January
Add organic matter to light sand and clay soils
Dig up and divide rhubarb
Order seed potatoes
Plant young vines, black, red and white currants
Protect winter crops
February
Apply organic matter to the base of fruit bushes and fruit trees
Sow main crop onion seed or plant onion sets outdoors
Sow parsnips towards the end of the month
Dig trenches for celery and leeks
March
Cut back the top growth of newly planted raspberry canes to about 20cm/8in
Fork the soil and mulch strawberry beds
Sow Brussel sprouts, broad beans, lettuce and radish seed
Plant root cuttings ‘thongs’ of Seakale
April
Divide chives and mint
Plant globe and Jerusalem artichokes
Sow broccoli seed outdoors
Plant out second early and main crop potatoes
Plan out and build an asparagus bed; plant asparagus crowns
May
Water young fruit trees well
Build supports for runner beans
Plant out outdoor tomatoes
Sow sweet corn, marrows, and runner beans
Plant out leeks
Continue sowing leeks, lettuce, radish and carrots
June
Earth up potatoes in dry weather
Transplant spring sown cabbage
Sow main crop carrots
Plant out marrows and plant up tomatoes, peppers and aubergines sown earlier |
July
Layer strawberries for extra new plants
Start pinching out side shoots of tomatoes
Feed tomatoes with a recommended liquid feed
Sow parsley, oregano and chervil outdoors
August
Plant out kale, sprouting broccoli and winter cabbage
Thin carrots
Dig up and store shallots
Continue to earth up celery
Strawberry plants layered earlier in the year can be detached and replanted
September
Dig up and store carrots, celeriac, marrows, onions and main crop potatoes
Start blanching endive
Cut back asparagus plants
Tie up heads of cauliflowers to protect from cold weather
Plant out cabbage for spring harvest
October
Clean up fallen leaves to help prevent pests and diseases
Make your own leaf mould with them
Divide herbaceous perennials such as campanula, geums helenium, and phlox
Dig up and store begonias
November
Plant gooseberry and redcurrant bushes
Plant apple and pear trees
Support Brussel sprouts and protect winter cabbage
Pick winter greens
Plant horseradish
December
Prune apple and pear trees
Plan crop rotation for next year
Prepare vegetable beds for early sowing
Protect all delicate stone fruits such as peaches and nectarines with fleece |
