Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 62
Spring 2022 issue of the award-winning Whitchurch and Llandaff Living
Spring 2022 issue of the award-winning Whitchurch and Llandaff Living
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gardens<br />
Spring Vegetables<br />
In a time when food prices are on the rise, dedicating an area of your<br />
garden to growing your own food could be beneficial. Here are a few<br />
ideas on how to get started, <strong>and</strong> what vegetables to grow<br />
Don't start too early<br />
Tempting as it may be to get stuck<br />
in, sowing too early could mean that<br />
your crop is at risk of being harmed or<br />
destroyed by frost. Find out the rough<br />
date of when you can expect the last frost<br />
of the year. If you do find yourself caught<br />
out with a sudden temperature drop,<br />
you can always protect your crops with<br />
newspaper, old sheets or frost blankets.<br />
Just remember to remove them the<br />
following day.<br />
Sowing your veg<br />
There’s still time to sow vegetables such<br />
as aubergines, tomatoes, sweetcorn,<br />
cucumbers, <strong>and</strong> courgettes.<br />
You can always give your vegetable<br />
garden a kick start if you feel that you're<br />
too late to sow, by purchasing baby plants.<br />
You'll need to gradually expose these to<br />
outdoor conditions throughout the spring<br />
season.<br />
Spring is a good time if you’re planting<br />
in pots or on your windowsill. Lettuce <strong>and</strong><br />
tomatoes do particularly well.<br />
Feed, nourish <strong>and</strong> protect<br />
Your vegetables will be growing quickly during the spring months so<br />
always keep them hydrated, either with a hose or by sitting them in a tray<br />
of water. If you have any plants in pots, these can be fed once a week with<br />
liquid feed.<br />
You'll also want to think about preparing your outside garden spaces<br />
ready for your new plants. Remove any weeds that have started growing<br />
as these could present a problem later in the year when they get too large<br />
<strong>and</strong> unmanageable.<br />
Harden tender<br />
vegetables<br />
Tender vegetables will need<br />
to be exposed to the great<br />
outdoors if they are to flourish<br />
over the summer. Spring is the<br />
best time to do this as conditions<br />
are, for the most part, gentle <strong>and</strong><br />
welcoming.<br />
Start by taking them outside for<br />
just one day a week <strong>and</strong> leaving<br />
them in a safe, sheltered spot.<br />
Bring them in at night if you feel<br />
that the temperature is dropping<br />
too much, or that frost is forecast.<br />
This toughening up process<br />
will help the plants flourish<br />
<strong>and</strong> become tough enough to<br />
withst<strong>and</strong> the rain <strong>and</strong> wind.<br />
Towards the end of spring, you<br />
can plant them in their final<br />
growing space, where they will<br />
remain for the warmer months.<br />
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