PAGEY’S SOW & GROW "PATCH" - April

If one beast from the East wasn't enough we have had the sequel !! How is a man / woman supposed to get their veg growing when the weather is mucking us about....Spring is coming , on no it's not etc etc. Well as my wife often tells me , patience is a virtue and no amount of gazing out the window growling at the freezing temperatures , howling winds and flipping snow is going to bring forward my growing plans. A year ago the sun was shinning and we were out sowing like no tomorrow , but you know nature has a way of catching up , and all we need to do is delay our sowing until the climate is ready. Maybe a little more thought into what we grow will give us a better crop in the summer and autumn.
So my onion, shallot , pepper and tomato seeds are doing great in a warm propagator - they need light now more than heat so they don't get leggy ( long stems because they are searching upwards for light ) . They are all about 10cm high and I will pot them on soon.

The spuds are chitting with stems about 2 cm long......they will be ready for planting once the soil warms up a bit. Last year I planted them end of March - this year my clay soil is shivering so I doubt it will be before 2nd or 3rd week in April before they go in the soil.

Last year all my carrots and parsnips were already sown in buckets / barrels. This year I haven't sown any....I will wait another week to see if anymore mad men from the east intend to invade before I sow directly into barrels outside. However when the weather does buck up I will be sowing lettuce , radish , cucumber , Brussels , cabbages and kale in small pots and trays in the warmth. You know the drill - moist seed compost , some warmth , plenty of light - don't let them dry out or drown ! The most important action will be to harden the seeds off outside during the day ( bringing them in at night or if any frost is about ) at the end of April before planting out. Special focus for me will be Melons again this year - we had loads last year. Sow the seeds in April in pots , in a warm environment ( at least 20c ) and pot on in May. They can be planted out mid May earliest , along with butternut squashes and sweetcorn. I am still eating my squashes from last year....roasted in olive oil and cumin..yum !

Ok , lastly , housekeeping...if you are going to grow Brassicas ( cabbage , cauliflower , kale , Brussels etc ) add some lime or calcified seaweed to the soil now ; keep weeding as some of the little devils will flower soon - get as much of the roots out as possible and lastly be patient...wait before you sow when it's nasty out there.
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PS....I have about 50 thyme plants from last year ( I let a big thyme plant flower and now my bed is full of young plants ) ...if you want one let me know and it will be yours,

Pagey