N
O
V

Sow early broad beans and first early peas and cover with Clevercloches or Enviromesh. Cover globe artichoke plants loosely with Envirofleece 30 winter weight to protect crowns from frost. discourage moles by attaching vibrating Buzzline Birdscarer to canes driven into the ground near tunnels. Cover late summer-sown early carrots with Clevercloches for an early winter crop of tender young roots. Cover celery tops and chicory in frosty weather with Envirofleece 30 winter weight. Lift some maincrop carrots, swedes, parsnips, salsify and scorzonera and store in a cold, dry shed in boxes of sand insulated with Permealay for use when the ground is frozen solid. Cover maturing calabrese and cauliflower with Enviromesh to protect against autumn frost.

J
A
N

In late January, sow exhibition onions under glass also tomatoes for planting later under heated glass. For an early crop of rhubarb, cover the crowns with Permealay.

Sow celery, celeriac, and early Brussels sprouts, cabbage, calabrese, cauliflowers, peppers and aubergines under glass. Continue sowing cucumbers and tomatoes under glass. Sow early lettuce, carrots and spring onions under Clevercloches. Continue planting shallots and start planting onion sets. Cover with Enviromesh to deter birds.

Plant first early potatoes late in the month and protect from frost with Envirofleece 30. Alternatively, surface-plant the tubers under Permealay. Cut a cross in the sheet above each seed potato to allow haulms to grow through. Protect emerged haulms with Envirofleece 30.

Plant out leeks and lettuces sown indoors earlier. Sow broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and calabrese outdoors in seed beds. Clover immediately with Enviromesh to guard against insect pests, cats and birds, and provide a sheltered environment for germination. Enviromesh will also help to reduce water loss and decrease capping or puddling of soil.

Plant second early and maincrop potatoes (as in March). Sow French beans for early cropping and outdoor tomatoes under glass. Continue sowing celery and celeriac indoors as in March.

At the end of the month, sow runner beans, sweetcorn, marrows, courgettes, squashes, pumpkins and outdoor cucumbers under glass and Florence fennel outdoors.

Plant out peppers, cucumbers, aubergines and tomatoes in pots and growing bags in the heated greenhouse.

Install Agralan Soaker Hose to ensure growing crops do not suffer during dry spells in spring and summer.

Plant early sowings of Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery and celeriac in their cropping positions. clover with Enviromesh, allowing enough slack in the material for the plants to develop. Late in the month, sow outdoor cucumbers, marrows, courgettes, pumpkins and squashes in situ and plant out outdoor tomatoes and French beans raised under glass, using Envirofleece (or Clevercloches) in case of late cold spells. Finish planting, in pots and growing bags under glass, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Pick turnip tops protected from flea beetle with Enviromesh or Envirofleece.

Remove Envirofleece when crops have become established (after about 6-8 weeks).

To protect against cabbage root Sly, cabbage white butterfly, cabbage Whitefly, aphids, carrot fly, celery fly, onion fly, leek moth, pea and bean weevil, pea moth, fruit fly, marigold fly, birds and cats, Enviromesh should be left on throughout the growing and cropping season, apart from brief periods for weeding and harvesting. Slugs and snails will be deterred by burying the edges in the soil.

Remove Enviromesh while broad beans are in flower to allow pollination.

Transplant brassica (cabbage family) plants raised in outdoor seed beds to their cropping positions, planting through Permealay and covering with Enviromesh to control cabbage rootfly and other pests. Plant out leeks from seed beds and cover with Enviromesh to reduce transpiration until reestablished. Liquid feed all crops regularly until harvest - this can be done without the need to remove Envirofleece, Enviromesh or Permealay. Tie newly planted runner bean plants to canes (in exposed areas make a curtain of Enviromesh around the canes to protect from cold winds). Tie in greenhouse tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and cucumbers to supports as they grow, using Agralan Plant Ties. Ensure potato haulms fully cover holes in Permealay to avoid greening of developing tubers. Maintain soil moisture during dry weather with Soaker Hose to prevent a check to growth, especially in root crops.

Clean and dry Permealay not required until the spring (for example, after use with sweetcorn or summer brassicas) and store in a dry, vermin proof place out of direct sunlight. Wash spare Envirofleece and Enviromesh after use in warm water and mild detergent and dry thoroughly before putting away.