I need a character to be planting something likely in late April in a vegetable patch in the midlands.

Any ideas, and any info about how it's done gratefully received. I'm a card carrying townie who can kill spider-plants...

Emma

This is the Spider Plant Preservation Society calling in with a helpful link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/TB1F5MM4WGZQ


Vanessa

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mind you, we are in the States...but maybe there is an equivalent site in the UK?

The easiest way to find a suitable plant (that gives the right feel for your piece) would be to go to B&Q or a garden centre and look at seed packets. They will tell you when and how to plant.

For instance, your character might be the kind of man who'd plant lettuce, or he may be more of a root veg person. Going and looking yourself would give you loads of choice, and the chance to find something 'just right'.

However, as an example (and in case you can't be bothered to go look):

'Sweet Basil: Sow between early March and late May, directly into finely raked, warm, moist soil at a depth of 6mm, thinning the resulting seedlings to a final spacing of 23cm. Alternatively sow inside into pots or trays fo moist, quality compost. Maintain 10-15 degrees C. Thin to 5cm apart and grow on prior to planting out when danger of frost is past. Easy to grow and very tasty.'

Basically, if you're planting them directly outside then you need to do it later in the suggested window rather than earlier. Late April should be okay for directly outside.

Any more questions, just shout...

Deb



<Added>

I have some more seed packets here if you have any particular requests, Emma... ;)

We've just sown some rocket, if that's any help.

The monther-in-law's done really well with radishes recently. They're about 4x the size of the one's you get in the supermarkets.

Or are you thing of something a bit more substantial?

My dad did spuds a fortnight ago in his London allotment.

That's such a help, all of you, thank you!

I don't think it's anything very substantial. What I have in mind, in my ignorant way, is the kind of thing where once you'd prepared the soil, you'd work your way along a row poking holes and putting in - seeds, seedlings? The kind of thing you could show a novice how to do and then chat while you did it side by side.

The gardener in question is an oldish, reclusive woman with a whiff of white witch about her. Annoyingly, most of her herbs aren't out yet, so I can't make the narrator smell them.

Emma

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Spuds, that's an idea. Nice and earthy, since she more-or-less lives on what she grows.

Tarragon, Lemon Balm and chives are all out now, which is only slightly later than late April. I think they were just coming out then. They're all quite smelly, esp Lemon Balm.

Deb

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Just to clarify, these weren't from seed this spring!

Definately spuds, and don't forget the chitting. Chitted spuds are the ones left out on the window sill to go green and start throwing out shoots before planting in a trench. Throw a couple of spadefuls of soil over, then bank them up to a mound as the tops develop.

A little early for greens - last of the frosts might wipe them out if they are planted out that early, unless your gardener's sowing under a closh (like a mini polly tunnel).

- NaomiM

If you've sown herbs they might not be out. But stuff like bay and rosemary are around all the time, and there's something with a nice pink flower thyme or marjoram that's in abundance now. Mint tends to die down but that's all over the place again - oh and fennel!

All appearing now in our Abbey Herb Garden. It's a shame you can't do piccies.

Hi Emma

Parsley?

There's an old saying that only the person who really wears the trousers in a house can grow parsley from seed... that might add resonance?

vanessa

Parsley's fussy stuff, I know. Hm .

This is all such a help - thank you, everyone. (Sound of brain cogs turning)Where would I be without WW?

Emma

I've not heard Nessie's one about parsley, but I have heard that only a white witch can grow it... if that's any use to you, Emma?

Deb

My inlaws say something about Murphys

Potatoes?

And you have to ridge them.

Apparently

sarah

Isn't it parsley that has to go nine times to the devil before it will germinate? There are masses of superstitions attached to it.