On Sunday we managed to get a little more work done on the allotment.
Martyn, cut the grass paths for the first time since last September - back at home the lawns had their first cut too. I may be a little too optimistic but, after a drier week, the grass in both locations seemed far less squelchy. I guess that it's tempting fate to hope that we have turned a corner.
Whilst, Martyn was busy wielding his strimmer, I was busy with the loppers and secateurs giving the roses and gooseberries a much belated pruning,
The roses are leafing up quickly and needed a bit of taming
The gooseberries just needed a little trimming to open up the centres of the bushes. Hopefully this will allow air to circulate around the plant and reduce the chance of mildew. Despite pruning every year, for the past two years this treatment hasn't worked. I'm wondering whether the plants are too close to the jostaberries that dwarf them. (By the way although the fruit beds will need some weeding, most of the greenery in the photo above is candytuft that has self seeded).
On some beds the gales, that have plagued us this year, had disturbed much of the weed control fabric and blown the mulch about so time was spent straightening the fabric and remulching.
In the plot greenhouse, the radish, that I sowed last week, has germinated and the overwintered spinach is starting to grow quickly. (Or at least some of it has).
The greengage trees are the first of our plot trees to start to blossom, although the plum and our earliest blueberry have buds on the point of bursting. 
Of course we couldn't visit the plot without coming away with a few goodies.
Included in our haul was the first cut flowers of the season - our first bunch of daffodils.
We picked a batch of leeks which will be frozen and a few sprouts which have probably seen better days.
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| Rudolph on the left and one called just Purple Sprouting Broccoli on the right |
There was plenty of broccoli ready for cutting, despite the ravages of the wood pigeons, it's been one of our best years for PSB.
As we headed home I was surprised when I realised that it was nearly six o' clock - winter really is being pushed aside - isn't it? I just hope that it doesn't fight back!
Stop Press:
Back at home, we had the yearly visitors that we are always looking out for. The frogs are back, and they've been busy.
As we headed home I was surprised when I realised that it was nearly six o' clock - winter really is being pushed aside - isn't it? I just hope that it doesn't fight back!
Stop Press:
Back at home, we had the yearly visitors that we are always looking out for. The frogs are back, and they've been busy.
This week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
Posts
It really does feel like Spring is on its way! Our "pond" (read: overgrown puddle) is full of frogspawn, our cherry is ready to burst into leaf, the sage, chives, parsley are all coming back up... We're looking forward to more sunshine!
ReplyDeleteI've just cut my sages back Dodo, they just kept going all winter
DeleteOur grass is growing but it's still to wet to do anything about it. No blueberry blossoms here yet but the ornamental trees are blooming so it won't be too much longer. Lovely PSB you have there, showing more purple than ours.
ReplyDeleteOnly our earliest blueberry is starting to flower, Dave the others are still sleeping. The broccoli seems more purple now than it was earlier.
DeleteWhat a lovely harvest. Daffodils are so cheery. Spring does seem to be in your area. Hope it persists.
ReplyDeleteThey are, Sue and the perfume in the house is lovely
DeleteYour area is a bit ahead of ours. I am looking forward to some grass growing enough to be mowed. Maybe after this weekend. It is supposed to warm up after a cold spell. We will see. Love seeing your blooms and the new growth.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite pleasant and sunny today< Lisa but will it last?
DeleteOur grass has been cut twice already this year, in between the storms!
ReplyDeleteOurs was really really squelch earlier, Jo
DeleteSpring has sprung there. It is great seeing all of that green. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt’s been quite sunny and pleasant over the last couple of days, Bonnie
DeleteYour roses started to grow, wow Sue.
ReplyDeleteLovely plum blooming.
The plum blossom is really opening well now, Nadezda we just need some busy bees.
DeleteLoving your frog activity, mine all froze when the Beast fro The East hit! We where travelling at the time. Loving all your progress, and harvests. Here's to more dry weather!xxx
ReplyDeleteThat’s a real shame, Dina. I don’t know how much of ours survives the fish but enough must as we have frogs every year.
DeleteOh, you've done so well! Harvesting, seeds sprouting and frogspawn! I hope we get to the plot soon, I really want to do some sowing, but we need to replace the polytunnel first :-{
ReplyDeleteHope that you get your polytunnel sorted, Belinda
DeleteSpring is definitely edging its way in Sue especially today where it has been a beautiful day in the north west. What delicious plump leeks.
ReplyDelete