Garden Diary: April Vegetables (part 2)

My choices for Six on Saturday this week, focus once again on vegetables. I believe the hours spent nurturing all these plants help to keep me sane in the light of the daily challenges we face with COVID. Nature is a great healer and brings peace in these times of stress.

Growing Leeks and Garlic in Containers

The leeks plugs purchased from the garden centre on 2nd 12th and potted on in pts 43 x 31 cm seem to be doing well. In between the leeks I planted garlic gloves on the 5th of January. I only half-filled the pots as an experiment. We will see.

The garlic cloves planted in the crate are not fairing so well. That said, at least the leaves are still green.

Given the time leeks take to germinateand mature I planted some seeds on the 6th of March.

Growing Potatoes in Containers

Given the chhallenge I accepted on behalf of Gnome withThe Nostalgic Gardener, N20 and Fred to grow potatoes in a container(s), I thought it fair to feature an update: Gnome has taken over the potato growing and we have bought several more pots. We are having a debate how deep the pots should be and he is conducting an experiment re soil, size of pots and planting times.

Pot 1: Size 43mm x 41mm. The leaves already yellow and turning brown Gnome researched and apparently the potatoes were not going to develop further so the best course of action is to remove the tops and the let the compost dry out for two weeks before harvesting.

Pot 2 : Size 43mm x 41mm. Leaves turning yellow and showing signs of blight

Pot 3: Size 43mm x 41mm. Planted 9th February.

Gnome decided to depart from our usual planting method after fellow gardener shared this link.

and invested in some shallower pots: Size 43mm x 31mm . In this experiment Gnome filled the pot nearly to the brim with Terra Planta 2 compost rather that add more compost as new shoots pushed through. He used non-seed chitted red potatoes and planted on the 9th April.

Gnome returned to the traditional method of banking up the soil in this pot. Non-seed chitted whites planted on the 12th April in SiroHorta compost.

and planted the final pot of whites in Siro Horta on the 22nd April.

Rábanos Radish

I planted the Rábanos radish seed direct into the raised bed on the 16th of March.

After my expereince with ants stealing my beetroot and Spring onion seeds I was a little apprehensive but for some reason, they never stole these.

I was NOt expecting to be rewrded with my first harvest so quickly!

I saw the radish protruiding above the ground and on the 21st April got quite a shock when I pulled out to long radish roots which resembled carrots. I am usually cyncial when it comes to the promised results on seed packets.

Washed and scrobbed they tasted delicious!

From now on I will not be planting the round variety of radish such as Cherry Belle in future as I’ve had very little success. I now have several packets of seeds for round radish – free to good home.

Aubergines – Violeta Longa

I sowed the first batch of Violeta Long aubergine seeds on the 26th of February. They were slow to germinate and then the tiny seedlings refused to progress.

… until I chose the four healthiest specimens and repotted in good quality compost.

I am unsure as yet if these will be planted in the main raised vegetable bed or in large pots.

Given the length of time the first batch of Violeta Longa aubergines took to germinate I sowed another batch on the April 4th.

Butternut Squash

I love butternut squash, so decided to try again this year. Last year I attempted to grow these in a pot and it was a grand fail which resulted in one squash the size of a pear. I’ve kept it as a garden ornament as a reminder.

I only planted four seeds on the 4th of March, two of which matured and replanted in the raised bed on the 19th April. I have covered with a crate for now, until they are established. The midday sun can be quite intense for baby plants. And the ever vigilent blackbird will dig them up just for fun.

That’s it for this week!

Do you enjoy gardening? Why not join other bloggers for Six on Saturday?