VEGETABLE CARE IN MARCH 2008

BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Brussels Sprouts should be sown outside from mid-March onwards. Plant them where they will not be badly affected by strong winds in late auumn and early winter. If you can provide protection, such as a poly-tunnel or cloche, the seeds can be sown at the end of February.
Click here for more information on sowing Brussels Sprouts and where to buy cloches and poly tunnels online.

CARROTS
Early varieties of carrots such as Rocket and Nantes can be sown outside from late March onwards. If you can provide protection, such as a poly-tunnel or cloche, the seeds can be sown at the end of February.

Carrot seed is very small making them hard to sow in the correct amounts (see page link below for why this is important). Pelleted carrot seed is the answer, they are easy to handle and easy to sow. Remember to spread the sowing over a couple of months so that you have a constant supply rather than a glut all at one time.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

LETTUCE
Lettuce are much hardier plants than they look. Start sowing seed out side from the beginning of March. If you can provide protection, such as a poly-tunnel or cloche, the seeds can be sown from the second week of February onwards. As with carrots, sow the seed over a period of a couple of months to avoid a glut.
If you remembered to sow spring lettuce last year, these should be coming ready for harvest at the beginning of March onwards.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

PEAS
Early varieties of Peas can be sown outside from mid March onwards, but they can be sown four weeks earlier if you provide cloche or poly-tunnel protection. In order to prolong the cropping season, sow the seeds over a period of time and sow a couple of different varieties (first early, second early and maincrop varieties are readily available).

Click on the page link below for recommended varieties. Finally, remember that fully grown pea plants can cast quite a shadow over smaller vegetables so bear this in mind when deciding where to sow.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on sowing peas.

FRENCH BEANS
French Beans are very tender so cannot be sown outside without protection in March. If you have cloches or a poly tunnel, french beans can be sown outside under this protection at the end of March. At the beginning of March, prepare the ground for sowing french beans to give the soil time to settle.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on sowing french beans.

RADISH
With cloche or polytunnel protection radishes can be sown towards the end of March. Wait until April if you want to sow radishes without any protection.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on sowing radishes.

TOMATOES
It's always a temptation to sow tomatoes too early in the season. Unless you plan to grow your tomatoes in a greenhouse, don't plant tomato seed (indoors or out) until April at the earliest. What you can do in March for tomatoes is prepare the ground for planting in April / May. Also, click on the link below to get some idea of which seed you require if not already done.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on tomatoes.

ONIONS
Onion seed and sets can be sown outside from mid-March onwards. The same goes for spring onions which should sown in succession over the next few months to avoid a glut.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on growing onions.

RUNNER BEANS
Runner Beans are very tender so should not be planted outside, even with protection, until April. March however is a good month for preparing the gound for runner beans.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on growing runner beans.

MAINCROP and NEW POTATOES
For both maincrop and new potatoes, you should have started sprouting them in February. March (early March for new potatoes, mid March for maincrop potatoes) is the time to plant them. Click on the link below for lots of helpful advice and pictures. If you didn't get round to sprouting the seed last month, start now and plant them in March anyway.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on growing potatoes.

SWEET CORN
Sweet corn are very tender so should not be planted outside, even with protection, until May. March however is a good month for preparing the gound for sweet corn. When choosing their position remember that they are tall and will cast a long shadow over nearby crops.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on growing sweet corn.

SUMMER CAULIFLOWER
You can sow seeds of Summer Cauliflower in March as long as they are protected by poly tunnels or cloches.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

SPRING CABBAGE
Depending on the weather in your area, Spring Cabbage should be ready for harvest from March onwards.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

BROCCOLI / CALABRESE
There are several types of broccoli / calabrese and some are due to be sown in March. Check the seed packet to see which variety you have. Late maturing broccoli should be ready for harvest in March.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

FRUIT AND HERB CARE IN MARCH 2008

STRAWBERRIES
If you didn't manage to prepare the ground last month for your new strawberries, do so now. Choose an area in full sun which will not be shaded by other crops.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

PEACHES
Protect the delicate developing buds of your peach trees from frost in March. Click on the link below for some ideas.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

BAY TREE
Bay trees can be harvested all year round and the make very attractive potted plants. Think about buying one now and you can keep it indoors in a light and airy room for a couple of months before putting it outside for most of the year. Remember also that they make ideal birthday presents, requiring very little attention and no gardening knowledge.
Click here for easy to follow instructions and to buy your bay tree online.

