SoS: Growing Fruit and Vegetables in April

It’s been a busy week in the garden with everything demanding my attention at once to the point I’ve been spinning on the spot.

We managed to cut the olive hedge which had grown to around 12ft as it was casting a shadow over the pool sitting area as the sun dipped lower after 18.30. Hopefully, this will provide some extra sun. The compost heap has also been turned, and even more seeds planted! Yes, Mr.P I’m well and truly hooked!

1. Raised Veg Garden

Our raised vegetable garden is doing reasonably well although keeping on top of the weeds is proving quite a challenge.

At the moment we have red cabbage, peas. red onion, cauliflower and broccoli.  This week I hope to plant yellow peppers – we will see if they are available at the market.

2. Green Salad Crop

Rocket

The rocket, while prolific, has now run to seed and tastes bitter. This will now be removed, and chopped up for composting. I planted some more seeds on 2th April. Let’s hope they don’t take too long to germinate.

Nasturtiums

The Nasturtiums grown from seed (27th January) are now providing plenty of leaves for salad. I’m not sure when and if they will flower, but the leaves are fine for now.

Spinach

My next batch of spinach seedlings (Matador) planted on the 18th April are already beginning to shoot.

Although my spinach spot is still growing well I may pull the leaves before they get tough and eat as a vegetable.

Mixed Lettuce

The mix lettuce pot planted as seed plugs on the 24th March are suddenly ready for harvesting! Was I asleep while they were growing?

3. Radish Grow Well in Containers

I’ve been harvesting the radish I planted on the 12th of March for the last couple of weeks. It’s great to pick them as and when rather than buy a bunch from the supermarket. I planted further seeds at two-week intervals which are now beginning to germinate. Note to self: Sow the next seeds in a new container as the soil here is tired.

4. Spring Onions

These are the last of the onions I planted at the beginning of February. I always buy tiny onion plants that resemble chives from the monthly market rather than planting seeds. So far they have always proved successful. However, while I was in the UK I did succumb to buying a packet of seeds as these onion plugs are not usually available from March onwards.

5. Cucumbers

The cucumbers were doing really well but now seem plagued by a strange disease (I think) which turns the leaves a mottled brown before they die. I’ve just given them a dose of tomato feed in the hope it’s lack of nutrients and not viral.

6. Fruit – Success and Failure

Timperley Early Rhubarb

My Timperley Early rhubarb looks nothing like the picture on the packet. I am going to pick it and cut my losses. I don’t understand why some people where I live can grow it and I can’t. I’ve tried various soils, adding manure and it gets plenty of water. -In fact, I think I will abandon all my rhubarb as it is too much effort for too little reward. Some things are just not meant to be.

Strawberries

The strawberries growing in containers continue to thrive and now provide a steady supply. Not enough to make jam or a tart but enough for us.

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That’s my six for this week, folks. Why not pop over to Mr. P’s blog to check out other Six on Saturday gardeners.

SoS Posts for April:
Success, Failure and a Nice Surprise
Six New Plants
A Thousand Seedlings, Fruit Trees and…