Its looking like frozen sprouts for Christmas dinner, after another 4" of snowfall and forecast is to stay sub zero for a few more days.
There again... the forecast for Tod for Friday night/ Saturday morning was hardly reliable and consistent this week:
Mon - it probably won't snow
Tues - it's going to snow
Weds - it's definitely going to snow
Thurs am - it won't snow at all
Thurs pm - it will snow a lot
Fri am - it won't snow
Fri pm - it may snow a little bit, maybe, but probably not (1" max)
Fri eve - it will snow a little, ooh it is snowing
(Fri night - 4" landed)
Saturday 18 December 2010
Wednesday 1 December 2010
First Snow
After a dusting of an inch or so overnight into Saturday, finally first real good snowfall throughout Weds, adding upto about 4".
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Sunday 7 November 2010
Autumn
Brief late afternoon visit after weeks of neglect - surprisingly busy on the site, with quite a few around getting in last minute jobs before it gets too cold.
Still not planted garlic and getting a bit late unless we get a mild spell - or I cloche them to get them going (but plastic does not survive well in winter). Corn never quite made it and a few frosts have seen them off - will have to plant earlier next year.
Cut down the remaining sunflower heads to extract seeds and cropped more (gigantic) sprouts, cabbage, sweded, beetroot and salad leaves.
Remaining pears had mostly been blown off trees but still good to eat and very juicy - mainly from Conference tree.
Still not planted garlic and getting a bit late unless we get a mild spell - or I cloche them to get them going (but plastic does not survive well in winter). Corn never quite made it and a few frosts have seen them off - will have to plant earlier next year.
Cut down the remaining sunflower heads to extract seeds and cropped more (gigantic) sprouts, cabbage, sweded, beetroot and salad leaves.
Remaining pears had mostly been blown off trees but still good to eat and very juicy - mainly from Conference tree.
Saturday 2 October 2010
Ajo Ajo
Busy harvesting on a dry day... swede, turnip, big sprouts, kale, blueberries (just about all finished), lettuce, curly lettuce, couple of carrots...
Corn growing but cobs still white. Sunflowers re-propped up after windy week with several flowering round about 10 feet tall.
Prepared garlic bed (half of d2) by raking in 3/4 bag of sharp sand and scattering a bit of blood,fish and bones with rest of sand on surface. Covered with plastic as don't trust weather forecast that says rain will miss to the east tomorrow.
Random bits of weeding mainly around blueberries/ redcurrants.
Corn growing but cobs still white. Sunflowers re-propped up after windy week with several flowering round about 10 feet tall.
Prepared garlic bed (half of d2) by raking in 3/4 bag of sharp sand and scattering a bit of blood,fish and bones with rest of sand on surface. Covered with plastic as don't trust weather forecast that says rain will miss to the east tomorrow.
Random bits of weeding mainly around blueberries/ redcurrants.
Sunday 26 September 2010
Garlic
Bought 2011's garlic bulbs - 3 thermidore bulbs to split up and plant, probably in November.
After this year's bumper crop will have to hunt around to do even better next year, as left them in a bit long and they opened up a bit. Been checking garlicworld for more tips.
After this year's bumper crop will have to hunt around to do even better next year, as left them in a bit long and they opened up a bit. Been checking garlicworld for more tips.
Saturday 25 September 2010
Saturday 28 August 2010
Crop Top
Found out this week that we got 1st prize again... but with a much worse score than last year. Suspect there will be a lot more competition next year.
Busy cropping and eating stuff all month... all IK potatoes out, as are all garlic, cauli's, khol rabi, radish.
Sunflowers growing taller and taller but not flowering yet - struggling in wind - squash putting out plenty of flower buds but none out yet, and sweetcorn finally flowering - but a bit short.
Last couple of nights very cool and with a possible high moving in, likely to continue.
Busy cropping and eating stuff all month... all IK potatoes out, as are all garlic, cauli's, khol rabi, radish.
Sunflowers growing taller and taller but not flowering yet - struggling in wind - squash putting out plenty of flower buds but none out yet, and sweetcorn finally flowering - but a bit short.
Last couple of nights very cool and with a possible high moving in, likely to continue.
Sunday 25 July 2010
Jam, Jam, Jam, Jam, lovely Jam, wonderful Jam...
Jamalot!
Strawberry, peach and strawberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant, blackcurrant and rhubarb, and just plain blackcurrant so far...
Saturday 24th was this year's 'Blackcurrant Day' and approx 12 pounds (6kg) picked, washed, de-stalked and into fridge (freezer too full!)... with 3lbs turned into jams already.
