Late April on the Allotment

Late April on the Allotment

I’m pleased to see the rain, yes, really I am and, of course it is April, when we expect a bit of rain. I’m sure farmers and commercial growers are very relieved as water is needed on crops especially when they are trying to get them established. But! I really do wish it was a bit warmer and with a bit more sunshine between showers. The birds, nesting now, are desperate for food and my robins are waiting for me each time I come to the plot. They can be quite in my face!

I have had a nasty little, flu’ like virus for a couple of weeks and I feel it has put me somewhat on the back foot as far as my allotment work has gone, especially planting my main-crop potatoes. I have now managed to get my Sarpo Mira seed in the ground [ after several years of experimenting with different varieties, I’m really taken with these. They have an excellent balance of disease and pest resistance and good flavour... and... they keep well. I only finished my crop from last year in mid February and they were still good].  I bought all of my seed potatoes from Thompson and Morgan. While I have whinged, in the past, about T&M delivering seed potatoes far too late to chit properly, this year the service has been excellent. And, they do have an excellent selection. This year I have found it particularly difficult and wearisome planting the potatoes. I’m hoping this is just because I’m been a bit under the weather and not because I’m getting past it!  However, I was chatting to a fellow plotter in the last few days who has told me that he doesn’t dig ridges for his potatoes any more – he uses a large bulb planter instead. Now that might be a method worth trying next year – at least for some of them, as a trial.

My 1^st early potatoes in the polytunnel [Vales Emerald] are already putting on flower buds so, perhaps in a few weeks I will be able to start harvesting. I see the outdoor sown Vales Emerald are also well up – still under a protective layer of fleece to protect them from the frost. I have never tried this variety before – I had become quite fond of Accent as my 1^st early but, this year I was unable to get them. The Vales Emerald are not, at the moment inspiring me, they certainly don’t seem to be as robust as Accent and a couple of the plants have failed to grow or have died back though, I wonder if this is due to red-ant nests which are in the vicinity. I would prefer to live with the ants but, poly-tunnel space is precious and perhaps I need to be a bit more jealous of this space.

I moved most of my young tomato plants, and a few chilli plants to my polytunnel about three weeks ago [although I can propagate them at home, I can’t provide the young plants with enough light]. I covered them with fleece until they had settled in then took the fleece off. Unfortunately, on the same day I took the fleece off we had a really hard frost. The surprising part was that the chillies were fine, tomato F1 Fantasio was fine but, Alicanti was seriously hit by the frost. That said, I won’t resow as most of the affected plants have put out side shoots which will still be way ahead of any new sowing I would make.

I have now moved lots of my seedlings, including my first batch of sweetcorn, [F1 Earlibird from Dobies] to my ploy-tunnel but, am careful to keep them covered with fleece until this cold spell has passed. I hope the weather will have warmed up by the beginning of May and I can plant my first batch of sweetcorn out. I do have another variety F1 Rising Sun [ also from Dobies] which I will leave for another week before sowing. If they all germinate as well as the Earlibird and produce good crops I will have far too much sweetcorn. But, in the past I’ve been disappointed by some crops so I’m spreading my bets. Last year I tried an experimental plot of Butcher’s Blood [a red seeded variety]. I found germination rate poor but, those seeds which did germinate, grew into tall strong plants. Unfortunately, I found the cobs tough and rather tasteless. But you have to keep trying new stuff, you never know when you will come up with something magic.

Now, at last, I have found a courgette which I actually like – F1 Orelia [ Dobies seed]. It has a golden skin and the flesh is dryer and denser than the more common zucchini. Unfortunately, last year I only had one seed germinate and this year- so far – I have had three but, guess what, I’ve broken one ! It still survives and might just make it but, I’ve resown just in case. However, I’m losing faith in my ability to germinate them... they should be easy. What am I doing wrong? Is my propagator too warm? Perhaps too cool? Should I just try them on the window sill? Any ideas would be gratefully received. Perhaps I should just get my daughter to grow them for me!

Last year I had real difficulties germinating peppers and chillies. This year, of the three varieties I’ve sown, I seem to have about 100% germination and can give them away. I think last year, the temperature of my propagator may have been too hot. Any thoughts?

My daughter loves all the different varieties of chillies she grows each year. However she lost the label on one plant she gave me. It produced purple fruit about 2cm [1 inch] long which turned red when properly ripe. Of course I dried the chillies for use over the winter. These babies are absolutely lethal! I scrunched a little one up into a curry I was making and, of course, washed my hands well afterwards. An hour later I was working on my computer and rested my chin in my hands. My face started to burn so, I rubbed it again and the burning spread to everywhere I touched. This pain lasted for quite some time! Gosh I will never learn!

