Our beautiful bulbs on the patio at wallacespace St Pancras have burst into bloom and sadly there’s no one to see them. It got us thinking about gardening during self-isolation, and we thought we’d share some useful tips from Danuta, our green-fingered Facilities Assistant who keeps our St Pancras building looking so verdant.
Here are our top tips for veg seeds to sow in April…
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Carrots
Sow carrots on well-prepared soil that is free of stones – stony soil results in forked carrots. At this time of year, it is a good idea to protect against carrot fly, by putting up a barrier around the crop. Be patient though, your crop won’t be ready to harvest for another three to four months.
Courgettes, marrow, squashes, cucumbers and pumpkins
Courgettes, marrows, squashes, cucumbers and pumpkins can all be sown in April and are all sown in the same way – in individual 5cm pots, under cover.
Plant outside once the danger of frost has passed (cucumbers often do best in a greenhouse).
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Peas
Peas are dead easy to grow (although beware of the dreaded Pea Thrip) and can be harvested early in summer, making them a welcome early crop. You can sow them direct outside, alternatively, sow in guttering and transplant the whole row of seedlings into a trench when they’re ready.
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Aubergines, chillies and tomatoes
This is your last chance to sow aubergines, chillies and tomatoes, as they need a long growing season to do well. If you don’t have a garden tomatoes and chillies are a good option for a balcony or even a window ledge.
