Signs of Spring are just starting to emerge, and it’s time to start considering what you’ll choose to grow in the space you have, this year. In March you can start to sow and plant for early crops. Outdoors, you can sow carrots and hardy vegetables like spinach under cloches, and plant Jerusalem artichoke, early potatoes, onions and shallots. Indoors, you can start to sow chillis, tomatoes and peppers, and if you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse or similarly sheltered space, you can make a head start with salad and herbs crops.
If you are looking to grow soft fruits such as raspberries and gooseberries (hinnonmaki red is recommended), the best time to plant is from early November until the end of March. Check different varieties so see which are best for early, mid and late fruiting. They will only need pruning once a year, so they are very low maintenance and will supply you with beautiful fruit for years to come.
For the strawberry lovers, plants can be bought now and will fruit for around three years. They also send off runners that can be repotted, so you can always have new plants. In theory you will never have to buy a strawberry plant again! The Albion strawberry is described as ‘ever bearing’ and produces fruit for longer than other varieties.
Tomato feed will help your fruiting plants flourish. Soil should be rich and well drained, so it’s a good idea to add plenty of organic matter. All these fruiting plants enjoy plenty of sunshine, and they can be grown in containers. No more plastic punnets, and surplus fruit that can be frozen – what’s not to love!
You can start preparing veg beds for planting at this time of year, digging in manure or compost to add richness. Some crops such as brassicas and blackcurrants, will benefit from a ‘feed’ at this time as well.
This is also a good opportunity to consider installing a pond, a compost bin or a water butt. Resist too much tidying in the garden this early in the year, and wait for temperature to rise to consistently above 10°C over a week, as many beneficial insects overwinter in hollow stems or amongst fallen leaves.