Advice

All lettuce varieties need to be grown in a sunny location in rich soil that retains moisture.

Leeks will grow in any reasonable soil but the richer the better to get the largest crops. Plant out in June when the plants are 8” tall and as thick as a pencil. Rake the soil and apply a general fertilizer one week before planting.

Cucumbers are notoriously difficult to cultivate from seed. With our professionally grown plug plants you’ll be able to easily grow your own fresh, crisp cucumbers.

Here’s a cheery thought as we plunge headlong into December and the ‘silly season’.  As of the 21st of the month, the days start to get longer and spring will be here before we know it. Now that is the best news many of us gardeners could hear.

Of course, it is the same every year but its always worth reminding ourselves that brighter days are sure to follow the not such good ones. I think we have all learnt that valuable lesson over the past eighteen months or so.

The mild autumn gave way to the recent storms named ‘Arwen’ and ‘Barra’, giving us all a spell of Arctic weather with destructive winds and snowy conditions in many parts of the UK.

With this in mind, here are a few jobs to do in the garden this month and a few to be thinking of for spring and summer 2022.

As the plant grows it will need a longer cane and will need to be tied approximately every 7-10 cm / 3-4 inches. Take care not to tie the stem too tightly to the stick, a small loose loop is best, as at this stage the stem will be quite soft and is easily damaged.