Also picked gooseberries (~4lbs).
Strawberry, peach and strawberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant, blackcurrant and rhubarb, and just plain blackcurrant so far...
Saturday 24th was this year's 'Blackcurrant Day' and approx 12 pounds (6kg) picked, washed, de-stalked and into fridge (freezer too full!)... with 3lbs turned into jams already.
Also picked gooseberries (~4lbs).
Sunday 18 July 2010
Strawberry Fields
It's been strawberries for breafast, lunch and tea for the past month and finally this year's crop is slowing production, with only one punnet picked today - ready for another batch of jam due next week. First batch already made a couple of weeks ago.
Cauliflowers blooming in past two weeks, joining first carrots picked today for tea, along with some broad beans and new potatoes.... and strawberries for dessert!
Cherry tree damaged in winds and squally showers yesterday, so will need to give a tidy trim.
Unable to pick blackcurrants - bound to lose some following this week's torrential downpours that is swelling them to bursting point - as happened last year. Will try and pick next week... and make room in freezer pending jam making.
Cauliflowers blooming in past two weeks, joining first carrots picked today for tea, along with some broad beans and new potatoes.... and strawberries for dessert!
Cherry tree damaged in winds and squally showers yesterday, so will need to give a tidy trim.
Unable to pick blackcurrants - bound to lose some following this week's torrential downpours that is swelling them to bursting point - as happened last year. Will try and pick next week... and make room in freezer pending jam making.
Saturday 3 July 2010
Weed!
After probably the wettest week for months, weeds have gone crazy... and a sign posted on board says judging is next week!!! Even worse weather forecast for tomorrow includes strong winds.
Spent a few hours weeding and tidying up before replanning layout key so that F bed is now A and E is B, etc...
Cropped remainder of mustards from brassica bed to allow space for kale nero and more mustards and radish. Interplanted autumn cabbage between turnips.
Strawberries cropping large and well, along with another lettuce and a few more new potatoes for tea!
Spent a few hours weeding and tidying up before replanning layout key so that F bed is now A and E is B, etc...
Cropped remainder of mustards from brassica bed to allow space for kale nero and more mustards and radish. Interplanted autumn cabbage between turnips.
Strawberries cropping large and well, along with another lettuce and a few more new potatoes for tea!
Friday 25 June 2010
Ajo Ajo Ajo
Cropped first garlic bulb - as big as last year's biggest, from an average sized plant so hopeful of a good return this year. Also cropped mustards, radish, new potatoes (still small).
Another big watering day... no major change in weather pattern on horizon and possibility of hosepipe ban spreading across border.
Planted out another row of (recovered) sunflowers in D2, 3 remaining dwarf french beans, more little gems in A1 - spinach beet and beetroot into C1 - few mixed lettuce into gaps in bed D1.
Another big watering day... no major change in weather pattern on horizon and possibility of hosepipe ban spreading across border.
Planted out another row of (recovered) sunflowers in D2, 3 remaining dwarf french beans, more little gems in A1 - spinach beet and beetroot into C1 - few mixed lettuce into gaps in bed D1.
Wednesday 23 June 2010
Dober večer
Pioneer Butternut squash has been nibbled and virtually dead (as expected), so planted out a pair that are hopefully a bit hardier. Substitutes still on bench at home.
Couple of hours watering tonight - ground like a sponge. Picked first spinach beet along with some mustards, radish and lettuce.
Despite 'somebody' supposedly watering well on Saturday, next round of seedlings have suffered badly in current weather and most wiltered and lost. (Sunflowers, salads and radish wiped out). Brassicas fared a little better but possibly because they are bigger and ready to plant out.
Had first new potatoes on Saturday, delicious as ever.
Couple of hours watering tonight - ground like a sponge. Picked first spinach beet along with some mustards, radish and lettuce.
Despite 'somebody' supposedly watering well on Saturday, next round of seedlings have suffered badly in current weather and most wiltered and lost. (Sunflowers, salads and radish wiped out). Brassicas fared a little better but possibly because they are bigger and ready to plant out.
Had first new potatoes on Saturday, delicious as ever.
Sunday 13 June 2010
Salad Days
A sunny Saturday visit to plant out 20 sweetcorn (now a pathetic 3-5" high) along with a test Butternut Squash. Interplanted with little gem lettuce to distract slugs (all in bed F). Scattered Bonemeal and watered in - as run out of dried blood... have used blood last couple of years and seems to give them an excellent fast nitro burst of growth.
