Gardening- No Thanks

Gardening – No thanks

As I review a plethora of gardening calendars for this month I keep coming to the same conclusion. It’s just too cold and wet! We can expect sub-zero temperatures, gale force winds, frost pockets and a deluge of rain.

However, for those of us willing to brave the outdoors this is the month to batten down the hatches and make sure everything is secure, well staked and protected. And, if you are feeling particularly adventurous then you could always ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days, dig over vacant plots, prune apple and pear trees and reshape the lawn.

Vegetables – Yes please

Alternatively, why not start thinking vegetables. I started growing ‘my-own’ last year on a small scale and was truly amazed at the results. Ok, we never became self-sufficient, but picking your own ripe tomatoes in October was a real sense of achievement, if not slight odd!

You don’t have to have masses of space to grow vegetables, a small sunny area in the garden is ideal or alternatively you can use a range of containers. From my experience last year, the amount of success you have or yield, very much depends on the time you want to invest.

If you’re not an experienced grower, then I would advise keeping it simple and manageable at least in the first year. Select some of the basic family favourites, but don’t be put of experimenting with some of the Classic Mediterranean vegetables such as tomatoes, aubergines and peppers especially if you have a sheltered hot spot such as a sunny patio.

Seed or Seedlings
Again, this rather depends on your time. There are a host of seeds available and a large number are now ‘sow direct’ which as the name suggests can be sown direct into your plot or out into your containers. Alternatively, you can sow into seed trays and shelter them during the colder weather before planting them out later.

Seedlings are obviously more expensive but provide greater flexibility as you simply plant them out as and when they are available at your local garden centre. However, you maybe limited on choice in some instances.

General care

• For containers most crops will grow perfectly well in a multi-purpose compost, either peat based or peat free.

• If sowing into the ground, then ensure the plot is weed free, has good drainage and dig in a soil improver or manure to give you crops a kick-start.

• Maintain an even water supply and ensure good drainage to prevent water-logging.

• Apply a high nitrogen liquid fertiliser if growth flags and high potassium liquid fertiliser for flowering and fruiting crops.

• Ensure any pest and disease control products you use on your vegetables or fruit are suitable for edible plants.