• get rid of the tiny weed seedlings
• keep the soil loose on top - so reducing the number of weeds which grow because they find it hard to germinate in loose, dry soil. Also loose soil will be easy to hoe in the future.

TopVeg used a small hand rake as a hoe. It is important to work the hoe in a shallow layer of soil, so that the roots of the shallots are not disturbed.

The shallots have grown well in the last week.

It is a shame that the shallots have grown in an uneven fashion.

Using a hoe when the weeds are tiny, before the weeds start to compete with the shallots, will also make life easier in the future.

Some of the asparagus peas have been transplanted from the propagator into root trainers on the window sill.

35 asparagus peas planted on 5 April are germinating unevenly. 3 started to emerge, after 8 days in the heated propagator. By day 20, nine pea seeds have germinated and emerged.

The problem with uneven germination is that the emerged seedlings need different conditions from the un-chitted pea seeds. Read More »

The rhubarb patch looks healthy and is providing plenty of sticks for the kitchen.

The rhubarb patch was not forced this year because it was forced last year and needs a bit of a rest. Read More »

The vegetable garden is a green gym. The garden is a place to ‘work out’ in the open air, whilst doing something constructive.

Physically active people are up to 50% less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke.

But some gardeners need to socialise, and the BTCV Green Gym is the ideal place.

The BTCV Green Gym ® is a scheme that inspires you to improve your health and the environment at the same time. Read More »

Measuring Soil Temperature

Thermometers
Any thermometer that will measure temperature at a specific depth can be used to measure soil temperature. Ordinary glass bulb thermometers are adequate, provided they are long enough to allow the temperature to be read whilst the bulb is in the ground at required depth. Read More »

How to know weed from plant is a common problem, particularly when sowing seeds.

Gardeners often distinguish weeds from seedlings by using simple tricks:

• mark seed rows with string and 2 sticks. If the new growth does not follow the string route, it must be a weed. Read More »

Garden tools need to be looked after to ensure their proper use and a long life.

• Always clean after use with a dry rag and then brush with oil to prevent rust.
• Sharpen spade, hoe and secateurs at start of season.

Read More »

tools

Celery can be grown from seed or purchased as seedlings in plugs.

Celery seed is sown in late March, & needs a temperature around 70 deg F. to germinate. Seeds should be sown about 5cm apart, & 0.5 cm deep. They will take about two weeks to germinate.

Seedlings can be planted out after 5 or 6 weeks when the temperature is above 55 deg F. Read More »

Slug damage can ruin strawberries grown in the garden.

This 91 year old gardener has decided to lift his strawberry plants off the ground, away from the slugs.

Read More »

A close eye has to be kept on young cabbages when planted out in the vegetable garden. They make a welcome meal for pigeons and slugs.

These cabbages were covered with netting to protect them from pigeons, but the slugs had eaten the edges of the leaves and left the veins. Read More »