Checked a potato plant in E2, but none forming yet - very late this year!
Cleared leeks and salsify out of A1 - save for a row of leeks that will be flowering - and planted peas in their place. French Bean seedlings decimated by a slug in mini polyhouse, only 3 left!
Planted last of leek seedlings into D1.
Although a bit of rain expected in next couple of days, looking like it will be dry after so gave everything a quick water.
Cropped mustards, little gem, radish (some upto golf ball size and not a lot of mouse damage) to make up an excellent salad for tea.
Checked a potato plant in E2, but none forming yet - very late this year!
Cleared leeks and salsify out of A1 - save for a row of leeks that will be flowering - and planted peas in their place. French Bean seedlings decimated by a slug in mini polyhouse, only 3 left!
Planted last of leek seedlings into D1.
Although a bit of rain expected in next couple of days, looking like it will be dry after so gave everything a quick water.
Cropped mustards, little gem, radish (some upto golf ball size and not a lot of mouse damage) to make up an excellent salad for tea.
Sunday 6 June 2010
Here Comes the Summer
A wet week on the cards!
Had first of this year's salad crop yesterday - a small little gem lettuce, some mustard leaves and some very nice radish.
Planting...
Some sunflowers went in ground under a cloche on Thurs and more on Saturday. A 2nd row of radish went in on Thurs.
Potting on...
Tray (~18) of mystery brassicas (maybe cabbage, maybe kale - label wrongly says nasturtium!) potted on on Sat.
Wildlife...
Noticeably less bees around this year - aside from national decline, possibly due to cold winter, possibly due to more activity in allotments removing natural weeds? Relocated a toad from middle of allotment to near new pond -not sure how it will get on with the frogs!
Bad news in 'Newt' pond - saw at least four hiding earlier in year - has gone a little stagnant so refreshed water a bit and added a a scrap of vegetation to try and get it a bit livelier. Had a check on net, and still not entirely clear which they are - suspect from lack of spots they are possibly palmates which like upland moors, but could be common (smooth) newts as they don't have (heavily) webbed feet and from size/shape more likely. Definitely not crested though.
Dismantled woodpile as it was getting a bit untidy and should be relatively uninhabited at this time of year. Broke up rotted wood where possible and applied as a mulch around berry bushes. Put wood pile back together a little neater, with a bit more air space. Was very dry so took out carpet scraps and flat wood to try and encourage a bit more life into it.
Had first of this year's salad crop yesterday - a small little gem lettuce, some mustard leaves and some very nice radish.
Planting...
Some sunflowers went in ground under a cloche on Thurs and more on Saturday. A 2nd row of radish went in on Thurs.
Potting on...
Tray (~18) of mystery brassicas (maybe cabbage, maybe kale - label wrongly says nasturtium!) potted on on Sat.
Wildlife...
Noticeably less bees around this year - aside from national decline, possibly due to cold winter, possibly due to more activity in allotments removing natural weeds? Relocated a toad from middle of allotment to near new pond -not sure how it will get on with the frogs!
Bad news in 'Newt' pond - saw at least four hiding earlier in year - has gone a little stagnant so refreshed water a bit and added a a scrap of vegetation to try and get it a bit livelier. Had a check on net, and still not entirely clear which they are - suspect from lack of spots they are possibly palmates which like upland moors, but could be common (smooth) newts as they don't have (heavily) webbed feet and from size/shape more likely. Definitely not crested though.
Dismantled woodpile as it was getting a bit untidy and should be relatively uninhabited at this time of year. Broke up rotted wood where possible and applied as a mulch around berry bushes. Put wood pile back together a little neater, with a bit more air space. Was very dry so took out carpet scraps and flat wood to try and encourage a bit more life into it.
Tuesday 1 June 2010
May Update
With http://www.butterwickwells.co.uk/ taking up most of our waking hours, time spent at the allotment has been considerably less this May than the last couple of years.
A couple of ok days of weather over the bank holiday allowed a bit of catching up and an audit of where we were at. Cropped a load of rhubarb stalks, much of it exchanged for a couple of pints at the pub. There is something deeply satisfying about moneyless trade, especially when both sides win. We got two pints for something that would have gone to waste - they got over £15 (at overpriced supermarket rate) of rhubarb for a quarter of the price.
Did a bit of late sowing at home on 30th: tomatoes(v.v. late), coriander, butternut squash(v late), french beans, more peas, sunflowers, marigolds.
On 31st did another half tray each of little gem lettuce and radish at alottment to keep succession going.
