GREEN GARDEN
services
Tony Hardy is offering his services as an experienced gardener. His skills also include
FENCING, PATIO CLEANING (WITH REPOINTING IF REQUIRED) ALL ASPECTS OF PRUNING (SMALL & LARGE)
LANDSCAPE GARDENING AND BUILDING DRIVEWAYS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE INCORPORATING HIS SON`S BUSINESS.
FULLY INSURED, COMPETITIVE RATES, DISCOUNTS FOR V.R.A.S. MEMBERS.
TEL 01444-416802 MOBILE 07834629913
email tony_pam@binternet.co
TONY HARDY`S GARDENING TIPS
Start of season Many gardeners buy plug plants or pre grown veg or flowers but Pam and I always grow from seed, it`s much more satisfying, although it may not always be unless you ensure that your pots or trays are free from last year`s debris. Snails or other little creatures love to hide underneath.
To ensure they are clean and sterile wash them off with diluted Jeyes fluid, after use it can be thrown onto your plot.
When sowing seeds I always water the compost first you will probably see it the other way round on the tele, seeding first and then watering. That could be a problem. Seeds usually germinate at the same time, unless they are washed down too deep by watering last.
When planting on to avoid dampening off we use chestnut powder for young seedlings, just a teaspoon full to half a gallon is about right. The watering is done from the bottom of the tray or pot. Stand the pots or trays in a container filled with the chestnut solution so it seeps up from the bottom. It avoids scorching the seedlings. That`s all for now. (Tony)
PLANTING PEAS OUT
Hi I saw a member planting out garden peas on Sunday not an early variety, not a good idea in March. `Early first Feltham` are probably the best. They were sowing them singly and about 4 inches deep that`s too deep in my opinion but would be alright for a clump of them.
I find the best way to do peas is to grow them in trays or modules in a green house or poly tunnel or even on your kitchen window sill. As soon as you sow seeds in the ground it is likely that mice will eat the first green shoots that appear.
Growing in trays or modules will ensure that they have a good start and you should have plenty over to fill any gaps that could occur. More later.
COMPOSTING TIPS
Hi all, it was nice to see a drop of rain on Sat but I have noticed plenty of water butts that are unable to catch water.
I have also seen many compost bins that are just being used as rubbish heaps which will never work if not used properly. Brassica stalks for instance should be chopped down or they will take for ever to rot down. More importantly they should not be composted if they show club root. It just spreads the clubroot around when it finally turns to compost.
Rotating your crops every year would help to reduce club root.
