Top Tips for growing your own in the New Year 2012
Seeds, Seeds, Seeds …
The garden is waking up and we are bursting out all over with seeds of every description!!
Vegetable seeds, seed potatoes and summer flowering bulbs are in abundance and this year our range really is quite dazzling!
We have beans of every description, runner, dwarf, climbing, broad and butter. English and Continental lettuces and other classic favourites such as courgette, fennel, kale, shallot and carrots.
Our seed potato range includes some traditional varieties such as Kind Edward, Rooster and Maris Piper as well as some more unusual; Pink Fir apple, Belle du Fontenay and Edzell Blue (yes really…blue!!) Prices start from £3.99 for a 2.5kg bag.
This year we will also be stocking a range of organic herb seeds.
We’re delighted to share with you our Top 10 Tips for growing your own in the New Year, from Andrew Flintcroft and Anita Dear in our Plant Team:
- Now is the time to protect new sowings and crops still in the ground from mice, pigeons and birds
- This is a good time to look after your soil. Give it a good dig over and put in some soil improvers into empty areas of your plot
- Even though it’s cold remember slugs can still be a threat!
- Clear off any late season debris in the vegetable bed
- Stake up any Brussels sprout stalks that are too long
- Plant shallots and garlic in mild areas with well drained soil
- Sort out your bamboo canes for next year. Good ones can be cleaned and stored in the shed and any broken or rotted ones can be shortened for re-use
- Check your winter protection structures are secure
- Check that the greenhouse heater is working correctly
- Prune apple and pear trees as well as deciduous ornamental trees and shrubs
- Harvest leeks, winter cabbages, parsnips and sprouts. Remember parsnips taste better when they have had a little frost!!
