In the Garden with Jane
Greetings to all our tenants!
Spring has definitely sprung! I love to see the green and white snowdrops with the purple and yellow crocuses that cover churchyards and woods. You know the daffodils and the bluebells are soon to follow. It’s time for us gardeners to get busy…
Growing Potatoes
If you have chitted your potatoes, the earliest/salad varieties should be ready to sow at the end of March or the beginning of April, with a second and main crop a couple of weeks later.
However, a word of warning, this has been a very wet winter. The ground is soddened and although potatoes like a lot of water when established, they hate soggy wet soil to begin with.
My suggestion is to wait until the ground is soft but not wet. Find an area that has good drainage, perhaps delay sowing for a couple of weeks.
Sowing Seeds vs Plug Plants
Sowing your own seeds is rewarding and inexpensive, and not that complicated! However, you need space and temperature control, and time. This is a very economical way to garden not just vegetables, but flowers, herbs and trying out new plants.
Plug plants are much more expensive but are ready to sow and be established. They can be planted if arrived by post or mail order from a nursery, or you may have been to a garden centre and bought what you need. Mail order will send the plants when they are ready, so no need to store them.
Gardening for People with Disabilities
Many have disabilities or mobility problems but love to get into the garden. I’ve been researching into what help is available. There are lots of tools which are adapted for different disabilities and are available from most garden centres. They can be tried and tested out before buying.
I think a raised bed is a fantastic idea. A raised bed is a large box usually made of wood, composite material or recycled plastic with a lining and drainage. I think it’s best to go for 1 m2, the height should be approximately 30 inches / 75 cm (approximate measurements). Making your own is a great idea as you can measure to your own size. You can use old kitchen fittings, wardrobes, pallets, and there is lots of advice on the internet or in books.
The great advantage of a raised bed is that it can go almost anywhere. A garden, patio, or any wasted space. It’s a good idea to have a flat space around the bed so it is safe to walk around or use a wheelchair.
If anyone decides to make a raised bed, please take a photo, and send it tenantengagement@broadlandgroup.org as we would love to see your fantastic effort.
And finally…
ITS GARDENING COMPETITION TIME!
Good luck to you all.
Please send any gardening queries and as always, I will do my very best to answer them.
Here is to hope we have better weather for our gardens this coming year!
Bye for now,
