soil in an ideal state for planting out seedlings etc ?

[nickdub]

Been having a potter round my wilderness this morning and my soil is in an ideal state for planting out seedlings and earthing up potatoes after the rain and showers we've had over the last few days - ie it is nice and damp and soft, but not too claggy.

A couple of warnings :-

1) I garden on very light limestone based ground which drains very quickly, so if your soil is heavier clay type, or tends to swamp a bit, you may need to wait a few more days for it to be right.
2) I think we've seen the back of really cold nights round here, but if your part of the country is getting v cold weather still, don't be tempted to put out warm loving plants like tomatoes or pumpkins until things get a bit warmer.

[burnie]

My soil is light and sandy being coastal, so is usually in good nick, though when I planted out some brassicas the other day, I had to walk on it to firm it a bit, which sort of trashes the no dig, don't walk on it theory a bit lol

[mrbadexample]

I stuck a corno rosso pepper in one of my raised beds yesterday. Hopefully it's not too early. Just an experiment really as I've never grown one in the ground, only in pots. I tried a tomato in the ground for the first time last year and it produced really well.

[nickdub]

If your pepper is not too big you can always make a cloche for it out of an old plastic milk bottle or similar, if you think it needs a little added protection.

[mrbadexample]

If your pepper is not too big you can always make a cloche for it out of an old plastic milk bottle or similar, if you think it needs a little added protection.

I think any danger of frost has now passed, but I have tried to pick the most sheltered spot. It's a bit big for a cloche. It'll almost certainly need staking at some point though - mine's a windy garden.

[Jay-ell]

Been having a potter round my wilderness this morning and my soil is in an ideal state for planting out seedlings and earthing up potatoes after the rain and showers we've had over the last few days - ie it is nice and damp and soft, but not too claggy.

A couple of warnings :-

1) I garden on very light limestone based ground which drains very quickly, so if your soil is heavier clay type, or tends to swamp a bit, you may need to wait a few more days for it to be right.
2) I think we've seen the back of really cold nights round here, but if your part of the country is getting v cold weather still, don't be tempted to put out warm loving plants like tomatoes or pumpkins until things get a bit warmer.

Have you done the bare bum test?

[nickdub]

Have you done the bare bum test?

Why, are you volunteering ? :-)

[Scarlet]

We've had no rain...my garden is like cement.

[Dynamite]

We've had no rain...my garden is like cement.

Mine too Scarlet, 6 inch down it’s concreted clay soil. Just awful.

Kind Regards.............Rob

[nickdub]

Like politics, all gardening is local. One man's wet spell is somone-else's drought.

[Jay-ell]

Why, are you volunteering ? :-)

Newcastle to Ross on Wye - my back side isn't that big.

[SarrissUK]

My soil is light and sandy being coastal, so is usually in good nick, though when I planted out some brassicas the other day, I had to walk on it to firm it a bit, which sort of trashes the no dig, don't walk on it theory a bit lol

With no dig, you can walk on the beds. No worries about compacting it by walking on it alone

[SarrissUK]

I planted stuff out in the newest veg bed that I simply laid cardboard on grass with a shitload (pardon the pun) of horse manure on top. The moisture an inch down took me by surprise! Even in the greenhouse where I followed the same process on top of bone dry soil has now accumulated plenty of moisture underneath the surface. Very easy to plant into, and so far, the plants I've put outside in the new bed are thriving.
We have had a bit of rain here along the coast, but not a massive amount. It's nowhere near making up for the dry winter.

[mcdood]

It's been really dry here too, I'm having to water some of the planted out seedlings until they get established. Also messed up planting climbing french beans out before fully hardened off as I was going away for a few days. Some of them are now looking a bit scorched either sun, wind or cold nights.

[nickdub]

I wouldn't worry - your beans will soon shake off a bit of scorch and kick in to gear now the weather is warming up - plants are often tougher than we give them credit for.