Kentish Express Ashford & District
The garden guru
As we all become budding gardeners during lockdown, YouTube gardening guru reveals what not to do
Don’t believe everything you read on social media as so-called ‘experts’ may give the wrong advice, he suggests. Sowing carrots in January is unlikely to produce a rich harvest, he says, and he doesn’t sow runner beans until May. Despite warm spells, at this time of year frosts can still bite and cold winds are common. They can kill off tender plants. Carefully read the backs of seed packets, which should tell you when to sow. Veg particularly vulnerable to frost include courgette, squash, runner and French beans and sweetcorn.
People often overwater, especially at seedling stage, when there’s less need for new moisture. Little roots can easily be flooded, then die from lack of air. A simple tip is to lift your seed trays - a well-watered one will feel heavier than one needing water - but make sure it’s not too weighty. You’ll quickly learn how to judge what needs water and what doesn’t.
Some gardeners believe that plants need soil that has been loosened, by digging or rotavator, to spread their roots. Charles says firm soil is better and has its own natural, healthy structure of drainage and aeration. If you put a good compost mulch of at least 2in on your beds, without digging it in, it should provide all the nutrients your plants require and you don’t even have to plant a new shrub or other specimen with compost, he reckons.
This can result is a massive under-use of space in your garden, as well as extra work to maintain the unused space, which is often colonised by weeds. As a starting point, space about one third closer than recommended and you’ll be surprised how many extra plants you
Why do so many gardeners just sow seeds in spring? It will result in empty space and rampant weeds by autumn. Make use of the whole growing year, he says, sowing beetroot in late June, fennel and lettuce in July and rocket as late as early August.