Mid February on the Allotment and Lots to do

Mid February and lots to do on the Allotment

It’s the middle of February. The sun is shining and the temperature is up to a heady 10 - 12°C! Of course the ground is still sodden but, with the weekend almost upon us and the weather set fair for at least, a few more days there is a lot of work we can get started on.

This morning I planted my first short ridge of new potatoes in my poly-tunnel – Accent, 1^st Earlies [from Thompson & Morgan]. This year they arrived in plenty of time for me to have had them chitting since early January. The chits are sturdy and 1 – 2cms long. In previous years, I have put in twice as many but I have found that I have been giving so many away as I need the space in the tunnel for the next planned crop and, while giving away is no bad thing it is also quite extravagant. If the weather does stay fair well into next week I may plant a row of 1^st earlies outdoors and cover them with fleece or environmesh – I tried this last year though I found that slugs ate the newly emerged tops under the fleece. This year I must be more careful.

While I was digging the ridge in the tunnel for the potatoes I unearthed three red ant nests. That is a lot of ants in a small area, ready to decimate my crops. Already they have the first batches of eggs preparing to colonise my whole tunnel. Unlike some pests, they don’t seem to actually attack the plants or the roots. However, they build their nests around the roots, removing all moisture and soil causing the plants to collapse.

I also sowed a couple of rows of carrots, alongside the potatoes. A friend says he always grows carrots in his poly-tunnel where he can ensure the soil and water are satisfactory and the plants are protected from carrot fly. He always has a successful crop. While I don’t have a tunnel as large as his, I think it is worth trying for an early crop. I’m trying Early Nantes from VegetablesSeeds.net. This is not a variety I have tried before and I will report back on how well they do – or not! The rest of my carrots will have to take their chances outdoors when the weather warms up and the ground dries out a bit.

I also started my first sowing of brassicas in small prepared beds in the polytunnel. Brussels Sprouts – Bedford; Cauliflower – All the Year Round; Cabbage – Golden Acre Primo [all from Dobies] and Cauliflower – ‘Ottobrino’ Autumn Romanesco [from The Real Seed Catalogue]. While I have found in previous years that the ground outside has not always been suitable for transplanting these early plants, I think it is worth taking the risk as it does give the plants a good start and provides an early crop when conditions are good. I can sow again outdoors in  early March and protect the seedbeds with netting to keep the pigeons off them.

Some of the seeds I sowed in pots in my poly-tunnel in early February are just beginning to show signs of emerging – winter lettuce. The hoped for sunshine of the next few days should encourage the rest to appear.

Over the next few days I will set up my propagator and start sowing some of the more tender plants. It is an exciting time of the year.

Early March on the Allotment

Early March on the Allotment

It would be so easy to be seduced by the wonderful spring-like weather we are having at the moment and... I totally am! But really, we are only just out of February.

I have been trying to restrain myself from getting going on my plot too early and, perhaps fortunately, a heavy cold that has made me feel a bit miserable for a week or so, has prevented me from doing more than I might otherwise have done.

This is the first year, perhaps ever, that I am seeing the flowers on my really delightful double-flowered camellia not scorched and brown from frost. I suppose I could have put fleece over the bush each year to protect the blossoms but, that does rather seem to defeat the purpose of the plant. It is now very beautiful. Close to where I live there is an avenue lined on both sides with purple leaved flowering cherries. In spring time they can be absolutely stunning as they come into flower and as I passed them today on my way to my plot I was thrilled to see them just starting to bloom. When they have finished flowering the dark leaves can make the same avenue look quite gloomy and as they are pollarded every other year they don’t always look so spectacular. Hopefully, for the next few weeks they will make everyone who sees them feel joyful.

Some activities are reasonably safe... I think! Today I prepared seed beds for early sowings of some brassicas in my poly-tunnel. I have tried to rein myself in and have sown only a few seeds from each packet. Today, I've sown All Year Round Cauliflower, Cabbage - Golden Acre Primo, both from Dobies and Brussels Sprouts - Seven Hills from the Real Seed Catalogue [it's the first time I have tried these but they are recommended for exposed windy sites - my plot is certainly that although, being in the South West, t is probably not as exposed as some]. Brassica seeds will keep for several years so, it’s a good idea to sow only what you think you will need. Of course, if you are sowing very early you can successionally sow up to the end of April and for many varieties, well after that. Do read the instructions on your packets of seed and take into consideration where you are living and the weather conditions. In my poly tunnel is, I think, pretty safe but, possibly, if this mild weather continues, I could get away with sowing brassicas in outdoor seedbeds. They might be slower to germinate but that’s okay. If you are propagating indoors or in a propagator do make sure they are ‘hardened off’ [gradually reducing the levels of heat...without exposing to harsh frosty conditions, perhaps set them outdoors during the day then take back indoors at night!] before transplanting outdoors.

