Gardening: As the weather finally warms up, it’s time to sow your crops

In the kitchen garden at RHS Garden Harlow Carr it’s been all go, with lots of path work, installing drains and putting in new raised beds for permanent planting such as asparagus and fruit. Before rushing into seed sowing, it’s important to consider what you want to eat, which variety performed well for you in previous years and where you want it positioned in the garden. If you have room to rotate your crops, it is a good idea to draw a plan of where you want to position them to ensure you have room.

Many crops can now be sown direct. Direct sowing is suitable for vegetables that germinate easily and dislike being transplanted, or crops that are sown thickly and harvested young. The crucial elements for successful seed germination are providing the optimum temperature for seed germination, moisture and providing a suitable growing medium.

Checking the soil temperature before sowing direct is important; most seed germination failures are due to the ground being too cold or too wet. Always check the soil temperature before sowing. Most seeds won’t germinate below 7?C . If the soil is too cold, it’s wise to wait a while as later sowings will catch up. Raised beds warm up quicker than sowing direct into the ground.

Seed beds need to be free of clods, lumps and stones. Using a soil rake, level to produce a fine tilth. Over raking can cause the soil to ‘pill’. Choosing the right moment to do this is important. If the soil is too dry, water before raking; if it’s too wet, cover with a cloche or clear plastic, straw or even placing bottomless pots over the soil to let it dry out. Seeds vary in size so the general rule is the finer the seed, the finer the tilth, so for example, broad beans don’t need as fine a tilth as crops such as carrots and parsnips.

Methods of Direct Seed Sowing

There are different methods of direct seed sowing. When sowing, sow at an even depth to prevent erratic germination. Always look at seed packets to see depth and spacing instructions. Seeds are generally sown three times their depth.

• Sowing in drills: fine seed can be sown this way and thinned out later, for example carrots and lettuce

• Wide drill sowing: usually about 10cm wide; good for peas where they can be staggered in the drill.

• Station sowing or space sowing: ideal for larger seed such as beetroots or parsnips that can be sown in single or in groups at their final spacing.

• Broadcast sowing: ideal for crops that need little or no thinning at all such as carrots, salads or green manures.

Tender vegetables such as courgettes, sweetcorn, runner beans, French beans and squashes are vulnerable to our cold climates and cannot withstand frost, so must be started in a warmer environment such as a greenhouse, then gradually hardened off by placing them in a slightly colder environment, such as a cold frame. If you do not gradually harden them off they will suffer shock from the sudden change of climate. If you don’t have the luxury of a greenhouse you can simply sow seeds in a pot and cover them up with a plastic bag or a plastic propagation cover and place them on your windowsill.

Why not pop down to RHS Garden Harlow Carr to see what can be grown now, and take home some useful tips for your own garden. The kitchen garden team is always happy to offer help and advice.

Jobs for the Week

• Continue to keep on top of weeds on your plot. Pull out the weeds as soon as they germinate and definitely before they set seed!

• Plant out sweet peas if they are hardy enough and support with sticks from your garden. Tie them up to supports as they grow.

• Thin out seedlings as soon as they are large enough to be handled.

• Continue sowing outside in well-prepared soil if conditions allow.

DIARY DATES

Until 16 April: Easter Holiday Fun & the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt

Hop down to the garden and join in the hunt for the Lindt Gold Bunnies. Enjoy stories with the mad-capped garden detectives, a daily Easter trail, Easter crafts and birds-of-prey demonstrations. Normal garden admission.

Until 29 April: Bath House Gallery – Printing Showcase

Printmakers will showcase their work in Harlow Carr’s historic Bath House. Print work is growing in popularity, so make sure you pop by to see work by returning and new artists. Normal garden admission.

30 April - 6 May: National Gardening Week – Share your ‘Passion for Plants’

Gardeners are being encouraged to share their passion for plants and gardening during this year’s National Gardening Week. There will be a host of activities including a chance to create your own ‘Passion for Plant Pot’ as well as tips from expert gardeners, together with a one-off performance of Old Herbaceous, described by The Guardian as ‘Downton Abbey with gardening tips’. Normal garden admission applies.

As the UK’s leading gardening charity, the proceeds taken from events and tickets sales at all RHS gardens help to fund the many activities undertaken by the RHS to promote horticulture and help gardeners. For further information on all the above events please call 01423 565418.

RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane (off the B6162 Otley Road), Beckwithshaw, Harrogate HG3 1QB (if using Sat Nav use postcode HG3 1UE). Gardens open every day of the year, except Christmas Day, from 9.30am until 6pm (or 4pm Nov-Feb inclusive). Last entry 1 hour before closing. RHS Members (+ 1 Family guest) Free; Prices (excluding Gift Aid): Adult: £11.50; Child 5-16: £5.75, Under 5s: Free; Family: £29. Groups (10+): £9.50 Gardens: 01423 565418. Shop and Plant Centre: 01423 724666. Bettys Café Tea Rooms 01423 505604.

RHS Membership

Join the RHS at Harlow Carr and you’ll receive many exclusive benefits including: a monthly copy of ‘The Garden’ magazine; free entry (with a family guest) to RHS Gardens: Harlow Carr, Wisley, Rosemoor and Hyde Hall; free access to over 130 RHS recommended gardens throughout the UK at selected periods; free gardening advice; privileged tickets to world famous flower shows and much more. Call for more information.