gardening jobs for this month

Fantastic A/P!!! Thanks for this

Brilliant. Thank you.
I have lettuce and broccoli starting to show through. I have recently bought golden delicious, braeburn and bramley apple trees, conference pear, victoria plum and morrelo cherry trees, rasps, blueberry and rhubarb. Just replanted my strawbs in to hanging baskets and planted liatris, eryngium, hosta and gypsophelia.
Still to plant - red jasmine, white jasmine, passion flower, honeysuckle, echinacea, glads, pink phlox, peony, lily of the valley and anemone de caen.

I have a rather large pampas grass I have been chipping away at. It had grown way too big.

Have you any idea if it is possible to keep the large fruit trees small and still get fruit? I have planted them in large plant pots and am going to bury the pots in the garden to try and stop them growing more than 6 feet. Some would grow to 15 feet which would be way to big for my garden.

gardening

Maybe your fruit trees are the wrong type. My Mam used to have fruit trees in her "town garden" and non were more than 6 ft most about 5ft and all were covered in fruit. She had them growing down one side of the garden path that is how compact they were. Hope this helps.

Karren - The apple trees and the willow I have will grow to 15 feet if I leave them to it. I suppose I should have only bought miniature ones but I got these ones very cheaply.

My son came round today and helped me put up my greenhouse. It's a plastic one from Wilkinsons. I've put all my seedlings in there now. Really pleased with it although it only came with 2 3-feet shelves. I've put the shelves from the mini greenhouse in so I now have 6 shelves.

Brilliant. Thank you.
I have lettuce and broccoli starting to show through. I have recently bought golden delicious, braeburn and bramley apple trees, conference pear, victoria plum and morrelo cherry trees, rasps, blueberry and rhubarb. Just replanted my strawbs in to hanging baskets and planted liatris, eryngium, hosta and gypsophelia.
Still to plant - red jasmine, white jasmine, passion flower, honeysuckle, echinacea, glads, pink phlox, peony, lily of the valley and anemone de caen.

I have a rather large pampas grass I have been chipping away at. It had grown way too big.

Have you any idea if it is possible to keep the large fruit trees small and still get fruit? I have planted them in large plant pots and am going to bury the pots in the garden to try and stop them growing more than 6 feet. Some would grow to 15 feet which would be way to big for my garden.

Sorry for not replying, I have had a week of illness and so are behind with other things that need doing (hence why I am working late). I don't grow fruit trees now, but you could prune them to keep them into a shape/height that you can cope with. sounds like at the end of the fruit season you could be making a lot of pies 🙂

are you companion planting as well?

Which varities of strawberries are you growing? Large year some one gave me (as a swap, they got squash and courgette plants and I got strawberry) which I put into a large container and noticed it has produced runners in the ground (I don't know the variety, but they were large and sweet), but I am also growing four seasons and alpine mixed (these are like wild strawberries)

passion flower grown from seed? or did you buy a plant? I planted out a couple of passion flower recently as I want them to grow up the trellis which was put in recently and they are quick to grow and cover.

I think you will be having a very productive time in the garden this year...so lets hope there are no hose pipe bans and lots of warm sunshine.

Companion Planting, this is just a brief list of what some plants like/hate. for example near to where my strawberies are I grow borage (herb) which the bees loves and we need the bees to help give us great produce.

will add to when get time, although anyone else is welcome to add.

Herbs are great not only for cooking/eating raw, but they are great companion plants as well.

Plant/companion

basil/tomatoes
borage/tomatoes, squash, strawberries
chamoilie/cabbage, onion
chervil/radish
chives/carrot
dill.cabbage
mint/cabbage, tomato
rosemary/Cabbage, Beans Carrots, Sage
sage/Rosemary, Cabbage, Carrots

Allotmented!

We have just taken on an allotment, so will be a frequenter of this thread to get some good ideas and advice!

Loving all of this advice - thank you 🙂

I hope you are well again Atlanticpearl.

Yes, I thought I could manage the height of the fruit trees by pruning. A bit worried though that I'll cut off the fruiting part of the branches.

I did buy a passionflower plant. Will it not grow from seed?

The strawberries were bought 2 years ago. No idea what sort they are but they are quite big and very tasty. Just bought a couple more plants from Aldi. Didn't notice the name.

