Sow edible plants in April
Growing Delicious Vegetables at Home: A Guide
Spring is here, and it's time to start sowing seeds for a bountiful harvest of courgettes (zucchini) and squash. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you grow these delicious vegetables in your own garden.
Planting Courgettes and Squash
To get a head start on the season, sow courgette seeds indoors from March. Transplant them outdoors in April, once the risk of frost has passed and the soil is warm. Alternatively, you can sow seeds directly outside in April if conditions are mild, but start indoors if it is still cold. Plant seeds about 1.5 cm deep in pots or seed trays using good-quality compost, then keep them warm and moist. Direct sowing outside is usually recommended later, from late May to early June, with protection like cloches until seedlings establish.
Caring for Your Courgettes and Squash
- Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
- Place young plants in a sunny spot, ideally a warm windowsill or greenhouse for early sowings.
- When transplanted outdoors, space plants about 1 meter (3 feet) apart to allow for growth.
- Regular harvesting encourages more fruit; harvest courgettes when they are 10–12 cm long to promote continuous production.
- Protect plants from frost and pests such as squash vine borer and melonworm moth.
Choosing the Right Varieties
Courgettes belong to Cucurbita pepo, which includes many summer squash types like zucchini, yellow squash, pattypan, and crookneck. Popular varieties for courgettes include green and golden zucchini types. For squash, Cucurbita pepo also covers many cultivars such as pumpkins and pattypan squash. Choose seeds suited to your climate and growing space, often labeled specifically for your region or conditions.
Growing Asparagus
If you're thinking about growing asparagus, now is the perfect time to plant asparagus crowns to make a new bed. Sow one seed per pot, vertically, about 2cm deep, blunt end down. It takes at least 2 years before you can harvest from crowns, but the wait is worth it for the delicious, tender spears.
Caring for Soft Fruit Bushes and Beans
Keep seeds warm and put seedlings in plenty of light. For soft fruit bushes, fertilize them regularly to promote healthy growth. For beans, construct support structures before planting to help them grow tall and strong.
Harvest and Storage
Courgettes store well into the winter, but they take up a lot of space. Two to three courgette plants will feed the family and all neighbors. Squash also stores well into the winter, but it's best to use it up before then, as it takes up even more space.
Happy gardening!
- For an enriching home-and-garden lifestyle, consider growing delicious vegetables like courgettes and squash.
- In your pursuit of a fruitful home garden, take care of courgettes and squash by keeping the soil consistently moist, providing ample sunlight, and selecting suitable varieties for your climate and growing space.
