I am told that it has been a cold winter, but March seemed quite warm. We even had lunch on the south facing patio a few times. With sunny days and clear nights there have been some light frosts, but with the asparagus beds protected overnight by fleece there has been virtually no frost damage. We had our first asparagus of the season as a starter for lunch on Sunday 27th March, two weeks earlier than last year when we had our first meal on Sunday 11th April. Picking about every other day we have picked around 2½ lbs in the first week. Now that we have had a few meals I shall let the shoots grow to a minimum of 6 inches before cutting and so get a heavier crop in coming weeks.
The rain last week was very welcome and beneficial to the newly sown seeds. Germination appears to have been good with radish clearly marking the parsnip row with no sign of flea beetle damage so far. Despite the wet week I was able to finish some of the boring tasks I mentioned in my previous blog, in particular:
- The cabbage plot is prepared. The cabbage family seedlings pricked out into 9 cm pots are close to ready for planting out. The summer cauliflower “Candid Charm” which was hardening off on the patio has suffered some frost damage. This happened last year also, without badly affecting the final result. Interestingly the seedlings not put into pots were planted in an open cold frame and are not far behind.
- The runner bean trench is also ready. After a break of a few years I am once again growing the climbing French bean “Hunter”. I have put seeds in a dozen 9cm pots in the greenhouse with the intention of planting out when ready and protecting the plants with bubble-wrap and fleece as necessary with the hope of getting a very early crop, very similar in taste to runner beans. I have also sown seeds of the dwarf French bean “Safari” which will be given the same protection.
- The remains of the manure heap has been moved to an emptied compost bin clearing the broad bean/pea bed to allow the sowing of broad beans to be completed and a further two rows of peas, including half a row of mange tout “Carouby de Mausanne”.
- The shed has been totally tidied. Nets, supports and other things that will be used in the next few weeks have been moved out into the sweet corn cage so there is room once more in the shed and space to fix a new back wall, for which the timber has been purchased. I probably need to stain the new timber before doing the repair.
- The net roof of the fruit cage, rolled up to avoid snow pulling the net down with its weight is back in place. The side nets will be fitted just before the fruit is ready to be picked to allow bees access to the flowers.
- A compost bin has been emptied ready for the remaining bins to be turned.
Four weeks after returning from our winter holiday the hard work has been done and I am looking forward to enjoying the coming summer. We have potatoes, onions and shallots in store, asparagus, leeks, parsnips, spring onions, lambs lettuce, parsley, coriander and rhubarb in the allotment. We could start cutting Spring cabbage this week and purple broccoli will be sprouting soon. Everything we have sown or planted in the allotment looks well and the greenhouse is full of vegetable and flower seedlings.
As I insert the date I note it is time to start a new self-assessment tax return.
4th April 2011
