Page 42 - The Local Eye - Issue 126 - April 2016

42

There is no beating the taste of truly fresh
fruit and veg especially, when it’s yours!
Gardening Tips for April
Keep weeds under control. Protect fruit blossom from hungry birds. Tie in climbing and rambling
roses. Sow hardy annuals and herb seeds. Increase the water given to houseplants. Feed hungry
shrubs and roses. Sow new lawns or repair bare patches. Apply a general-purpose fertiliser to
borders and beds. Put supports in place for herbaceous plants, peonies, other heavy fl owering
blooms and perennials before they get too large. Criss-cross strings from hidden or decorative
posts work well. Remove faded daffodil and tulip fl owers, nipping off the heads and seed pods.
Apply chemical or biological control if vine weevil larvae damage or wilting is evident.

Chit and plant out second early potatoes in the fi rst half of the month, maincrop potatoes in the
second half. Sow outdoors for beetroot, carrots, Swiss chard, summer caulifl ower, lettuce, leeks,
radish, turnip, spring and pickling onions, peas and perpetual spinach in well-prepared soil. Dwarf
French Beans and Sweet Corn under cloches later in month.
Sow indoors for marrows, courgettes, pumpkins, squash, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers,
aubergines, celery, celeriac, salads and globe artichokes.
Sow a seedbed of sprouting broccoli, caulifl owers and cabbages for
planting out in June or July.
Plant broad beans grown in pots, shallots, onion sets and garlic, Jerusalem
artichokes and Asparagus crowns.
Pot up tomato seedlings when they develop true leaves above the more
rounded seed leaves. Support pea plants with sticks, twigs, green support or
wire netting. Thin out rows of seedlings as soon as they are large enough to
be handled. Protect early outdoor sowings with fl eece and polythene.
Gardening Tips for May
Once risk of frost has passed, plant out tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins that were previously
sown under cover. After hardening off other young plants can be planted.
Check for small holes fl ea beetles make on brassica seedlings. Water plants well to help them
continue growing despite the pest damage.
Protect carrots with insect-proof mesh to prevent carrot root fl y. Slug controls are necessary
now, as always. Protect brassicas and peas from pigeons. Earth up potatoes, and plant any still
remaining. Plant out summer bedding at the end of the month. Hoe off weeds regularly.
Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days. Mow lawns weekly
Check for nesting birds before clipping hedges.
Lift and divide overcrowded spring-fl owering bulbs and Forget-me-nots.Plant out cannas and
dahlias. Tubs can be planted up with summer bedding. To grow your own spring bedding for next
year, many common choices (including wallfl owers, pansies, and daisies) need to be sown between
now and July in order to fl ower next spring, as they are biennials.
Plant winter bedding seed from now until July.
Remove faded wallfl owers and spring bedding, to make space for summer plantings. Apply a
liquid fertiliser to spring bulbs after they have fl owered, to encourage good fl owering next year,
and help prevent daffodil blindness.
Allow the foliage of spring-fl owering bulbs to die down naturally.
North Bournemouth Allotment Society, Cornelia Road, BH10 4FG
www.northbournemouthallotmentsociety.co.uk
To advertise <> 08000 430485 <> email: info@thelocaleye.com <> www.thelocaleye.com

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