About This Cheat Sheet
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. |
Also, I'm inexperienced with gardening, so don't go taking any of this as gospel. YMMV. |
Suggestions and tips very welcome! |
How to Grow Cucumbers
Sow in February, harvest from May to October |
Plant seed edgeways in 1cm deep compost. |
Remove any male flowers (female flowers will have a miniature cucumber behind the flower). |
Train main shoots onto 1.8m canes until they reach top of support, then pinch out growing point. |
Feed your cucumber plants with a high potash feed every two weeks once the fruits begin to develop. |
Once fruit begins to develop, pinch out end of each side shoot, leaving two leaves after each fruit. |
Harvest early in the morning and before fruits produce seeds. |
How to Grow Garlic
Aim to plant in October. Buy bulb(s) in September. |
Turn over soil, remove weeds, add compost. |
Make furrows about 3 inches deep and six inches apart. |
Plant cloves about 4 inches deep and six inches apart, pointy side up. |
Water in, then add some mulch, leaf compost or straw over the bed. |
Shoots will appear in spring. |
Early May, "scapes" will sprout - pull off (and eat). |
Mid-to-late Jun, plant will start turning brown. Stop watering. |
Once plant is brown, except for top 5 or 6 leaves, dig up bulbs. |
Cure with leaves on out of direct sunlight. |
How to Grow Ginger
Plant and harvest in March/April |
Soak ginger overnight |
Plant in rich, well-draining soil |
Likes a sheltered spot, filtered sunlight, warm weather and humidity |
Harvest ginger any time after leaves have died down |
Freeze, or cut into chunks and store in brandy |
How to Grow Runner Beans
Sow seeds end of April, plant in May, harvest from July to October |
Sow seed indoors, 4cm deep in a 7.5cm pot filled with multi-purpose compost. |
Water, place on a sunny windowsill to germinate. |
Seedlings will be ready to plant after ~3 weeks. |
Before planting, put in a cold frame or a cool porch for a few days to acclimatise. |
Beans will need support to climb - 8 foot bamboo poles are ideal. |
Water heavily, twice a week in dry weather. |
Harvest regularly - the more you pick, the more they produce! |
How to Grow Strawberries
Plant in Spring or Autumn |
Ideal for hanging baskets. Like rich, sandy soil and lots of heat and light. |
Plant with crown above soil. |
Feed with tomato feed every 10 days. |
Use straw to keep fruit from contact with soil/compost. |
Harvest fruits as soon as ripe. |
Strawberry plants should be replaced after three years. |
Remove runners until after plant has cropped. |
If growing runners, allow to get to 4 leaves then cut off and replant. |
Don't let new runner plants flower in same year as planting. |
Three types of strawberry:
- Alpines produce small sweet berries from July-September.
- Summer-fruiting produce larger fruits in early and mid-summer.
- Perpetual-fruiting produce fruit early summer to early autumn.
How to Grow Tomatoes
Sow seeds in March/April. Transfer seedlings in April/May. |
Grow with basil to deter aphids and marigolds to deter whitefly. |
Planting |
Sprinkle seeds over compost and cover with 1.5mm compost. |
Transfer to pots when large enough to handle, without touching stem |
Stake plants when ~18 inches tall (don't let ties cut into stems) |
Pruning, Watering and Feeding |
Remove sideshoots (don't leave a stump) |
Lower leaves which show any signs of yellowing should also be removed |
Remove leaves below first flower cluster |
Remove growing tip when reaches top of support |
Remove any more than 5-7 trusses |
Water at same time of day every when needed |
Feed regularly with high-potash plant food |
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Foraging Tips
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. |
To Do: January
Clean tools, greenhouse, patio ... :( |
To Do: February
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
Cucumber |
|
Warmth |
To Do: March
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
Rocket |
Ginger |
Spinach |
Ginger |
Tomatoes |
Potatoes |
To Do: April
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
Strawberries |
|
Wild Garlic |
To Do: May
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
Strawberries |
Cucumber |
Pignuts |
To Do: June
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
Strawberries |
Cucumber |
Pignuts |
| |
|
Good King Henry |
| |
|
Fat Hen |
| |
|
Elderflower |
To Do: July
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
| |
Cucumber |
Good King Henry |
| |
Runner Beans |
Fat Hen |
| |
Garlic |
To Do: August
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
Christmas New Potatoes |
Cucumber |
Blackberries |
| |
Runner Beans |
Bilberries |
| |
|
Good King Henry |
| |
|
Fat Hen |
| |
|
Damsons |
To Do: September
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
| |
Cucumber |
Elderberries |
| |
Runner Beans |
Blackberries |
Buy Garlic Bulbs |
|
Crab Apples |
To Do: October
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
Garlic |
Runner Beans |
Sloes |
| |
|
Crab Apples |
To Do: November
Plant |
Harvest |
Forage |
| |
|
Sloes |
| |
|
Crab Apples |
| |
|
Rosehips |
Potato Planting and Harvesting
Crop |
Plant From |
Plant to |
Harvest After |
First early potatoes |
End Feb |
Late May |
10 weeks |
Second early potatoes |
March |
Late May |
13 weeks |
Early maincrop potatoes |
March |
Late May |
15 weeks |
Maincrop potatoes |
March |
Mid May |
20 weeks |
Second cropping potatoes |
Early August |
End August |
11 weeks |
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Created By
https://aloneonahill.com
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Comments
Awesome, thanks :)
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 :)
Thanks very much!
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