We actually managed to put three afternoons work into the plot this week. Amazing!
Our main focus was on bed preparation and tidying. I tackled the perennial bed which needed a bit of weeding and the application of some fertiliser.
Martyn tackled some of the beds that would be needed for our first lot of planting. Weed control fabric was removed and the edges tidied. Once the beds have dried out a bit - there's some overly optimistic thinking - the beds will be dug over and the weed control rotated to the appropriate bed.
As the perennial bed only took me one afternoon, I moved on to the autumn raspberry bed. Martyn had already mulched the row of summer fruiting raspberries. I'm a bit worried about these as they don't like cold waterlogged soil. Our clay soil means that this winter these have just been the sort of conditions that they have had to put up with.
The autumn raspberries were producing shoots on the old canes and around the base of the plants. I know some people leave the old canes so they get fruit in summer and autumn but we don't. I cut the old canes down to the ground and then hoed and fertilised the bed. A mulch will be added later. There seems to be lots of shoots forming so if all survive, I'll cut some out leaving about three canes to each root. Unlike the summer fruiting varieties these shorter canes don't need tying.
Another task was to trim the apple trees. The apple hedge had already been pruned in autumn so just needed a little tidying up.
I also tidied a couple of other fruit beds. The buds on many of the fruit bushes are starting to swell so I hope that we don't have any more harsh frosts to spoil them.
The rhubarb clumps are at various stages of maturity with a couple of early varieties nearly ready for cropping.
The rhubarb clumps are at various stages of maturity with a couple of early varieties nearly ready for cropping.
As we plan another visit to the allotment today - Monday - we didn't do a major harvest, not that there is a massive amount to harvest at the moment. We did however, bring home a good picking of sprouts which were shared with my sister and still had some left. I'd hate for you to think that we ate all of these in one sitting.
I hope this small harvest qualifies as this week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
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It feels nice to be able to get on and "do stuff", doesn't it? I'm so lucky that the soil on my new plot is light, sandy and free-draining. I wonder if I will have to do a lot of watering in the Summer though? How many canes do you leave on each of your Summer-fruiting Raspberries? Is it 3, like the Autumn ones?
ReplyDeleteI aim for three, Mark but if there are four strong canes I’ll probably go for four. It depends whether that would crowd them on the wires where I tie them in.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good weekend wasn't it Sue especially yesterday. I got to my plot too though I'm sure that I didn't do as much work as you :)
ReplyDeleteWe had another afternoon there today, Anna. Martyn managed to rotivate the beds that we need to plant up first so all we need now is for the weather to hold so we can plant onion sets and early potatoes.
DeleteI'm sure it felt good to get to the plot and get some work done. Your sprout harvest is definitely bigger than mine this week!
ReplyDeleteIt was, Dave we felt that we had started to get somewhere at last. There are still some little sprouts to pick.
DeleteIt looks like spring is on its way in your area, it's nice to see all those buds on your fruit bushes. Your sprouts look nice and big.
ReplyDeleteWe've been getting lots of rain, so it'll be awhile before we can get the garden tilled.
Only small sprouts are left now Phuong. The weather still can't really make up its mind so we have to grab our chances to garden when we can - it;s raining today so the tolling was just in the nick if time.
DeleteI really need to visit England in March! It looks fabulous! We still have snow, so I'm a tad jealous that you are already in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI still had four layers of clothing on, Bonnie, I reckon April may is when our spring is at its best.
DeleteIt's great to finally get going, isn't it? I managed about 18 hours on our plot last week, although most of it was path-laying and midden-digging, it's still long-awaited progress.
ReplyDeleteThat rhubarb looks nice and healthy. Timperley Early?
The variety furthest ahead is Timperley Early, Darren. It was good to get going we had another afternoon on the plot yesterday so now beds are prepared to get onion sets and potatoes planted.
DeleteAwesome update Sue is nice to get going again thank you for sharing and blessing to Martyn and yourself
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda
DeleteI'm amazed at how much you have achieved given the awful weather. I'm well behind so am hoping for a little sunshine. At least I have seed potatoes! xxx
ReplyDeleteBasically that was just the three fine afternoons.
ReplyDeleteLucky you, having some good gardening weather - looks like you have made a good dent in your chores. We are in for a couple of good days as well - perhaps even starting this afternoon. I'm looking forward to getting out there!
ReplyDeleteIt made up for the better weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, Margaret. Now we are hoping Thursday is kinder.
DeleteAn impressive three days work Sue. Do you find the membrane keeps the soil wetter than when it is not used? I managed to get a mornings work tiding the Allotment I share with our daughter.
ReplyDeleteIt does a bit, Brian as there is less evaporation which is why we leave it off for a few days when we are preparing for planting. In the growing season this is a good thing.
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