The Happy Garden Company

Showing posts with label Planting. Show all posts

Plant and Grown Apples

10:34

The Happy Garden Company

Apples are the most popular orchard fruit. They suit the British climate and although they prefer rich, moist, well-drained soil, they still manage to crop well even in poor conditions.

Follow these simple steps in order to produce some wonderful apples.

Step 1.

Apples are easily grown on dwarf stock in large pots and special varieties have been developed that need very little pruning.

Step2.

For beauty and productivity in small gardens, apples are best grown as espaliers as they benefit from the protection of a warm fence or wall.

Step3.

Weel-established trees in containers can be planted at any time of the year if the roots aren't damaged or the surrounding soil disturbed.

Step4.

There are no special planting requirements except that the graft (the distinctive swelling on the stem) is not planted beneath the soil.

Step 5.

With no other special planting requirments, water generously to help tress establish and make good growth, add a heavy mulch.

Happy eating and remember - An apple a day helps keep the doctor away!

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Posted in Apples, Fruit, Grow your own, Growing, Planting, Trees

Many recipes make use of onions, shallots or garlic. You can easily store these indispensable vegatables for future use.

Onions of ordinary size and quality can be grown in most soils.

Step 1.
As onions need good drainage, the texture of the soil is important.
Before planting, dig in well-rotted manure and sand or grit.
Add general fertiliser.

Step 2.
Plant onion sets 10cm apart from late winter to mid-spring, when the ground is workable.
Push gently into the soil until just the tips of the onions are showing.

Step 3.
Plant easy-to-grow shallots 15cm apart from late winter to early spring.
Press the bulbs firmly into the soil until they are half covered.

Step 4.
Garlic likes the sun and fairly rich ground.
Plant the bulbs vertically, 10cm apart, in late autumn or early spring to the depth of the bulb.

Step 5.
When onion, shallot and garlic leaves turn yellow, lift the bulbs and spread them to dry in a cool dry place, or plait withered leaves together with string.

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Posted in Garlic, Grow your own, Growing, Onions, Planting, Shallots, Spring, Vegetables

Plant and Grow Potatoes

14:27

The Happy Garden Company

Potatoes are an excellent crop for a new or neglected garden as the root system breaks up the soil and improves its structure.

There are actually only a few soils in which potatoes won't grow reasonably well.

Step 1.

Prepare the soil by digging plently of organic matter into open, frost-free ground, to a depth of 60cm. (Crops will be poor in shaded areas).

Step 2.

In a light but not sunny room, set out the seed potatoes, eyes uppermost, in trays or egg boxes to chit (sprout). In six weeks they will develop 2cm sprouts.

Step 3.

Plant seed potatoes upright, with shoots at top, 30cm apart with 60cm between rows 15cm deep. Take care not to damage the fragile shoots.

Step 4.

Potatotes need constant "earthing up" to protect them from late frost and to prevent tubers that are too near to the surface turning green and toxic.

Step 5.

As an alternative, and for easier harvesting, you can earth up with straw. Potatoes and ready to dig up when they are the size of a hen's egg.

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Posted in Grow your own, Growing, Planting, Potatoes, Spring, Vegetables