OwnGrown

Sow Tomatoes late March in Jiffy pots (2 seeds per pot and remove the smaller plant later) inside for later planting outside. If the tomatoes are to be grown in a greenhouse or indoors, they can be sown earlier. Two varieties - small Gardener’s Delight and the larger Harbinger. Both have excellent flavour - more so when grown outside and if the summer is warm.

Sowed Masterpiece Green Longpod (shown here plus a few courgettes) late March - 5cms (2″) deep, 10cms (4″) apart, in rows 30 cms (12″) wide. They will start appearing after about 3 weeks. They can be sown under cover earlier in pots or tubes and then transplanted to the final site. Different varieties are sown at different times - November to late winter / early spring.

Either grow from seed or use onion sets. Those shown growing here - Onion Hercules and the milder Red Onion Red Baron - were started from sets planted in a manured and prepared bed 4 - 6″ apart in rows 12″ wide. Hercules were planted in mid March and Red Baron at the end of March. They will be lifted in August when the stems fall over and hang in bunches to dry for three to four weeks before storing in cool, dry conditions. Both types keep well - particularly Hercules which should be fine until late the following spring or early summer.

Planted shallots early March 15 cms (6″) apart with 30 cms (12″) between rows in manured soil, having raked and prepared the bed. 28 bulbs (4 rows of 7 bulbs) will occupy an area 1.2m (4′) square. Make a small hole and plant leaving the top quarter of the bulb above ground. They start sprouting after about 4 weeks. Lift in July when the foliage turns yellow and starts to wither. Lay them out or hang in bunches to dry - outside if fine or in a covered area if wet. When thoroughly dry, store in cool conditions where they should keep until late the following spring. This variety is Shallot Jermor

Early March put two sticks of lemon grass (bought from Sainsbury’s supermarket) in a jar of water on a warm windowsill to start the process of root forming before planting in pots.