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!)