vegetables

Question 1

when should you sow beetroot and how far apart should the rows be?

Answer 1

sow march - april
rows 30cm apart

Question 2

what is the thinning distance for beetroot in open ground?

Answer 2

12cm

Question 3

when do you lift the beetroot roots for harvest and how should they be stored?

Answer 3

lift in october
store in boxes of sand in a frost proof building

Question 4

when do you sow onion seed under glass?

Answer 4

January, in seed trays and plant out in April.

Question 5

when do you sow onion seeds directly outdoors?

Answer 5

mid Feb - March, or autumn

Question 6

what is the spacing for onions?

Answer 6

20-40cm

Question 7

Before planting onions, how do you prep the ground?

Answer 7

it must be well dug and manured
leave the surface to be broken down by frost over winter
rake into fine tilth and firm.

Question 8

describe onion sets

Answer 8

immature small onions bought at garden centres
press into soil
they are easier the grow than seeds and set off faster

Question 9

How and when do you harvest onions?

Answer 9

harvest mid august or later

pull up crop when tops have dies back
allow them to dry before storing
skins should be papers
place on racks to dry
can hang in plaits, nets or old stockings in a frost free palce.

Question 10

name some onions for salads

Answer 10

white lisbon

Question 11

name some main crop onions

Answer 11

Ailsa craig

Question 12

what is the ground prep for leeks?

Answer 12

must be well manured and dug over
leave over winter for frost to weather it down
rake a tilth and firm

Question 13

how do you sow leeks?

Answer 13

sow seed feb-april in a prepped seedbed
transplant when 20cm high
trim tops off plants
space 20cm apart in rows 35cm apart
make hole with dibber
water
hoe regularly to weed
draw up soil around plants before they are fully mature
very winter hards - leave in soil until needed

Question 14

name some leek varieties

Answer 14

royal favourite

Question 15

why are lettuces sown at regular intervals in small amounts?

Answer 15

to ensure a regular supply and avoid a glut of too many plants at one time

Question 16

where can you grow lettuces?

Answer 16

directly in open ground without protection
in a cold frame
under cloches

Question 17

when do you sow lettuces in open ground without protection?

Answer 17

sow early march, fortnightly

Question 18

At what stage do you thin lettuces?

Answer 18

when the first pair of leaves appear

Question 19

when do you sow lettuces under cloches?

Answer 19

sow mid October and transplant mid December

Question 20

where can courgettes be sown?

Answer 20

direct outdoors, a frame or greenhouse

Question 21

how often should you feed a courgette plant?

Answer 21

every two weeks with a liquid fert, never water from overhead

Question 22

what kind of soil do courgettes like?

Answer 22

rich in manure

Question 23

name some diseases that effect courgettes

Answer 23

botrytis and powdery mildew

Question 24

when do you harvest a courgette?

Answer 24

when it is 12cm long

Question 25

name some varieties of courgettes

Answer 25

Venus and El Greco

Question 26

do you add om to soil in the previous year for a carrot crop?

Answer 26

no

Question 27

name some short rooted carrot varieties

Answer 27

Amsterdam Forcing
Tiana

Question 28

name some long rooted maincrop carrot varieties

Answer 28

St. Valery
New Red Intermediate

Question 29

describe where to grow runner beans

Answer 29

sheltered position
full sun - good cond. for pollinators
soil rich in humus and OM
a trench is usually prepared

Question 30

describe ground prep for runner beans

Answer 30

dig in well-rotted manure in autumn
Add a general fertiliser by raking into soil 2 weeks before sowing seed/planting out.

Question 31

when should you sow runner beans?

Answer 31

under glass in May and plant out in June after risk of frost passed.

Never plant in open ground until June as very susceptible to frost damage.

Question 32

name some runner bean varieties

Answer 32

Steamline
Sunset
Scarlet Emperor

Question 33

why should you select good hybrid varieties of Brussels sprouts?

Answer 33

with careful selection you can get a succession to pick from sep until May.

Question 34

when should you sow Brussels Sprouts?

Answer 34

spring under glass to harvest in Sep
Sow outdoors March - June

Question 35

what is the spacing for |Brussels sprouts?

Answer 35

60cm

Question 36

what pH levels does winter cabbage and Brussels sprouts prefer?

Answer 36

they like a high pH so add lime to soil in winter

Question 37

name some varieties of winter cabbage

Answer 37

Christmas Drumhead
Holland Late Winter

Question 38

how do you sow winter cabbage?

Answer 38

in drills 1.5-2.5cm deep and 25cm apart April -May

Thin in their rows to prevent spindly growth

Transplant into final location 60cm apart for large headed plants

Space smaller headed plants 40cm apart.