Fact Sheet Seventeen
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 17
23rd January 2005
SOW SWEET PEA AND TOMATO SEEDS 1. Using a 9cm plastic pot, fill with suitable compost to the lip just before the top of the pot. 2. Ensure the compost is at room temperature before use. If the compost has been in a shed or garage then bring it into the house or a warmer environment the night before. 3. Put 4 sweet pea seeds into the top of the compost and then cover with compost to the top of the pot. 4. Using the bottom of another pot lightly press down on the top of the compost you have put on top of the seeds and lightly water. 5. The Sweet pea pots do not need to be put into a heated propagator and can be grown on a window sill or conservatory. 6. When planting tomato seeds follow processes 1 & 2 and then instead of putting 4 seeds in the compost put 6 tomato seeds in 7. Once again cover the seeds and press down on top of the compost. 8. The tomato seeds then need to be placed in a heated propagator. 9. Water sporadically over the coming weeks. 10. Stay tuned to The Gardeners Diary for information on what to do once the seeds start to grow. HOW TO CHIT POTATOS 1. We will planting our seed potatoes around Easter time but for now they need to be kept somewhere frost free, warm and well lit. 2. Try and buy your seed potatoes as early as possible. If you leave it till you need to plant them they will either be sold out or unsuitable. 3. Place seed potatoes in an empty egg tray with the end that has the most eyes pointing up. Eyes are the little shoots coming from the potato. 4. Keeping them at room temperature is the best thing to do now and you seed potatoes will be ready to plant in late March.
THE DIARY
FLOWER GARDEN JOBS: Splash around with some wintry colour. Most gardens at this time of year seem drab and lack that extra splash of colour to see them through till spring. Why not plant some extra wintry colour which will give interest and structure through their flowers, foliage or coloured stems. Why not create a border full of wintry interest and help brighten up the garden this January.
FLOWER GARDEN JOBS: Still time to move and transplant.
You still have time to move and transplant deciduous trees and shrubs which over the past year you have noticed are planted in the wrong position. Even the ones you forgot to move in the autumn. Before lifting make sure there is no threat of frost present then dig the hole in the new planting position. As you dig the hole and excavate the soil add some organic matter with the soil from the hole so plant has some food to draw on to get established. Fork the bottom over adding more organic matter this will stop you compaction of the soil creating a sump which won't allow any access moisture to disperse and will stop the plant sitting in water which could cause the transplanted plant to fail. Lift the selected plant with as much root ball as possible then plant into the new area firming the soil well. If the plant is quite large then ensure it is staked until established to deter it rocking in high winds. Then water in well and keep a close eye until the plant shows good signs of being successfully transplanted.
GREENHOUSE JOBS: Start sowing summer flowering annuals.
This week in the greenhouse sees the start of the sowing and growing of all your summer bedding. The selection of varieties open to the gardening market is astronomical and with this wide selection it can be rather misleading on what to grow and how. Stay tuned to The Gardeners Diary in the coming weeks. We'll take you through the selection and the planting every step of the way
GREENHOUSE JOBS: Remember to prick out.
As soon as seeds have germinated and are large enough to handle then waste no time in pricking out and transplanting on. Take care in handling your new additions, pricking out into sterilised pots or trays depending on the particular variety and size of seedling. Some seeds will germinate sporadically but prick out the ones which are ready and wait patiently for the rest to germinate. Once again stay tuned for more information on exactly how to do this in future shows.
FRUIT & VEGETABLE JOBS: Sow for your summer Cauliflower crop.
It is time this week to sow cauliflowers. People say they are harder to grow than their horticultural cousins the cabbage but that makes them more of a challenge. Sow them thinly into a seed tray of all-purpose compost and then cover. Place the tray then into either a heated greenhouse or kitchen windowsill. If placed in the windowsill keep an eye on the seedlings. Once they germinate turn the tray a quarter of a turn each day to keep plants upright. Once the plants are large enough to handle, prick them out into trays or pots. Then from late March early April transplant the young plants into the vegetable patch or allotment in rows 15-20cm apart with the same distance between rows. Remember to treat the roots of the young Cauliflowers with Calomel dust (Club Root control) to prevent club root occurring. Do this as you transplant your plants. Once planted protect plants from late frost with fleece until they have hardened off. Keep weeds suppressed by hoeing at regular intervals. Grow on until florets are ready to be harvested which should be from late June onwards. Alternatively you can sow your cauliflower seed direct into the ground in April. Though protecting the crop from birds can be a problem. We will take you through most of these jobs on The Gardeners Diary.
FRUIT & VEGETABLE JOBS: Remove fruiting spurs on top fruit. Established fruit trees should have there fruiting spurs and stems thinned out so that your trees won't get over laden with fruit causing stems to crack, split or break allowing canker and other disease to cause distress to your trees. Pruning is easy; most fruit trees will produce there growth in pairs. First of all take out any dead, damaged or diseased wood then remove any growth which is growing into the tree. If not removed, this will spoil the shape of your plant and also the interlocking branches will rub together causing damage allowing the threat of disease to creep in. Once this is done look at the branch pairs and leaving the strong growth and removing the weaker one down one or two buds pruning on an outward facing bud. This weaker growth once pruned should hopefully produce a strong shoot which then can be left the following year and the fruit stem from this year can be pruned down the same next year. LAWN CARE JOBS: Measure up and get ready. Whilst the weather is still inhospitable to do any serious work on your lawns and areas of turf there are other turf culture tasks which will help out with the coming season. Measure up the area of lawn you have and work out which the amount of feed, weed & moss killer you're going to need. Also measure up the length of lawn edge you'll need to replace. Check out your hand tools and if something needs replacing then do it now and not when you need to use it and its late on Sunday afternoon and you realise the garden centre has shut. Listen to The Gardener's Diary with Luke Ashmead on BBC Three Counties Radio every Sunday afternoon at 2.00pm Contact The Gardener's Diary Here BBC Three Counties Radio 98, 103.8, 95.5 and 104.5FM | 
