Monthly guide to spring fruits and vegetables with Monty
Monty Don Shares Tips for Sowing Tender Vegetables in April
Monty Don, the beloved gardening expert, is sharing his wisdom on sowing tender vegetables towards the end of April. In a collection of Gardeners' World clips, Monty demonstrates several tips to help gardeners protect their plants from frost, start seeds indoors, and gradually harden off seedlings before planting out.
- Start Seeds Indoors
Monty suggests sowing tender vegetable seeds inside between late winter and early spring (February to April) in seed trays filled with seed compost. Placing these trays in a warm spot will encourage germination. For example, osteospermum flowers are a tender plant that can be started under glass until the risk of frost has passed.
- Prick Out and Harden Off Seedlings
Once seedlings have developed true leaves, Monty recommends pricking them out individually into small pots to allow strong root growth before planting outdoors. It's essential to wait until the danger of frost has passed, usually after April in cooler climates, before moving tender plants outdoors.
- Gradual Hardening Off
To reduce transplant shock, Monty advises gradually exposing seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting. This process, known as hardening off, helps the seedlings adjust to the change in environment.
- Planting Taller Vegetables
For vegetables like leeks, Monty suggests sowing them in dedicated seedbeds or pots and transplanting when they are about 20cm tall. Deep planting helps form the edible white shank.
- Frost Protection
Monty emphasises the importance of protecting tender plants from frost risk by timing sowing and planting carefully. He also suggests using frost protection like cloches or moving plants indoors if necessary.
- Care and Feeding
To promote healthy growth and flowering for tender plants, Monty recommends providing regular watering and weekly feeding with general plant food during the growing season.
In summary, starting tender vegetable seeds indoors in April, hardening off well, and planting out only when frost risk is minimal are key to a successful vegetable garden. Regular watering and feeding will aid growth once established. Monty's techniques for tender plants like osteospermum and leeks demonstrate the careful staging from indoor sowing to outdoor planting required for a thriving garden.
- To cultivate osteospermum flowers and other tender plants during April, Monty Don advises starting seeds indoors in seed trays filled with seed compost, and then pricking out and hardening off seedlings once they have developed true leaves.
- To protect tender plants from frost harm, Monty Don suggests using frost protection methods like cloches or moving them indoors, and to carefully time sowing and planting to minimize the risk of frost damage.