I did take a tray of propagator induced lettuce seedlings to my poly-tunnel a couple of weeks ago and today, I transplanted a few of them into the enriched compost of my tunnel and watered them well in. Although they were really quite small...second true-leaf stage, hopefully, I will have some early lettuce. This is well worth doing as they are easy to grow and are so expensive to buy. These are Cos, Winter Gem, Vaila, and are really quite hardy. Shortly, I will transplant some of them outside.

Today, I took the fleece covering from my globe artichoke plants. This is the first year I have covered them although all professional advice does recommend this [usually covering with straw for over-wintering]. After last year’s exceptionally harsh winter, when I lost 40% of my plants, I decided I was being just a bit too confident. Several of my allotment neighbours reported 100% loss. My plants are just starting to put on new growth and I felt it was time to divide a couple of them which were becoming a bit too ‘overgrown’ to do well in the coming season. The original artichoke plants will die back as they age and will put out side shoots. These will be fine for a few years but, eventually the plant will start to fail and will need to be replaced. This can be avoided by dividing the root mass. When the side shoots become obvious you can, during the ‘dormant’ months put the spade through the root mass and separate the side shoot from the ‘parent’ plant. This ‘side shoot’ can then be transplanted and will grow successfully as a new plant, removing the need for buying seeds or new plants. When you do this, make sure you take as much of the new root with your new plant as necessary. Several years ago I would complete this process without thinking and had 100% success. However, during the last 2 bitter winters, my propagation methods have had limited success and I am now so much more careful. Nothing beats over-confidence like a bit of failure!

Some very late transplanted and very miserable white-sprouting broccoli plants I bought from Thompson & Morgan [my own had failed as the very dry spring and early summer had prevented transplanting at the correct time and young plants I then bought from T&M were dismayingly dismal, leading me to complain bitterly] have now, actually started to sprout and today, I have brought home my first dishful, not a lot but I hope for increased cropping in the next few weeks.

I’ve also been back to my propagator and have sown two types of basil in pots, some orange scented thyme, Sultana tomatoes [little plum shaped, salad tomatoes which did absolutely brilliantly last year and tasted amazing... I bought my seeds from Dobies ]. I’ve sown pepper seeds and after the success of my chilli seeds, I hope these will be as successful. Last year’s peppers, although they grew and did produce fruit were not, what I would call, successful. The previous year I grew ‘Sweet California’ from a packet of free seeds which were outstanding. However, as we had little heat or sunshine during the growing season last year, the results were disappointing. Really, the impact of the weather conditions can’t be ignored, especially for crops which are not indigenous. My recent sowing was with Corno di Toro Rosso from Dobies. These are long sweet peppers, suitable for salads and cooking. I will sow my ‘bell’ type peppers later.

And, God heavens! the first asparagus spears are appearing... already!

From now on, I guess the year will speed up so, more stuff in the near future.

Acquiring a New PLot

Acquiring a New Plot

It’s that time of year again. The bills are going out to allotment holders for the coming year and many will look at the bill, consider what they have achieved on their plots in the last year – or not - and how they can better use their money and their time. As my daughter always tells me ‘You get out what you put in!’ This, of course does not mean the financial commitment [well! perhaps a little]. It mostly refers to the effort/ energy/ work/ time. Of course, when some people decide that the plot is not longer a viable venture, this is an opportunity for others, who have been on waiting lists for – perhaps years, to achieve their first plot. How exciting!

The plots I rent cost me, in the region of, £200 each year. This includes the rent for my plot, the shed and the seeds and, a contribution for my ploy-tunnel. It doesn’t include lorry loads of manure, canes, nets, fleece, environmesh and all sorts of other little items I think might be worth having but are not essential and most of them I can persuade my family to buy me as Christmas and birthday presents.You can also save on seeds by saving your own. Also, I know that, even in a poor performing year [in the last two bitterly cold winters, when I had to buy many of my vegetables] I, more than, covered those costs against what I would have bought in the shops of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers, by a long way! Of course, my allotment association is definitely one of the cheaper ones and – if I dare say it – one of the better organised [though I have seen a better one!]

