Page 36 - The Local Eye - Issue 138 - April 2017

36

There is no beating the taste of truly fresh
fruit and veg especially, when it’s yours!
Gardening Tips for April
Now it is April, Easter is upon us and everyone is expecting the
warmer weather to arrive. Be warned, one warm day is not the start of
summer and frost is not unknown at this time of year.
Last month we concentrated upon the vegetable plot. Now it is
the time to focus on our fl ower garden. How to maximise all those
glorious colours and bring them into the house where possible.
Whether it is foliage or fl owers, there are hundreds of fl owers you can
set from seed in April.
It is probably best to sow your seeds indoors in modules or trays as
per the seed supplier’s instructions. Whilst these are germinating you
should prepare the ground you intend to plant them.
Consider the colour and height combinations for your borders. I have found a great wall chart you can
study in your planting preparations. Which plants are Perennial, Annual, Biennial, Hardy, Half Hardy.
Flowers that are great for arrangements, cutting fresh and others that are just right for drying.
hub.suttons.co.uk/featured/cut-fl ower-wall-chart-and-growing-guide
If you are planning a new bed it is best to take a bit of time and eff ort in the preparation. You would be
disappointed later on to have a weed infested border, so dig them out by hand now. At this point cover
the ground with some black plastic. In doing this any remaining weeds will seek out the light and after
a short time you can peel back the plastic to uncover the white roots. You should clear them thoroughly.
Flowers do not require much fertilizer but a dressing of Blood, Fish & Bone together with a little
Growmore will get your new plants going.
Gardening Tips for May
Marvellous May! One the most exciting and busy months of the gardening calendar.
If you have been growing Asparagus, you only have about 5 to 6 weeks
left to harvest the best delicious shoots from your crop.
Potatoes will need earthing up to protect the stems, help prevent the
tubers from becoming green and poisonous whilst assisting
further tuber growth.
Create some protection for your Brassicas, Carrots and Fruit Bushes.
Cover seed beds with fl eece to keep the soil warmer in readiness for sowing.
In the greenhouse you should give good ventilation on warm days to limit the amount of airborne
moisture and reduce the risk of seedlings ‘Damping Off ’. My wife uses only tap water for seeds and
seedlings rather than rain water and this seems to work in reducing the damage caused by damping off .
Now is a good time to place your Grow Bags in the greenhouse to warm up in readiness for planting,
Tomatoes, Peppers, Aubergines, Chillies, Melons and Cucumbers.
There is no truth in the fear of Bitterness or Cross Pollination in the growing Melons and Cucumbers
together. Give it a go if you want to.
Soft fruit such as Raspberries and Gooseberries may require thinning out to avoid overcrowding and
assist in a more juicy harvest. Any Strawberry runners required for raising new plans later should have
the fl ower buds removed to make them stronger.
Do try to collect rainwater for those occasions when we do have a dry spell.
Keep the lawn mowed weekly. Trim the edges to create a gully and prevent the grass from creeping into
your borders.
North Bournemouth Allotment Society, Cornelia Road, BH10 4FG
www.northbournemouthallotmentsociety.co.uk

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