Kitchen Gardener Rob Smith keeps an eye out for frost but gets on with plenty of sowing
With the last frost date for the majority of the UK only a matter of days away, it’s difficult to know if we’ll have blazing sun or frosty chills next?
Yet, no matter the weather, there are lots of jobs to get on with, both in the garden and greenhouse.
I’m making a final sowing of parsnip seeds directly into one of my old water troughs, which had well-rotted manure added to it early last autumn; this should mean the roots grow nice and straight, but don’t be tempted to sow into beds that have been freshly manured or you’ll end up with the wonkiest parsnips you’ve ever seen! This is my second sowing; the first was started in zippy bags to make sure the seed germinated, but directly sown seed is more likely to germinate at this time of year, especially if you use fresh seed. Sowing parsnips now also seems to make them less prone to canker, too.
I’m making a first sowing of runner beans in deep terracotta pots – this allows me to sow lots of beans in a small area rather than individual pots, then when they’re about 20cm (8in) tall in a few weeks time, I’ll take them out of the pot, pull them apart gently and plant them out around a bean tower that I’ve already placed in the bed. You can also start runners in root trainers or directly in the soil where they’re to grow, just make sure the mice don’t feast on them.
Outdoor courgettes can also be sown if you have a small cloche to put over the area at night to protect the small seedling as it emerges, just in case there’s a light frost. Alternatively, start seeds off in a greenhouse and this should be enough protection from the elements. I’m trying a yellow variety, which has a green tip, almost like it was dipped in paint. It’s called ‘Zephyr’ and it’ll be growing alongside a regular green type that was sown a few weeks back.
As I had some hazel bean poles left from my asparagus cage construction, I’ve decided to make a basic squash arch to allow my plants to scramble up, maximising the space by not covering as much ground. Make sure you push the poles in deep to keep the structure