peas

Grow6: June

by grow6grow6

Some sustained sunshine and warmth for most of us this week; your plants will enjoy the boost. Get busy on cooler overcast days, sowing, planting and liquid feeding. Where the heat continues, keep up the watering; remember, a good soak every couple of days is better than constantly watering and will help prevent your plants from rushing to produce seed (bolting) too early.  Beware plants in pots and containers in peat-free compost will dry out fast.

Keep up the weekly liquid feed of strawberries and tomatoes, and other plants in containers. This is best done on cool, overcast mornings or at night to avoid scorching plant leaves.

Warm, dry weather is great for pulling or hoeing young weed seedlings before they flower; leave them on the soil surface to wilt and break down where they are.

Any plant-filled windowsill, container or growing space can seem frantic at this time of year, hoeing, sowing, watering and now harvesting. Take a minute when the sun shines to focus on your growing plants and enjoy it. And if you are just getting growing, read below and see previous updates there is plenty you can still grow.

For live growing updates from growing groups in Inverclyde and Aberdeen this week see our socials 

Peas

Made the headlines this week for their superfood potential, providing essential protein in our diet and not needing additional fertiliser. If you made early sowings your peas will soon be flowering. In this dry spell, ensure they have plenty of water to keep them flowering. You can still sow peas if you have space.

Tomatoes

Will be loving any sunshine going and beginning to flower; bush types need no maintenance aside from watering and a weekly feed. Cordon tomatoes will require regular side shooting. See last week’s updates for more detail on side shotting and hand pollination for indoor tomatoes.

Berries

Keep up a good regular soak as the fruits swell. Strawberries undercover will be ready for picking soon.
Newly planted currants and raspberry canes might appreciate a good soak too in the heat and keep them weed free.

Greens

Continue regular sowings, though bear in mind in some areas it might be too hot (!) to sow lettuce, which is more likely to germinate below 20c. So sow lettuce in trays or pots in a shady spot. Branchton Gardening Club in Inverclyde bring us their update here

Herbs

Conitnue sowing of green leafy herbs such as basil and parsley. 

Tatties

Need well watered, especially in containers and may need to be earthed up. See One Seed Forward tattie update from growing in Aberdeen here

Finally….

If you have a lawn and joined No May May, you may well be wondering about composting dandelion seed heads or other ‘garden weeds’- go for it! Turning your compost heap every couple of months should ensure your heap gets hot enough to kill off weed seeds and it’s great exercise!

 

 

pinching out

Grow6: May

by grow6grow6

Some heat at last, and your plants will be growing before your eyes. However, don’t be tempted to overdo the liquid feeding of tomatoes, greens and plants in pots; they can have too much of a good thing; too much lush, leafy growth can attract greenfly (where do they come from!) both indoors and out. You can gently squidge them off before they become a problem.
Keep up the watering during this dry spell on cooler, overcast days or first thing in the morning. The odd rinse with soapy dishwater can also help control greenfly, as of course will our dear friends, the ladybird. 

If you are starting to grow there is plenty to sow and grow in warmer weather.  See previous posts and our Grow6 crop pages

Peas

Peas need something to climb, twiggy sticks, canes and string or netting, and plenty of water as they come into flower. Sow more now for a later crop if you have the space.

Tomatoes

Keep up the weekly liquid feed regime as per instructions. Bush tomatoes can be left to grow, flower and fruit in a sunny sheltered spot. However, cordon tomatoes need to be supported with canes and sideshooted for a really good crop. Side shooting involves removing additional growth growing at a 45-degree angle to the stem. It can be fiddly at first, so ask someone for guidance or google it.
Indoor tomatoes can be pollinated by hand- gently move a thin paintbrush between flowers to ensure cross-pollination and keep an eye out for small fruits forming

Berries

As berries begin to swell keep strawberries and other fruit in pots well watered in dry spells. Established raspberries, gooseberries and currants can fend for themselves. 
N.B Water the soil around the plant and not the plant itself.

