Get Growing Subscription – February

HELLO KEEN GROWER

Welcome to your guide for your January ‘get growing’ seed subscription!

Here’s what’s inside your box this month:

• Sweet Pepper Spiralus
• Spring Radish Fire Candle
• Dwarf Broad Bean Oscar

Sweet Pepper Spiralus

Sowing info

An early start can help increase your harvest as pepper plants can be slow to mature. Start under grow lights in January or late February without lights. Requires warmth to germinate and grow on (an unheated greenhouse will not be warm enough). When pepper plants reach about 20cm in height, pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushy growth. From pinching out time, feed weekly with a quarter strength organic feed.

Growing info

Continue to pot on each time roots appear out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot until planting out after last frost. Peppers love heat, so will always perform best in the greenhouse or polytunnel.

→  Blog – How to Sow and Grow Peppers

Spring Radish Fire Candle

Sowing info

Can be multisown in module trays from February or sown direct outdoors from March to July in a sunny position. Germination will usually take 7 to 10 days. When sowing direct plant seed at a depth of 3cm in shallow drills. Protect young seedlings from birds.

Growing info

As roots swell, harvest the largest roots to allow more room for others to grow larger. Succession sowing every 2-4 weeks will ensure a continual supply.

→ Blog – How to Sow and Grow Radishes

Dwarf Broad Bean Oscar

Sowing info

Direct sow broad bean seed in place from February to April if you have no problem with mice and pigeons for a spring crop. Alternatively, sow in module trays and plant out when 10cm tall. Sow broad beans at a depth of 5cm, giving each plant at least 20cm space apart. Germination usually takes around 10 days.

Growing info

This variety does not require support unlike other broad beans.

→ Blog – How to Sow and Grow Beans

Garden Jobs for this February

• Sow early seeds indoors
• Start the growing season off right by sowing hardy vegetables in pots or seed trays indoors. Use a sunny windowsill or a heated propagator to give them the warmth they need. Early sowing gives you stronger plants come spring!
• Prune fruit trees and bushes
• Now’s the time to prune your fruit trees while they’re still dormant. Cut out any dead or crossing branches to shape the tree and encourage healthy growth.
• Prepare beds for planting
• Get ahead by weeding and adding organic matter like well-rotted compost or manure to your garden beds. Cover bare soil with black plastic or fleece to warm it up in preparation for direct sowing next month.