Growing Calendar

JANUARY

Prune soft fruit and apple and pears while the plants remain dormant. Take the time to research the method for each plant and ensure your secateurs are razor sharp.  

Choose a fine day to get yourself sorted for the season ahead. Have a blitz of your plot, sorting out pots, tools and odd jobs in readiness for spring.

FEBRUARY

Jot down a planting plan and check your seed stash, ordering in extras to fill any gaps.

Select spuds for chitting and planting in next month or two. ‘First earlies’, such as Arran Pilot and Red Duke of York, are best for small spaces. If you plan to grow them in a large container, ensure the plants are always kept moist.

Sow chillies, which require a long growing season. The seed needs a minimum of around 20ºC to germinate, so choose a snug spot and then grow on seedlings somewhere bright. Later, pinch out the growing tips to encourage a bushy plant.

MARCH

Hunt for slugs and snails before they start breeding in earnest. Look for hiding places where they are clustering together, such as piles of pots and containers.

When the weather starts to warm up, sow coriander, chervil, early peas, carrots and radishes, amongst others. Start them off in modules if the soil is still cold – direct sowings are likely to fail.