And I have a flower on my peach tree. Whoo-hoo!

I hope you are well again Atlanticpearl.

Yes, I thought I could manage the height of the fruit trees by pruning. A bit worried though that I'll cut off the fruiting part of the branches.

I did buy a passionflower plant. Will it not grow from seed?

The strawberries were bought 2 years ago. No idea what sort they are but they are quite big and very tasty. Just bought a couple more plants from Aldi. Didn't notice the name.

And I have a flower on my peach tree. Whoo-hoo!

Hi Ylangrose. I am not too bad thanks.

You can grow passionflower plants from seed, in the winte rmonths I germinate them indoors, in the warmer months in the unheated greenhouse.

wow that's great a flower on the peach tree any sign of any fruit developing yet?

I wonder if Summer is coming early, as here in the south east we have generally had several warm and sunny days, although yesterday was overcast.

Hope you get a good produce

We have just taken on an allotment, so will be a frequenter of this thread to get some good ideas and advice!

Hi Derek

What are you planning to grow on your allotment?

What a lovely sunny day here in Kent today so much so that I have been pottering in the garden. Do you like herbs? The following is taken from my Planting Guide if you would like a copy please send a private message with your email address.
Herb planting

You can of course buy special herb containers but a window box or flower pots are fine. If you have space in the garden then of course you can create your own herb garden. You can grow some herbs all year around in your kitchen windowsill is a great place as they are handy to reach in all weathers. We have herbs growing in the kitchen, plus also in window type boxes and hanging baskets – we use a lot of herbs – and at the end of the season we also dry and freeze some.

Winter hardy herbs includes English Winter Thyme, Orange Scented Thyme, Rosemary, winter savoury, also parsley, most will survive English winters.

Now what will you grow this year? What are your favourite herbs? I love basil, but grow many different varieites, partiuclarly like Spice as it has a wonderful smell and great tasting.

Have you started off your tomato seeds yet? If not do sow by April if you would like tomtoes this year, I already have plants in flower and hope to start picking blueberry (yes tomatoes called bluebery) by June, also chocolate cherry and many others.

Happy gardening

Rosemary.

My Rosemary bush is looking a little unhappy from the Winter months. It's only about 3 years old, looking very woody and not much new growth on it yet. Any tips would be gladly welcomed 🙂

Hi Derek

What are you planning to grow on your allotment?

We spent the first day on the allotment today digging and weeding. It already has onions (enough for a few years!), broad beans, raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb, gooseberries and leeks!!

Not sure what else we'll grow as we wanted to get it cleared to see what is there and what room we have.

I'll certainly be growing lettuce, however. I know it sounds boring, but I LOVE home grown lettuce fresh cut as there is nothing like it in the shops.

And Savoy cabbage, pumpkins, cucumbers, courgettes and runner beans - I think!

And I'll take my hazelnut tree to plant as it is getting too big for it's pot.

I ache like anything, but had a lovely day - so good to be out in the fresh air and everyone over there is so friendly.

Derek

Sounds like you both need a good massage! Its lovely to be out in the fresh air and although hard work at the moment I am sure your produce will be worth it in the end.

I have some spare cabbage (think its savoy) and lettuce seeds if you would like but would ask for a stamped sae for them (pm for my details if interested). I can't eat cabbage or lettuce (allergy!).

Best wishes
Jane

Rosemary.

My Rosemary bush is looking a little unhappy from the Winter months. It's only about 3 years old, looking very woody and not much new growth on it yet. Any tips would be gladly welcomed 🙂

Does it need repotting? Suggest give it a good drink for a couple of days and then on the third day add some plant food to the watering. hope that helps...do let me know whether its improving after a few weeks (I would plant food once a month).

best wishes
Jane

Does it need repotting? Suggest give it a good drink for a couple of days and then on the third day add some plant food to the watering. hope that helps...do let me know whether its improving after a few weeks (I would plant food once a month).

best wishes
Jane

Think I will try the extra water and food as you suggest.

Yes I think the repotting route may just help too.

Thank you 😀

Thank you Jane, I've sent you a PM.

