Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2007 | Page 60

life - GARDENING April/May Planting NOW the clocks have jumped forward and the sun has shown a warm face, there’s plenty of extra daylight for pottering in the garden. Over the next two months it’s really time to get going on summer and autumn vegetables. Here’s a reminder of the plants and seeds you need to be getting in the ground for April and May. April Plant asparagus, Brussel sprouts, cabbages, calabrese, cauliflowers, chillies, lettuces, parsley, peas, potatoes, soft fruit bushes, sprouting broccoli and sweet peppers. Sow aubergines, basil, beetroot, borlotti beans, dwarf French beans, parsnips, radishes, rocket, runner beans, spring onions, Brussel sprouts and tomatoes. cages and continuing to add waste to the runner bean trench. In May don’t forget to earth up potatoes, mulch the fruit cages, protect beans, peas and strawberries and erect the runner bean framework. And don’t forget, as May is one of the key growing months, keep watering. Remember to water peas and beans sparingly. If they get too much water before they start to flower they will produce leaves rather than flowers. Likewise with root crops – too much water will encourage lots of leaf and not so much root. May Plant Basil, borlotti beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, cucumber, leeks, runner beans and tomatoes. Sow Beans, beetroot, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, courgettes, cucumbers, parsnips, pumpkins, rocket, spinach, spring onions, sweetcorn and turnips. Other tasks for April include digging a trench for celery, putting up fruit 60 Island Life - www.isleofwight.net