February was wet. Incredibly wet. Our garden flooded for the first time since we moved in September – apparently in a normal winter it should’ve flooded three times by now – and we went canoeing in the garden, but that’s a different blog post.
The allotment was also v wet in Feb, but because I had done
a lot of prep work before the new year, there hasn’t actually been very much
that has needed doing. I know by now (after 12yrs!) that the winters on this
site are soggy so work needs to be done before winter and then left alone until
spring. And that’s just wot I is doing.
However, saying that, I have done some BIG JOBS at the plot and helped Momma with a couple of things on her plot too. So it has been productive and the plot is now ready for seed sowing from the end of March. I never sow before the middle of March. There’s just no point. This year, I also have no indoor space at home to start seeds so I haven’t done anything and ya know, I’m not panicking or worrying. It’ll all be well.
I have started making toilet roll tube pots and will get
them up to the polytunnel soon and then I can do some seed sowing at the
allotment. Haven’t actually decided what yet, but I’m thinking a mix of flower
seeds and veggits.
So, allotment life in February! Not much happened but the stuff that did happen was BIG. We were due a plot inspection so I rushed to get things done, but as far as I know, the inspection didn’t happen.
Momma P and I moved the polytunnel in January and so I have
now done the path at the side to allow better access to the waterbutts. At some
point I am going to upgrade the butts for bigger ones, so this path defo needed
doing.
We have also done the main path up the middle of the plot. The plan was to have herbs growing between the slabs but the couch grass/mares tail/bindweed/dock/creeping cinquefoil was too powerful, so instead I have lifted the slabs, put down membrane, put slabs on top, then grit in between to make it look BANGTIDY. And it does look well good. Some of the slabs need lifting and levelling a bit, but I’m well pleased with it.
The herbs will be replanted elsewhere. I am going to get mini daffs and crocus to plant alongside the path next winter so it’ll be lined with flowers and make corridors of pollen for the wee beasties and bumbles.
I have also done the guttering on the shed! Wahoo! The piece
I had was second hand and slightly warped so the rain just ran down the side of
the shed, so that came off before christmas and I have been gutterless ever
since. A bit of a bodge job and one joiner piece later, and I have nice
guttering! And a new bespoke butt base for the water butt too. Next little job
is to fashion a lid with chicken wire to stop squirrels or birds going in for a
drink and drowning.
The crocus under the almond tree are glorious. I forgot how many bulbs we transplanted when we moved plots last March, and now they’re all coming up and it’s going to be so colourful in a couple of weeks. We planted bulbs all along the plot boundary to mark MINE.
The bed at the end of the shed has now been planted up with raspberry canes, foxglove, herbs, and a sea holly. I will also plant more things in, direct seed sowing at the start of April. I’m thinking calendula, tagetes, sweet pea, sunflower, and maybe some lobelia to hang over the front.
The chard is still cropping. This was sown last April or May and has survived snow and heavy frosts. I picked a bunch to use in stir fry, and it’s still sat in a cup of water in the kitchen. Keep your leaves in water (doesn’t have to be in the fridge) and it’ll keep them crisp until you’re ready to use them (within a week or so!).
I have also decided that I am definitely getting rid of the polytunnel cover and am going to replace it with enviromesh instead. The cover I have is disintegrating and falling apart, and I don’t use it for hot plants so there isn’t really much need for it, but the enviromesh will allow light, air & water in, but keep bugs out. Haven’t figured out how I’m going to do the door yet though.
My February to do list was this:
· Redo slab path – done
· Put up second arch from
polytunnel
· Buy another arch to make a tunnel
· Put guttering up on shed – done
· Put butt back into place – done
I haven’t put the polytunnel arch back up as I haven’t decided
where it is going yet, and I also haven’t bought more because I spent my money
on bulbs and screenwash instead.
March to do list:
·
Make up toilet roll pots & take to
polytunnel
·
Tidy and sort out pile of crap by compost
·
Tidy and try to organise shed a bit
·
Weed out strawberry & blueberry beds and tidy
·
Start seed sowing! I want more root crops this
year, so LOTS of carrot, parsnip, turnip, swede, and radish. Also more salad. And
more edible flowers.
