What to do on the Allotment in April

What to do on the allotment in April

A traditional old saying, one my mother was always fond of quoting – March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. I think this year must be an exception. Let’s hope that April will be more encouraging. Although our weather forecasters are predicting that this unseasonally cold weather will last until, at least, the end off April.

I have started lots of seeds off in my propagator and had been hoping to move them to my poly-tunnel by the end of March. These young seedlings now really do need more light than I can provide for them at home. I trialled a couple of trays which I felt I could ‘lose’ if they didn’t survive, covering them carefully with bubble wrap inside my poly-tunnel. However, I see today that the young plants have collapsed - well, it was worth a shot.

It’s difficult to know what advice to give on sowing and growing on. Although it is sunny..ish during the day, there is still a heavy frost at night. The ground although quite encouragingly friable on the surface where it has previously been dug [making it almost too dry for germinating seeds] is still very wet and heavy underneath. Nonetheless, although water butts and puddles are frozen each morning, the ground isn’t frozen and I’m taking a risk with planting some seeds. I may have to re-sow later.

For plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and chillies, there is little option but to sow the seeds and nurture them as best as possible as they do need a long growing season for the fruits to ripen properly.

·         Maintenance around the plot 

–  keep established plants healthy and pest free 

– keep the plot tidy 

- cut grass on paths, even in the very cold weather, the grass is growing!

- weeding [ do keep on the case of those difficult perennial weeds like dandelions, docks, cinquefoil, couch grass and, increasingly on our plots, horsetail

- taking care of stored produce 

– tidy fruit cages 

- paint wood preservative on sheds, raised beds, etc

– clear and compost old plants or those which have finished producing.

·         Preparation and planning for the coming season 

– looking after perennial plants,

- re-digging beds ready for planting out, dig in compost and/or well rotted manure,

 - preparing seed beds, top–up raised beds with fresh compost or soil.

·         Sowing and planting

what can be sown or planted now:

·          – in a propagator – aubergines, courgettes, cucumbers, peppers and chillies, pumpkin and squash, tomatoes.  Herbs - basil;

·         -  under cover [in green house or ploy-tunnel] – brassicas (Brussels sprouts, broccoli/calabrese, winter cauliflower), celery, celeriac, lettuce, peppers and chillies, pumpkin and squash, rocket, runner beans, spring onions. Herbs – basil, chervil, chives, rosemary, savoury, thyme.

 

·          – outdoors – [do wait a couple of weeks for the ground to be less cold] – broad beans, beetroot, brassicas [broccoli, Brussels sprouts, summer cabbage, winter cabbage], carrots, summer cauliflower, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, shallots, parsnips, potatoes, early peas, radish, rocket, spinach and swiss chard, spring onions, turnips.

·         As bare root plants can only be safely transplanted when they are dormant, it is now probably too late in the season except in colder parts of the country where the plants have not yet started growing. If you are buying plants in pots to plant out on your allotment or in your garden, while they can be transplanted at any time, it is best to wait until the ground is less cold.

·         Harvesting – many of these vegetables, which would normally become available during April, may be some weeks later this year.

·         Fresh from the plot, greenhouse or poly-tunnel – early varieties of asparagus, spinach, some types of broccoli, spring cabbage/spring greens, Swiss chard, winter cabbage, winter cauliflower, kale, early lettuce, salad onions, radishes, sorrel, rhubarb, oregano, rosemary, bay-leaves.

Don't forget the birds who desperately need food and drinking water at this time of year and especially in the very cold weather.