SAGE
If you want to grow sage from seed, March is the best month to start them off indoors or in a greenhouse. The will not be ready for harvest until next year but it's satisfying and a very economical way to grow them.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

PARSLEY
Another herb for sowing in March is parsley. It requires high temperatures to germinate so when you sow the seed, keep them indoors in a warm place until they germinate.
Click here for easy to follow instructions on growing parsley.

GARLIC
The ideal time to plant garlic is in mid-autumn. However, if you didn't get round to it then, March is the second best month to plant the garlic bulbs.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

CHIVES
If chives are a herb for you and you want to get a head start, sow them in March and keep them indoors until April. In fact chives will happily grow on your kitchen windowsill all year round!
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

MARJORAM / OREGANO
Get a good start by sowing the seed indoors in March and planting them out in April.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

THYME
The final herb this month is thyme which can also be grown from seed. Sow indooors during March and then plant them out in April. These are great herbs because they both taste good and look good.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.

GARDEN PLANT CARE IN MARCH 2008

This month the spotlight is on
PROPAGATING FUCHSIAS
If you want lots of fuchsias for free, now is the time to take cuttings and grow them on indoors. It's simplicity itself requiring a sharp knife, some pots and potting compost. Click on the link below for step by step instructions with lots of explanatory pictures.

This year why not try growing a standard fuchsia - these would cost £20 or so for a good specemin from a nursey, but click on the link below and we'll show you how to grow standard fuchsias for virtually nothing. They really make the most spectacular centre pieces in a flower bed. But you definitely need to start now to grow a good height standard for this summer.
Click here for easy to follow instructions with lots of helpful pictures.

JOKE

When Dan, a single man, found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a woman to enjoy it with.

So, one evening he went to a singles bar where he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away.

'I may look like just an ordinary man,' he said as he walked up to her, 'but in just a week or two, my father will die, and I'll inherit 20 million pounds.'

Impressed, the woman went home with him that evening and, three days later, she became his stepmother.

Women are so much smarter than men!

GARDENACTION ADDRESS:
1 Old School Cottages, Southam Street, Kineton, Warwick CV35 0JN

This Month's Recipe

Apple Crumble

Ever wondered what to do with all those cooking apples you have over or that your friends offer you? Well, practice now how to make apple crumble and you'll know exactly what to do with them later this year.

This recipe has step by step instructions and lots of pictures. I guarantee it's been cooked by me and rated as very tasty by all the family.
Click here for this delicious recipe.

UNUSUAL

Oregano

Oregano means Joy of the Mountain. The name Origanum is derived from two Greek words, oros, meaning mountain, and ganos, meaning joy. It refers to the attractive appearance and scent these plants give to the Greek hillsides on which they grow. The Greeks used to encourage the growth of oregano on their grazing lands because it made the meat from their goats and sheep more tender and tastier.

Among the Greeks, if Marjoram grew on a grave, it showed the happiness of the departed, and among both the Greeks and Romans, it was the custom to crown young couples with Marjoram. Legend has it that oregano and marjoram were created by the Greek goddess Venus who touched the plant to give it its delicious scent and flavour.

For those who like a good British pint of beer, it is interesting to note that the continentals used to put the tops of oregano into table beer, to give it an aromatic flavour and preserve it. Before the introduction of hops they were nearly as much in demand for ale-brewing as the ground ivy or wood sage.