RAISED BED AND CONTAINER WEEKLY DIARY
WEEK 4 IN APRIL
Article by David Marks.
FIRST SOWING FRENCH BEANS IN POTS INDOORS
French Beans are one of the most tender vegetables and even a small amount will damage them. Rather than sowing the beans directly in the raised bed we suggest sowing them in pots and then transplanting to the raised bed when all danger of frost has passed.
Sow two seeds per 7cm / 3in pot about 2cm / 1in deep and water well. Leave in a light airy position out of direct sunlight. The seedling will emerge in about 7 days time. Discard the weakest seedling when they both emerge.
The seedlings can be transplanted to the raised bed when all danger of frost has passed. See our full article on growing French beans in raised beds by clicking here.
SECOND SOWING OF SPRING ONIONS
Sow your spring onions thinly and cover with a sprinkling of soil, water if the conditions are dry. Staggered sowing of spring onions will extend the cropping season.
FIRST SOWING OF BEETROOT
Baby beetroot are the tastiest of all, just look at the prices in the shops! With raised beds we cram them in and harvest them young at their sweetest.
Many gardeners soak their beetroot seed in water for an hour or so before sowing. The idea behind this practice is to remove the chemicals the seed companies apply to beetroot seed to stop them germinating before you buy them. Our advice is, if you have the time do this, but if not don’t bother. Just make sure you water the soil after you have sown the seed.
Beetroot seed germinate reasonably well when sown in a raised bed so place one seed in the soil about 2cm / 1in apart at a depth of 2cm / 1in. Cover over the seeds and gently pat the soil over the seeds. Water well and leave them well alone. The seedlings should emerge in seven to ten days, they normally have a reddish tinge to the leaves.
It’s best sow beetroot over six weeks or so to ensure you get the maximum cropping period.
FINAL SOWING OF EARLY CARROTS
In truth, if you sow early carrot seed rather than maincrop seed, you should be able to sow carrots through to early July. At the very least, sow more carrot seed as you make space by harvesting carrots sown earlier in the year. See our
main article on carrots for full details.
THIN EARLY CARROT SEEDLINGS
Thin early variety carrots sown in previous weeks. Click here for the care section of our main article on growing carrots in raised beds and containers for full details.
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SOW MORE LETTUCE SEEDS
See our main article on lettuce for detailed instructions and a video showing how to sow lettuce in raised beds and containers.
THIN LETTUCE SEEDLINGS
Thin lettuce seedlings to about 10cm / 4in apart initially. Later in the year when they start to touch each other harvest the small ones and eat them, these are the most delicious of all lettuces. See our full article on the care of lettuces here.
SOW MORE SUMMER RADISH SEED
Click here for our main article with details on how to sow summer radish seed.
WEEKLY FEEDING
Click here for more details on our advice for watering and feeding raised bed gardens.
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