gardening
Vegetables As it warms up (hopefully!) potatoes will grow very quickly within moist conditions. Earth up Potatoes - which is when you draw up the soil around the stems of the plants to leave a small shoot uncovered. This increases the length of the underground stems that will bear Potatoes. Plant any remaining potato tubers now. Mulch Strawberry plants to so that the fruits are off the ground and deblossom Strawberry runners planted in the spring. When the Strawberries start to grow bigger and swell, avoid overwatering to avoid grey mould. Cover them, and other fruit, with netting to protect from pests and birds. Sow Beetroot, Winter Cabbages, Carrots, Peas, Broad and Runner Beans, Lettuce and Spring Onions.
breezemagazine 36
Prepare the ground by weeding and raking the surface to break down large clumps of soil. Sow seeds finely into a furrow made with a trowel, covering the seeds with soil and then watering well. Staggering sowings prevents a glut of any one crop. Potting on m Plants that are showing signs of being root bound need potting on. Root bound plants will look distressed and unhealthy, and if you see the roots growing out of the drainage holes that’s a sure sign a bigger home is needed for the plant as there is not enough soil in the pot to retain any moisture causing them to wilt quickly after watering. Use some liquid feed on containers every two weeks and ensure tubs and baskets are well watered.
Protection May is still in ‘frost territory’ here in the UK so make sure you protect tender plants. Pests such as Vine Weevil larvae can cause serious damage to plants within containers. Vine Weevil can be checked for by tipping out the rootball and inspect for the creamy orange-headed maggots, which will tend to curl up into a ‘c’ shape. Rescue is possible if the damage is not too extensive. Wash off all the compost and remove the grubs and remaining eggs, then replant in fresh compost. Some plants are more at risk from attack than others, eg. Primulas, Fuchsias and Impatiens, but most plants in pots are at risk. The Nematode - Steinernema kraussei is a biological control and goes under the trade names of Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer or Grubsure so look at these to prevent re-infestation. m Now, if you done all this it may be just the time for that familiar sound beloved of most gardeners.... the kettle boiling ready for a cuppa! Enjoy.