I do still have to buy mushrooms, citrus fruit, potatoes and onions [the latter two after about February until the new season starts in April] but, apart from that, I have preserved - frozen fruit and vegetables to use on those occasions when the ground is too frozen to harvest in winter. This may not always give me the vegetables I want to eat at any given time and it does result in gluts which must be dealt with but, all-in-all, financially, a plot is worth having.

But, and there is a BIG ‘but’, for the plot to be productive, it really needs to be planned and it is most important to put in the effort, time and work. This is difficult when people have commitments to, perhaps, a young family or a demanding job. Little children are not usually welcome if they are allowed to impose on other plot holders [similarly with dogs, unless well under control] though, most plot holders are happy to see children and young people getting involved and becoming interested in the whole process.

Do think about the time involved. If you have a demanding job and can, really, only come to the plot at week-ends or less often, remember that as your plants are growing, so are the weeds [and as it is their natural environment, the weeds will take over!]

Okay! Let’s assume you feel you can take over a plot and make it successful, productive and life enhancing. First of all you must plan what you will grow. Lots of plot holders only grow for the late spring, summer and early autumn months, which is fine, if that is what you want to do. Some plot holders are only interested in growing fruit – eating it, freezing it, preserving it. This is also great and is a really very low maintenance model though, do look at the rules of your plot membership. Usually trees are not acceptable, unless fruit trees are on dwarf rootstock. Talk to your field rep. about this. [ I have to admit to planting fruit trees on my plot without asking but, having since read the Tenancy Agreement more carefully, I’m now careful about keeping my little trees under control so that they don’t impinge on my neighbour’s plots]. Of course, fruit trees are not the only fruit to impinge on your neighbour’s plots. Raspberries produce runners which will appear up to a metre away from the parent plant and can be very irritating for your neighbours. Similarly, blackberries, loganberries, tayberries can put out long branches which grow across footpaths and neighbours plots.

Right! This is an excellent time to look at what the seedhouses have to offer. [In the UK, the main ones are Dobies, Thompson and Morgan, Marshalls, Suttons, Unwins – they can all be accessed on-line. If you prefer heritage or organic seeds, I do recommend The Real Seed Catalogue] Of course they will set out their stalls for you to choose from and you will feel tempted to buy far too much – I always do, even though I should know better though, many types of seed will keep for several years if you do buy too many. I also share with my children who each now have their own plots [as they share with me!]. check out will keep and what must be used in the year of buying.

If you have been allocated a full plot you might have lots of room to try out and grow a wide variety of produce. But, probably, in these days of long waiting lists you have only been allocated a half or even a quarter plot [and this might well be enough for you]. Even then it might have been untended for some time before your predecessor decided to give it up [very irritating for lots of people and a headache for the allotment’s organisation]. It might take you some time to bring it back. Pests, such as slugs, and many perennial weeds will have become established. It will take time and patience to eradicate them. [Actually, they will never be eradicated but, they can be controlled to a level where you control them rather than them controlling you].

Do plan! Think about:

·          what you like to eat

·         what you can grow all year

·         what you can grow easily in your conditions – soil, 

      weather, temperature, etc, check them out!

·         how much room do you have?

·    what tools do you need? – spade, fork, rake, dutch hoe, 

  trowel, watering can? – buy only what you need when you need it 

  you may find to don’t need some of this stuff and that there other 

  tools essential for you [eg secatuers]  – but, do buy the best quality you can afford.

·         how long will the crop be in the ground which might prevent you growing another crop?

·         when do you need to buy seed? when do you need to sow? when do you need to transplant? what are the care considerations [watering, staking, etc]? when do you harvest? what do you do with the crop when you have harvested? what are the pests/diseases which must be watched for and treated to ensure a good crop? what do you have to do to achieve optimum results?

There are lots of sites on-line available to help you with this information. Do check with the seed houses you buy from and do Google!

It sounds so complicated but, of course, you don’t need to do all of this stuff in one sitting. You can also, until you get the hang of it, buy young plants from your local garden centre or from the main seed houses. This can be a brilliant way to get started and is very encouraging. Even well experienced gardeners do this as it means they don’t have to go through the process of propagating and growing on when they don’t have [and don’t find it economic to provide] the conditions for ‘growing on’. It has to be said that there have been occasions when my seeds have failed or I have not been able to transplant my seedlings as at the right time, when I have had to buy young plants, plugs, mini plugs, etc.

If you have been lucky enough to acquire a new plot this new year, good luck and - most of all - enjoy it!.