June Calendar

June sees the beginning of summer with 21 June having the longest period of daylight. Plants really spring into growth enjoying what should be higher temperatures and extra light. Danger of frost should have passed in most parts of the UK.

Sunshine can cause temperatures inside a greenhouse or polytunnel to soar. If there is no natural shading for the greenhouse then you may need to apply shading of some sort. June is also often a dry month and so one major task will be ensuring that your plot is watered. You need to prioritise which plants need most water such as seedlings, new plantings etc.

Unfortunately the improved conditions are also enjoyed by weeds.

For a list of suggested tasks for June click here. Please add any suggestions that I may have overlooked in the comments here.

Garden Calendar update for May

May is an exciting time of year when things really start to 'get going' in the garden.

May can be one of the driest months of the year so you need to take care not to let seedlings dry out. Also make sure that fruit bushes and trees that are setting fruit are well watered at the roots.

May is also often one of the sunniest months of the year but it can be a very changeable month with temperatures rising and falling quickly. Frosts may still be likely in some areas although the risk does decrease at the end of the month.

Ventilate the greenhouse in the daytime to prevent temperatures becoming too high when it is sunny.

The difference in temperatures between inside a greenhouse and outside can be fairly extreme so it is important to harden off and plants that have been raised indoors before planting outside in beds. The principle is to expose plants to conditions outdoors gradually so they acclimatise to outdoor conditions. This is called hardening off see gardening techniques on the website.

I've added the list of gardening activity suggestions for May to the website. Click here

As usual if you have any other suggestions please post them in the comments area here.

For links to the complete gardening calendar click here

On another note if you are thinking of adding a shed to your plot check out this website before buying as they offer some very cost effective solutions. Click here for more information about choosing a shed.

Gardening Calendar Update for April

As promised I am trying to keep one month ahead with the gardening calendar to help with forward planning so April's diary entry is now posted here. As always remember that the suggestions can only give guidance and you should garden according to your local conditions. If you have any suggestions for additions to the calendar then please post them here.

Spring begins in earnest during April although it can still be an unpredictable month so don’t be tempted to plant out tender plants too early. It is a month of spring bulbs and blossom. Daylight hours are increasing and growing conditions improving. Although temperatures should be rising and the sun should be seen more frequently, frosts are still a hazard to tender plants. There is still chance of snow. This may be a month when you have to water outside as even during showery weather soil surface can dry out fairly quickly which will spell death to emerging seedlings.

What to do in March

Mid March heralds the start of spring when things really get started in the garden. Temperatures and daylight hours should be increasing although March is also a month of cold winds and strong breezes. As the saying predicts snow is also likely.

As always weather and local conditions should guide you. If conditions are poor resist sowing and planting too early. Later sown seeds catch up but those sown in poor conditions often develop into weak plants.

If conditions are poor many seeds will benefit from being sown indoors in a greenhouse or under cloches.

Suggestions for gardening activities during March are now available on the website click here As usual these can only be offered as suggestions as location, weather and soil conditions can affect timings.

If you wish to add any suggestions then post a comment here

February Gardening Calendar added

I have added the suggested activities for February to the web site Click here

Where we live in West Yorkshire the gardening season doesn't really get going until March but there are things that you can do if you are desperate to get started. This will mostly be preparation and planning work but in some milder areas it may be possible to start sowing and planting. Refer to seed packets and information about the climate in your area. Generally speaking there is no mad rush to get seeds in as those sown a bit later soon catch up and often overtake earlier sowings. If the weather continues as it is there will be no decision to make!

Do remember to look after wildlife when conditions are bad.

Gardening Calendar

The gardening calendar on The School Vegetable Patch website is now completed up until January. Click here for calendar menu page

When browsing the list of suggested activities please bear in mind that location and weather conditions very much affect any timing of gardening activities and the lists are intended as suggestions only.

Please use comments areas on the blog to suggest other activities or describe what you have done at the appropriate time of year.

Use this posting for January activities and use the links below for other months:

December calendar is complete

December is a quiet time in the garden.
Frosty nights are frequent this month. Although frosts can be seen as a problem they also help break down lumpy soil and kill many plant pests and diseases. They also improve the flavour of vegetables such as parsnips. If the ground is very frosty or wet then it is best to avoid walking on it as this can spoil the soil structure. Cold winds, rain and even snow can also be a feature. If possible remove snow from bushes, especially those in leaf, to avoid damage. It is also possible that some early snow could fall. Click here for suggested December activities. If you wish to add suggestions then please use the comments area of this post.

Although work outdoors may be limited don't forget to consider your plot wildlife. Look after them through the winter months and they will pay you back by helping keep pests at bay during the growing season. Winter months are also a good time to plan for the season ahead. The children could also record weather conditions as we have started to do for our garden.

The calendar indew had for some reason disappeared and so I have recreated it here.

September's calendar has now been posted.

I have started the calendar in September which I posted today. This is to follow the school year. From now on I'll try to post each calendar at least a month in advance. Please do post any ideas for activities that I have missed or make comments on what you have done each month. I don't want this to be a one way thing!

Click here for September's calendar

November calendar tasks have been added

Although it is possible that mild spells may occur colder weather is likely to set in this month. There is an increased possibility of frost and gales. By the end of the month any leaves left on trees will have fallen.
There is likely to be fewer opportunities to work outdoors in the garden. If the ground is wet or frozen it is far better to keep off until weather conditions improve.

Click here to read the calendar

Gardening Calendar

On "The School Vegetable Patch website" I have started a calendar of suggested gardening activities. A gardening calendar can never be more than a list of suggestions. Gardening activities are very much dependent on weather, location and soil conditions. No two years are exactly alike. Conditions will vary considerably in different areas of the UK. You will need to familiarise yourself with your local climate such as likely frost dates. The Garden Action website has a tool which you can use to predict when your area is likely to experience its first and last frosts of the year but remember this is only a guide and conditions can vary from year to year and even from one garden to another.

You also need to know what soil type you are gardening with and be aware of the soil conditions. If the ground is too cold, too wet or too dry some tasks will need to be delayed. Many activities will be equally suited to more than one month of the year.

So far the October link has been completed - more will be added over time. Updates will be posted on here on the blog. If you would like to add suggestions to the months activities either email me or post a comment here.