Hillingdon Allotment News 16: Jobs for April and May

Jobs to do in 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 by 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.

Jobs to do in May

Potatoes planted last month will require earthing up as soon as they are about six inches in hight 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!