In the old days gardeners used to say not to plant out in the garden until the bluebells have come out. This was an indicator that the cold of winter was passed and the warmth of summer was on its way. Over the last few years spring has become rather disrupted with temperatures in April …Read More about April: Spring has sprung
March: Starting indoors
All the best city gardens start in the house. With the weather too cold outside and spring not far away now is the time to get all the summer plants started indoors ready for planting outside in May. This is a sensitive time for gardeners and their partners. It is suggested gardening activities be confined …Read More about March: Starting indoors
February: Strange gardening weather
February and March are not really good gardening months. In the old days there would be a slow transition from proper winter weather (snow) into cold dry days before spring. This year with 3 days in February the warmest on record here, one could be excused for thinking spring might come early. However, with April …Read More about February: Strange gardening weather
January: Starting Chilli Peppers
January is the quiet month outdoors. The winter crops (garlic, broad beans and onions) are in the pots and beds and waiting for the big frost and snow. Winter salads (chard, pak choy and lettuce) have grown well and should stand through the cold. Now is the time to head indoors and leave the garden …Read More about January: Starting Chilli Peppers
Winter raised bed
With summer crops finished and the raised bed cleared and fed with compost, it is time to organise the winter planting. In this garden rows of onions, garlic and broad beans fill the raised bed over winter for harvesting in late spring. Other crops have been tried but with the damp conditions in the garden …Read More about Winter raised bed
Summer’s end compost
For many gardeners this time of year is actually the start of the annual growing cycle. Clearing away this summer’s crops to the compost bin and digging out the finished compost from last year’s garden waste starts the cycle for next year. With an abundance of green material from the garden (tomatoes, beans, cucumber, courgettes, …Read More about Summer’s end compost