After some stunningly glorious March weather, with wall to wall sunshine and temperatures miles above average for the time of year, I'm getting a bit concerned about the possible April backlash. Nature has a way of evening things out and it is highly likely we'll be shivering rather than sunbathing over the Easter weekend. We could certainly do with some rain, but cold and frosty (and snowy?) weather could have a devastating impact on the allotment.
The problem is that the generally mild winter and recent very warm weather means the fruit trees and bushes are so far advanced to the point where the blossom is already about to burst. This will be a lovely sight but a couple of sharp frosts could do for the whole potential fruit harvest later in the year. It may also check the seedlings that are sprouting in the greenhouse and polytunnel. I'm less concerned about the seedlings as they could easily be replaced. The fruit, on the otherhand, has one chance to flower, be pollinated and set for the year. Fingers crossed the cooling trend means the flowers will stay tightly closed and not appear again until the risk of frost has passed. It may be too late for some of the early flowering plums but I hope the apples and pears hold on a few weeks more. If the blossom does appear and is not damaged by frost, there's still the risk of damp and cold weather impacting on bee activity and pollination may suffer. It will be a testing few weeks to come...
I sowed some tomatoes and peppers on Monday and was surprised to see action by Friday. It always amazes me how viable seed simply wants to grow given the right conditions. I have Sungold, Apero, San Marzano, Tigerella and Golden Sunrise all showing now with only San Pedro (bought from Lanzarote about three years ago) reluctant to germinate. If the weather does turn cold for a while I may start to struggle as they'll have to stay indoors for longer than I had hoped. These were supposed to be passed on to the polytunnel at the plot to make way for the second batch of tomatoes and other tender crops. As my wife tells me every year, I may have started them off too soon!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
A busy weekend in the garden at home and on the allotment.
Seed Sowing
To be honest I'm probably a bit behind where I'd like to be at this stage in the year. Saturday saw me attempt to make amends by planting crimson flowered and 'Stereo' broad beans and purple podded and 'Kelvedon Wonder' peas. I hope the respective purple types do well as they are from seed I saved from heritage varieties grown last year. I made a conscious decision to try and save seed from them to help expand their stock and will pass some on to fellow allotment holders. Last year I also saved runner, French and Borlotti bean seeds from the most productive plants and also saved the seeds from a couple of salsify and scorzonera flowers. Time will tell if this is good practice or a false economy.
I made a start with some longer-term crops by sowing the first batch of Musselburgh leeks. My experience with leeks over the past couple of years is as follows: sown too late, transplanted too late = weedy leeks. This year I hope to do two batches: one now for planting out in June; and another later in spring for planting later in summer time. Hopefully that will spread the crop with some ready early winter and others standing in the ground until next spring.
The final seed was some lettuce 'Little Gem' sown indoors. They'll be pricked out when large enough, grown on singly and then planted in the cold frame for the earliest crop I can achieve. Later sowings will go direct into the ground once it has warmed sufficiently in April.
Potatoes are chitting nicely in the attic. This year I have Juliette, which I have grown for the past two years instead of the similar Charlotte. Juliette produces yellow, waxy, kidney shaped tubers in profusion and they are very tasty. I am also trying Rooster and Picasso maincrop potatoes to see if I can store enough to keep us going over the winter. Already in pots in the polytunnel I have Anya. These are really tasty as baby new potatoes and will be ready just before I start digging the Juliettes from the open ground.
Down at the plot
This weekend was one of hard graft and labour. The main job was to expand the growing space by shifting round some paving flags and relaying a path. I broke the back of the job on Saturday with the hard landscaping. Today I was required to dig the newly reclaimed area over, which was less straightforward than anticipated due to the heavy overnight rain. Eventually I got the job done and I transplanted two fruit trees (Denniston's Superb gage and Morello cherry) from large pots into the open ground. I had wanted to keep them in pots just in case I ever move on. However, when in full leaf they require daily watering and it's a job I can do without. They have gone into the open ground in very good soil and with a good mulch of well rotted manure. Any fruit this year will be a bonus but I hope they get well established and provide a crop for years to come. I've not yet decided if the remaining ground I've cleared will be the home for my Rooster potatoes or the courgette and pumpkin patch. The soil is good, the area large and it will suit either crop well. Decisions, decisions...
