Hillingdon Allotment News  13: Jobs for the months March - May

 March

This is the month when it all starts to happen providing the weather is kind. However do not be too eager to sow seeds if the soil is cold as they with either sit until the soil is of the right temperature or will rot in the ground leading to disappointment and further work.

Try stump rooted carrots such as ‘Early Nantes’ which will be ready in June. Cover with cloches to warm the soil and avoid the worst of the weather. Sow broad beans outside, and a sowing of early peas can also be made, but if you can, sow in April to escape the worst of the pea moth or cover with close netting to repel this little pest. Sow tomatoes under cover for potting on.

Brassicas can be sown outdoors in seed beds ready for planting out later on. If however your plot suffers from clubroot, as mine does, then sow in containers and pot on for larger plants before planting out.
Garlic, onion sets and shallots can also go in now if not put in earlier.

April

Most crops can now be sown safely outdoors now except for soft plants such as cucumbers, courgettes, marrows, French and runner beans, which should not be started under cover until the end of the month or early May for planting out in June.

Evade carrot fly buy covering your carrots and parsnips with fleece after sowing, erecting a low barrier to prevent them flying over the crop, or try resistant varieties of carrot. Keep all weeds down, the smaller the weed the smaller the problem! Potatoes can be planted this month with little chance of frost damage but be prepared to cover them up with soil or some material should the forecast mention frost. Remember it is colder on your allotment than it is in your back garden due to the more open aspect.

May

Potatoes planted last month will require earthing up as soon as they are about six inches high and again about three weeks later. Maincrop potatoes not planted last month can be planted now in prepared ground.

Climbing beans can be planted against sticks now and sweetcorn also planted in blocks to aid fertilization, as the pollen is wind blown. Other half hardy plants can now be planted outdoors such as courgettes; marrows, peppers and cucumbers

Sow lettuce a little at a time and about three weeks apart to obtain a succession of plants, and do the same with radish and other salad crops. Don’t forget to weed-weed-weed!!

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