Innehållsförteckning för April 2020 från Kitchen Garden

Spring is just around the corner and we can finally get the new season under way. The next few months mark the time when most of us will be sowing the crops that will see us through the summer and beyond. To help you, as well as our usual jobs for the month pages, we have a nine-page special feature covering everything you need to know. In it you’ll find barrow loads of great advice to help you to get your soil in tip-top condition for sowing and planting, as well as growing guides for some favourite crops from salads to kale and carrots. Of course, we have a lot more for you besides – turn to page 60 to learn about some quirky yet delicious crops which are well…

STEP 1: SOW DIRECT Carrots, parsnips, spinach and salad leaves do best if sown directly into drills where they will grow. Make sure soil is loose and fine and make a shallow drill before sowing. A scattering of fine compost in the base holds moisture and aids germination if soil is dry or stony. STEP 2: SOW IN TRAYS Brassicas, chard, lettuce, parsley and leeks do very well if started in trays or tubs. The seed can go around 2.5cm (1in) apart because seedlings will be pricked out and potted on before roots compete for space. Seedlings can move on into a seedbed or into a deeper tub of compost. STEP 3: SOW IN POTS Broad beans, pumpkins, courgettes and sweetcorn all have large seeds. These do well if sown…

■ In April it may be possible in some parts of the country to plant tender cucumber, tomato or aubergine plants into a cold greenhouse or polytunnel. In very cold parts of the country you may need to delay or at least have some heat in the greenhouse. Cucumbers especially need constant warmth and if planted in cold conditions they will start to suffer and collapse very quickly. ■ In readiness for growing tall plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, make sure you have plenty of canes, string and twiggy stems for when you need to support the plants as they grow. ■ Weed between young veg plants regularly as very often annual weeds grow faster than your crops. Either hand weed or use a Dutch hoe to chop…

MULCH ADO ABOUT CARROTS I am in my mid-eighties and bending down to weed is a problem. I have grown brassicas and sweetcorn through black plastic most successfully and I would like to grow onions (from sets), leeks and carrots through plastic too. Have you any advice about how to plant through weed suppressant fabric for those more closely spaced vegetables? Rev Peter Hawkins, Somerset Steve Ott, editor, Kitchen Garden magazine STEVE SAYS: I don’t see why you couldn’t plant the closer-spaced crops such as carrots and onion sets, leeks, etc, through soil-covering fabric. It may still be possible to plant onion sets and leeks through holes made in the covering, but for crops that might be sown in rows or planted closely in rows such as your carrots, it…

After a scenic drive into Royal Deeside I arrived at this charming Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Partner Garden. Across the season, the 10-strong gardening team grows more than 80 varieties of vegetables, fruit and herbs in the walled kitchen garden, polytunnels and glasshouse. Crops include ‘Crosby Egyptian’ golden beetroot, ‘Black Tuscan’ kale, kohl rabi and scorzonera. The gardens also include 17 acres of lawn, an arboretum, terraced, pool and stream-side gardens. So what, or who, is the secret weapon? Douneside’s gardens are managed by Stephen McCallum, the former head gardener of the feted Beechgrove Garden, popular for its down-to-earth gardening approach seen by TV viewers across the UK. Douneside also became an RHS Approved Qualifications Centre in Scotland thanks to the MacRobert Trust Horticultural Training Scheme, which employs trainee gardeners…

Greenhouses and polytunnels are really useful to get crops going that will eventually be planted outside. The main benefit is getting the seed to germinate in a controlled, warmer environment. If sowing direct outside, the seed is subject to potentially extreme conditions plus pest damage. Growing the plants under cover until they are a few centimetres high means they have a greater chance of survival outside. Most crops, with the exception of the root crops, can be started in pots, cell trays or seed trays. Brassicas such as cauliflower and cabbage are good examples. Other crops such as leeks, sweetcorn and beans can be started in an unheated greenhouse in late March/April and then planted out on to the plot.…

There’s so much to do, I sometimes find myself trying to fit three days’ gardening into one day at the plot, which can leave me stiff and aching! Sowing, harvesting, planting and clearing overwintered plants certainly gives us an excellent work out, exercise for the body and the brain – our bodies love to move. I especially enjoy clearing the brassicas, twisting the stems to leave as much of the root system as possible (this benefits the soil life and soil structure) and then enthusiastically chopping into 15cm (6in) pieces for the compost heap – superb stress relief!…

