Ah –
the promise of Spring! The 1st of September is always a day I look
forward to. Even though the spring equinox is not technically until around the
20th of the month, we now definitely notice the longer days, the
warmer temperatures and the movement of sap in both plants and ourselves. We
find our green fingers itching to get into the garden. And how wonderful that those early harbingers
of spring, the narcissus family and its friends have such bright and beautiful
flower. So joyful after the bare bleak grey of winter days. Spring however can
still have a wintery sting in its tail so while there will be warm mild days –
don’t be fooled into planting delicate crops too early.
As the
soil warms up you can start sowing more robust crops direct into the ground but
others will have to be sown in trays indoors or under a cloche. Broad beans and peas for example can go in
the ground, as can root crops such as carrots, parsnips, swedes, turnips and
beetroot. Potatoes can be started off
indoors in a warm spot to “chit” or sprout – or you can plant them straight
into the ground as long as you have a cloche or protection from the frost. They
won’t grow till the conditions are right anyway but get them in as soon as you
can if you want new potatoes for Christmas.
It’s too early in the cooler parts of the country for the heat -loving
summer crops such as tomatoes, courgettes, pumpkins, sweetcorn etc but you can
start them off in trays indoors to get a head start.
Plants to grow in early spring.
Sow direct into ground: Brussel Sprouts, broad beans,
carrots, parsnips, beetroot, potatoes, onions, lettuce, peas, parsley, Garlic,
shallots, swedes
Sow indoors in trays for planting out later: leeks,
lettuce, celery, sweetcorn, beans, pumpkin, marrow, cucumber and tomatoes,
chillies, capsicum, courgettes.
Plant: Brussel Sprouts, cabbage, caulis,
lettuce, parsley, silverbeet, spinach, asparagus. Remember to harden off seeds
grown indoors before you put them into the garden.
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