After a very dull and thoroughly miserable February, we’re finally in March and getting things sown. I find making a list helpful. Firstly, it makes sure I don’t forget something, but a list helps me avoid sowing at the wrong time.
Seeds sown In seed trays in Vitopod Propagator
There’s always a temptation to sow too early. We’re itching to get on with things and a sunny day is enough to make us feel the time is right. Plus we’re bombarded with seed merchants trying to make us buy now, rather than holding back until the time is right. Because they’re all doing it, it becomes a battle where they have to outdo each other to catch the business.
Resist the urge. I think more crops fail from being sown too early than too late. Living, as we do, fairly near to the sea, means our climate is mild. However, being 200 metres above the sea level, means we’re colder than our geographical location might suggest. Tricky! Still, after living here for 15 years, I’ve a fair idea of what I can get away with, and when.
For example, back at the start of April in 2012, we followed sunny weather and temperatures in the 20’s with freezing temperatures and a full-scale blizzard. We also started April 2016 and April 2024 with snow. In fact, snow at the end of March, beginning of April is quite common here – even if the weather has been lovely earlier in the month.
Potatoes
If I planted my potatoes outdoors in February, they’d be showing by April, and a cold snap would set them well back, assuming they survived. I know our weather here has more in common with Ireland than the Midlands, so I look at following the traditional Irish timing of sowing on St. Patrick’s rather than Easter.
Easter’s a very moveable feast, so there’s no real horticultural sense to Easter sowing. It made a lot of sense though for people to plant then as they had a holiday and time to do the job.
The exception to my potato planting rule is the Casablanca first earlies. They’re planted in the polytunnel, sheltered from cold. If we have a cold snap, I’ll cover the bed with fleece to help further. The problem with fleece outdoors here is wind. Holding it down if we get a good blow can be problematic.
These will be our earliest potatoes, and we should be harvesting from mid-May. The bed in the polytunnel is filled with a multipurpose compost. I’m using the same compost as last year, but I’ll have to change it for fresh next season to stop disease build-up.
Since the growing medium will be nutrient-depleted, added Elixir Spuds Galore fertiliser. It provides a basic 15-9-20 fertiliser plus magnesium and sulphur. After planting, I watered with added S-Chelate Cultiv-8 to ensure micronutrient availability. Nothing to do now apart from water until harvest.
Leeks
I’ve sown my Giant D’Inverno leeks in trays which are in the propagator at 15ºC. The temperature will ensure a good, fairly fast germination. Once up, I’ll transplant into troughs to grow on ready for their final planting out in June.
These will compliment my Bulgarian Giant, which are not as hardy as the Giant D’Inverno and don’t stand too long before bolting.
Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts
Sowed cabbages Red Acre and Earliest of All into half trays. They’re quite old seeds, so I’m prepared for failure and having to order fresh stock.
Brussels sprouts, Groninger also went into a tray. It’s a second sowing, the first being Doric, and I’m only looking for a few plants. If I get a good germination, the hens will get a brassica salad from the seedlings.
Broad Beans
Second sowing of Karmazyn went into rootrainers. Whilst Karmazyn do freeze well, successional sowing means we can enjoy fresh for longer.
The leeks, brassicas and beans have all gone into the Vitopod propagator, set at 15º
Still to sow
Parsley, parsnip, carrots, radish and spring onions.
Good advice on new asparagus crowns but how do I manage the autumn pot sown asparagus . All germinated and grew well in cold greenhouse but some then needed the yellowing growth to be cut down. Should I plant out in April and should I cut down any yellowing stems