We certainly got our comeuppance last week for all the progress made during the period of good weather at the beginning of the year. March has started off very wet and windy curtailing any more progress on the allotment.
The poor weather may have deterred us from working outdoors but it didn't deter our annual amphibian visitation which I posted about here.
We have thankfully got away without serious damage. A skeleton cold frame was mysteriously blown from one bed to another. We were rather bemused by this as we couldn't understand how the frame would offer enough wind resistance for it to be moved such a distance. An old wheelbarrow full of soil, which I couldn't move without emptying it, was blown over and some pieces of weed control fabric were flapping in the wind but the only other noticeable wind casualty was that someone's empty dalek type composter arrived on our plot. I'm guessing this was retrieved as it has now disappeared.
There was more evidence of wind activity at one of our local garden centres where lots of pots of shrubs had been blown over.
We managed to visit the plot on a couple of afternoons to carry out a couple of tasks that the weather conditions haven't ruled out. The first was to plant some early Casablanca potatoes in tubs. For the time being they will stay in the plot greenhouse.
Two seed potatoes have been planted in each of three crates. More details can be viewed here. Our other potatoes are still chitting in the garden greenhouse which is where they will remain until the beginning of next month.
The lettuce seeds sown last week have germinated...
... and the brassicas potted on last week are starting to cheer up.
The garlic that I planted earlier in the year is now sending up strong shoots...
... and the English bluebells have started to put on a growth spurt.
We have sown our first lot of broad bean seeds. We don't sow any to overwinter.
On Sunday we managed to give our allotment shed a good clean up. We use it as a refuge when the weather is poor and sit inside for our coffee breaks so we like it to be fairly clean and tidy.
That is about all the weather would allow us to do. The most important plot activity was to fit in a harvesting session on Monday before the really nasty weather set in.
The earliest of our rhubarb was also ready for us to start pulling a few stems.
We harvested some fairly small beetroot, that were planted fairly late, but they were plenty big enough to be worth harvesting. Martyn used one in a loaf of bread that he made.
The parsnips are starting to grow, they also have a bit of canker but the canker is only skin deep and the roots have not yet become woody so until they are no longer fit for the kitchen we will keep on cropping them.
We picked another red cabbage which was braised and some of it frozen. I also used some thinly shredded in a batch of curried coleslaw.
What could be more cheering during a generally, gloomy week than a bunch of freshly cut daffodils.
Finally here is our almost complete harvest posing for a group photograph. Can you spot what is missing?
The poor weather may have deterred us from working outdoors but it didn't deter our annual amphibian visitation which I posted about here.
We have thankfully got away without serious damage. A skeleton cold frame was mysteriously blown from one bed to another. We were rather bemused by this as we couldn't understand how the frame would offer enough wind resistance for it to be moved such a distance. An old wheelbarrow full of soil, which I couldn't move without emptying it, was blown over and some pieces of weed control fabric were flapping in the wind but the only other noticeable wind casualty was that someone's empty dalek type composter arrived on our plot. I'm guessing this was retrieved as it has now disappeared.
We managed to visit the plot on a couple of afternoons to carry out a couple of tasks that the weather conditions haven't ruled out. The first was to plant some early Casablanca potatoes in tubs. For the time being they will stay in the plot greenhouse.
On Sunday we managed to give our allotment shed a good clean up. We use it as a refuge when the weather is poor and sit inside for our coffee breaks so we like it to be fairly clean and tidy.
That is about all the weather would allow us to do. The most important plot activity was to fit in a harvesting session on Monday before the really nasty weather set in.
At last we have managed to grow some purple sprouting broccoli and keep it alive long enough for it to start sprouting, so harvesting some shoots from our first plant was a major highlight of the week.
We harvested some fairly small beetroot, that were planted fairly late, but they were plenty big enough to be worth harvesting. Martyn used one in a loaf of bread that he made.
The parsnips are starting to grow, they also have a bit of canker but the canker is only skin deep and the roots have not yet become woody so until they are no longer fit for the kitchen we will keep on cropping them.
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No sign of any Hungry Gap round your way then, Sue! I'm planning to plant the first of my spuds this week too. They will be in containers, under cover. Note to self: must remember to weight-down with bricks the plastic greenhouses that will host those spuds...
ReplyDeleteOur hungry gap tends to be around May, Mark but there will be plenty in the freezer
DeleteNasty old wind, it bites, doesn't it? But from my point of view everything looks so tasty. Curried coleslaw and beet bread? Never heard of either. But you've got rhubarb. Yummeeee.....
ReplyDeleteIt really does, Jane the woolly bonnet was out. We really like curried coleslaw.
DeleteLovely Harvest!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Endah
DeleteYour PSB plant looks bigger than mine, and I see lots of side shoots. I have a few but not nearly as many. The wind can do some funny things. I once came home and found my cold frame had blown from the front of the house and was at least 25 yards away on the back of the house. It did have a cover and sides though and I guess once the wind picked it up it started rolling.
ReplyDeleteIf the cold frame had a cover I could understand it, Dave but I can't understand how a bare frame would blow away. The PSB is a treat.
DeleteSuch an amazing harvest so early in the year! Those cabbages look perfect.
ReplyDeleteWe were quite pleased with our haul, Margaret.
DeleteSuch a wonderful harvest, jealous of your purple sprouting broccoli! It's the same here, wet and blustery, how I loathe the wind!xxx
ReplyDeleteThe PSB is a treat this year, Dina. I hate the wind too.
DeleteYummy. This all looks good.
ReplyDeleteAnd all gone now, Lisa
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