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Grow some early vegetables
(Issue 11: - 8th April 2011)

Early spring is here. In fact with temperatures of 20-23C and no rain for weeks in southern England one could be forgiven to thinking summer was here very early!

But remember where-ever you are spring can bring a return to sudden unexpected frosts that damage early crops and young seedlings. So don't get too carried away if you too are currently basking in spring sunshine. Check the weather forecast regularly.

Early harvest from over wintered crops

• You could be lucky enough to be cutting Asparagus from its second year. I cut the first bunch of this delicious veg. yesterday; enjoyed as a starter with dinner last night. Cooked for 4-5 minutes and served alone or with a bit of melted butter -asparagus is irresistible in our house
• Curly kale is coming to the end, but provides early greens from February till mid April - pick young, remove from stem and steam for 5 minutes
• Purple sprouting broccoli has been shooting for 2-3 weeks and still has 2-3 weeks to go - pick regularly and eat those fresh young shoots after steaming for 3-5 minutes or even try them small raw
• parsnips and leeks can still be harvested if you have some left - cut out the hard core of the parsnip and discard the old outer leaves of the leeks and clean well

Early crops to sow

• First early potatoes should be planted now, and with protection under a cold frame or fleece can be producing edible tubers in6-8 weeks. These are delicious with mint and a bit of butter and way better than anything you can buy
• Early carrots and beetroot can be sown in early April
• lettuce and leeks can be sown in trays for transplanting later
• sow courgettes, melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, peas, sweetcorn in pots under glass or fleece to bring on sturdy plants for transplanting outside once the risk of frosts has gone

Protection of early crops

With frosts always a risk thorough early spring it is vital to be vigilant to protect your early crops and avoid losing all to one nights frost. Protect young new plants with horticultural fleece, or grow under glass.

Early potatoes may grow and emerge fast from shallow ridges. Pull up larger ridges as the plants grow and be prepared to cover with horticultural fleece if frosts are forecast or all the new growth can be 'burnt' and the crop stunted.

• keep on top of new weed growth
• conserve soil moisture by keeping soil firm after cultivation and adding a mulch
• sow early and continue every 1-2 months to get a succession and not a glut of beans, peas, carrots, beetroot etc.
• If you have Rhubarb, add a good mulch of compost plus a sprinkling of Grow-more fertilizer and water regularly to get plenty of stems for cutting and minimise flower production if weather is dry

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Well spring has sprung. The last few days we have had 20-23C in the day and no frosts at night. The grass is growing and leaves coming out rapidly on shrubs and early trees, the Bluebells are blooming in the woods, and birds have been nesting for a month.

The first compost heap has been spread for early potatoes and to enrich the soil for other early crops. The second heap will be cleared this weekend.

First sowing of Early Nantes carrots have emerged as have beetroot.

Second sowing of broad beans have yet to emerge.

Glasshouse/ propagator sowings of lettuce, leeks, melons, tomatoes and peppers have all delivered seedlings which are growing on nicely.

We are harvesting over-wintered parsnips, leeks, curly kale, purple sprouting broccoli and yesterday our first asparagus of the year. Yummy!

Next is the job of sowing in pots and trays first climbing beans, first peas, courgettes, butter-nut squash, cucumbers, sweetcorn.

Once the curly kale and purple sprouting broccoli finish in late April the ground will be prepared for second early potatoes.

I love this time of year with new crops, flowers, fresh new leaves and warm spring sunshine. Lets just hope the good weather lasts.

Thank you.

Best wishes and happy vegetable gardening

Colin (easy-vegetable-gardening.com)