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- April
- The Vegetable Garden
The Vegetable Garden
Use a three pronged cultivator to stir soil especially where planning to sow seeds or plant out young plant: do not dig deeply as this brings cold soil to the surface. Cloches, polythene or fleece can be used to warm and dry the soil. As the weather improves, take care to ventilate crops already growing under glass, cloches or frames, water and thin out when necessary. In cold weather even heated greenhouses will need to be well insulated as chills to crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers can often lead to significantly lower crop yields later in the season. Outside, protect tender or frosted plants from morning sun by covering with newspaper until they have thawed.
Start onion and shallot sets into growth in small pots indoors if the ground temperatures are cold and plant out later in the month. Plant asparagus crowns in single rows or beds. Asparagus seed can be sown outdoors on a well-drained open site. Brussels sprouts sown earlier in a cold frame can be pricked out into rows 15cms (6″) apart. Alternatively grow plants from seed sown in cool indoor conditions and pot on to large pots using a loam based or peat free compost to minimise the risk of introducing club root to the vegetable garden. Complete planting of early potatoes; in mild areas commence planting main crop varieties. Earth up early potatoes and protect any new shoots against frosts. If you have a greenhouse or propagator and you can provide a night temperature of 10-12°C (50‑55°F) sow tomatoes, peppers, aubergines marrows, courgettes and sweet corn .If you can maintain 18ºC (65F) sow seeds of melons and cucumbers (two seeds per pot and retain the stronger seedling).
Prepare trenches for runner beans incorporating well-rotted manure or garden compost but do not plant until all risk of frost has gone. Most vegetable seed, including winter greens such as winter cabbage, broccoli and Savoy cabbage can be planted in the open ground as soon as the soil warms up. Likewise sow salad crops outdoors every 14‑21 days for a continuous supply. Harden off seedlings of brassicas, leeks and onions raised under glass and later in the month plant out into growing positions. Thin out outdoor sowings of vegetable seedlings to correct spacing to encourage quality plants and crops. Watch for flea beetle on brassica seedlings: if seen use a proprietary contact insecticide suitable for use on edible crops.
Select and plant new herb plants, replacing old tired plants. Prepare a site for annual and biennial herbs to be sown, conditions permitting at the end of the month, i.e. parsley, basil, coriander etc. Cut off any flower heads from rhubarb as soon as they can be recognised and before they develop and weaken the plant.
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