ORGANIC GARDENING
It’s a new growing year and JOA GROWER has some tips for gardeners on protecting your new seedlings, and maximising your early crops.
Welcome once again to the beginning of a new growing year. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed its as good as the last one for us gardeners. For those of you with greenhouses it is sowing time but don’t forget that doesn’t mean you have to sow a whole packet every time. The majority of seeds will last 2 or 3 years as long as you store them properly in a cool dry place (a biscuit tin in the shed would be ideal). Keep an eye on the forecast for frosts as plants in an unheated greenhouse may still need just a little more extra protection. At Growers Organics we line the small greenhouses with bubble wrap which helps to increase the temperature. Those of you growing your seeds on the window sill at home, don’t forget as soon as your seedlings start to come through the compost, turn the pots or trays every day. This will help to stop them becoming tall and leggy. Outside it’s tidying up time, remove any old and unwanted plants, weeds and canes left from the previous season. Spread bought or homemade compost over your beds. If you’re going to use manure make sure it’s well rotted (over a year old). No need to dig this in the worms will do it for you.
Feed any autumn planted brassicas with liquid comfrey or a general fertiliser. Picking purple sprouting broccoli regularly will encourage more spears. You’ve waited months for it to produce, so you might as well get the maximum crop from it. Seed potatoes are now available in the shops. We shall have a selection of certified organic early and main crop potatoes at both the nursery and our market stall at Totnes Market. Before planting them out, chitting or sprouting helps them get off to good start. To do this place them in seed trays or egg boxes. Then leave them in the greenhouse or on the window sill for a few weeks. The growing shoots should be nice and short and stocky. Not tall pale and spindly, as these will probably get damaged whilst being planted out. When planting don’t forget to label which are your ‘Earlies’ and which are your ‘Main Crop’. Early potatoes you dig up from July onwards as and when you need them. Your main crop are for harvesting from late September to October, for using and storing over the Winter months. Onion sets and shallots will also be available now. After planting them out keep an eye on them, because the birds have great fun in pulling them back up.
Protect your newly raised seedlings
IT’S always around this time of the year when you’re not sure whether it’s too early to plant out your newly raised seedlings or recently bought transplants. (At Growers Organics we are well in the swing of growing, and have a good selection to choose from). So here are few tips on how to protect them. There are various things you can do probably the easiest is to cover your plants with some horticultural fleece. You’ll be amazed at how good it is at keeping the frost off. A simple cloche is also fairly simple to erect. Just use some rigid blue water pipe (which is available from all builders merchants) to create the hoops. I would make them no lower than 60cm high. Cover them either with polythene to create a mini poly-tunnel or with fleece, as I mentioned earlier. You may want to use them again later in the year with netting, to protect your plants from birds or butterflies. If you want to get posh, you could try your hand at making a cold frame. For this you will need to find one or two old windows (the local recycling centre is always a good place to start looking) and some good solid boards or bricks. Try to make it tall enough to accommodate taller plants throughout the season. Whatever you end up making, you will be guaranteed to be getting your growing season off to a good start. We shall be back at Totnes market from mid February on Fridays and mid March on Saturdays. Growers Organics in Yealmpton will be reopening on Monday February 20.
Reconnect’s Organic Gardening column is written by Joa Grower of
Growers Organics. Meet her at Totnes market on Fridays and Saturdays.
Visit www.growersorganics.com, or call 01752 881180.