Yesterday, t’was the first visit of the 2014 to my haven – plot26A …and even in it’s soggy; stagnant stage I love the allotment at this time of year. I love the “tidy”, dominant, weed-free beds, which are covered in manure and I especially love the expectancy and making plans at this point in the year.
Got a few things crossed off my to-do list and even added a few tasks along the way.
FILLED POOH-CORNER
“Pooh corner” as we affectionately nicknamed it is a piece of reclaimed land. When we first got plot26a it was covered in couch grass and other nasty weeds – and we had no where to put them.
However, at the end of the plot there was large compost bed so we dumped all our waste in that, covered it with weed-proof membrane and began to fill it with manure – lots of manure – but because it drops every year it has to be topped with matter from the compost heap – it’s a back breaking job – but worth it – cause we’re hoping to grow pumpkin/squash there again and we all know they’re hungry beasts.
COVER FRUIT AND POOH CORNER IN ASHES.
In my new home we have a log burner – and I like to light fires :O) therefore there’s always lots of ash to use on the plot. Wood ash may contain useful levels of potassium – a major plant nutrient associated with flowering and fruiting.
If applying wood ash directly to soils, do this in winter. This will allow the compounds in the ash which could scorch plants to react with the moist soil and be rendered harmless before spring sowing or planting.
Wood ashes make a great addition to the compost heap, where they’ll aid fertility (most of the nutrients needed by plants are contained in them to some degree). HOWEVER, ADVICE FROM OTHERS WOULD SUGGEST you don’t add them all at once as they are alkaline and raising the pH too much will affect the bacteria and those lovely worms at work. It’s better to keep the ash in a nearby container and sprinkle on a layer every so often.
TENDED TO PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI AND FIXED THE MAKE-SHIFT BRASSICA CAGES.
I struggle with growing brassicas. Never seem to grow a decent sized cabbage and even, the reliable radish rarely wants to pop up on plot26A – However, the first year we got plot26a we grew PSB and we fell in love with the stuff. It a beast of a veg. It tastes delicious and its hardy and overwintered for harvest in spring, filling the gap between sprouts and spring cabbage. (For those, who unlike me,can actually grow brassicas).
As you can see from the photo it’s not exactly sprouting at the moment – someone suggested it might not have been cold enough. Oh, well… it’s got a month or two before it’s destined to be on my plate. In the meantime, it has a rather aspirational new cage to grow into.
…despite it’s stunted growth – the PSB is now housed in a more secure (fingers crossed) sparkly new home. Hopefully, it will feel inspired to fill it.
…In true allotment style – the cage is made from free materials. A few years ago a rather generous chap on Twitter sent me a huge roll of that green netting and (thankfully) a local carpenter drops of his off-cuttings of wood every so often.
Actually thinking about it, …there’s always a huge pile of horse manure, a pile of wood chippings, wood for building, water on tap …we’re quite lucky really – especially when I read some folk can’t even have a shed on their plot.
TEND TO AUTUMN SOWN BROAD BEAN
I have lots of success with autumn sown broad beans. This time of year they may look knarly and twisted but believe me – an early sowing gives you a long harvesting period. (I will sow another row in Mar/April).
…out of the 16 seeds I have sown – 14 have popped their heads out of the ground :O)
I’m looking forward to that glut! :O]
dirty hands are good for the soul …
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It will be a fortnight before another visit, by which time I hope to:
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draw up sowing calendar
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swap seeds with other Internet folk (Facebook)
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start parsnips (from old seeds) in cardboard
Plot it :O)
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