Welcome to a new gardening
season down on the plot.
2007 was quite a challenge
for me; I wonder what 2008 will hold?
JANUARY
The year has started cold and damp. I still have a few
repair jobs to do. The shed window needs replacing after yet
more break-ins. I have planted out a new strawberry bed with
bare-rooted plants. 'Marshmello' and an old variety 'Royal Sovereign'.
Erected the posts and wires and prepared the ground well in readiness
for the plum tree 'Bounty' I have ordered from Suttons which
should be delivered in February. This I intend to train as an
espalier. Most of the winter vegetables are coming to an end
now but I still have sprouts 'Oliver Fl' to harvest, leeks a
few celeriac and winter cabbage 'Tundra'. The purple sprouting
should start producing spears from mid-February onwards. It is
far too early for me to be sowing seeds yet in the greeenhouse.
The light levels are too low this time of the year. March will
be soon enough.
The daffys are beginning to show through so Spring cannot
be far away.
As there are now many excellent gardening forums on the
internet I have decided to discontinue the Questions and Answers
and the Forum page as from January 2008. One forum I always enjoy
visiting for helpful friendly advice is the Kitchen
Garden Magazine forum but you can also find many other forums
via my Links page.
I will of course be only too pleased to answer any of
your questions if I can; or if you have any comments to make
please me.
A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
10th Hampshire Potato Day will be
held on Sat 26 & Sun 27 January 2008. 10am - 3pm at the Testbourne
Community Centre, Micheldever Road, Whitchurch. For more details
go to http://thewhitchurchweb.org/potatoday/index.htm
FEBRUARY
After a very wet January the soil
is beginning to drain but it is still too wet to get on to do
any digging. I have been making good use of the drier days by
topping up the paths with wood chippings and refilling the compost
bins with more manure and keeping on top of the weeding as the
mild wet conditions have kept them growing.
Although still too early to be sowing
seeds I have put a few onion sets 'Red Baron' and 'Sturon' in
modules in the greenhouse; reserving most of them to plant out
in March. Seed potatoes can now be laid out in modules or egg
boxes to chit. Keeping them in a light frost free place.
Keep an eye on any fruit and vegetables
in store now for any that are rotting. Onions in particular will
start to shoot now and need using quickly.
MARCH
A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
The G.A.H. & G.A. will be holding
their Spring Talk on Tuesday 11th March at HEDCA, Coombe Road.
Gosport at 7.30 pm. We are pleased to welcome Mr. Right to give
a talk on 'Fruit and Vegetables on the allotment'. Admission
is free to members and just £1.00 to non members Light
freshments included. Everyone is welcome.
Back on the plot March is the beginning
of the growing season but it is best to be cautious and take
into account the weather and conditions before sowing or planting
outside just yet. The soil could still be quite cold unless you
have kept it covered. Onion sets can be planted out now using
a trowl (don't push them in) so their tips are just below the
surface to avoid the birds pulling them out and I will be sowing
the first parsnips 'White King'. These can take up to 6 weeks
to germinate. For now I shall be content to get started in my
cold greenhouse making the first early sowings of leeks, cabbage,
cauliflower, lettuce spring onions, beetroot and peas; using
my old favourites; and with some gentle heat tomatoes and peppers.
I am trying a new bush variety 'Pepolino' tomatoe this year as
well as 'Red Alert'.
On the fruit plot the plum and cherry
blossom is about the break. The buds are fat and pink and with
all the bulbs now out I feel Spring has finally arrived. We have
welcomed many new plotholders to our site; it is good to see
it such a hive of activity once again.
16th of the month and the
plot has really taken a battering in the strong gales and heavy
rain that has swept the country. The Purple Sprouting has stood
well and there is plenty to harvest now. The soil is saturated
so will take a little time to drain and dry out again before
I shall atempt to plant the first potatoes or the early carrots.
