On Sunday we popped to the allotment - on the way there we nearly turned back as the inevitable happened - it started to rain. We decided to hope that the rain was part of the showers that were forecast and would pass over. We were in luck!
Our aim was to plant up a few crates in the greenhouse and whilst, Martyn prepared the crates for planting, I took the opportunity to clip over the lavender bed. Lavender becomes really straggly unless this is done every year.
We planted up three crates, in the first I sowed three rows of carrots; the variety is Aron which is described as 'a half long stumpy variety' that does well in clay soil. It will be given the chance to prove the latter statement when we eventually sow some outside.
Between the rows of carrots, I sowed a couple of rows of Multicoloured Breakfast Radish.
The other two crates were each planted with two early potato tubers, one with Casablanca and the other with International Kidney. We intend to plant up another two containers later.
At the end of last season I sowed a crate of spinach which, after germination, had been in a state of suspended animation but it is now starting to grow.
Two of the crates that we used still housed the remnants of last years crops. When they were emptied we retrieved a few spring onions and some very small beetroots which may or may not prove usable.
I also picked a good helping of sprouting broccoli from our Rudolph plants.
Just before we were ready to head for home, another shower arrived but not before we had a coffee break and a chat with our plot neighbour.
Earlier in the week, in our garden greenhouse, Martyn sowed some parsley and All Year Round lettuce.
The trays have been placed under a propagator lid for extra protection - not just to provide a smidgen higher temperature but protect from the mice that regularly dig up seeds .
Last year we redesigned some parts of our garden. Under one of our crab apple trees we planted native primroses, tete a tete narcissi, snowdrops and English bluebells. The snowdrops are over now and the bluebells have yet to make an appearance, but the tete a tete and the primroses are creating a pretty display that should get better and better as the plants bulk out.
Another bed that was renovated last year was one containing one of our bird baths. The bed is outside one of our house windows so we like it to have all year round interest. Spring bulbs are giving a display at the moment but in summer we will plant some summer flowering plants such as impatiens or pansies. With this in mind, the tete a tete daffodils are planted in pots which are set into the soil. When the bulbs have finished flowering the pots can be lifted and popped in a corner of the garden to leave planting pockets for the summer residents. The pots can be replanted in autumn when those plants fade.
The blackbirds aren't letting the weather stop them from nest building; each year they pull the 'hairy bits' from the trachycarpus and certainly leave their mark on the trunk of the plant. You can see from the photo below just how high they reach. So far the damage doesn't seem to upset the palm.
Well that's it for now - at least we feel that we have made a start albeit a very small one.
This week I am linking to harvest Monday hosted on
Dave's blog Our Happy Acres
Posts
It's good to get those first seeds of the new season sown, the busy time will be upon us before we know it.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly will , Jo just hope the soil soon dries out enough
DeleteOnward and upward. My garden waste bin is full already and they haven't even sent out the start date yet! I am afraid we will need to become more adaptable to the weather as I have been reading lately.
ReplyDeleteI remember several years ago being told that we would have to grow drought tolerant plants, Deborah and see where we are now.
DeleteSteady as she goes - spring is definitely building up steam!
ReplyDeleteI hope that the steam is as a result of the sunshine drying the saturated soil, Mal
DeleteLovely spring flowers in your garden, they're looking very pretty. Great that you got a few jobs done down at the plot. I haven't tackled much in the garden yet. I want to sow some tomatoes soon though, and artichokes too, which I want to grow in the garden, partly for the bees.
ReplyDeleteWe won’t be sowing tomatoes just yet CJ
DeleteSuch an exciting time of year. Reading that you have planted carrots reminded me of the following poem. I thought you might like it.
ReplyDeletea poem by James Bertolino
Carrot
The carrot says
don’t be confused
by appearances.
My lacy green
friendship with air
gives me the confidence
to make demands
of dirt. Consider me
a prospector probing
with my own gold.
Such a good idea about keeping the Tete Tete daffodils in pots. My poor little Tete Tetes get moved around so much in the garden beds. They keep on blooming. Tough little beauties.
I hope that our carrots get probing, Lisa
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa,
ReplyDeleteA new gardening app called SASHA provoked much interest among growers and landscapers at the Hartford and Philadelphia Flower shows.
SASHA (Sun and Shade Analyzer) quickly and easily determines the average hours of direct sunlight at any location where one can grow a plant.
I would like to tell you more about SASHA and arrange for you to evaluate it. Please reply to me by conventional e-mail so that I can send you more information and get your feedback.
Thanks,
George
I remember when you were planting out the flower beds. Thanks for sharing the photos. As always the PSB is enviable.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure
DeleteMore rain here too on yesterday. I don't know when our soil will be dry enough to plant anything. As for mice digging up seeds, we had one in our basement that was doing it and other damage to seedlings. It's gone now, and hopefully there aren't any others down there. It's always something!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid in our case it is mice rather than mouse, Dave. I think our planting season will be much delayed.
DeleteI have been looking at a few pots of little daffies this afternoon Sue thinking maybe I should plant them permanently in the ground but may have a rethink after reading your post. An excellent idea to pop them in and then lift once they have flowered. Thanks for the tip. It's great to be sowing seeds again 😄
ReplyDeleteI just hope that It works, Anna
DeleteAlways good to see the first seeds being sown. I planted up a couple of large pots with parsnips and carrots too, the first time I've done so, it will be interesting seeing how they get on. Good that you are still harvesting.xxx
ReplyDelete