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The first frost ...

For those who have just joined us, we have been 'renovating' an old allotment since mid summer. It has been an enormous task: removing old nettles, bushes, trees and lots of buried rubbish.

There is still about 5% left to clear and dig, with the last 20% very hard going removing old tree roots.

The soil appears to be excellent and we were just in time to plant some over-wintering Japanese onions, some garlic, broccoli, leeks and cabbages.

I had thought the cabbages were a spring variety, but they have come on so fast that we are eating them already. I suspect they are really a late autumn variety because the recent frost has affected them.

We have also replanted some raspberries which seem to have taken quite well, so we will see how they produce next year

The recent heavy rain has waterlogged the ground somewhat so it will be important to get the side ditch dug out as soon as possible, to allow for drainage. Two nights of heavy frost penetrated the ground, and whilst this is good for breaking up soil it makes it impossible to dig.

Between now and the end of February is a quiet time for planting, and whilst many books advocate planting such things as broad beans, shallots and onions the advice received on these allotments is not to rush things. We a in rather a frost 'pocket' which could see off new growth, and with the ground waterlogged it is likely that rot could be a problem.

So, for the next two months efforts will be made to complete the digging and start on making the raised beds (where possible) so that we are ready for a March / April take off for planting.

Hopefully in the next month the order will be placed for seeds etc. and I will let you know what we have purchased.

See you next month.

Bryan

 

Posted 12th December 2005