SOW SOW SOW

APRIL IS SUCH A BUSY MONTH FOR SOWING - CUCUMBERS, TOMATOES, PEPPERS, AUBERGINES, HERBS, RADDISH, SALAD LEAVES, FRENCH BEANS AND RUNNER BEANS. I SOW ALL THESE SEEDS IN A PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT, WHEN GERMINATED I ACCLIMATISE THEM GRADUALLY TO THE OUTDOORS BEFORE PLANTING OUT WHEN ALL DANGER OF FROST HAS PASSED.

MANY SEEDS CAN BE SOWN DIRECT OUTSIDE DURING APRIL, BUT IT MIGHT BE PRUDENT TO WAIT UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH BEFORE SOWING. IN THE MEANTIME THOROUGHLY PREPARE THE SEEDBED BY WEEDING AND DIGGING THE BED OVER, RAKE IT FINE AND SOW THE SEEDS AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PACKET.

PERENNIALS ARE SHOWING GOOD GROWTH NOW, SO IF ANY NEED LIFTING OR DIVIDING DO SO IN EARLY APRIL.

KEEP THE BORDERS WEED FREE AND APPLY A TOP DRESSING OF ORGANIC FERTILISER

Catherine Payne