Trees, Birds, Compost & Chitting

Catching what time I can outside when the weather allows. It seems time is, as always, in short supply but at least the days are longer and dusk falls later every day. Weather unseasonably warm heralds an early spring.

Spreading Compost

Compost Spread by Brassica Tunnel

Compost Spread by the Brassica Tunnel

I’d got a pile of compost from the bins and the chicken run by the brassica cage. To the sides were left a few Swedes and some leeks planted through weed matting. Lifted those and then spread the compost out.

The soil / compost is now level with the path rather than a step down. I didn’t break up the soil prior to spreading the compost. The plan is that 21 square metre area will get potatoes and I’ll use the Mantis to draw trenches which will be cultivation enough.

Chitting

Chitting Casablanca Potatoes in the Porch

Normally I’d have trays of potatoes chitting in the potting shed but not this year. Rather than have all the seed potatoes in one go, I’ve had the first early Casablanca delivered but the rest are coming next month. Splitting delivery dates is a clever idea.

The one tray I’ve got chitting at the moment is in our unheated front porch. It’s cool and light but doesn’t get too cold there. When the rest arrive I’ll set them up to chit in the potting shed as usual. But that means I need to tidy up in there.. How does it get in such a mess?

Trees, Birds, Fleece

Fleeced Raised Bed

Fleeced Raised Bed – it’s not neat but you try putting fleece on on a windy day on your own!

Since we moved here we’ve planted a lot of trees. We’ve chopped a few down, generally those likely to fall over due to age or rot. Overall, we have dozens of trees now and the oldest are becoming substantial enough to provide shelter and homes for birds.

Our neighbours have planted far more than us – they have more land anyway – and their trees are much the same. Plus they encourage birds by feeding them. We don’t since our cats find a bird table too tempting.

It’s surprising the positive difference we’ve made to the local ecology. There are far more birds about than when we came and a wider range of species. I’ve even spotted some pigeons which is surprising as they are a tempting target for the buzzards. But there is a negative to this.

The last few years we’ve had to net our redcurrants or the birds will have the lot. Now they’ve started going for the shallots and garlic. The pattern is that they pull them up but they don’t like the taste, so they leave them and try the next. The moment I saw the recently planted shallots just lying on the surface, I knew what was going on.

I’ve laid horticultural fleece over the 4M bed by the polytunnel and will have to do the same with the 2M bed before the garlic shows. Irritating but a small price to pay for improving the world a little.

Posted in Allotment Garden Diary

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March 2024
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