The Allotted Months - December 2008 to February 2009

The winter months, for various reasons including the weather, have not seen much allotment work done on the plot. But I have spent a lot of time there. My arson damaged wooden greenhouse has been fully repaired, including the rain water watering system, all ready for the new season.

The remaining leeks from section C and brussels sprouts from section D have been moved so as to clear the ground for digging. They have been temporarily replanted and are still producing a harvest. At long last the Revenge sprouts, in their new locations, are producing but the sprouts are rather small. I'll stay with my earlier decision and not use that variety this year. The main problem being that they take up ground that needs to be cleared. The Musselburgh leeks will give one more cropping.

Winter digging is progressing. Section D, for carrots, peas and onions, is finished and section A, for mixed vegetables, is half dug. Section B, for brassicas, doesn't get dug. It gets a heavy dressing of lime in two separate applications, and then hoed. Section C, for potatoes, gets double dug with manure and compost in the bottom of the trench after the second spit has been forked over and before back filling,

Seed potatoes have been laid out in a light and frost free place. Exposure to light means that the growth is green and firm. Long pale straggly growth tends to fall off during planting. Seed sowing will start this month.

March should see all digging complete, and the whole plot empty. Seedlings will be moved from their thimble sized cells into Rootrainers. When they are big enough they will get planted out probably in late April or May.

B. A. Plotter.