Thursdays Top 10 Tryouts (Or Show Us Yer Tips 7)!!

1. When earthing up your Potatoes, (the last earthing up), ensure enough earth is in place to cover all tubers, preventing sunlight from reaching them. Also ensure that the top of the ridges are not too FLAT, also COMPACT the sides of the ridges. The theory behind compacting is that any spores from blight on the plant, are less likely to get to the tubers and will be washed down into the trenches between the ridges.

2.  Broccoli (Purple & White) is not really fussy about soil, but firm ground with lime added will help Broccoli. Sow in Spring 18 inches (45cm) between plants and 2 feet (60cm) between rows. Keep mulched. Repeatedly pick the flowering heads as they develop.

3.  Look after the Bees this year by planting some Bee friendly plants/flowers in your garden or plot. Some examples are, Coltsfoot, Elder, Borage, White Clover.

4.  One job you know you really want to do? Give your lawn a good raking before feeding & cutting it. It is surprising how much good compost able material will be raked up after the Winter.

5.  Using Foxgloves as a companion plant to root vegetables is said to improve the storage qualities of the root vegetables.

6.  Some examples of vegetables that don't mind growing in partial shade: Cucumber, Kale, Swiss Chard, Parsley, Turnips, Peas, Summer Squash, Radish, Lettuce.

7.  Another method of preventing slugs/snails from getting at your potted plant. Spray the outside of the pots with WD-40. (Don't let the WD-40 get onto the plants).

8.   A water saving tip when planting trees and shrubs. Plant them into well rotted water retaining compost and add a good layer of mulch after planting.

9. When choosing plants for your garden consider the following factors. Size, habit, soil type, season, sun or shade loving, perennial, annual etc.

10.  When you are doing a spell of gardening, remember to take a break now and again. Don't try to do too many things at once and spoil the experience with back-ache or injury.