MRTGY Ep05 17th to 30th April

17th to 30th April – MrT’s Gardening Year – Episode 2023 05

In ‘17th to 30th April’ MrT reports on two weeks of activity in the garden.

To view the photographs that accompany this podcast:

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

It’s a late spring:

One of the joys in MrT’s year is when the beech hedge starts to come into leaf. The pale green leaves are soft and delicate at this stage which makes them susceptible to late frosts. Beech hedges also provide environmental benefits.

The large cooking apple tree is late blossoming. Last year it was in full blossom by the 16th April however this year it doesn’t blossom until the 30th. MrT wonders whether that will affect the crop.

This year the flowering cherry beats the apple into blossom!

Compost:

It is time to sieve the compost from the compost bins that are used for garden waste. There is less than usual because the hot, dry, summer last year resulted in less cut grass.

The fine compost, after sieving, goes into a compost mixture that MrT uses for pot plants and the surplus will be spread on the flower borders. MrT uses the coarse matter that doesn’t go through the sieve as a mulch on his raspberries and fruit bushes.

A major benefit of this home made compost is because it is ‘peat free‘ and therefore environmentally friendly.

The greenhouse:

It is full to the brim! MrT needs to start moving some plants outside to harden off. The herbs are the first to go outside. MrT moves these to an area that is protected from frost.

MrT moves his tomato plants from the house to the greenhouse prior to putting them in ‘peat free’ growing bags.

The petunia seeds are germinating and there is life in the capsicum tray!

Next up:

I hope that you’ve enjoyed joining MrT in the garden. Please keep your eyes open for the next episode.

Links:

Many resources to help you in the garden can be found on the RHS website. You’ll find information on all aspects of gardening and news about their five wonderful gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Bridgewater (Salford), Harlow Carr (Harrogate), Hyde Hall (Essex) and Rosemoor (Devon).

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox , Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher and Vurbl and others.

Music:

AKM Music licenses the theme Horticulture for use in this podcast.

© The MrT Podcast Studio 2023

Author: Tim D

In the early 1970s Mr Timothy & his Phonograph was a popular mobile disco around Leeds University and Tim was known as MrT. Tim also spent 9 years broadcasting a weekly programme on Hospital Radio in Wakefield. He worked for more than 40 years for large industrial organisations and spent his last 15 years in global commercial management roles. Following retirement he started making podcasts in 2017.