More to follow...
A couple of ok days of weather over the bank holiday allowed a bit of catching up and an audit of where we were at. Cropped a load of rhubarb stalks, much of it exchanged for a couple of pints at the pub. There is something deeply satisfying about moneyless trade, especially when both sides win. We got two pints for something that would have gone to waste - they got over £15 (at overpriced supermarket rate) of rhubarb for a quarter of the price.
Did a bit of late sowing at home on 30th: tomatoes(v.v. late), coriander, butternut squash(v late), french beans, more peas, sunflowers, marigolds.
On 31st did another half tray each of little gem lettuce and radish at alottment to keep succession going.
More to follow...
Saturday 8 May 2010
May
Brassicas and Beans coming along nicely and should be ready to go in ground shortly.
Thurs 6...
Belated bought some sweetcorn and planted today (in attic) along with a few pots of basil.
Weds 6...
Cropped forced rhubarb today and left uncovered now. Broke off developing flower heads that were just starting in all 3 patches.
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Thurs 6...
Belated bought some sweetcorn and planted today (in attic) along with a few pots of basil.
Weds 6...
Cropped forced rhubarb today and left uncovered now. Broke off developing flower heads that were just starting in all 3 patches.
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Saturday 24 April 2010
Here come the slugs again
Daffodils and Tulips going strong...
After nearly a hot sunny day today (actually a hazy day with an cool east wind nothing like what the met office predicted again) , the forecast for what it's worth is for showers and warm nights so expecting a slug population explosion.
Saturday
Sown peas and carrots in pots outdoors, plus full trays of cabbage(hispi) and kale (nero di toscana) and half trays of parsnip (white gem), leek (carantan), celeriac (monarch) and some aubretia. Scattered a few old watercress seeds into ponds.
Saturday
Sown peas and carrots in pots outdoors, plus full trays of cabbage(hispi) and kale (nero di toscana) and half trays of parsnip (white gem), leek (carantan), celeriac (monarch) and some aubretia. Scattered a few old watercress seeds into ponds.
Friday
Sowed packet (100+) of peas in attic.
Sowed packet (100+) of peas in attic.
Sunday 18 April 2010
Eyjafjallajoekull
Sunday 18th
The forced rhubarb has been growing at a rate that makes Usain Bolt look a little casual and the first of this year’s perfect pink crop was picked today. Likely to give it another couple of weeks, before cropping again for freezing... pending the arrival of blackcurrants in summer to turn into jam. Much less slug activity than last year, perhaps as a consequence of a longer colder winter? or maybe just the current dry spell combined with cool nights is keeping them quiet for now, plenty lurking about.
More seeds sown... half trays of beetroot(x2), unnamed free co-op salad leaves (look like mustards) and Gardeners World red lettuce (from last year’s free seeds). One beetroot tray into mini pollyhouse, rest of seedlings into plastic box.
Spinach from two weeks ago still not up, but rest of seed trays taken out of plastic box and put under open sided glass.
Plenty of naturally occuring radish from last year's seeds - so sliced a couple of spadefuls into a tray. Rest of bed roughly hoed to kill off a few weeds.
Installed new raised bed donated from next door and filled with compost from last year’s piles.
Saturday 17th
A nice long day in the sun – hottest day of year - with more weeding and tidying, found another small newt hiding under water butt when moving it, so was relocated to ponds area.
Sawed a bit of prolific Iris tuber off to give a bit more space in main pond and re-planted them in ground. Plenty of frogs and newts enjoying the weather once debris settled.
Friday 16th
Flying visit to water seedlings on a warm day, before work. After a sunny dry week all seeds showing except spinach.
Saturday 10th/ Sunday 11th
Long dry~ish spell allowed a few trenches to be dug (yes, I know!) and manured on Saturday before planting main crop of Cara potatoes on Sunday.
Only 1 radish from last week’s sowing showing on Saturday but few lettuce popped out by Sunday.
Brassicas potted on to bigger pots after a good week's growth.
The forced rhubarb has been growing at a rate that makes Usain Bolt look a little casual and the first of this year’s perfect pink crop was picked today. Likely to give it another couple of weeks, before cropping again for freezing... pending the arrival of blackcurrants in summer to turn into jam. Much less slug activity than last year, perhaps as a consequence of a longer colder winter? or maybe just the current dry spell combined with cool nights is keeping them quiet for now, plenty lurking about.
