Issue No.7 15th May 2009
Mike's Garden Diary
In This Issue
What to do this week
What you could be eating now
Questions and Answers
Quick Links
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Greetings!
This week I am reviewing the ideas that I have written about since starting the newsletter, there is still plenty of time to plant more.
The Archive of previous editions here  which I added last week is proving popular. No photos this week as it was pouring with rain, but I have some great photos for the weeks ahead.
What to do this week
Reviewng the garden so far:
  • sow more salad leaves issue 2
  • fill your compost bin with weeds issue 2
  • sow more peas, provide support issue 3
  • continue to earth up potatoes issue 3
  • sow more french or runner beans issue 4
  • plant more brassicas (cabbage family), sow later varieties issue 6
What you could be eating now
This week I am eating  Mizuna ,a few early lettuce leaves,rhubarb, sorrel, parsley and chives.
Your questions answered
"Do you think it is too early this weekend to put out my runner bean seedlings which are growing like triffids in the greenhouse?! Ms A Sussex
 
I am cautious of planting out any frost tender plants too early. In Sussex the average date of the last frost is in April; however there are still some pretty cold winds so I should wait until the Bank Holiday weekend. You could take your runner beans out of the green house and start hardening them off ready to plant out. (see issue 5 in the archive).

Thanks to Geoff Hamilton's Successful organic Gardening for information on dates of first and last frost. There is a wonderful review of the book on Amazon.

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I started gardening at age 6, when I grew my first Brussel Sprouts. I had an organic smallholding in the mid 80's and now have a productive fruit, veg and flower garden in Sussex.
Friends are often asking me what they need to do in the garden right now to GROW THEIR OWN VEG, what can you plant now? There has been a great revival of interest in growing your own veg in the last few years, and yet it can all seem very complicated and be hard to find simple advice to help you GROW YOUR OWN.
I will send out this email every week or so to let you know what to do this week and what you could be eating in the months ahead.
Happy Gardening
Mike Andrews
west sussex homeopathy
6 Freeman Road
Horsham, West Sussex RH12 3RQ