Gardener’s often say “spring is late this year.” In olden days this meant the chill of winter had lasted longer. In the last couple of years here this has meant the weather in April and May has been unpredictable with fluctuations in temperature (especially at night) making it difficult to move plants outdoors so they …Read More about May: Summer is coming
Posts relating to hardening off
Extreme Gardening
Gardening in the recent extreme conditions is not for the faint hearted. While Tuesday (20 March) was the spring equinox, the first day of spring, the Sunday before (18 March), was the coldest 18th March recorded in Belgium since records began in 1901. However, with some simple adaptations crops can be started in these conditions …Read More about Extreme Gardening
Tomato planting time
Time to plant tomatoes outside. It has not been the best of springs for hardening off tomatoes (moving them from indoors to outdoors). Extreme heat during days and cold nights up until early May has meant the plants started from seed were indoors longer than usual. The extreme heat is challenging for young plants. Tomato …Read More about Tomato planting time
Planting courgettes
Courgettes are one of the most productive garden vegetables that can be grown in a city garden. Two plants in a large container will produce one or two courgettes per week. Courgettes can be grown in soil beds but as they are the absolute favourite of slugs and snails, containers can work better. Courgette seeds …Read More about Planting courgettes
Turn in the weather
According to tradition planting out should only begin when the bluebells have passed. In recent years spring weather has become quite unreliable with late cold spells and heavy rains. This has reduced the window of opportunity for getting many plants started and hardened off before the summer heat starts. The sharp changes in weather of …Read More about Turn in the weather
Hardening off gallery
The process of moving seedlings from the warmth and protection of the house or greenhouse outdoors into the garden is called “hardening off.” This most delicate time in plant growth, following weeks of careful nurturing of small plants from seed, leaves the gardener at the mercy of outdoor elements often unpredictable and fast changing. While …Read More about Hardening off gallery