More seeds sown... half trays of beetroot(x2), unnamed free co-op salad leaves (look like mustards) and Gardeners World red lettuce (from last year’s free seeds). One beetroot tray into mini pollyhouse, rest of seedlings into plastic box.
Spinach from two weeks ago still not up, but rest of seed trays taken out of plastic box and put under open sided glass.
Plenty of naturally occuring radish from last year's seeds - so sliced a couple of spadefuls into a tray. Rest of bed roughly hoed to kill off a few weeds.
Installed new raised bed donated from next door and filled with compost from last year’s piles.
Saturday 17th
A nice long day in the sun – hottest day of year - with more weeding and tidying, found another small newt hiding under water butt when moving it, so was relocated to ponds area.
Sawed a bit of prolific Iris tuber off to give a bit more space in main pond and re-planted them in ground. Plenty of frogs and newts enjoying the weather once debris settled.
Friday 16th
Flying visit to water seedlings on a warm day, before work. After a sunny dry week all seeds showing except spinach.
Saturday 10th/ Sunday 11th
Long dry~ish spell allowed a few trenches to be dug (yes, I know!) and manured on Saturday before planting main crop of Cara potatoes on Sunday.
Only 1 radish from last week’s sowing showing on Saturday but few lettuce popped out by Sunday.
Brassicas potted on to bigger pots after a good week's growth.
Sunday 4 April 2010
Shitting in the Wind
Sown first of this year's seeds - 6 x half trays of early salad stuff... radish, little gem lettuce, mixed lettuce, mixed mustards, spinach and (the much nicer) spinach beet.
Potted on the broad bean seedlings that had doubled in height since buying, and checked on brassica seedlings which were still damp and fairly warm in mini polly house. Added an extra shelf layer to lift beans up away from the awakening slugs.
Potted on the broad bean seedlings that had doubled in height since buying, and checked on brassica seedlings which were still damp and fairly warm in mini polly house. Added an extra shelf layer to lift beans up away from the awakening slugs. Fairly windy and more forecast for first half of week so wrapped a line around just in case. Weather looking like a reasonable prospect of a high building from Weds so some sun and cool nights likely.
Wind too cold to get much done - hampered by achilles injury too - so just a general bit of tidying done and a bit of newt spotting.
Rhubarb has finally awakened and forced bin rocketing into action.
Some selfish idiot from other end had chosen to allow their dog to run around loose and uncontrolled again, shitting in other people's allotments - quite ignorant behaviour and should be kicked off.
Lovely bit of Toxacara Canis never did anyone any harm, did it? I mean its not like the eggs stay in the soil for months waiting to blind someone... do they? Maybe I'll just invite myself round to dinner and shit on their table.
Sunday 28 March 2010
Spring Clean II
With a taste of winter forecast to return next week, made the effort to get down to allotment and get some preparation done.
Saturday - In addition to some weeding and tidying up, finally got first early potatoes (International Kidney) in the ground - bed E1. Broke the 'no-digging after Xmas' rule to get troughs deep enough. Usually would set them in peat but trying multi-compost/sand mixture this time plus a little hoof and horn - and then well rotted chicken manure over top of soil. Covered up E1 & D1(after a quick rake) with a big tarp to keep warm and give spuds a boost to catch up - should have been in 2 or 3 weeks ago.
Sunday - Another sunny day, with a bit of a cool wind that only briefly dropped. Bought and potted on some red cabbage, swede, cauliflower and khol rabi seedlings - 6 of each (with a couple of small extra's in the cauli's) plus a couple of pots (16) Broad Beans. Placed inside 3 tier polly house, but set up only to two tiers to keep it out of wind a bit more.
Managed to weed and rake all the other main beds, save for F1 which am leaving wild for now and A1 that still has last year's leeks and wind sown salsify. Limed B1/B2 in readiness for brassicas and dug C2 into 4 troughs ready for 2nd early potatoes in a couple of weeks hopefully. Scattered organic manure into troughs and left uncovered to let rain wash into ground.
Saturday - In addition to some weeding and tidying up, finally got first early potatoes (International Kidney) in the ground - bed E1. Broke the 'no-digging after Xmas' rule to get troughs deep enough. Usually would set them in peat but trying multi-compost/sand mixture this time plus a little hoof and horn - and then well rotted chicken manure over top of soil. Covered up E1 & D1(after a quick rake) with a big tarp to keep warm and give spuds a boost to catch up - should have been in 2 or 3 weeks ago.
