I've managed spend quality time at the plot over the past couple of weeks. On Tuesday the van was in for its service and MOT so, with a day off work, I made light of some bindweed and couch grass and managed to plant the first early spuds - Pentland Javelin. I also began to turn the soil in preparation for future crops, with a robin in close attendance picking off the odd worm that I brought to the surface.
Today was another settled day and the soil is now dry at the surface and easy to break into a fine tilth. Having turned another few feet of soil and prepared the ground I planted a couple of rows of my second earlies - Charlottes. They are in nice and deep and earthed up with a good mound of soil so I'm hoping that any major late frosts will be finished by the time they poke their tender shoots above ground. If not I'll nip down with some fleece or simply earth them up some more.
Looking at last year's diary I planted all my potatoes on 13th April. I think it was more lack of preparation and time than cold weather that resulted in the later planting but this year I'm hoping for an earlier crop. The maincrop - King Edward - can wait a couple of weeks yet and they'll probably go in around the Easter weekend.
In the greenhouse I've been pollinating the blossom of my apricot tree to help set some fruit. The doors and vents have been closed and no insects have been sighted so I'm hoping this manual intervention will prove fruitful later in the year.
Apricot Blossom
The outdoor trees dotted around my plot - plum, greengage, various apples and pears - are still some way from blossoming but the buds have swollen and will soon be breaking given some more mild weather, so it won't be long before I'll be able to assess the potential crop.
On a final note, it was the allotment AGM on Friday and I was voted in as the new Chairman! It will certainly be an interesting year as I get to grips with my new role.
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