Liz’s Allotment Life: Sowing the season’s tender crops
RHS Wisley Edibles Horticulturalist Liz Mooney shares what she’s sowing, growing and harvesting right now
This past week was my busiest on the plot so far this year – around seven hours in total, mostly over the weekend. With the weather warming up, there was suddenly plenty to get on with.
This week on the plot
Seed sowing:
This weekend was my biggest seed-sowing moment of the year, finally getting all my tender crops underway. As I don’t have a greenhouse – and can’t start
Like many allotmenteers, I’ve built up a collection of old pots over the years, mostly 9cm, which I fill with peat-free multi-purpose compost.
Newly sown pots in peat-free compost
To protect everything, I covered the pots with horticultural fleece. This helps protect against the occasional cold night, but also acts as a deterrent to mice, which have a habit of investigating freshly sown pots. Fingers crossed it does the trick.
This week I sowed:
- Sweetcorn ‘Incredible’
- French beans including ‘Purple Teepee’, ‘Safari’, ‘Pantheon’ and ‘Blue Lake’
- Tomatoes such as ‘Crimson Cherry’, ‘Golden Sunrise’, ‘Gold Nugget’ and ‘Tomande’
- Winter squashes including ‘Crown Prince’, ‘Uchiki Kuri’ and ‘Honeybear’
- Cucumber ‘Marketmore’ and ‘Crystal Lemon’
- Courgette ‘Defender’
A busy seed-sowing day on the plot – pots filled, seeds sown and everything ready to get growing
Finally, I direct sowed my parsnips (‘Tender and True’, ‘Javelin’ and ‘Gladiator’) outside. Root crops like parsnips and carrots are best sown where they’re going to grow, as transplanting can lead to forked roots. I tend to sow a little thicker than needed and thin later – it’s much quicker than having to resow if
Parsnip seeds sown direct into the soil – best started in situ to avoid root disturbance and reduce the risk of forking
Other tasks:
- I did my first grass cut of the season using a battery-powered strimmer. I leave the grass longer at the back of the plot for wildlife, but keep paths and working areas shorter for access.
- I planted out salad crops from modules, including coriander, chard, lettuce and beetroot.
Well-grown module seedlings, ready for planting out – with roots established and conditions right, they’re set to get off to a strong start
- I secured my fruit netting, especially important now my first cabbage plants are in the ground – I’m keen to keep cabbage white butterflies at bay.
- Harvesting is still focused on reliable
perennial - With the water back on and no rain in sight, I gave everything a thorough soak twice this week and will need to keep this up while seeds germinate and young plants establish.
- I also thinned out earlier sowings of beetroot, spinach and carrots and dug out a few persistent volunteer potatoes that had appeared right in the middle of my rows.
Crop of the week: Asparagus
It’s important not to harvest at all for the first couple of years to allow the plants to establish properly. Even once established, it’s best to stop harvesting after six to eight weeks so the plants can build up energy for the following season.
Freshly picked asparagus from the plot – a true ‘hungry gap’ crop and a reward for patience after a few years of establishment
Coming up on the plot
Next week should be a little quieter, with a focus on watering and keeping a close eye on all my seedlings and pots. I’ll also share more about how I manage the plot in an organic, chemical-free way.
