Sowing Curcubits in the Potting Shed

Rain didn’t stop play but it sure changed the plans!

Having
brought a nasty head cold back from holiday, I wasn’t feeling brilliant
in the morning despite the sun. Soon the pills kicked in and around to
the site, which was quite busy.

Plan was to lay some weed fabric (1 metre wide) across plot 5 to start warming the soil for tomatoes and courgettes.

First
to the allotment rep’s plot where a polytunnel is being erected. Seems
to be much more to them than I had guessed. After a brief chat we were
sheltering in his shed as the sky opened with claps of thunder. Not so
much rain as a half hour power shower.

The site resembled a selection of paddy fields. The soil was completely sodden.

So, picked a handful of radishes – my first crop this year! – and back home.

Not
to waste the bank holiday, decided to sort out my seeds. It’s always a
problem recalling what has been sown, what is to be sown etc. I leaned
towards the spreadsheet then thought of an answer. I have a portable
filing box, which I have labeled January, February etc with the
‘popular’ months split into 2 sections. I then sorted the seeds into
their sowing months and with successional sowings, I can move the seeds
forward each month.

Then to the shed where I sowed
sweetcorn Early King into both pots and root trainers. Re-sowed some
courgette Black Beauty as the previous ones are very leggy.

The squash, Sunburst F1 had failed to germinate in the propogator so trying some just in pots in the greenhouse.

Cucumber Burpless Tasty Green, which is a reliable outdoor cropper and Tasty King F1 an indoor/outdoor variety.

Marrow Green Bush F1 in pots – just 4 as I don’t need too many.

Finally sowed a 15 module seed tray with lettuce Lollo Rosso.

Placed an order with N A Kays for some pots etc. You can request a catalogue online which is easier than trying to navigate their site.

Perhaps a few days of fine weather will arrive.