Greens

Keep up with regular sowings and pickings of greens. When picking leaves, remove up to a third of the biggest leaves of the plant each time to enable smaller leaves to grow for the next picking. Every time you pick, sow more seeds if you can. One sowing will support about 4 harvests this way. 

Herbs

Keep sowing leafy, ‘annual herbs’. Basil plants in pots can be pinched out; see the main photo above to promote more busy growth from side shoots. Keep an eye out for greenfly on windowsill herbs and gently wipe them away before they spread to other plants. 

Tougher ‘perennial’ herbs such as chives, rosemary, and sage will be coming into flower. You can still harvest leaves for cooking but leave some for the bees.

Tatties

Early sowings will begin flowering soon.  If you are growing in containers remember these will need regularly watered.

Finally….

A warm spell for most of us means bees, bugs, and butterflies are busy looking for food and pollinating our plants; we can’t eat without them, so when you are in a growing space take the time to register which plants they are enjoying.

weeds

Grow6: May

by grow6

There’s a lot of noise about the need to embrace our weeds, they tell us about our soil types and growing conditions and can be great for wildlife, providing food and shelter, but if we want to grow some food in a climate and nature-friendly way do we need weeds to be in the mix?

Our common garden weeds were most likely here long before we started cultivating vegetables. Many of our current foods and medicines were once perceived as ‘weeds’, plants extraordinarily good at growing anywhere and, given time, everywhere!

Essential to managing weeds in a garden, pot or raised bed is understanding what makes them successful; is it, as with ‘annual weeds’, their ability to flower and set seed within a matter of weeks, or as with many ‘perennial weeds’ their vigorous roots either competing for nutrients or creeping stealthily towards your vegetables! If you understand how a weed spreads, you can identify whether you need to hoe them away before they flower, gently fork them out before they take hold, or cover them in cardboard to block them from the sun. Learning to relax with weeds comes from trial, error and growing confidence, so if you are starting out look about you and ask the neighbour! Which plants have their sights on your veggies?!

Top tips
To identify your crop sow seeds in straight lines.
Hand weed your patch regularly to build your confidence in weed identification and to keep on top of emerging weeds; you can then move on to using a hoe.
Try no dig– digging brings weeds seeds to the surface and can cause you more problems in the long run.
If you have more soil than you can manage, cover bare surfaces to keep the weeds away.
Weeds can quickly spring up in pots and containers, too, so do be vigilant.
At all costs, don’t use weedkillers prevention is always better than cure.

If you want to extend your knowledge of weeding, mulching and all things soil see our Soil page.

 

peas

Grow6: May

by grow6grow6

Long growing days are now with us, with variable weather. Young plants can now be brought outside, if they are not out already, and seeds can be sown outside directly into growing containers or open ground now the soil is warming. Keep cheating the variable temperatures and cool winds with as much protection as possible during the day and night. 

If you are just starting out this week there is plenty you can sow. 

Getting watering right can be a hard thing to gauge so a few pointers might help:
Where possible water in the morning so that plants can take up water efficiently.
Plants in pots need the most attention and regular vigilance; the soil under the top inch should feel moist but never damp to touch.
Young plants require regular watering, a good soak 2 to 3 times a week is better than watering every day encouraging the plant to put down its roots to take up water. 

 

Peas

If you have space in a deep pot or somewhere in the soil sow peas or sugar snap peas directly into the soil. Follow packet instructions.

Tomatoes

Can now be brought outside and planted into their final growing containers, open soil or peat free grow bags. Pot size should be a least 12inches in diameter. If you are growing tomatoes outdoors give tomatoes your sunniest spot out of the wind and as much protection as possible. If you have the room you can keep growing bush tomatoes on windowsills or a mini greenhouse, they will be happier and perform better.

A weekly liquid feed will promote flowering so more tomatoes for you. ‘Cordon’ tomatoes, the ones that will grow tall, will need to be staked and need regular side shooting. More next week. ‘Bush’ types are great for novice growers, not requiring fiddly extra care.

