insideKENT Magazine Issue 98 - May 2020 | Page 41

The Planting Calendar: The team at family-run Premier Polytunnels have created an easy to follow guide to when it is best to sow, plant and harvest a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Whilst we may have missed the early spring sowing season for some varieties; such as tomatoes, peppers and beetroot; there is still time to sow pumpkin, broccoli and radishes as well as spring onion. For those that sowed and planted early spring, harvests will begin for lettuces, coriander, asparagus, spinach and salad leaves. But worry not if you are new to the grow-your-own game there is still time to sow French beans, kohlrabi, swiss chard, grapes and even melons this month. Whilst beginners favourites of carrots, lettuces, salad leaves, cauliflower and cucumbers can also be sown throughout the late spring and early summer season. Now is also the time for preparing for the late spring sowing and planting of strawberries, kale, aubergine and florence fennel for those wishing to be more adventurous. For those of you looking to start your grow-your- own patches, RIPLEY'S GARDEN CENTRE, in Bethersden near Ashford, have initiated a new delivery service straight to your doorstep, perfect not only for fruit and vegetable seeds and plants, but for bedding plants, containers, compost and more. 41