Spring at last and it’s time to get out in the garden again.
Sowing & Transplanting
Outside: Broad beans, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, calabrese,
cauliflower, garlic, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, mange tout, potatoes, radish, shallots, spinach, swiss chard.
Under Glass: Aubergines, French beans, celeriac, cucumber, sweet peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, marrow, melon, pumpkin.
Transplant Outside: Autumn sown cauliflower, Jerusalem artichoke.
Pest & Disease Control
A new pest is spreading across the UK and causing problems especially in the west Midlands. The allium leaf miner can devastate allium crops. Cover onions, leeks, garlic, shallots and chives with horticultural fleece during March and April. If you see rows of white dots on the leaves then the crop will need to be destroyed. Rotting bulbs and 3-5mm long maggots hidden within in the bulbs are other symptoms. Gardeners in heavily effected areas are advised to leave planting until after April.
Check plants in the greenhouse for grey mould. Remove any affected leaves. Increase ventilation if grey mould is a problem and keep plants barely moist.
If the weather is warm then slugs and snails will start to emerge. See our article on slug and snail control for ideas on how to keep them at bay.
Spray apples and pears to prevent scab.
In The Greenhouse
Bring a few potted strawberry plants into the greenhouse and you’ll get an early crop.
Check for early signs of red spider mite.
Pruning
Prune blueberries by cutting a couple of older branches back to the ground, this helps rejuvenate the plants.
Other Jobs
Tie blackberries / blackberry hybrids into their supports.
Protect apricot, nectarine and peach blossom from frost.
Topdress citrus trees in pots or repot if necessary.
Plant asparagus crowns.