One of Miffy’s favourite activities as the weather gets warmer is getting out in the garden and preparing it for summer. Over the next month, she’ll be planting cucumbers, broccoli and pumpkins.
And Miffy wants to show you how!
June is the midpoint of the year, and as the 21 June is the longest day, it means your growing plants will get even more sun. The air and soil temperatures are getting hotter, meaning plants can get off to a flying start, rather than struggle to sprout during a wintery frost.
How to plant cucumbers outdoors
Cucumbers are made up of 95% water, the perfect food for when you need an extra burst of hydration!
- Find a nice sunny spot to plant your cucumbers, away from trees to avoid competition for nutrients.
- Remove any weeds.
- Use a trowel or a small rake to loosen the soil, then spread some fertiliser.
- Add some compost to improve the soil quality. Then moisten the soil and push the seeds lightly into it; giving each one plenty of room.
- Keep them well hydrated with a regular drink of water. You should start to see the cucumbers grow in 7-10 days.
- You may need to cover them up at night time to protect them from rabbits – who find cucumbers unbelievably delicious!
How to plant broccoli
Tasty and nutritious; people and rabbits love broccoli because it’s delicious and rich in vitamins C, K and many more!
- Sow seeds 0.5 inches deep and three inches apart.
- Once seedlings reach a height of 2-3 inches, thin them so that plants are 12-20 inches apart, and the rows are three feet apart.
- Water well at the time of planting but do not water the growing broccoli heads, as this can encourage issues like rot.
- Once they have grown, harvest your broccoli in the morning, when the buds of the head are firm and tight, just before the heads produce a flower.
How to plant pumpkins
Growing pumpkins is simple when you know how! Rabbits like Miffy love pumpkins because of their natural sweet flavour. However, be careful as rabbits can’t eat too much pumpkin or it can be bad for them!
- Start by sowing between two and three pumpkin seeds one inch deep, when you are finished, cover them with a plastic sheeting.
- Leave in place for at least two weeks, watering regularly whilst protecting from hungry slugs and snails.
- If more than one seed germinates in each spot, remove the weaker ones to leave only the strongest ones to grow, this ensures you end up with big and tasty pumpkins.
- Keep the pumpkins on the plant for as long as possible, but make sure to harvest before the first frost.
- Enjoy!
Miffy Blogs 