Garden Work

Label clumps of snowdrops and other bulbs now so that you don't accidentally dig them up when their foliage dies back

Label clumps of snowdrops and other bulbs now so that you don't accidentally dig them up when their foliage dies back. Even if they haven't flowered yet and you can't remember the variety, just write "bulbs"; you can fill in their proper name later - if you've time. In the vegetable garden, if there is an unused part that you're not planning to plant for six weeks or so, don't leave it idle. Instead, sow a quick-growing cover-crop of green manure such as mustard or phacelia. This will keep weeds at bay, protect the soil structure and add nutrients and bulk when you cut it down and dig it in.

If you sow mustard, don't plant cabbages, or other members of the brassica family, immediately afterwards.

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