So far this year I have sown two different varieties of peas. On 6^th March I sowed 4 packets of Little Marvel, an early variety. I covered them with fleece, as much to protect them from predators as from frost. They are now about 15cm high [6inches] and I have staked them already. I also sowed Hurst Green Shaft on 20^th March. They are still under a layer of environmesh but in the coming week I will remove this also and stake them. They are looking good.

Following advice I was given a couple of years ago on growing a pea crop – I sow lots of seed into each trench. My plot is about 5 metres wide. I will create three trenches about 3 – 4 cm deep [1½ inches]. I have divided 4 packets among the 3 trenches which is really fairly dense sowing. However, compared with the advice often given on sowing pea seed, this method has had spectacularly successful results. Let’s face it, the seed is not so expensive that we need to be precious about each seed. My crop last year filled a complete drawer of my freezer with bags of frozen peas. I am just coming to the end of them now.

Late February on the Allotment

Late February on the Allotment

The last time I wrote a blog was a couple of weeks ago. While I have sown seeds I am still trying to hold back as our weather here turned bitterly cold with hard frosts and damaging winds. We did have a few flakes of snow which lay overnight but, disappeared the following morning. It’s a pity as, many of the plants which had survived the ‘real’ wintertime were seriously affected by this late cold-snap. As always, we will take what the weather throws at us and work with it.

I have been most dismayed to learn from our News that there has been so little winter rain [when we expected it to refill our reservoirs and rivers] that we are in a potentially drought situation for the coming spring and summer months. I suppose I should be relieved that this doesn’t affect the South West – yet! We have had a lot of rain during January. However, for the East of England and swathes of the Midlands where a large proportion of the crops which supply the shops and homes in this country are grown, this will affect the cost of products to households that are already hard-pressed financially and, to the growers who have also had damaging set-backs during the last couple of years from harsh weather. We must hope that these concerns don’t become a reality.

I have planted my first early potatoes in my poly-tunnel last week. This year I’m trying Vales Emerald from Thompson & Morgan. The Potato Council says about this potato:-

An outstanding early bulking variety with attractive appearance on the shelf and excellent flavour. With 25% higher yields than existing punnet varieties, Emerald is proving to be extremely popular with growers and retailers alike.

In previous years I have grown and enjoyed Accent as my First Early of choice but, this year I was unable to find the seed – pity! I did like them.

I have only planted half of these seeds in my tunnel. The rest will be sown outdoors from the middle of March – weather allowing! For the first time, I still have some potatoes left from last year’s cropping which will almost last until the new crops are ready. I did give a couple of bags away, perhaps I will be meaner next year. I have been quite disappointed in some of the supposed ‘maincrop’ potatoes I grew. While Sarpo Mira and Sarpo Axona have continued to live up to their reputation on all fronts, British Queen kept poorly and the last half bag of them has been dumped. This was a new one for me to try and I won’t try it again though, perhaps I lifted them too early and the problem lay with my treatment of them.

I have taken a risk with sowing a variety of seeds in my propagator during February. Of course, the issue is not that of providing enough heat to encourage the seeds to germinate but of providing enough light with adequate heat once they have germinated. There would be no problem if I had a heated greenhouse or conservatory but – I don’t. I have been very pleased this year that all of the chilli seeds I’ve sown. 100% germination - 10 out of 10 seeds sown [Joe’s Long from Dobies, my favourite variety]. You don’t get many in a packet and it is important that at least some of them germinate. Last year my first sowing gave me 0% germination and my second sowing a mere 25%. I don’t think I can blame the seeds. I think the level of heat I provided was too great so, this time I’ve set the temperature in my propagator to 50%.

Now, of course, I must find a way of providing enough light until it is mild enough to move them to my poly-tunnel.

I have, already, moved my leek seedlings [Musselburgh from Dobies] and my early lettuce seedlings [Cos – Vaila, Winter gem, from Dobies] to the tunnel. Both should be hardy though, maybe not hardy enough to be planted outside just yet. Last year my Winter Gem lettuces were outstanding and stood over a long period – I seriously recommend them. I intend to plant some out in my ploy-tunnel for early consumption and a few more outdoors next month for later. They can, of course be resown to extend the harvest time. Like all ‘Cos’ type lettuces they are a robust crunchy type of lettuce. I’m not much of a fan of the softer varieties.

