keep it looking good for the whole season, mow at least once a week and trim the edges. You may want to consider raising your lawnmower blades to decrease the stress on your grass. It’s also good to apply a lawn feed. When the hotter spells arrive, either water first thing in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures aren’t so high; your lawn will appreciate a good soaking.

Autumn plants

From pansies to polyanthus, these can now be sown. Fill a small pot or modular seed tray with compost, tamp down the soil and sow thinly across the top, then cover the seed lightly with compost. Place the container into a tray of water and allow it to soak. This will leave the seed undisturbed, compared with watering overhead. Place somewhere warm to germinate and ensure the soil doesn’t dry out.

On the veg patch

Fruit

The ‘June Drop’ is a natural occurrence in apples, pears, plums and peaches. Trees holding a heavy crop will drop a certain amount fruit in and around June. This improves sunlight and air circulation to the remaining crop, whilst reducing the spread of pests and helps prevents heavy branches snapping.

Stone fruit trees, such as cherry and plum, can now be pruned to maintain shape. Remove any branches that are dead, damaged or diseased.

Whilst we harvest fresh strawberries, it’s worth noting that further plants can be produced by propagating the runners of this year’s plants. Or, to retain the plant’s energy for next year’s fruit, cut plants down to 5cm once they’ve finished fruiting. This will encourage new growth and help prevent grey mould. It’s also good to give the plants a feed with a general fertiliser.

Other fruit such as gooseberries, blackberries and raspberries will now be producing their crop, so net the plants to prevent birds from eating the fruit.

Tomatoes

Whether you’re growing cordon or bush varieties, your plants will be taking on a lot of growth and producing trusses. Pinch-out side shoots, ensure your plants are secure and cordon tomatoes are tied in. With flowers on the plant, this is the time to start giving your tomatoes a weekly feed to encourage the fruit to swell. This also applies to peppers, aubergines and chilli plants.

Plant

Squash, pumpkin and sweetcorn can now take their turn on the veg plot. The growing area should be somewhere warm, sunny and sheltered. Incorporate plenty of organic matter into the soil to ensure it is rich and easy draining. When planting, leave plenty of space between squashes and pumpkins as they will grow big. For sweetcorn, arrange the plants in a fairly tight grid formation to ensure pollination occurs for all plants. Water in well and ensure the soil remains moist.

Harvest

Crops planted back in early spring should now be ready for harvesting. These include peas, runner beans, broad beans, chard, potatoes and salad leaves. As gaps appear in your growing space, think about planting up new crops for late summer and autumn harvests.

Maintenance

If you haven’t done so yet, turn your compost heap. The warmer weather will help breaking down matter and speed up the process.

Maintain beds and keep plants stress-free by removing weeds regularly. Try to do it on a warm day when the soil isn’t as moist, as weeds can easily be removed and left to wither on the surface.

Some vegetables, such as brassicas will need netting. Not only to prevent birds attacking them, but stop the white butterfly from laying their eggs.

Carrots are often affected by carrot fly, so create a fleece or mesh barrier at least 50cm high around your crop. This pest can only fly so high, so a netted barrier will prevent them from attacking your young carrots.

Another method of discouraging pests is companion planting. Plants such as marigolds should be planted around tomato plants as their smell discourages pests. Nasturtiums are good for deterring black fly.

As with your garden, ensure you maintain a regular watering regime. Some crops, such as pumpkins and runner beans, will need more watering than other vegetables.

Other jobs

  • Blanket weed should be removed from ponds. Leave removed debris at the side of the pond overnight. This will give any caught animals and insects a chance to return to the water. Check water plants for pests and remove.
  • If you have the space, install water butts. The more you can install, the less strain you’ll have on your water bill, and they’ll help during summer dry spells. Other options are to plant drought resistant and ground covering plants.
  • Create a herb tray on a windowsill. Herbs such as basil and coriander are worth considering and make a wonderful addition to any meal.
  • If you have lavender flowering in the garden, then why not take cuttings and bring indoors. Simply bunch together, tie and suspend somewhere where you can enjoy its fragrance, or consider drying it out to create lavender sachets for your drawers and pillows.

Written by Ade Sellars, garden writer and presenter.