STRAWBERRY ‘MALLING CENTENARY’ A+ GRADE FRUIT PLANTS (EARLY SEASON) This variety has a superb flavour with uniform and glossy, bright red, conical shaped fruit which is well displayed on the plant, making picking quick and easy. Fruiting from early to late June (earlier if grown under cloches). POP-UP STRAWBERRY PLANTER Perfect for smaller gardens, patios and balconies. Size: 30cm diameter x 60cm high (12x24in). Easy to use, features eight planting holes and six drainage holes. Ideal for nine to 10 strawberry plants, your fruits are kept clean, away from the soil, insects and pests. Easy planting instructions and handy growing hints are included. Planter can be used time and time again! EXCLUSIVE READER SAVING:  Buy our patio strawberry collection (containing 10 A+ Grade runners of ‘Malling Centenary’ and one pop-up…

From spending more money on gardening tools than you do on clothes, to getting up in the night to check on your precious seedlings, there are some things only a gardener will understand. But don’t worry, you’re in good company. How many of the following can you relate to? 1 You struggle to sleep at night worrying whether your seedlings are safe from slugs. You have even been known to go outside to check, possibly with a pair of scissors or bucket of salty water in hand. 2 You have also been known to get up in the night and to brave the cold in pyjamas and slippers because you’ve forgotten to bring in those tender plants you’re hardening off… and you don’t even care what the neighbours think! 3…

Or send a cheque made payable to D T Brown Seeds to: Kitchen Garden APRIL Offers (KG20APR), D T Brown Seeds, Bury Road, Newmarket, CB8 7PQ. Items will be despatched from late March. Offer subject to availability, Call the credit card and debit card order hotline on 0845 371 0532* (open 8am to 8pm weekdays and 9am to 5pm weekends). Only orders above £10 by phone please. *calls cost 3p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. only one, FREE item per household. D T Brown reserves the right to substitute with a product of equal or greater value. Please note that you are only entitled to the free item when ordering at least one additional product off the page. ORDERING ONLINE? VISIT WWW.KITCHENGARDENSHOP.CO.UK AND ENTER CODE KG20APR WHEN PROMPTED…

ROASTED RADISHES The humble little radish is surprisingly tasty fried in a glug of olive oil. Perfect for serving as a side dish. SERVES 4 as a side dish Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes ■ 450g/1lb radishes, sliced in half ■ 2 large sprigs of thyme ■ Sea salt to taste ■ Olive oil ■ 1 garlic clove, minced 1. Heat a large heavy-bottomed frying pan to high heat and add a generous glug of olive oil, then add the radishes. Using a wooden spatula, flip the radishes in the pan while they brown. Cook for a few minutes, allowing them to caramelise. 2. Lower the heat slightly then add the thyme and continue to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Next, add the garlic and…

10 MINUTE JOBS PUT UP FRAMES Put up a frame for climbing beans and in mild areas you can plant seeds at the base. This is usually around the middle of April. If late frosts are still possible, then sow seed in pots and plant out when the weather allows. SOW BRASSICAS Sow kales and sprouting broccoli this month. Both of these have a long growing season. Kale started now will crop through autumn, winter and into spring. Sprouting broccoli will be ready to harvest next year. HARDEN OFF PLANTS It only takes a few minutes to put small plants outdoors for the day and to take them back under cover in the evening. Do this for a few days and plants will suffer less shock when left out at…

■ APPLE BLOSSOM Make sure you have the right number of trees to pollinate one another. Buy a tree that’s flowering and stand the pot close to your planted ones until you get time to plant, if that’s what it takes to ensure a good set of fruit. ■ POTATOES Get any remaining potatoes in the ground in the first half of April. This gives plenty of time to grow roots of a decent size for storing. ■ BIOLOGICAL CONTROLS Read up about these and, if you want to use them, be sure to purchase a few days in advance. You need to apply slug controls to the carrot bed before sowing and the middle of April is a good time to sow maincrop carrots. ■ CLEAR OVERGROWN AREAS Overgrown…

Our Star Question winner will receive vouchers worth £25; the writers of all other questions printed will receive a £10 voucher. They can be redeemed against any products in the latest Mr Fothergill’s catalogue, which will be sent out with the vouchers so you can choose from the massive range of quality products, including seeds and garden equipment. To receive a free catalogue, call 08453 710518 or visit www.mr-fothergills.co.uk Email questions to tflanagan@mortons.co.uk or post to Question Time, Kitchen Garden, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR. Please include your full address on letters and emails. We do not publish full addresses.…