The leek seedlings are in a fairly deep tray but, will probably need to be transplanted to a growing-on bed before planted out to their final bed. Last year’s disastrous germination, which resulted in me begging seedlings from neighbours and from my daughter have, in the long run, provided me with an outstanding and very excessive crop of leeks which I’m now struggling to give away. Still, winter is not over yet.

On my trip to my allotment this morning, mostly to feed the birds, I see that my white sprouted broccoli are starting to shoot at last. A few, very raggy purple sprouting are also starting to sprout but, I have not covered them and I see that the resident pigeons are enjoying the leaves – I might leave those plants for the birds.

I do see Spring on the way. My ‘no-dig’ area where I keep my spring bulbs is already showing encouraging signs of spring.

The Plot in January

The Plot in January

It has been so wet for so long, I have been prevented from spending any time on the plot and, apart from feeding the birds and harvesting a few vegetables, it hasn’t been possible to do much anyway.

The ground is sodden but, I took a walk around the whole field to see what might be happening that we could be cheerful about. A new development at the bottom of our fields – a community allotment and edible forest project which has had Lottery funding was just running with water – literally. I guess the excess water from the whole field accumulates at the bottom of the hill in this area. And, following the clearing work with a heavy digger the ground is very raw. But, by spring and early summer, I just know it will look amazing and when it has had a couple of years to mature, it will be everything that has been envisioned for it.

Well! That wasn’t cheerful, but, a lot of other stuff was. Already there are signs of new growth. Bulbs are already appearing above ground. My hyacinths are already showing buds. A few clumps of early rhubarb are starting to show new growth. My autumn planted Purple Wight garlic is growing on strongly and the Solent Wight – a much later variety – is showing its sprouts above ground. Similarly, several varieties of shallot, I planted in late October and November are growing well. And, my autumn sown broad beans are now six or seven inches tall under their protective coat of fleece. I know it is still early January and there is plenty of time for the winter to turn bitterly and damagingly cold but, already I am looking for spring and making plans for the new season.

Each year I waste several packets of seeds in my impatience for the growing year to start – planting carrots and parsnips (this can work in a mild year but the last two years have given a 100% failure of those crops, even with a layer of fleece or a cloche to warm the ground a bit).  My early sowings of tomatoes and chillies in my propagator have also been disappointing. They did germinate, easily, but, what then? I don’t have a heated greenhouse to move them into and my poly-tunnel is much too cold for these tender plants. So far, I have not been able to provide enough suitable light to grow them on successfully. Last winter I bought a ‘daylight’ bulb and that certainly helped to supplement the natural light through the south facing window where the propagator sits but, I think I will still wait until March before I start the process this year.

So far this winter, I have not cleaned the inside of my poly-tunnel but, I am mindful that it’s important the ground in my tunnel does not become too dry or, it will be difficult to ‘bring back’ in the spring. Obviously, it doesn’t need to be watered every day but, every two to three weeks it still needs a good drenching. At least today it was dry enough to do that. I will plant early potatoes in my tunnel again this year about the middle of February. All being well, this will give me an early crop of new potatoes several weeks before they are ready outside and can be cleared from the tunnel by the time I need it for other crops. Even during the last two very bitter winters this worked well.

Already, I have had my seed potatoes from Dobies (since before Christmas, they always get them out to customers in plenty of time to have them chatted ready for planting). This year I wasn’t able to get my favourite First Early potato seeds – Accent so, I’m trying something new (for me!) – Red Duke of York and Vales Emerald. Red Duke of York is catalogued as having very low resistance to late blight but, as I am growing them as a First Early, I’m hoping this won’t be a problem.

I have also received my seed for Purple Majesty. An early maincrop, this is the first year (I believe) that it has been available to buy as seed. Last year, I just bought a packet of eating potatoes from the supermarket and planted those. I was not impressed by them as an eating potato from the supermarket but, grown on my plot and eaten fresh they were delicious and apparently, full of anti-oxidents.

Do have a look at an absolutely excellent site for information on most, if not all, varieties of potatoes (certainly they have listed all varieties I have looked up and many, many more) – The British Variety Database [Potato Council] – http://varieties.potato.org.uk/.  It gives information on the growing properties, resistance to pests and diseases, uses in cooking and origin – brilliant!

My potatoes are chitting well in the mean cardboard boxes I have provided for them. I am most envious of the Christmas present my daughter gave to my son – proper, purpose made, wooden, potato chitting crates. Their only drawback was that he then had to transport these bulky items from London to Newcastle by train – bless! There is always next Christmas !

I see it is now raining again. I’m glad I went to my plot early. An interesting aside – this year has been so mild, my rose bushes and those of my neighbour are still flowering!

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