The Allotted Month - February 2008

The growing season has now started and this month the shallots and garlic have been potted up in Rootrainers in the greenhouse. Green shoots are now appearing at the tops of the bulbs. In March the seed sowing will start in earnest.

The damage caused by vandals has now all been repaired and I've been catching up on the usual February task of winter digging. Unlike some years, the soil has been in good condition for this digging. No work has been done yet on the potato section, that'll start next month when the top spit is removed and the manure and compost laid over the second spit once it has been forked over. This manure is then left to rot down for two years and then it becomes mixed in with the top spit when the section is dug over after the brassicas, which follow the potatoes, are cleared.

Section A, for potatoes this year, still has crimson clover green manure growing. It'll get hoed off and into the compost heap just before the double digging. An application of Rockdust has been made and the potatoes will get planted in April.

Section B still has a couple of rows of leeks (Musselburgh) and five parsnips (Countess). On my next visit they will be lifted to allow digging to be finished. The leeks will get heeled in to keep the kitchen going for a few more weeks. Again, the ground will get an application of Rockdust.

Section C still has three rows of sprouts (Maximus) which are still cropping. The rest of the section has been dug over. I'll delay the remaining digging for as long as possible to get the benefit of the crop. The three remaining winter cabbage (Celtic) are now hanging upside down in the greenhouse for later use. Again, once the digging is finished, I'll give the ground an application of Rockdust.

Section D has had its first application of lime (ground limestone) between the rows of clover. The brassicas don't get planted out until May when the clover will be hoed off and the final application of lime given. This section doesn't get any Rockdust.

Next month, as I said earlier, seed sowing in the greenhouse really gets going. The only seeds that go straight into the ground are leeks (Musselburgh), parsnips (Countess) and the carrots. Everything else is started in Rootrainers in the greenhouse. This gives things a good early start and also protects things like peas from the mice. They can't get into the greenhouse but can very quickly eat a whole row of peas sown in the open. It also helps young brassicas resist clubroot, although this is not a problem on the plot. Heavy applications of lime have effectively eliminated it. Onion sets get planted in April. They tend to bolt if planted any earlier.

B. A. Plotter.