We could do with a massage, yes, but had to make do with a glass of red wine! My wife is complaining of aching legs, but I'm fine this morning.

I walked the dog past the allotments earlier and am very pleased with what we did yesterday - would quite like to do more today, but suppose I must go to work!

Thank you Jane, I've sent you a PM.

We could do with a massage, yes, but had to make do with a glass of red wine! My wife is complaining of aching legs, but I'm fine this morning.

I walked the dog past the allotments earlier and am very pleased with what we did yesterday - would quite like to do more today, but suppose I must go to work!

Hi Derek

work we must ....to pay the bills.....

I have replied to your pm.

Best wishes
Jane

Glad you are feeling better Jane.

Yes I think the summer is just round the corner. We've had a few lovely warm days in the north-east but yesterday and today were cloudy and not so warm.

I would love an allotment but think it would be too much work for me at the moment. Sounds as if you've done most of the hard work Derek.

Spent an hour in the garden when I got home from work. Repotted my 1 pumpkin and 1 sunflower and also 12 cauliflowers. My sprouts have sprouted, so have my leeks, broccoli and lots of lettuces.

Haven't checked my peach tree this weekend so don't know yet if there's a fruit ready to plump up.

Planted up some new primulas in a box at the bottom of my bird feeder.

I've got a pair of blackbirds in the garden who demand mealworms when I'm out there. They then sit and eat them while I potter about. Sometimes they sit near me watching what I'm doing. I'm sure it must be the same pair who have been coming for a few years now although I'm not sure how long they live.

Glad you are feeling better Jane.

Yes I think the summer is just round the corner. We've had a few lovely warm days in the north-east but yesterday and today were cloudy and not so warm.

I would love an allotment but think it would be too much work for me at the moment. Sounds as if you've done most of the hard work Derek.

Spent an hour in the garden when I got home from work. Repotted my 1 pumpkin and 1 sunflower and also 12 cauliflowers. My sprouts have sprouted, so have my leeks, broccoli and lots of lettuces.

Haven't checked my peach tree this weekend so don't know yet if there's a fruit ready to plump up.

Planted up some new primulas in a box at the bottom of my bird feeder.

I've got a pair of blackbirds in the garden who demand mealworms when I'm out there. They then sit and eat them while I potter about. Sometimes they sit near me watching what I'm doing. I'm sure it must be the same pair who have been coming for a few years now although I'm not sure how long they live.

What variety of sunflower are you growing? last year I grew some velvet queen they were lovely.

I noticed recently the birds especially the sparrows are trying to get insects off my herb plants and the herbs like chocolate mint which is slowly coming back to live...is quite twiggy and perhaps they want that for their nest!

Your garden sounds like it will be very colourful, would love to see some pictures

now is the time to start thinking about planting your summer bulbs plant abuot 4 inches deep. Should frost be forecast then cover with extra soil and protect with a cover, like fleece, bubble wrap, empty plastic bottles, etc

start growing your sweet peas now if you haven't already sown your seeds. Last year I grew some dwarf ones in hanging baskets and they looked spectular...at the moment in my h.baskets i have pansies and violas and I am reluntant to remove them as they are still giving a great display.

time to sow those beans, parsnips, herbs, etc

------------------------------------------

do you like tomatoes? a new variety that I am growing this year is called Betalux its an early dwarf variety producing red fruits (its already in flower), also one of the peach varities of tomatoes that I am growing has started to come into flower as well as the tiny currant sweet pea. If you haven't already sown your tomato seeds, do get a move on, if you want to pick your produce this year. Quicker of course to grow/flower/produce would be the cherry type rather than the large beefsteak varities

Beetroot seeds can be grown in pots or directly outside from now to about June. if growing in pots, then transplant out when they are more established.
Plant 30 cm apart, 2 cm deep.

these are just a few varieties that I grow
Boltardy sweet fresh flavour. Round roots with good internal colouring.

Chioggia Barbietola highly unusual beet with rings of pink and white.

Cylindra Uniquely shaped long slim cylindrical beetroot with a dark red colour of both the outer smooth skin and inner sweet tasting flesh. Ideal variety for slicing. Especially productive in small areas

Golden Detroit - Golden globe variety producing roots with a most attractive bright golden-yellow colour, retained when cooked, of a delicious flavour. Mature roots do not become fibrous and avoids the red bleeding / staining of normal varieties. In addition the tops can be harvested and utilized as spinach throughout the season. Good resistance to bolting and stores well.

