Sugar loaf is a vitamin-rich salad that has not yet conquered all gardens in this country. This late bloomer is easy to grow and can be harvested fresh well into the winter. It's high time to put it in your own bed.
How do I plant sugar loaf correctly?
To plant sugarloaf, choose a sunny or partially shaded location with well-drained soil, sow between late June and late July or use early seedlings and ensure a planting distance of 30 cm in each direction.
Late planting time
Sugarloaf comes into the ground comparatively late. It is only sown directly at the intended location in the bed from the end of June to the end of July or planted early. If you plant early seedlings at the beginning of this time, you can harvest as early as August. Otherwise you will have to wait until around the end of September.
Tip
Experienced gardeners recommend preferring it, as the small plants become more robust and grow better. If you don't have time to sow your own seeds, you can buy pre-grown sugarloaf plants at the garden center.
Choose the ideal location for cultivation
Sugarloaf is ideal as a follow-up crop for a harvested spinach or pea bed, provided it is sunny or partially shaded. This means that no space has to be left unused for him. Sugarloaf is content with normal garden soil. Ideally it should be fresh and well-drained. Tomatoes, carrots, fennel and lettuce are allowed in the neighborhood. A location close to potatoes, celery and parsley should be avoided as they do not form a favorable community.
Prepare the bed first
No matter whether you plan to sow direct seeds or plant seedlings, you should prepare the bed well beforehand. To do this, carry out the following work:
- Completely clear away preculture
- rake the bed thoroughly afterwards
- pulling out all the weeds
- Remove stones and large clods of earth
- Smooth the floor with a rake
Tip
As a secondary crop of legumes, sugar skin usually finds enough nutrients in the soil. Otherwise, work in ripe, sifted compost, or water the bed that has not yet been planted with diluted nettle manure.
Planting seedlings correctly
You should plant seedlings that you buy at the garden center as soon as possible. But beforehand, the root balls should be given an extensive water bath. Then it continues as follows:
- Mark the rows with a planting string so that they are aligned straight and the planting distance is easier to maintain. There should be at least 30 cm between two rows.
- Place the seedlings along the marking line, each 30 cm apart. If you are planting several rows, space the seedlings half a distance apart. This means they are not at the same height as seedlings in neighboring rows.
- Dig a planting hole for each seedling that is just deeper than the root ball.
- Place the seedling in the planting hole, just below the soil surface.
- Press the soil well.
- After all the seedlings have been planted, you should then water them well.
