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.