By the end of the March the new season had really got started. The plot has been completely cleared of last year's crops and the winter digging is finished with all the compost buried under the top spit (after forking over the second spit during double digging) of section C for the potatoes. Sections A, C and D have had their usual application of Rockdust and section B has had its first application of lime. the second application will be shortly before planting out. The soil organisms don't like a sudden change of pH and separate applications of lime avoids this happening. Section B doesn't get dug. Brassicas like a firm soil. So, apart from hoeing in the lime, this section is easy to prepare.

The first batch of brassica seeds were sown in modules in the greenhouse on the 18th. Once they have reached the four leaf stage they will get "potted on" into Rootrainers for planting out in May. Garlic and shallots were started into growth in Rootrainers on February 14th. and they were planted out on March 30th. I grow a "catch crop" of the earliest of first early potatoes in section A and these were also planted on the 30th. They mature so quickly that any eelworm doesn't have time for the cysts to develop. In the Channel Islands they are able to grow three crops a year of early maturing potatoes without the risk of eelworm.

Next month "seed time" really gets into swing. Leeks (Musselburgh), parsnips (Countess) beetroot (Cylindra and Boltardy) will be sown straight into the ground. The main potatoes will be planted and the onion sets, after a day or two soaking in water, will also be planted. Started in the greenhouse in Rootrainers will be the peas (Hurst Green Shaft). They are then grown up canes as single stem cordons. This makes picking very easy as the pea bearing stems stick out from the main stem and no peas are hidden in the foliage. Any peas that are not picked when they are ready inhibit the plant from further cropping. Also started in the greenhouse will be successional sowings of brassicas so as to spread the cropping over a longer period. In July the "catch crop" of potatoes will be lifted and their space planted out with the leeks. Carrots, sweet corn and courgettes can wait until May before they are sown.

Some years I get behind with all the work but this year I think that I am fully up to schedule.

B. A. Plotter.