Garden do’s and don’ts

Follow our simple do’s and don’ts for the garden this Spring

Garden, Wildlife and Compost:

• Don’t cut the grass just yet, wait until mid-March
• Do leave out water, and dry dog or cat food for hedgehogs, after dark, leave out food and cover what is left in the morning.
• Do clean out the old bird boxes in the garden and put up new ones. The best places to have them are in sheltered areas facing northeast.
• Don’t turn the compost heap just yet. Wait until April, as small mammals, frogs and insects may still be hibernating there.

Indoor Growing

• Do sow tomato and cucumber seeds in warm conditions like inside a greenhouse or beside a sun-facing window.
• Do encourage seed potatoes to sprout before planting by chitting. You can do this by placing them on a tray beside a warm, windowsill for 6-8 weeks before planting in the ground.
• Do Start early and sow your summer cabbage and Brussels sprouts on a seed tray or in a polytunnel and keep them under a cover (e.g. a plastic sheet).

 Outdoor growing

• Do Sow hardy varieties of broad bean in the ground (if it is not frozen).
• Do can also plant delicious garlic and shallots and bare root strawberry plants now to enjoy over the long summer days.