Clearing & Sowing

We’ve had quite a busy week outdoors in this fine weather. At home the garden has been restored to order, which was no little task this year. It’s been a very harsh winter by modern standards and we’ve lost a number of plants, especially those in pots that are always a bit more vulnerable to cold weather.

The bushes were attempting to start their own jungle, so much clipping and pruning and the lawn had decided to grow over the paths and patio. It’s amazing how much better a lawn looks for neat edges.

The fun job was jet-washing the dirt and lichen off the patio. The patio ends up clean but the dirt splashes all over the windows and back door, so another cleaning job. The home greenhouse got a good going over as well.

Sowed a load from tomatoes and cucumbers (almost too late really) to squash and pumpkins, cabbage, calabrese and cauliflowers. Those needing warmth are happily sprouting in our Vitopod Propagator and the Quadruple Propagator.

Outside we’ve cut and come again salads in pots and leeks in a large trough.  One small problem is our youngest cat is convinced these are actually outdoor toilets so have to be covered with mesh until they’re covered with plants. She actually used a window box the other day.. bless.

We do keep an area of soil clear and loose for the cats in the border, a weekly chore removing the poo but they’ve got to go somewhere.

Back onto the allotment. The plots were both looking a right mess so decided to tackle plot 29 first and then move on to plot 5.  Hoeing off the weeds only took half a day. It’s surprising how much you can get done with a hoe used properly. Incidentally, if you’ve not been shown there’s a video on using a hoe on the site.

I’d got two large plastic compost bins and they were emptied and spread over the beds along with the remaining compost from the permanent bins. These were on the plot when I took it over and are about three feet wide and five foot deep with corrugated iron sides.

If you’re building a compost bin, don’t go for that depth. Beyond three feet from front to back it is really difficult to turn or dig out the compost. Still, it’s a big job to re-do the bins I inherited so they’ll wait another year.

The shallots and garlic were looking pretty good, although a bit dry. It’s unusual to have to water in April, but there you go. Of course, watering them was enough to change the weather and we had some pretty heavy showers on Sunday.

Having weeded and spread the compost on the three main beds, the next job was to rotovate. Apart from a small patch on one bed, I’d not got around to digging over last year but running over and over with the Merry Tiller got the soil cultivated.

Next job is to finally get my potatoes planted. Yes I know I’m really late! But they’re well chitted early potatoes so I should have them ready late June. Then get plot 5 into order which will take me a few days. Must remember to take the camera and get some photos…