Perfect 3 globe shape deep red flesh

back soon with an update on what else to sow

Hi Atlantic pearl
That is very thoughtful of you to have this thread going.
Ruby
x

Hi Atlantic pearl
That is very thoughtful of you to have this thread going.
Ruby
x

Hi Jnani, its a case of I add to it when I can..but do add anything you want to it too. I hope later today if I get the time to add some more info...happy gardening

April sowing

Aubergine/eggplant

Can be grown in flower pots, last year I used a flower pot about 8" wide per plant. they prefer a sheltered position.

Sometimes tricky to germinate, have found the three best types for good germination have been. temp around 21c for germination.

Black Beauty (deep purple) Deep purple, egg shaped globes growing to about 5 inches. Flesh is smooth, creamy and pale yellow.
Tigrina (Tsakoniki). Greek variety. Long cylindrical fruit lilac ski with white streaks.
Violetta Lunga Di Napoli (deep purple) Attractive, productive and early fruiting Italian variety producing long, cylindrical and smooth dark violet fruit.

Courgettes

seeds take about 7-14 days usually for germination. common variety is green bush

Sunny spot, protected from cold winds. They prefer a well drained soil rich in humus (ours our grown successfully in large containers of miracle gro compost). Allow approximately 30” between the plants. Keep soil moist, water around the plants, not over them. Once fruits start to appear feed weekly with a diluted tomato feed. These are a few of the ones that I grow:-

Bianca di Trieste - Light green courgettes fruits are creamy white with a luscious, rich, creamy taste and texture, best picked regularly around fat cigar size.


Bolognese traditional plump, oval variety originating from Bologna, Italy light green fruits are produced in abundance, have an excellent flavor and are the perfect variety for slicing.

Cocozelle Di Napoli - Light and dark green striped fruits on compact bush plants. They are best picked young and tender.

Defender - Heavy-cropping in a neat, compact form and virus resistant


Early gem - Very early crop of dark green fruits with a lighter green stripe. Dual purpose as the fruits can be left to form good shaped marrows.


Golden Yellow - cylindrical courgettes, pick when about 6 inches long. Flesh is pale white and milder than the green varieties.

Italian Stripped/Striato d’Italia (green) - light green stripes and small ribbing. Pick when about 9 inches long.

Long Green Trailing - A prolific cropper producing tasty dark courgettes which trail.



Primula – Early cropping variety with a good resistance to powdery mildew and types of mosaic virus. Produces heavy crops of long glossy fruits over a long season



Toda di Piacenza - Fruits are round, firm on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside. Pick when about 5 inch in diameter. An early extremely productive dark green spherical variety originating near Parma. It's shape makes it ideal for stuffing. Bake them whole and they stay firm on the outside and go soft and creamy inside.

Next to the cucumbers, sometimes seeds can be hard to germinate depending on the variety, the common ones for here are Marketmore and Telegraph (telegraph perfer to be grown in a greenhouse)

Cucumbers like a sheltered sunny position. Can be trained on trellis or left to roam. All cucumber varieties except Telegraph require a second cucumber (any variety) to ensure pollination. If growing indoors, plant two cucumbers in a growing bag at the end of May and support with a garden cane attached to the ceiling of the greenhouse. Outdoor plant 35” apart (can be grown in large containers). After planting, the top of the rootball should sit at the same level as the surface of the soil. Regularly secure stems of indoor varieties to the cane and once it has reached the roof, pinch out the tip. Pinch out the shoots from side branches holding fruit, leaving two leaves after each. All female varieties produce fruit on the main stem, so remove laterals altogether. Allow outdoor varieties to trail across the ground. Many varieties have both male and female flowers on the same plants. Both should be left on outdoor varieties, but pinch off the male flowers when they appear on indoor varieties to prevent the fruit from becoming bitter. The flowers are easy to tell apart - the female flower has a swelling beneath it that will become a cucumber. Alternatively, choose all female flower varieties. I grow about 20 different kinds! green and white, short, long and curly.

