Basic gardening. How to grow some of the veg we've planted, and an approximate calendar. Also basic foraging dates and links.
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This cheat sheet is based on my own (small) garden and greenhouse, in the south of the UK. Dates for other places will be different.
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Also, I'm inexperienced with gardening, so don't go taking any of this as gospel. YMMV.
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Suggestions and tips very welcome!
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Sow in February, harvest from May to October
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Plant seed edgeways in 1cm deep compost.
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Remove any male flowers (female flowers will have a miniature cucumber behind the flower).
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Train main shoots onto 1.8m canes until they reach top of support, then pinch out growing point.
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Feed your cucumber plants with a high potash feed every two weeks once the fruits begin to develop.
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Once fruit begins to develop, pinch out end of each side shoot, leaving two leaves after each fruit.
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Harvest early in the morning and before fruits produce seeds.
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Aim to plant in October. Buy bulb(s) in September.
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Turn over soil, remove weeds, add compost.
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Make furrows about 3 inches deep and six inches apart.
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Plant cloves about 4 inches deep and six inches apart, pointy side up.
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Water in, then add some mulch, leaf compost or straw over the bed.
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Shoots will appear in spring.
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Early May, "scapes" will sprout - pull off (and eat).
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Mid-to-late Jun, plant will start turning brown. Stop watering.
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Once plant is brown, except for top 5 or 6 leaves, dig up bulbs.
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Cure with leaves on out of direct sunlight.
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Plant and harvest in March/April
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Soak ginger overnight
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Plant in rich, well-draining soil
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Likes a sheltered spot, filtered sunlight, warm weather and humidity
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Harvest ginger any time after leaves have died down
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Freeze, or cut into chunks and store in brandy
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Sow seeds end of April, plant in May, harvest from July to October
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Sow seed indoors, 4cm deep in a 7.5cm pot filled with multi-purpose compost.
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Water, place on a sunny windowsill to germinate.
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Seedlings will be ready to plant after ~3 weeks.
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Before planting, put in a cold frame or a cool porch for a few days to acclimatise.
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Beans will need support to climb - 8 foot bamboo poles are ideal.
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Water heavily, twice a week in dry weather.
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Harvest regularly - the more you pick, the more they produce!
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Plant in Spring or Autumn
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Ideal for hanging baskets. Like rich, sandy soil and lots of heat and light.
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Plant with crown above soil.
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Feed with tomato feed every 10 days.
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Use straw to keep fruit from contact with soil/compost.
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Harvest fruits as soon as ripe.
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Strawberry plants should be replaced after three years.
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Remove runners until after plant has cropped.
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If growing runners, allow to get to 4 leaves then cut off and replant.
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Don't let new runner plants flower in same year as planting.
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Sow seeds in March/April. Transfer seedlings in April/May.
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Grow with basil to deter aphids and marigolds to deter whitefly.
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Planting
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Sprinkle seeds over compost and cover with 1.5mm compost.
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Transfer to pots when large enough to handle, without touching stem
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Stake plants when ~18 inches tall (don't let ties cut into stems)
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Pruning, Watering and Feeding
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Remove sideshoots (don't leave a stump)
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Lower leaves which show any signs of yellowing should also be removed
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Remove leaves below first flower cluster
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Remove growing tip when reaches top of support
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Remove any more than 5-7 trusses
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Water at same time of day every when needed
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Feed regularly with high-potash plant food
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Identifying Berries
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Don't mix pickings from different plants in same container where possible and take a photo of the source, to help confirm identity of plant if required.
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Clean tools, greenhouse, patio ... :(
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Cucumber
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Warmth
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Rocket
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Ginger
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Spinach
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Ginger
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Tomatoes
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Potatoes
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Strawberries
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Wild Garlic
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Strawberries
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Cucumber
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Pignuts
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Strawberries
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Cucumber
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Pignuts
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Good King Henry
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Fat Hen
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Elderflower
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Cucumber
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Good King Henry
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Runner Beans
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Fat Hen
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Garlic
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Christmas New Potatoes
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Cucumber
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Blackberries
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Runner Beans
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Bilberries
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Good King Henry
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Fat Hen
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Damsons
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Cucumber
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Elderberries
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Runner Beans
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Blackberries
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Buy Garlic Bulbs
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Crab Apples
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Garlic
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Runner Beans
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Sloes
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Crab Apples
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Sloes
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Crab Apples
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Rosehips
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Plant
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Harvest
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Forage
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Crop
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Plant From
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Plant to
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Harvest After
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First early potatoes
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End Feb
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Late May
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10 weeks
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Second early potatoes
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March
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Late May
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13 weeks
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Early maincrop potatoes
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March
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Late May
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15 weeks
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Maincrop potatoes
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March
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Mid May
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20 weeks
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Second cropping potatoes
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Early August
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End August
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11 weeks
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BTW I think this is also useful in the southern hemisphere, I am pretty sure its just + 6 months. I am sending a copy to my hubby who is a big green thumb I think he'll find it useful :) great idea for a cheat sheet :)
Cheatography n. The art of mapping complex subjects into clear, instantly navigable reference guides.
