Grow your own veggies
February bought 10 days of insane snowy weather which kept us away from the allotment. We returned to find it looking surprisingly neat and we continuted to dig the beds. In March we cleaned the greenhouse out using Jeyes Fluid and a scrubbing brush.
It’d probably have been easier to take out the panes of glass and cleaned them that way. But it soon looked much better for a good scrub.
Have been scouring the seed catalogue pages at Thomson and Morgan – they have a huge range of vegetables including some wonderful potatoe varieties
Towards the end of March we noticed buds on the vine (This is after wondering whether we’d killed it somehow) – They’ve swollen and see, to be growing more each day.
The trees are budding and leaves opening on the large fruit trees. We were offered some blackcurrent bushes which I divided up as they were hulking great things.
I planted a couple of them on my fruit patch and bought the rest back here with me to be planted locally. Much better than throwing them away.
The rhubarb is looking amazing although we now have some very active ants in the greenhouse and in the corner of the rhubarb patch.
A faded yellow leaf on that bit of rhubarb too which I will keep an eye on.
We’ve had three lots of rhubarb already.
Bought some comfrey from a nursery – simple root cuttings and planted them today around the pond. (31st March)
These should provide an amazing form of composting material that can be used for making liquid fertiliser too.
I’ve got two root cuttings left which I planted in the front garden at home where the border is damp and clay. Should do well there.
I’ve purchased two tayberries too. Planted one in the middle of the empty raspberry row. They won’y fruit this year which is a shame, but I’ve read they can grow several meters across. I’ve got one to plant at home too although I’ve not decided where yet.
Nic’s made me a cold frame and the lettuce I’ve planted in there has come up.
PLanted carrot, parsnip, spinach beet, beetroot and peas today at the allotment. We’d planted the potatoes on the 22nd of March after a dry week and then it rained for several days. Hopefully they’ve enjoyed their soaking.
Frank grew some extra seeds so I’ve got broccoli, purple sprouting, caulis and cabbages now out in the greenhouse. It’ll be time to plant them out soon as I’ve noticed John has planted his out.
Frank also has some tomato seeds for me too and is going to lend me some big post as I have nothing nigh enough.
We’ve bought some asparagus too – but we can’t plant that out yet. We’re putting that in a bed next to the strawberries as it’s sheltered there with plenty of nice soil.
Nic’s almost finished the compost bin – good job as the plastic one is exploding due to the rain.
Nic’s also building some staging for the greenhouse! It’s all go for him!
We cycled over the other day. Took about 12 minutes – so its quite do-able early evenings in the summer when we need to go every day.
When it’s been sunny and windless the allotment is quite a suntrap. Very lovely. Can see it being boiling in summer!