Marketmore Ridge slicing type cucumber produces straight, dark green fruits with white spines. Pick when about 8 inch long.

Telegraph (dark green) - Long dark English Type mild flavour. Produces male and female flowers. Must be trellised to achieve perfect shaped fruits.

if you are growing in a container or have limited space then would recommend bush crop or spacemaster

Bush crop – Bush variety with fruits that are about 6-8 in ( 15-20 cm) in length, crisp. ideal choice for gardens where space is at a premium

Spacemaster Compact dark green pick when about 7 to 8 inches long. Vines need only 1/3 the space of standard cucumbers, hence ideal for smaller gardens.

and for something unusual

Crystal lemon (lemon coloured skin, lime green flesh) - Apple-shaped fruits, with lemon-coloured skin and lime green flesh, which is very mild, sweet, and never bitter. Best harvested at lemon size. Use in salads, pickling or eating like an apple.

Lettuce - easy to grow lots of different varieties available (if you would like a little bag of about 20 lettuce seeds mixed varieties - then please send me a PM as you will need to send me a stamped sae for them)


all your salad items seeds should be sown now, if not already done

How about growing something different this year? Melons including watermelons...great if you aren't on a water meter!

Architokes.....interesting and stunning for your flower border, will overwinter if you protect them and are best eaten the second year. i am currently growing 3 types



Artichoke –Green globe perennial vegetable producing large flower heads which are deep green faintly tinged with purple with solid hearts. Silver-green foliage and large flower heads. The fleshy base of the petals and the meaty heart are the most edible parts. Buds are usually cut when 6-10cm in diameter. Vigorous and prolific plants grow up to a height of 1.8m and will produce the first year but are usually better when cut back and carried over to the second year.

Artichoke – Romanesco (ITALIAN) rich purple/violet colour with large round bronze and purple tinged heads. Spineless about 5 ft tall with silvery foliage. Harvest about one year later.

ARTICHOKE VIOLETTA CHIOGGIA (Italian) purple/violet colour A traditional Italian Purple / violet coloured variety which produces an abundance of medium sized globes which have tender, meaty leaves with an excellent delicate artichoke flavour. Also an attractive foliage plant for a border.

how about
CHICORY - VARIEGATA DI CHIOGGIA (Italian) attractive round heads and greenish leaves which turn to reddish and white variegated as colder weather beckons and the hearts form. A very hardy variety and an excellent late crop ?

this year I am growing chick peas, thought it wold make a change to beans and peas, although saying that I am growing those too!!!

have you grown okra or pay choi before?

there is so much that you could sow but if you have any questions please ask away, I will answer when I can (or maybe another HP'er will answer your question)

Seeds I do have some packets of seeds available free for a stamped sae - see under Free Seeds - PM me for details.

Also besides doing HT work I am also a plant grower/seller and do sell seeds (small packets) and plug plants...if you want details please PM me.

next time i will do some info on flowers

The sunflowers I am growing are called Single Giant. I am keeping them in the greenhouse as long as possible because whenever I've tried to grow them before, they have got to a few inches high and then disappeared. Not sure if it has been slugs and snails or birds which have eaten them.

Jack o'Lantern pumpkins. Everything got mixed up when the greenhouse capsized so not sure what are sunflowers and what are pumpkins.

Cucumbers are DelikateB. Think I got the seeds from Aldi. Quite a few of them coming up.

Leeks are Musselburgh. Quite a few of them. Look like grass at the moment.

Early sprouting Purple Broccoli. Think I have a few of them.

Greyhound cabbage - 8 seedlings now.

Cauliflower - can't remember which variety but about 12 of them.

Lots of Gardeners Delight tomatoes.

I did have a flower on my peach tree but it has disappeared.

Quite a few flowers on my Golden Delicious and Bramley and my strawberries.

Not sure how to post pictures but will have a go.

Thanks for reminding me about beans. Still haven't sewn them or my peas. Haven't got any room in the greenhouse now so will sew them direct in the ground although they only grew to about 6 inches last year.

...

ylangrose at the bottom under the message box it says attachments you go there to add your photos

Thank you Atlanticpearl. Let's see if I can do it. I did find a place where I can make a photo album.

Tulips, daffodils and pansies.