Gardening New Year’s Resolutions for 2019
If your New Year’s resolutions are to improve upon your gardening by growing your own vegetables, introducing new flowers to your flower patch and beginning a compost – read on. The professionals at Court Farm Garden Centre are here to help our keen green-fingered friends to achieve their admirable plans for 2019.
New Year’s resolution: grow some vegetables
If you’re anything like us, you will want to know how to grow the best produce, that not only grows well but tastes delicious, too. So for starters, let’s talk about when to grow your favourite vegetables:
March-May, springtime is the perfect time to grow carrots, cucumbers, radishes, kale and tomatoes.
June-August, summertime is the best time to grow beetroot, courgettes, broccoli, pumpkin, squash and salad leaves.
September-November, autumntime is ideal for growing broad beans, spring onions, garlic, spinach, asparagus and pak choi.
December-February, wintertime is the time to grow peas, pea shoots, sugar snap peas and winter lettuce.
New Year’s resolution: introduce new flowers
Let your garden be an explosion of colour; it’ll not only look fantastic but it will attract wildlife and give your outdoor area a beautiful, natural aroma. Start with the easy flowers that won’t require too much maintenance, such as sunflowers, fuchsias, pansies, lavender, sweet pea and lillies.
Sunflowers – these impressive flowers can grow up to 14 feet high, just be sure to support their stems and you’ll be able to add height to your garden.
Fuchsias – thrive in well-drained, moist soil and will grow well if you pinch the tip of each stem.
Pansies – these multi-coloured flowers have mass appeal throughout many homes in the UK because pansies are hardy plants – simply cut off any fading heads and more will bloom.
Sweet pea – pretty pink petals and a sweet fragrance – what’s not to like? Sweet pea seeds can be sown or you can buy them as plug plants, a great way to get a head start this year. *please note* Mice are quite partial to sweet pea seeds and shoots, so cover them with a propagator and remove once they begin to properly sprout.
Lilies – although these flowering plants may look complicated, they’re happy to grow in pots just as much as in the earth – just make sure they have enough space for their roots to grow and remember to feed them enough as they’re heavy feeders.
New Year’s resolution: start composting
Starting with the basics, find a dry spot in your garden that’s away from direct sunlight but close to a water source. Begin your compost by starting on the raw earth, inviting worms and other important organisms to oxygenise the soil and churn the matter, which can help to prevent plant disease.
What can I compost?
You can put the below items in your compost heap:
- Newspapers
- Cardboard
- Coffee grounds
- Dryer lint
- Eggshells
- Plants
- Grass cuttings
- Leaves
- Sawdust
- Fruit and vegetable scraps (but not banana peels, peach or orange if not organic)
- Tea leaves
- Wood chips / pellets
- Crackers
- Peanut shells
- Avocado pits
- Wine corks
- Cheese
- Nail clippings
- Used matches
- 100% cotton pads
Benefits of composting:
Enriches soil
Feeding your soil with organic matter will act as a soil conditioner – which means your plants will benefit and you won’t have to pay extra for topsoil or fertilisers.
Reduces the need for chemical fertilisers
By giving back to the soil, you can fertilise it organically with what’s readily available to you.
Aids growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi
It might seem surprising but good bacteria and fungi will improve poor soil.
Lowers carbon footprint
Composting returns nutrition to the soil and reduces landfill waste. 30% of landfill is comprised of materials that can be composted – so benefit from it and make your soil rich and give your vegetation a lovely home.
If you’re looking for quality plants, landscaping materials, garden furniture or require our garden care services, visit our garden centre or call our experts today. If you do pop on by, feel free to take a seat in our wonderful restaurant and enjoy a refreshing drink and a tasty bite while you shop with us. We’re located on Old Kingston Road, in Worcester Park, Surrey.
