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Spring is a busy yet rewarding season here in the Walled Garden at Preston Park.
Our seed-sowing season begins in January, with seeds that need a long growing season like chillies, tomatoes and squash.
To grow chillies, you can use:
a heated propagator
a sunny windowsill
a plastic back over a pot to create a greenhouse effect
Instead of direct sowing, due to pests and cold soil, we start seeds indoors for better control and transplant them once conditions improve. Tender crops like squash stay inside until the risk of frost has completely passed, usually by late May. We are proud supporters of the Heritage Seed Library and grow some of the rarest bean varieties in the country. This year, we're sowing 25 different varieties of legumes.
garden wall 1
Honey bees
The bees from our hives in the Walled Garden love the rich nectar source from the flowering bean plants. Did you know you can determine what bees have been feeding on by the colour of the pollen they bring back to the hive? Broad bean pollen has an olive-green hue.
Gardening tips for summer
To keep your garden thriving through the hottest months, you can:
feed your plants water early in the morning and late on the evening
avoid wetting the leaves of potatoes and tomatoes, as this can lead to blight
support beans and peas
net your brassica plants to prevent caterpillars from devastating your crops