Netting frames can be expensive so if you don’t have the cash, Tony has come up with a cheap but effective alternative using canes and 500ml plastic water bottles. Such frames can be made to measure and can be used with different types of netting for different types of pest. Start by pushing in the uprights. You can choose an appropriate height for each upright depending on what you are sowing. Now, with a pair of scissors, make cross slits in each bottle near the top, just wide enough to slot a cane in each end. Some slits will need to be at right angles to each other (for corners) or opposite each other (for extended sides). Slide the appropriate bottle over each upright then slot in the horizontals. Lay…

■ Start off vegetables and herbs in cells while you wait for the soil to warm up; you can extend the season by about two months. ■ Vegetable crops deplete the soil nutrients and can cause an imbalance. Have your soil checked for nutrient status every three to five years and adjust. We added superphosphate in minute quantities this past year and the result was astonishing. ■ Invest in drip-feed hoses; they water very efficiently without run-off or waste, and deliver exactly where the plants need it most (at the roots). You can reuse them year after year. ■ Pick all of the leaves from basil plants to make pesto or basil oil but leave the stems. Feed lightly at every watering and you’ll get a huge second flush of…

Steve’s favourites RADISH Variety: ‘White Icicle’ Why grow? I grow lots of different radishes and love the fact that they are quick and easy, and if grown quickly with even watering can have a sweetness which tempers their delicious heat. ‘White Icicle’ is among the sweetest and the long, white roots are a lovely addition to summer salads. When to sow March – September How to sow Sow direct into weed-free soil in a reasonably sunny position. This fast-growing crop is also suitable for containers and window boxes or for growing among longer-term crops such as sweetcorn or brassicas. Sow thinly in short drills about 13mm (½in) deep, watering the bottom of the drill prior to sowing to trap water around the germinating seeds. Avoid sowing too many seeds at…

Sure-fire parsnips, sweet peas and sweetcorn from the Potty Plotter Elaine Crick. How many of us sow our seeds and wait? We look. We fiddle. We check. We moan! Well here’s a tip for the impatient allotmenteers of this world! FOR PARSNIPS: 1. Wait for the week you plan to plant your parsnip seeds. Prepare your ground and grab a nearby tight-lidded plastic container such as an old clean takeaway box. 2. Thoroughly wet a piece of tissue paper, kitchen roll or similar and lay it on the bottom of the container. 3. Pop your seeds on the paper making sure each seed is in contact with the wet paper. 4. Wet another piece of paper and lay on top of the seeds. 5. Clip the lid on the container…

In mid April, I start to get cravings for garlic bread after bike rides. This is because the lanes and woods are suddenly full of wild garlic, and the aroma gradually increases in potency over a few weeks. In May, the garlic erupts into clouds of white flowers, usually with a backdrop of bluebells further into the shade of the woods. It’s a sight that can take your breath away – as well as leaving you hungry! In Italy, in April, you see people at the roadsides gathering baskets of wild greens to take home for their dinner. It’s a completely normal practice and local knowledge includes dozens of species. We don’t have that tradition in the UK, but it’s well worth starting one for the wild garlic. Not only…

ALSO IN THE KG SHOP THIS MONTH LONG CROPPING STRAWBERRY PLANT COLLECTION The perfect strawberry runner collection to extend your strawberry picking. The collection contains 10 A+ runners each of the below varieties: ■ ‘MALLING CENTENARY’ (EXTRA EARLY) – This variety has a superb flavour with uniform and glossy, bright red, conical shaped fruit which is well displayed on the plant, making picking quick and easy. Fruiting from early to late June. ■ ‘ELEGANCE’ (MID-SEASON) – Expect exceptional fruit quality with a large number of heavy fruited trusses on strong, disease resistant, upright plants. The attractive fruit has strong skin, firm flesh and a magnificent flavour. ■ ‘MALWINA’ (LATE SEASON) – Probably the latest strawberry worth growing in our home gardens. Fruits are a very bright red and what’s more…

SPROUTING KALE Overwintered kale plants will start to produce flowering shoots in April and by the end of the month you can have a mass of bright yellow flowers. Don’t waste a good resource! Kale shoots are delicious to eat while the shoots are small and before flowers open. Harvest them often and steam gently in the water that clings to them after rinsing. You will have a hard job to keep up with the production of shoots and new ones get smaller and smaller the more you pick. At some point you will have to stop the race and let plants flower – they attract lots of beneficial insects to the garden. LOOK AFTER STRAWBERRIES Early flowering and fruiting varieties are susceptible to frost – flowers blacken at the…