Seed Sowing
To be honest I'm probably a bit behind where I'd like to be at this stage in the year. Saturday saw me attempt to make amends by planting crimson flowered and 'Stereo' broad beans and purple podded and 'Kelvedon Wonder' peas. I hope the respective purple types do well as they are from seed I saved from heritage varieties grown last year. I made a conscious decision to try and save seed from them to help expand their stock and will pass some on to fellow allotment holders. Last year I also saved runner, French and Borlotti bean seeds from the most productive plants and also saved the seeds from a couple of salsify and scorzonera flowers. Time will tell if this is good practice or a false economy.
I made a start with some longer-term crops by sowing the first batch of Musselburgh leeks. My experience with leeks over the past couple of years is as follows: sown too late, transplanted too late = weedy leeks. This year I hope to do two batches: one now for planting out in June; and another later in spring for planting later in summer time. Hopefully that will spread the crop with some ready early winter and others standing in the ground until next spring.
The final seed was some lettuce 'Little Gem' sown indoors. They'll be pricked out when large enough, grown on singly and then planted in the cold frame for the earliest crop I can achieve. Later sowings will go direct into the ground once it has warmed sufficiently in April.
Potatoes are chitting nicely in the attic. This year I have Juliette, which I have grown for the past two years instead of the similar Charlotte. Juliette produces yellow, waxy, kidney shaped tubers in profusion and they are very tasty. I am also trying Rooster and Picasso maincrop potatoes to see if I can store enough to keep us going over the winter. Already in pots in the polytunnel I have Anya. These are really tasty as baby new potatoes and will be ready just before I start digging the Juliettes from the open ground.
Down at the plot
This weekend was one of hard graft and labour. The main job was to expand the growing space by shifting round some paving flags and relaying a path. I broke the back of the job on Saturday with the hard landscaping. Today I was required to dig the newly reclaimed area over, which was less straightforward than anticipated due to the heavy overnight rain. Eventually I got the job done and I transplanted two fruit trees (Denniston's Superb gage and Morello cherry) from large pots into the open ground. I had wanted to keep them in pots just in case I ever move on. However, when in full leaf they require daily watering and it's a job I can do without. They have gone into the open ground in very good soil and with a good mulch of well rotted manure. Any fruit this year will be a bonus but I hope they get well established and provide a crop for years to come. I've not yet decided if the remaining ground I've cleared will be the home for my Rooster potatoes or the courgette and pumpkin patch. The soil is good, the area large and it will suit either crop well. Decisions, decisions...
Monday, March 12, 2012
I'm back!
After a silence of over two years I have been inspired to start writing again. I'm not quite sure why I stopped updating the blog with progress down at the plot. I'm pretty sure a lack of time was an early factor as I changed jobs and found I was spending 2 hours + each day sat in a car travelling up and down the M1. I guess after a period of time it then became a bit tricky to work out how best to start writing again. What will be the route back in? How do I account for the gap? Does anyone actually care?
I think the answer to this last question has been a key factor in my desire to start posting again. Whilst I'm sure someone out there might occasionally stumble on this blog, equally my words may go unread forever. I can live with that, because I've realised that the major beneficiary of my writing is actually me!
I'll try and elaborate on that.
I would love the idea of many people following this blog, sharing my experiences of allotment gardening and becoming inspired to do the same. Being somewhat more realistic, the occasional visitor flicking through my posts and enjoying what they read is a more likely outcome.
However, re-reading my blog from start to finish has enabled me to relive many moments which may otherwise have been forgotten. Little events at the allotment which, at the time, did not seem overly significant but have been recorded forever in history and help to create fond memories of time and place. I guess the fact that I'm becoming ever more forgetful (probably age-related!) means the opportunity to record my thoughts and the feelings they create is not to be missed.
Through my posting I will give myself the chance to reflect on past experiences. I will look back with a rueful and knowing smile at my previous naivety, curse the pigeons and slugs, or cherish the feelings of the seasons' first harvest of new potatoes.
If someone is reading and my words make them smile or simply help cheer their otherwise disappointing day, I will be over the moon. If I am merely recording my thoughts for future personal review, I can live with that too!
So, my commitment is to post regularly and to record my plot's progress in both words and pictures. Over the past two years my allotment has been a constant whilst a myriad of personal and professional things have changed around me. The pleasure I derive from growing vegetables and fruit at Woodthorpe is something I feel privileged to share with whoever wants to listen :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)