Carrots I find like to have a warm soil to germinate well. In
the meantime there is still plenty to do in the greenhouse. Early
sowings of tomatoes, peppers, cauli, and cabbage have germinated
and now need pricking out into 3" pots. I shall continue
to sow, kohl rabi, squashes and courgettes and now many annual
flowers can be sown. French Marigolds, Statice, Rudbeckia, Cineraria,
Asters and the hardy perennial Coriopsis and Heliopsis.
The last 2 weeks of the month haven't been much better
and the plot is still very wet but I have managed to get the
first of the potatoes planted.
Taken delivery of another load of manure and decided to
add another section to my new compost bin rather than try and
repair another exisiting one.
APRIL
Spring has arrived at last; peas
'Hurst Green Shaft' and beetroot 'Bolthardy' are ready in the
greenhouse for planting out now but with the threat of more cold
weather on it's way I shall delay for another week or so but
I have made a start on the main crop potatoes now, Desiree, Maris
Piper and Pink Fir Apple.
On the fruit plot I am mulching
both strawberry beds well with the compost from the old bin which
when empty I shall demolish.
April 'Wonderland'
12th of the month and thankfully
the snow didn't last very long and these last few days I have
been able to plant out the peas and first beetroot from modules.
Sown the first carrots 'Nantes' and spring onion 'White Lisbon'.
I have finished emptying and demolished the old compost bin.
Given the potatoes a thick mulch with compost. This should now
be enough for them not to need any more earthing up.
In the greenhouse I have had problems
germinating cabbage and kohl rabi so I have made further sowings
of both; sown the first french beans 'Sprite' in 3" pots
and fennel 'F1 Rudy' in modules. Celeriac and leeks are now big
enough for pricking out into modules.
29th - It has been such an up and
down month weatherwise it has been difficult to know when to
plant out and when not to. The parsnips germinated but then something
munched them and I have had to re-sow. Carrots failed to germinated,
soil too cold and wet I think so I have made further sowings.
I have planted out the caulis under fleece to prevent an attack
from the flea beetle and added a cage of netting to deter badgers,
foxes etc. I do have a serious problem with the badgers now fouling
my soil. If anyone can offer me some solution I would be very
pleased to hear from you.
On the 'up' side I have had a superb
crop of purple sprouting this year which is coming to an end
now but I have starting harvesting the new seasons asparagus
and tender young rubharb.
In the greenhouse I have potted
on the tomatoes and peppers into 6" pots; continued to prick
out seedlings and made further sowings of lettuce 'Dazzle' and
'Tin Tin' both Little Gem types. Pak Choi, Kohl Rabi and Beetroot.
MAY
With the start of the bank holiday
week-end being warm and dry at last there is lots to catch up
on the plot. Still with the added protection of some fleece I
have planted out the first Kohl Rabi and Fennel. Also squashes
Turks Turban and Butternut; 2 yellow courgettes F1 Jemmer and
the round one F1 Floridor. Both of these make compact bushes
but are very heavy croppers. Weeds are starting to grow away
again so now is the time to hoe as much vacant ground as possible
before they get a chance to take hold.
On the fruit plot it is time to
be thinking about hanging the Pheromone Traps in apple and plum
trees. Make sure any grease bands that have been applied are
free from any debri. Check fruit canes are securely tied in to
take the weight of the coming fruit.
A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY is Sunday 11th May for the Bring and Buy Plant
and Gardening Sale to be held at Elson Allotments from 10.00
am. Steve will be on site on the Saturday beforehand to take
in anything you have to sell for just a 10% donation towards
the G.A.H. & G.A. funds or bring anything you have on the
day.
Tea and cakes will be available.
Why not come and bag a bargain.
8th of the month and the weather
really has turned very warm and seems set to last for a few days
yet. I have taken a chance and planted out the tomatoes.'Ferline',
'Spanish Beef', 'Gardeners Delight', Tropical Ruby' and 2 bush
ones 'Red Alert' an old favourite and a new one to try 'Pepolino'.
The new lettuce 'Dazzle is proving to be a very eye-catching
deep glossy red. Much admired. I am now planting out the bedding,
French Marigolds etc. as and when I have time. For a selection
of photos taken on the 7th click
here
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me.