The beauty about this crop is you can grow it in the ground or in bags or pots and either way is good for children to try. You can also buy just small quantities of seed potatoes so if you don’t want to grow lots of rows but only a few in a children’s plot or in a bag you can do. Seed potatoes are easy for children to handle and you can dig a row and let the children drop them in. They can learn about shoots and which way up the tubers need to be planted. First earlies are particularly good as they are ready quite quickly if planted in March/April and harvested in June. If growing in bags, why not get the ones with flaps on the…

SYMPTOMS Leaves will show a number of round holes or pits about 2-3mm in diameter. These can be debilitating especially to seedlings and young plants, though less so once plants have firmly established themselves. WHAT IS IT? The flea beetle species Phyllotreta and Psylliodes cause damage to brassica plants and related plants, including radish, turnip, mustard, rocket and nasturtium. The beetles are black (or can be blue-green or even striped). They are about 2-3mm ( 1/10in) in length and have long hind legs, which enables them to leap into the air when disturbed. They hibernate in numbers over the winter and emerge in spring, but affect summer plants too. WHAT YOU CAN DO Flea beetles do better in dry conditions so keep plants well-watered. Covering your young seedlings and plants…

Leeks, along with onions, have to be one of my favourite vegetables. They are simply one of the most versatile veg we can grow in our gardens and allotments, giving the iconic taste of autumn/ winter in many ways, be it blanched, boiled, made into a delicious soup or simply covered in a cheese sauce. Leeks along with onions and garlic are part of the allium family and are originally from central Asia, where they have been eaten for thousands of years. Both the Egyptians and Romans feasted on these leafy veg before they became more widely grown in Europe in the Middle Ages, and we have loved them ever since. The Welsh even made the leek their national emblem! AVOID DIRECT SOWING Growing leeks is pretty easy; they aren’t…

Many people grow tomatoes and other crops in growing bags in the greenhouse. It ensures the crop roots are in a healthy sterile medium but watering can be tricky to get right. In the height of summer growing bags may dry out in a matter of hours, so if you can, set up a timed irrigation system. You can also buy hydroponic systems like the Vivigrow from Greenhouse Sensation. These just need topping up with water but they tend not to dry out as quickly as growing bags or pots of compost. You get better growth and fewer problems with tomatoes developing blackened bases. This is called blossom end rot and is caused by dryness at the roots and interruption of water and calcium to the cells in the fruit.…

With its brilliant blue starry flowers and charismatic fuzzy stems and leaves, borage is a plant that has plenty of garden appeal. As an added bonus, it looks attractive even before it flowers, particularly when the ‘hairy’ stems and buds are covered in morning dew or rain! It can be eaten, used for medicinal purposes, attracts beneficial insects, deters pests, adds nutrients back into the soil and as one of the most important ingredients of Pimms No.1, you really don’t need many excuses to grow borage. Hailing from the Mediterranean, it should come as no surprise that Borage officinalis prefers well-drained, light, rather poor sandy or chalky soil in a sunny spot. Borage is best grown directly from seed in late spring or early summer in its final position so…

Anybody interested in healthy eating and the increasing popularity of a vegan diet will be aware of the ever-increasing number of legume-based protein sources, which seem to be forever multiplying every time you visit a supermarket. Tofu, lentils, chickpeas, beans and lupins all are recommended as powerful amino acid builders, but surely you can’t eat lupin seed straight out of the garden? Well, you can… but not just from any old lupin. The flowering types we are most familiar with are based on hybrids mostly from the Californian tree lupin, Lupinus arboreus, a substantial plant found on seashores around the UK where it’s often planted to stabilise dunes, and Lupinus polyphyllus, the Texas Bluebonnet, common over most of North America. Both of these plants are poisonous, so it’s not surprising…

Rhubarb is a crop very close to our hearts and makes the perfect addition to homely crumbles, pies and preserves. So easy to grow, it is ornamental enough to be used in the flower border, with huge, deep green leaves and attractive red stalks. ‘Timperley Early’ is one of our favourites and the earliest of all rhubarbs – it is often ready for picking from February onwards (earlier if forced). You can expect long, thick, red based stalks, which are very tender and flavoursome – a real delight for so early in the year! Supplied as one-year-old fruit crowns. **You will receive this item FREE when ordering at least one additional product off the page.…