Anyone who has grown carrots will know the damage carrot root fly can cause. The fly’s maggots can kill off seedlings and also burrow into the root of mature plants leaving brown unsightly tunnels behind. Carrot root fly also affects parsnips and even celery. Continue reading
July is generally one of the driest months of the year so most of your time will be spent watering. Generally, a good soaking every two-three days is better than a little bit of water every day. You can save yourself a lot of time and water by mulching with organic matter.
The risk of frost will have passed and so if you’ve yet to plant out those tender plants, now is the time to do it. There is still plenty to do on the plot but with the extra daylight available, you should have plenty of time to get on top of things. Continue reading
No vegetable plot is complete without runner beans. They are probably the most productive vegetable you can grow and you will often give them away. Because they are so productive, they require humus-rich soil, and it is often a good idea to build a bean trench.
May can be one of the busiest months of the year for a gardener. The soil is warming up and things should be growing quite well now. However it is worth keeping an eye on the weather, late frosts are not unknown and catch people out. If a frost is forecast, cover young and vulnerable plants with a fleece.
Spring is here, the soil is starting to warm up and by now your seedlings should start popping up. However it is important to keep an eye on the weather as cold snaps in April are not unknown.
Weeds will also take this opportunity to take over, so keep the hoe going. Simply slide your hoe back and forth under the soil to kill and stop the weeds taking hold. Also remember to sharpen your hoe to make things easier. Continue reading
Brussels Sprouts is a hardy slow growing vegetable that belongs to the brassica family. It is a staple vegetable throughout winter and tastes even better when the plant has been exposed to a frost.
March is the month when the weather usually starts to get better and things are springing into action. March is the meteorological beginning of spring but the weather can still be bad, and can catch people out. Continue reading
Sweetcorn is an easy crop to grow and loves long hot summers. Sweetcorn is wind pollinated, so you will need to grow it in blocks and traditionally each plant produces one or two cobs. Continue reading
Spring is just around the corner but yet February can still be one of the coldest months of the year. If the weather permits you can start some early sowing or even plant outside. However, if the conditions aren’t right, delay your sowing until the weather warms up a little.