Plant hyacinths for early flowering
Sow spring flowering plants such as cyclamen, schizanthus and exacums
Repot cacti if needed
Continue to feed pot plants regularly
For the Kitchen Garden
Continue taking cuttings of herbs such as lemon verbena, sage and thyme. (The
Compact Rootrainer is ideal for this.)
Spinach, Perpetual Spinach and Swiss Chard are vital for autumn and winter picking. Perpetual Spinach is a better value for money vegetable than ordinary spinach as it will continue to give pickings through into May of next year.
Swiss Chard and coloured Chard if sown now will give some pickings in the autumn, but really will come into its own in April through to June of next year and that is good because at that time other vegetables are thin on the ground. The Rowplanter is ideal for this.
Spring Cabbage can also be sown and even a short row is worth growing. It can be sown alongside the overwintered onions and so give you space for winter digging in other areas. Both the onions and the cabbage should be sown quite thickly and this will allow for winter losses.
Continue to remove the side shoots on the tomato plants if you are training them as cordons. Also carefully remove the lower leaves with a sharp knife to allow the fruits to ripen
Winter radishes are a pleasure and so easy to grow. If you have deep soil try the “Spanish Black” variety and on thinner soils “Mantanghong”. These can easily be sown in the Rowplanter trays and then slide the rows out into the ready prepared trenches. You will need to cover the rows with insect proof mesh like Wondermesh to avoid problems with flea beetles. The Rowplanter is ideal to use for radishes as there is absolutely no root disturbance when sliding out into the prepared trench.
TIP: Seeds sown in modular tray systems make spacing easier, save time in pricking out and produce strong sturdy plants with little or no disturbance when transplanting . Cuttings can also be overwintered in the modular trays so saving time and space and limiting disturbance to root systems. The new Compact Rapid Rootrainer is an ideal start for successful cuttings
Check plants regularly to see if watering is needed. You would normally water actively growing plants several times a week and more so if the weather is hot and evaporation is taking place
*Planting out Outdoors
This month you will need to continue weeding regularly and dead head border and container plants regularly to ensure constant flowering.
Plant colchicums, to flower in autumn (if not done last month)
Divide and replant border irises and other rhizomes if not done last month
Start planting spring flowering bulbs
Plant lilies
Continue to sow biennial seeds
Dahlias and Chrysanthemums need plenty of feeding and disbudding
Prune rambler roses
Layer border carnations (if not done last month)
Sow more vegetables for succession crops e.g. spinach, parsley, beetroot, carrots
, lettuces and turnips. If you keep your
Rowplanters stocked up planting succession crops becomes so easy and quick.
Plant out late cauliflowers, winter cabbages and leeks
Pinch out the growing tips of runner beans when they reach the top of their support
Tidy up summer flowering strawberries. Cut off unwanted runners and old leaves.
*In the Greenhouse
Check all the plants regularly for signs of pests and diseases which often increase as the temperature rises especially
white fly and greenfly at this time of year.
Increase ventilation on warm days.
Increase watering of plants in warm weather . Damp down regularly, splashing water on the floor and under the staging to increase humidity levels. (This will help to control pests especially the Red Spider Mite)
Shade the Greenhouse or Conservatory to prevent major temperature fluctuation if the weather is unstable.
The indications given above assume you will be using
Rootrainers seed trays and or/plug plants produced in Rootrainers. If you are using conventional seed trays, then the growth cycle is likely to be longer. Also remember if you are using Rootrainers seed trays you will not have to do any potting up of your cuttings and you will save on compost.
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