Gardening jobs to do in April for newbies and us oldies

JWF

Well I finally feel like there's been some progress made in the last couple of months.

We now have a load of tomato and aubergine seedlings on the windowsill, herb seedlings on the dresser and pepper seedlings in the airing cupboard.

Most of the vegetable patch is dug, though it needs some more work really, and the greenhouse is up just missing a few panes which I will get tomorrow.

Spuds are chitting in the shed and the garden has stopped being like a swamp in the last couple of days, so time to get the spade out and get some more digging done this weekend as long as it doesn't rain too much! Will be digging in some half price compost from Morrisons just to try and improve the structure. Having seen Monty Don slicing his spade through the beds on Gardners World tonight how I wish my garden was like that to save my back!!

Lotus-eater

Curv wrote: »

My husband could have posted that. But he spells 'hoe' differently...


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OMG.......... just spat tea all over my laptop :rotfl:

Lotus-eater

annie123 wrote: »

Can't believe there's going to be a frost 48 hours:eek: hope its the last one....

Doubt it, probably around the end of the month.

annie123

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Doubt it, probably around the end of the month.

Ah dont say that, you might make it happen!
Can we all please think 'warm' thoughts:D


It was nice though to wake up and see the snow this morning....off now to brush it off my small fruit trees and other shrubs.

annie123

Its so nice to be able to go into the garden after work, even if it is just for a few mins.:D

You would never know it was covered in snow 48 hours ago.
Everything looks OK which I'm pleased about.

Planted 1st lot of gladioli tonight, in chicken wire to keep squirrels off them.

Hope everyones plants are ok after the cold snap.:D

JWF

Yep I love being able to do a few bits when I get back from work too, even if it is just bringing in the seedlings from the greenhouse. No doubt there will be a lot more for me to do in the coming weeks once things get planted out.

annie123

Do be careful with transplanting any indoor sown plants to out side. The long term weather forecast is still for chilly nights even thought the days are milder.

You can sow seeds, my soil has warmed up nicely.

PS I live in the south

PPS I have noticed an increase in slugs and snails..time to take action

katskorner

I still have a lot to sow. My two propogators are full at present although the tomatoes could do with pricking out and potting up now before they get too leggy. I always plant them at the very base of the pot and cover the stem with compost to prevent legginess at each stage of potting on and it really makes a difference.

Hoping to get to allotment at the weekend to sow beets and more carrots. Got to start beans and courgettes and a multitude of others once I pot on the toms!

~Chameleon~

Just spent the morning out in the garden before the heavens opened :rolleyes: and managed to get a few more jobs done!

I've planted 4 raspberry canes that have been sat in a bucket of water the last few weeks waiting for me to prep the ground lol It obviously hasn't done them any harm as they've already started sprouting lots of new growth whilst in there

Also planted 3 asparagus crowns - first time I've done them so don't laugh at me but I planted them upside down to start with before I realised :rotfl:

I had a clematis in a pot last year which didn't seem too happy where it was, and I thought I'd killed it when I cut it back in autumn, but noticed new growth at the base yesterday so have decided to put it in the ground against a north-east facing fence. There was an extensive root system that looks very healthy so gave it a good scrunch to loosen it all up and spread out and fingers crossed it grows much better this year! :j

And finally, I potted up 3 hanging baskets of strawberries putting in 3 plants per basket. Am I right in thinking I should remove any fruit and flowers that are on the plants now so they can concentrate on putting down good roots first?

Still need to get my spuds in the ground and sow carrots, leeks, beetroot, spinach etc. My beans and peas are growing like triffids already! :eek: Most of the tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, herbs and salads are growing nicely but no sign of the aubergines or peppers germinating yet

Oh that reminds me, had a very strange experience with one of my beans!!! It started growing UPSIDE DOWN!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

I spotted a white stem with hairy bits emerging from the soil and thought it looked a bit strange. Pulled it out carefully and the bean head was under the soil growing down! :rotfl: Have turned it round the right way now but not sure whether it will prosper or not as it's not really done much since :rolleyes:

Jack's_mummy

OMG an upside down bean - stupid thing! PMSL

I noticed today some of the peas we planted in a pot are shooting.
We have just sown some more lettuce as the overwinter ones are looking a bit tired now from picking the leaves since Oct.

And I have started to harden off my sweetpeas so I can get them out soon.