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DIARY 2010
 
As this will be my 20th year on the plot my aim now is to continue to produce
a good variety of crops throughout the year but with the least amount of effort (if that is possible)
allowing me to take a little time out to sit back and relax. Any tips and advice very welcome.
Pleasecomments@saundersallotment.co.uk
 
JANUARY,
 
2009 ended with the plot being flooded once again. It will be impossible to get on the ground for some time yet but in the meantime I have taken delivery of another load of manure which has been put in the compost bins to rot down ready for the Spring mulching. January is not a good time to be sowing many seeds as the light levels are so low at this time of the year and seedlings will only become leggy but onions can be sown in a cold greenhouse now if you can give them maximum light but I prefer to leave mine till early March.
A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
12th Hampshire Potato Day. Sat 30th & Sun 31st January 2010. 10am - 3pm. at Testbourne Community Centre, Micheldever Road, Whitchurch
Entry adults £2, accompanied children free.
For more information http://www.potatoday.org/
 
Second week and we are now in the grip of the 'Big Freeze'. Water unable to drain away is now frozen solid. I am able to pick sprouts, leeks, carrots, swede and celeriac but parsnips are impossible to dig and will have to wait till the ground has thawed.
. .
24th of the month and now since the thaw we have had more heavy rain the plot is flooded again. I have rescued most of the remaining crops which just leaves the leeks as they are on slightly higher ground.
 
FEBRUARY
 
The month has started with the flood waters receding but the ground is still saturated. I have been able to make some headway in clearing the spent crops and generally clearing up. Much of the wood edgings are now rotting and need replacing.
Seed potatoes can now be placed in boxes and set in a light but frost free place to chit. Mine are in the greenhouse with a piece of fleece ready should the nights turn cold again. I shall be growing Juliette, a second early and 2 old favourites Foremost and Desiree.
The month ended with yet more heavy rain and ground is now so saturated it will be some weeks before I can get on the soil.
 
MARCH
 
I would normally be thinking about starting off some of the earlier summer vegetables in the greenhouse now but as my plot is so wet I will be much later planting out this year I shall leave most of them for another 2 weeks or so. In the meantime I have set out onion sets into modules and sown peas Greenshaft 5 to a 3" pot. Mid-month I shall be sowing in the cold greenhouse, cabbage 'Golden Acre', Cauli 'Snowball', Kohl Rabi 'Kolibri' , beetroot 'Bolthardy', lettuce 'Little Gem' leeks 'Mamouth Pot'. In gentle heat tomatoes and celeriac. Towards the end of the month if conditions are right I shall sow parsnips and carrots outside.
After waiting more than a year I have now received my new raspberries from Marshalls; pot grown 'Glencoe' clump forming with purple fruits. I will have to delay planting till conditions are better but I hope it will be worth the wait. I will also be planting a new plum tree 'President'.
A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY.
The G.A.H. & G.A. will be holding their Spring Gardening talk on Tuesday 23rd March at HEDCA, Coombe Road Gosport. The guest speaker will be a return visit by Mr. Barry Newman who will talk on 'The Modern Kitchen Garden'. Admission is free to members and £1.00 to non-members. All are very welcome.
 
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