Green Fingers: The gardening season has moved up a gear
Sowing can begin direct outdoors now and this is done with the hope that the weather stays kind for at least four weeks to enable a good germination to take place.
For seasoned gardeners there is never a time when there is nothing to do but the pace goes in predictable cycles. At the other end of the scale there are many people who will complete their entire gardening venture in about six weeks, which starts around the middle of April.
It is a truism in gardening that what you can do today will make life much easier later in the season.
While there is no obvious pressure it does make sense to make a start whenever conditions are favourable, which translates into when it is not raining or blowing a gale or both. Therefore, in theory things can be done at any time of the year but in practice the vast majority of people make a start around this time of year.
Every situation is different and the larger and more comprehensive the garden the more difficult it might be to decide what to tackle first.
If there is a lawn area it would be a priority to have this cut to a reasonable level, otherwise, as the grass is continually growing it will be more difficult to manage later on.
Cutting the grass leaves it and the garden looking much neater and powered with this satisfied feeling, other jobs can be tackled with enthusiasm.
Growing edible crops, which mature this season, means that this part of gardening cannot be neglected. Sowing can begin direct outdoors now and this is done with the hope that the weather stays kind for at least four weeks to enable a good germination to take place. Quite often, otherwise simple crops like carrots and parsnips will not grow if the weather turns cold and wet and then a repeat sowing will have to be done. Growing in a protected structure will eliminate this uncertainty and soon the more tender plants can be planted indoors, such as peppers, cucumbers, aubergines and tomatoes.
There is a general decline in planting summer flowering bulbs and I have to say I am in that frame of mind also as they are more difficult than the spring flowering bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips, and I only dabble in some of them, such as the large fancy dahlias.
I would not grow many flowers from seed either, except for sweet peas and maybe sunflowers, otherwise the plants needed for the patio, hanging baskets and window boxes are easier to buy in the grower packs, which are available from the middle of the month onwards.
The fruiting season is also on the move and most types can be planted from now on and, especially the quick-growing strawberries, which will give you some fruit this year from a planting now.
Even if you are not bothered by the quantity of fruit produced, it is still great fun to be able to pick some from your own home-grown plants.
One of the easiest vegetables to grow is some early potatoes. They can be planted outside in drills, raised beds or in any sort of container larger than a bucket.
Place three tubers per bucket-sized container or about 30cm (1’) apart outside and just cover them with 5cm (2”) of compost and as they grow through, keep putting additional compost up to the neck of the plant to encourage additional potatoes to form.
If you have any queries or comments you are welcome to share them with me on 051 384273 or orchardstowngardencentre@hotmail.com and if of general interest I will include it in a future article.
