The Gardener's Almanac

Overview ;

This month is a busy month as many varieties of plant require planting out or sowing insitu.

 

A layout plan can be quite useful to ensure you that you are planting in places that suit your rotation plan, particularly if you have had to change your initial plan due to perhaps a crop failure or some such mishap.

 

The same layout plan can be referred to in following years, again to help with crop rotation.

 

Week No. 18 - 30th Apr to 5th May

 

• Sow Basil, Broad beans, and Kale, insitu if soil conditions allow.

 

• Plant out Broad bean, Lettuce, Mint, seedlings if conditions allow.

 

• Weed carefully around Shallots taking care not to disturb, damage or bury the bulbs.

 

• Erect frame to support Runner beans.

 

• Remove any flower heads (scapes) from Garlic

 

 

Week No. 19 - 6th to 12th

 

• Prepare bed for Beetroot, and Fennel, if not done previously.

 

• Sow Carrots in containers.

 

• Plant out Onions.

 

• Plant out pot grown Onion, and Pea seedlings.

 

• Plant out maincrop potatoes if not done earlier.

 

 

Week No. 20 - 13th to 19th

 

• If soil conditions allow sow a few Fennel, French beans, Lettuce, Parsnips, Radish, and Runner beans, and cover with cloches.

 

• Plant out Asparagus, Brussels sprouts, Calabrese (early) Fennel, Globe Artichoke, and Shallot seedlings.

 

• Pot up Aubergine plants for growing outdoors in a sheltered spot!

 

• Earth up potatoes when the haulms (tops) are about 150mm (6") tall.

 

• Thin out Kohl rabi,

 

• Prepare bed for Parsnips.

 

• Pick Asparagus spears from established Asparagus plants.

 

 

Week No. 21 - 20th to 26th

 

• Sow Beetroot, Carrots, Parsley, Peas, Spring Onions, Swedes,and Turnips.

 

• Plant out Basil, Borage, Cabbage (summer), Cauliflower (summer) Coriander, Marjoram, Orache, and Rosemary,

 

• Ensure Broad beans don't want for water.

 

• Feed Onions,

 

Week No. 22 - 27th to 2nd Jun

 

• Sow Chinese Cabbage, and Pak choi.

 

• Plant out Celery, Courgettes, French beans, Gourds, Kohl rabi, Marrow, Melon, Pak choi, Pumpkin, Runner beans, Sage, Squash,

Sweet Peppers, Sweet Corn, and Thyme seedlings.

 

• Applying a high potash feed to Shallots at this time can assist size and ripening.