OUR gardening expert JOA GROWER suggests that a bit of gardening is a great way to manage those winter blues.
IT’S time to put your feet up and relax. Surely there is nothing to do in the vegetable patch at this time of year is there? In fact I always seem to be just as busy especially as the days are so short. There’s nothing nicer than a bright dry sunny day in the vegetable garden or on the allotment to take away the winter blues. What about that area of soil that you were meaning to get dug over back in the autumn and never quite got around to it? This will be fine to do now, as long as the ground isn’t too wet (I know I’ve said it before but if the mud sticks to your boots stay off the soil) or it’s not frozen. There are plenty of other jobs that can be done. There’s repairs to compost bins or cold frames and of course the greenhouse can always do with a wash inside and out (this increases the all important light levels that are essential to bring on your seedlings in early Spring). Try not to leave these things until the Spring when you want to start using them again. Maybe now is the time to redesign the veg plot and build some raised beds. It can transform the garden it to a much easier space to work in and although the initial outlay can be expensive I have never met any body who has regretted having beds. When constructing your raised beds avoid making them no wider than 4ft (120cm) so that you can easily reach the middle from both sides and don’t make them so long (8ft to 10ft is ideal) that you can’t be bothered to go around them and end up stepping across them. Of course there’s things to do on the rainy days too. You could have a flick through all the seed companies’ catalogues or websites and plan what you’re going to grow this coming year. Why not try something new? These days there are always new varieties that are becoming available in organic seed. It’s not like years ago when you could only get one type of vegetables like cabbage, sprouts, tomato etc. Even if you are not planning on sowing your own seeds this year and are going to be buying vegetable plug plants (of which we at Growers Organics have the largest selection in the South West) its still a good idea to do a garden plan. l SEE you all in February when we reopen the nursery at Yealmpton (next to Ben’s Farm Shop in Yealmpton) and also return to the market in Totnes.
Winter planting- fruit bushes
LATE Winter is the best time to purchase and plant fruit bushes such as currants, gooseberry and raspberry but don’t forget to give them plenty of space. Always imagine the plants final size and room to get around it to pick all that lovely fruit when planting and you can’t go wrong. If you miss this planting opportunity don’t worry you can always buy potted organic fruit bushes right throughout the year. We carry a fairly good selection at both our nursery Growers Organics at Yealmpton or on our market stall at Totnes market from early February until late October. On the subject of fruit we had a fantastic strawberry crop again this year and January is a good time to tidy up the plants. If your bed is over 5 years old you will probably be better of replacing them with new plants. If you just want to increase the size of your strawberry bed now is a great time to remove and pot up some of the larger more healthier strawberry runners( the smaller plants that grow from the parent plant) place them in a cold green house or cold frame and plant out in their final position nearer to spring. Then cut the rest the plants down to the ground and they will come back stronger and more vigorous next year. And of coarse tastier!