Vines under glass:

Vines under glass:

Vines growing under glass will require constant attention at this time of year. Tie the shoots down to the supporting wire. When the bunch of Grapes appear, pinch out the point of the shoot carrying it at about two leaves beyond the bunch 

Sow beets, carrots, lettuce, and radishes 

Plant herbs like as thyme, sage, parsley, chives and basil 

Transplants plants can become less stressed if you put them out on a cloudy, calm day. Unfortunately,  many gardeners may need to transplant  only when they have the time, regardless of the weather. Strong sun and wind can be hard on new transplants, so to over come this, set out plants in the late afternoon when the wind comes down and the plants have overnight to acclimate. Giving shade and wind protection with berry baskets, small crates, or screens will help. Mulching helps since it lowers the rate at which water evaporates from the soil and controls the soil temperature. 

Vegetable Marrows

Vegetable Marrows

Twenty-First Week:  May.

Continue to earth up your Potatoes as the plants attain a height of four to five inches and bring the soil up to a fine point.

Vegetable Marrows, Ridge Cucumbers and Runner Beans that are raised under glass may now be planted in the open. Plant the the Ridge Cucumbers that been prepared by taking out a trench about eighteen inches deep and placing some rotted manure in the bottom. Stations may be prepared for Vegetable Marrows in a similar manor.

Brussels sprouts are now big enough for planting in their permanent positions. Plant them on firm ground and allow the seedlings two feet apart each way. It is a good idea to sow Radish in the intervening space.

Plant out Celery.

Plant out Celery.

 Twenty-eight week July:

Now is the time to plant out your winter Celery. I will tell you a little secret: give them as much water as possible, they love it.

Do not let your Rhubarb go to seed; make sure you cut off the flowering stem before it happens. The reason is that if the plant goes to seed it will suck all the life out of the plant and it will not give you much fruit next year.

Time to prune your red and white currents. Cut back all the side growth to within five leaves of their bases.

Earthing up Potatoes

Earthing up Potatoes

• Continue earthing up potatoes and make sure they are kept damp 
• Keep a look out for  asparagus spears when they are no more than 18 cm tall.
• Thin out direct-sown vegetables such as spinach, carrot and lettuce seedlings, then water the rows well.
• Harden off outdoor tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins for planting early next month.
• Protect carrots from carrot fly by covering with fleece or some such.

Celery Plants Out

Celery Plants Out

Twentieth Week: May

It is time for early celery plants to be planted out.

Sow main crop of beet now. Sow them in drills fifteen inches asunder and one inch deep. Birds are very fond of beet seeds, so it is best to net them.

Hoe,hoe, hoe. 

Sow your Marrow

Nineteenth week: May

Sow your Marrow seeds now.

Early potatoes are now in varying stages of growth, and sow could do with a light dressing of feed now.

It is now safe to make a sowing of runner beans.

Outdoor Tomatoes

If you have tomatoes for outdoor growing, now is a good time to put them in a cold frame for hardening off.

Spread straw under your strawberries and give them a light dressing of feed.

Always run a how through your beds to keep the weeds down and watch out for bugs and deal with them.

Supply of Lettuce

Supply Of Lettuce

Eighteenth Week: April-May

To maintain a steady supple of lettuce, sow so more now.

• Prick out seedlings into pots or modules for growing on as soon as they have their first true leaves.
• • Start to sow tomatoes indoors this week, ready to plant out after all risk of frost has passed. If you're struggling for growing space buy ready-grown tomatoes plants. 

• • Sow aubergine seeds under glass now for your greenhouse or growing outdoors later on.

Just prior to staking your peas, it is a good idea to earth the plants, because the soil will drawn up to the stems not only acts mulching, but renders the insertion of the stakes easier.

Make another sowing of melons now.