PAGEY’S SOW & GROW "PATCH" - JUNE

Glorious June...when all your hard work of sowing shows real promise. Weather conditions are prime, in theory, with sun and showers. Everything should be zooming up, producing flowers and then fruits. If you sowed all your favourite tender veg in May indoors as we discussed last month they will be ready to plant out. Keep an eye out for a late frost and plant out when there is a week forecast of warm weather. So either sow your seeds direct into well dug over and fertilised soil now or plant out your squash's, marrows, courgettes, runner beans, dwarf beans in the best sunny, sheltered spot you have...and don't forget to water them in and try and get the water to the roots and not onto the leaves. Keep your melons and sweet corn back till the second half of June just in case Jack Frost raises his nasty little head..grrr!

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So, after all my warnings about frost the little so and so did put in an appearance in second week of May. I lost all my buds on the fig tree, it nailed a third of my buds from the wisteria tree and shrivelled the buds on my cherry tree and my Szechuan pepper tree. Sometimes nature trips you up but don't despair the trees will come back but soft plants and veg may not. My advice would be to sow more of the tender plants and replace them with the ones the frost nobbled (and that you keep staring at, hoping they will recover) normally they don't and you have wasted a lot of staring time!
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I was round the Pear Tree Inn last Saturday, being nosey and partaking in a wee drinky with Jo and Charlie and they too had some frost damage, mostly to their grape vine. They have removed the frost damage of the vine and small fruits are growing again, so don't despair. I also saw the best looking cauliflower plants I have ever seen (I know I do get excited over veg) which Jo is growing on in large pots. The lesson is that you can grow anything in pots if you look after them, you don't have to have big borders or raised beds.
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So, this month continue to weed, water and plant or sow your tender veg outside. Don't forget to harden off your pots outside during the day and bring them in at night for a week or so...a pain I know but it works. Keep an eye out for slugs and frosts and deal with both in the best way you know, and sow herbs and salads ever few weeks if you want them all summer. Also deal with the little Red Devil's called Lilly Beatles if you have them on your lilies...they will destroy your plants if you don't pick them off……….!
 
If you have any stories or pictures of what you have grown send them in and we will publish them. Don't be shy, it's a little bit of fun and it's good to share.

I have included a couple of pictures this month to give you an idea how my tender veg are doing, happy growing and eating.

Chris

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