This month on the Kings Seed Plot a combination of favourable weather and the skilled hand of Andrew Tokely means it’s been a good year for growing vegetables. He told Ken Crowther the secret was ensuring the ground has been dug over in the autumn allowing it to hold onto the moisture and not dry out.
This month on the Kings Seeds plot Andrew Tokely has been working extra hard. Due to the dry conditions he’s been knocking the plots down by hand. The first plot is netted to protect from pigeons and has been planted with brassicas as Andrew explained to Ken Crowther.
There’s a lot of enthusiasm for growing spuds which is partly down to gardeners being encouraged to grow them not just in the ground but in bags and containers on patios and balconies as Thompson & Morgan’s veg man Colin Randall told Ken Crowther.
The weather conditions in Essex make it an ideal place to raise plants from seed. On their 300 acre farm in Coggeshall Kings Seeds have been following a production process which has been in place for over 100 years. Ken Crowther meet Andrew Tokely on the Kings Seeds plot to find out more.
Gardeners can be impatient to get started and see things happening in the garden. At this time of the year you will often find seed packets which can be sown from January to April. If you are keen to get going Mick Lavelle, Senior Lecturer at Writtle College has some tips to ensure you grow healthy, successful seedlings.