Berries

Summer fruiting raspberries, strawberries and currants will be coming into flower. Just enjoy watching the bees busying themselves. New raspberries and currants may not flower in their first year, don’t panic; they are concentrating on getting established. Any fruit grown in containers will benefit from a weekly liquid feed from now until they have finished fruiting.

Greens

Keep sowing green leafy crops; salads, spinach and kale in trays, pots or the open ground. Transplant young plants into bigger containers or open ground and ensure they have regular water to put on green leafy growth you want for the pot.

Herbs

Leafy herbs such as parsely, coriander or basil will germinate well in warmer weather. Sow them directly into pots for growing indoors or outdoors, or the soil. If you have a supermarket basil plant, on a dull damp day, split the plant into smaller clumps and transplant into pots. 

Tatties

Keep an eye on young tatties emerging. If you planted early they will soon start flowering. Tatties grown in containers will need a good soaking a couple of times a week.

Finally….

Remember our tap water is really energy intensive, wherever you can collect water in wet spells for upcoming dry spells and washing up water is fine too.

protected-growing-1

Grow6: Week 15th May

by grow6grow6

Brighter sunny days will see young and established plants responding, but they’d grow better still with some protection- in many places, the wind is cold, and nighttime temperatures are just above freezing. This leaves young plants with soft new growth at risk and will slow down germination rates too.

  • Keep ‘hardening off’ plants- if moving young plants from a windowsill outdoors, leave them out during the day and bring them in or cover them up at night until they have adjusted to a change of temperature.
  • Choose the sunniest, sheltered spots you can find for growing your plants.
  • If you can create mini-greenhouses or ‘cloches’, do. Young plants and seedlings get all the warmth of any sun and none of the cold wind that will slow their growth.
  • Keep an eye on nighttime temperatures and, if necessary, gently wrap plants up at night with bubble wrap, a large plastic bag or anything else you can find for a bit of extra protection.

Don’t be tempted to rush out and buy horticultural fleece; it is a single-use plastic and unlikely to last for the next growing season.

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Grow6: Week 10th May

by grow6grow6

There’s warmth in the sun, moisture in our soils and the growing season is now well underway, so it’s time to clear windowsills and move young plants outdoors, keep an eye on the temperatures, for a late frost. Continue sowing seeds into containers indoors where possible to help speed up germination. Remember to use the most sunny and sheltered spots for pots and when growing directly in the ground.  

 

Potting on and planting out established plants can happen anytime but transplanting young seedlings grown closely with others is best done on a dull, damp day to avoid young plants wilting.

With wet and now warmer weather, it’s time to get on top of your slugs before they get stuck into your young plants. A few tips: In dry spells water in the morning slugs do their damage at night; and try protecting young and vulnerable plants, particularly ‘greens ‘ and leafy herbs, with a circle of crushed eggshells, any human or animal hair, or grit. 

Time also to begin a weekly feed, for Grow 6 plants it’s young tomato and strawberry plants, this will give them the boost they need.  You can buy an organic liquid plant feed in most supermarkets or online and if you have comfrey/ nettles and a bucket nearby, you can make your own ‘tea’ for later in the season – read more here 

Peas

You can sow peas outdoors, from seed, in deep pots, old toilet rolls or directly into the soil.

Give young pea plants a helping hand with canes or sticks once you can see the tendrils.

Tomatoes

If you have space keep heat loving- tomatoes indoors for a wee while longer.

Berries

Strawberries will be taking off, if you are growing them in containers give them a weekly liquid feed.

Greens

Transplant lettuce seedlings into bigger containers or open ground and protect them from slugs. Keep sowing green leafy things; salads, spinach and kale in trays, pots or the open ground.

Herbs

Now the risk of frost, for most of us, has passed young herb seedlings or plants can be moved into pots outdoors or open ground.   

Tatties

Will start to poke through, as young plant emerges you can earth them up (gently place handfuls of soil around the stem), this will increase the soil depth around the growing plant and will give you more tatties!

Finally….

Reuse old seed compost if it is weed free. Keep collecting rainwater where you can to save on tap water and whilst you are outdoors keep an eye out for ladybirds.