New season spinach

Today I called over to water the tunnel and see if any seeds have germinated. It was hot as hell in there but still quite damp as not really sunny.  No joy on the germination front yet, but the new spinach was ready for a delicious first picking of baby leaves. So tender and delightfully mild and just in time as last years has started to bolt. Harvested what I could from the old stuff, and, determined not to waste any I de-stalked it and threw it in a chilli. Ab fab!

The remaining old plants have gone on the compost heap.
Meanwhile, I had to photograph the incredibly lush and verdant parsley as it looks so heavenly. 
Really must harvest and freeze some soon.

Suddenly Spring's here and there's everything to do!

Spring has appeared rather suddenly and although there's not exactly a heat wave going on, the soil has definitely warmed and seeds are germinating rapidly.  Yesterday I realised there was an awful lot to do and it all needs doing right now.  Luckily it was a sunny day and although I didn't make it over there til later in the afternoon, I feel like lots has been achieved.

The peppers and tomatoes which had been growing in seed trays on my windowsill needed potting up:

Seeds galore needed planting, so in pots I sowed yellow courgettes, sweetcorn, two different types of squashes - turks turban and pink banana, and cucumbers.

Meanwhile I had a small army of 11 year old boys digging a potato patch.  Friends arrived and kept me company while I worked, then the big gun arrived in the form of my husband and his machine-like digging technique, ensuring that we got those potatoes planted. 

These five rows of potatoes look rather like I've murdered my family...

I had planted my onion sets last weekend and earlier in the week had painstakingly planted out each individual onion grown from seed - about 100 of the buggers... like planting blades of grass, but will be interested to see how they come on compared to the onion sets.

I've sown salad leaves and chard in the tunnel, and the spinach and carrots are looking good already.

I've had my third picking from last year's spinach which is just starting to bolt as the new stuff comes.

I'm inundated with last years' parsley and have given it away to local eateries, but really should try chopping and freezing some before it goes to seed.

Nice to have company when working at the allotment.  Specially when they bring you a refreshing can of cider to drink companionably with them while discussing the produce.

The tunnel looking good with carrots and spinach and parsley and last years spinach closest to camera

Apparently parsnips need to be sowed well before the soil warms up because their germination depends on the temperature being cold, so I got my parsnip seeds in the ground a bit sharpish on Sunday as well as some beetroot, mange tout and rocket and coriander in the tunnel.

Pulled the last of my leeks from last year before they start bolting.  Quite short but relatively thick, there were definitely enough to make a delicious leek and potato soup.

Always nice to end the day with a fire to clear up your stuff and warm yourself  up while you appraise the days work.

Just hoping things get steadily warmer now and all my seeds start germinating.

A very late spring indeed

Not much to report since I last wrote. It's been quite shockingly cold considering we are a few days from April, with heavy snow all over the UK last weekend, and continuing freezing conditions forecast for this next Easter weekend. 

The weather has hardly been inspiring to get over to the plot and do some digging, but I've managed a couple of previously overgrown beds, and finished digging in the leaf mould in the tunnel, which is at least warm to work in.

As well as freezing, we also had some damaging winds at the end of last week, and it was all too much for the new tunnel doors.  I had to tie one of them to the frame with twine as it was seriously in danger of blowing open, and I was afraid if that happened we'd lose the whole tunnel.

I suppose I'll have to fork out for some polytunnel tape for this  nasty hole ... probably use gaffer tape though

A mighty wind was blowing before we went away for the weekend on the 22nd March, and when I checked on the tunnel the door was in danger of blowing off, and if that happened it would have been au revoir to the entire tunnel... swift emergency action and keeping my fingers firmly crossed prevented this disaster!

I have considered starting off various seeds in the tunnel, but it gets so cold at night that I dare't, and similarly I ought to be planting my onion sets and even early potatoes but I guess it's just going to be a late planting year.

The tomatoes and peppers on the windowsill still haven't appeared, but there are some tiny carrot tops and teeny spinach leaves peeping up through the soil in the tunnel at last.

The wonderful sight which means my carrots have germinated

One of my favourite bits of working on the allotment :)

Onions, leeks and broad beans

Just got to hope the weather warms up soon, and not worry about the fact that stuff is going to start off a little later this year.  And think positive:  It's going to be a long sunny summer and it'll rain lightly every night! (Yeah right!)