Don’t force yourself outdoors says Simon Lock…
With the weather our gardens have been subjected to over the past couple of months you might think you’d have more luck farming salmon than growing produce. But despite the ongoing monsoon season turning veg patches into fish ponds, keep the faith, spring is just around the corner… Okay, it’s probably fair to say this could be some corner, but in true British fashion we’ll battle on!
If you have still got heavily waterlogged soil then your best bet is to keep your boots clean until the ground has dried out, as trampling all over it will only compact the soil and make for more drainage problems. Once the waters have subsided prepare your patch by getting rid of any weeds and stones, dig in any compost and cover beds with some fleece or cloche. This extra layer will help warm up the soil, giving seeds a better chance of germination as it protects against ground frosts or further downpours.
If the weather for March looks grim then don’t force yourself outdoors, there’s plenty you can do from the comfort of your kitchen. Find a sunny spot and plant up onions, shallots and garlic and start to chit your early potatoes by placing them into old egg boxes with the eyes facing upwards. Gardeners who are short on room often dismiss potatoes as they’re fairly uninspiring, cheap to buy and take up valuable space, but I always make room for a couple of planter bags on my patio.
With your windowsills suitably garnished and the weather hopefully becoming a little more hospitable you can start to venture outdoors a bit more. Broad beans, carrots and parsnips can all be planted out but be prepared to tuck them in at night if temperatures start to drop.