Sunday - Another sunny day, with a bit of a cool wind that only briefly dropped. Bought and potted on some red cabbage, swede, cauliflower and khol rabi seedlings - 6 of each (with a couple of small extra's in the cauli's) plus a couple of pots (16) Broad Beans. Placed inside 3 tier polly house, but set up only to two tiers to keep it out of wind a bit more.
Managed to weed and rake all the other main beds, save for F1 which am leaving wild for now and A1 that still has last year's leeks and wind sown salsify. Limed B1/B2 in readiness for brassicas and dug C2 into 4 troughs ready for 2nd early potatoes in a couple of weeks hopefully. Scattered organic manure into troughs and left uncovered to let rain wash into ground.
Monday 22 March 2010
Sunday 14 March 2010
Spring Clean
After being shamed into admitting allotment had been neglected a bit recently, managed to get round to a couple of hours tidying up today post-race. Railway crossing stuck on red but no trains appeared to be running.
Managed to plant onion sets, along with a new anti-air defence experiment, but potatoes still in waiting. Garlic looking a bit healthier than last month.Gave most beds a rough rake and hand picked a few weeds out. Pruned pear and cherry trees, and gooseberries, blackcurrants, red currants and blueberries... better late than never.
Checked forced rhubarb but barely awake still, perhaps prolonged cold has put into a deeper dormancy but hopefully a mild week and a bit of sun should bring it along quickly now.
Must get on with this year's crop planning soon...
Friday 12 February 2010
Time for a Chit
Bought this year's Onions sets and seed Potatoes from Gordon Riggs this week.
Went for International Kidney (aka Jersey Royals but not allowed to call them that as they have PDO status) for earlies as they always do fantastically well and am experimenting with Cara for maincrop. Never tried, or even heard of this variety before but supposedly have good disease resistance.
Plumped for Stutgarter onion sets again as they always store so well... remainder of last year's are still hanging in perfect condition from kitchen window. One bag of sets produces just about eactly 1 year's supply of onions... a tremendous return for 99p plus a few hours spent preparing ground, planting and the occasional bit of weeding. Cheaper and less time consuming than buying them.
Will get the potatoes chitting as soon as I make room and then aim to get onions and earlies in ground by mid-March depending n weather, with the main crop going in at Easter as usual.
Must get round to planning this year's design and crops soon. Sadly, I suspect other commitments this year may mean the last couple of happy Spring's spent cycling to the allotment and sunbathing in cold easterlies - I mean working hard - may not be repeated.
Tod on the telly - Todmorden seems to be the current favourite with Country Tracks and My Dream Farm both screening this week - it seems that you daren't leave the house without checking for camera leads the past year... mainly down to the success of Incredible Edible Tod.
Went for International Kidney (aka Jersey Royals but not allowed to call them that as they have PDO status) for earlies as they always do fantastically well and am experimenting with Cara for maincrop. Never tried, or even heard of this variety before but supposedly have good disease resistance.
Plumped for Stutgarter onion sets again as they always store so well... remainder of last year's are still hanging in perfect condition from kitchen window. One bag of sets produces just about eactly 1 year's supply of onions... a tremendous return for 99p plus a few hours spent preparing ground, planting and the occasional bit of weeding. Cheaper and less time consuming than buying them.Will get the potatoes chitting as soon as I make room and then aim to get onions and earlies in ground by mid-March depending n weather, with the main crop going in at Easter as usual.Must get round to planning this year's design and crops soon. Sadly, I suspect other commitments this year may mean the last couple of happy Spring's spent cycling to the allotment and sunbathing in cold easterlies - I mean working hard - may not be repeated.
Tod on the telly - Todmorden seems to be the current favourite with Country Tracks and My Dream Farm both screening this week - it seems that you daren't leave the house without checking for camera leads the past year... mainly down to the success of Incredible Edible Tod.
Saturday 23 January 2010
A New Hope...
Finally managed a quick visit to check on things today.
Although in the main it is a scene of death and rotting destruction, already signs of new life appearing with blackcurrants and blueberries budding well.
Seedlings (Cabbage & Oriental Mustards) coped with cold drought (in plastic box)to varying degrees and still plenty of them alive.
Garlic looking a bit sorry for themselves, but the cold should spark them into cloving well. Scattered a bit more sand over - partly to catch a bit more warmth if the sun comes out and partly for drainage as ground still saturated. Last year's leeks still doing well, if a little small.
Put bin over a rhubarb crown to start off this year's forced chosen one. No sign of life yet.
The deep snow seems to have rotted a lot of the anticipated spring cabbages, but few surviving well. Still a few reds coping ok and cropped a load of sprouts today.
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