Still Digging (Part 9)!! More Delays and Stones

Alpine Strawberries From Last Season Flowering 13/1/13

  Okay so I realize that it's almost the middle of January and Winter weather is to be expected across the UK but just how much more rain is the ground expected to put up with into this year. The various weather forecasts seem to conflict from day to day and even the weather itself is fluctuating regularly. As an example of this, when I left my plots for home yesterday at about 1530 the weather was dry and cold with the temperature dropping enough to make my feet extremely cold despite the fact I was wearing 2 pairs of thick woolen socks. By 2000 the temperature had actually risen several degrees and remains at about +5 degrees with rain at the moment. Although I appreciate the very nice gardening related presents I received for Christmas, no-one decided to buy me a weather related crystal ball to help me in planning this years sowing/planting agenda. If anyone is planning a Summer holiday in the West Country this year my advice is to pack an umbrella and waders, forget the Bermuda shorts. I expect the price of fish and chips will go up next, due to the fish drowning.

Well that's the Monday morning feeling, moaning over with for another week and the sun is trying to shine through an overcast sky, its just a pity that the ground is already too wet for any work down the plots today.

Lower End of Plots Much the Same After Latest Downpour on 12/1/13

  Since my last post I have paid several visits to the plots, continuing to prepare the ground for this seasons sowing and planting. Last Tuesday I continued turning over the foot of the L-shape on Plot N1, parallel with the drainage ditch. This area is the lowest part of N1 plot and contains the shallowest amount of topsoil, a depth of only about 12 inches (30cm). The soil was wet and heavy as I turned it, removing the few perennial weeds. Lots of Goji roots were still present under the surface of the soil, these were all removed and composted. One root in particular was about 3 meters in length and had been growing towards my Rhubarb plants. A word of warning to anyone planting Goji Berry Plants, their root systems are very extensive and spread quickly, with suckers popping up randomly from the roots. Plenty of space is required to grow these plants. As I progressed along this part of the bed I was incorporating well rotted compost into the soil and breaking up some of the subsoil at the same time to give more depth and body to the whole area. Due to the wetness of the soil most of Tuesday, Wednesday and a further hour on Thursday morning was taken up completing the work on this bed. By this time the clay soil was fed, lighter and ready for planting. I then spent the remainder of Thursday morning, which was a pleasant, crisp, sunny morning, re-planting some more Cabbages into this years Brassica bed, turning in the compost from the surface of the bed at the same time. I was almost finished when down came more heavy rain, putting paid to any further progress until Friday afternoon.

Foot of L-Shape Plot N1 Weeded Fed and Turned 14/1/13

 On Friday afternoon I arrived at the plots about 1300. The ground was still wet from Thursdays rain but I decided to continue the battle against the Dandelions on the central bed of Plot N2. Only about 3 of inches (8cm) of the topsoil was actually still wet and slippery despite Thursdays rainfall. By late afternoon I had progressed back down the central bed another meter removing a barrow load and a half of Dandelion roots and stones. As dusk descended I locked up and headed home, relatively pleased with my progress.

Last Seasons Spring Onions

More Cabbages Re-Planted 10/1/13

 The heavy overnight rain on Friday and all day Saturday brought things to a halt again until yesterday, when I arrived at the plots about midday. They lower end of Plot N2 was yet again under about 4 inches (10cm) of water across the beds, with the remainder of the grass areas being very soggy indeed. Inspecting the beds on my main plot it was evident that they were being well compacted/flattened by rainfall. Despite 1 heavy midweek frost and another on Saturday night, the frost wasn't penetrating the soils surface to any extent and thus breaking it down. I decided to hoe over 2 of the beds yet again, or at least as much of them as I could reach from the paths. The idea was to loosen up the soil allowing wind/air to dry it out slightly and any further frosts to get more penetration further into it. By 1530 the temperature was again dropping so I called it a day, cleaned off my hoe and toddled off home for a hot cuppa.

Mainly Ash Trees (No Disease)

Mal from Mal's Edinburgh Allotment will know why I posted "The Stones Photo" and why Sue was sent home from school?? I found the book in a cupboard, over the weekend while I was looking for some gardening magazines. I must be getting old when I can remember going to see their first British Tour (gig) that is for the ankle biters.

  There's always tomorrow!!

Still Digging (Part 8)!! Dandelions 0 Me 1 More!!

Just An Average Sized Dandelion Root Today

  At the beginning of last week patience had to be a virtue. Two consecutive days (Monday and Tuesday) without rain as I waited for the soil on my plots to dry out enough to resume the battle against the Dandelions on Plot N2. Finally on Wednesday the soil was just workable and mid morning I commenced clearing the fourth small bed on N2. The soil on the main central bed was still too wet to deal with. Although the soil was still fairly sticky, this gave me an advantage over the roots breaking into bits, as each fork full of soil was lifted. The soil stayed bonded together with moisture as I turned each lump over. I then teased out the roots from their bases upwards removing any soil still sticking to the roots, by hand. Quite a few smaller roots pulled away from the moist soil easily without breaking. By late afternoon I had progressed back along about 50% of the bed.

First of the Cabbages Transplanted

 I was back down the plot on Thursday morning but decided to clear the drainage ditch of decaying vegetation and debris cutting, back the weeds and dead vegetation from the banks at the same time. By the time this was completed, across the width of 2 plots, I had accumulated 5 well filled barrow loads of various vegetation and deposited it onto my compost heap. Having removed several items of rubbish from along the length of the ditch, along with a few tree branches and some brambles the water was flowing away more freely, thus helping to drain off the water from my plots. I decided to thin out some of my Cabbages, replanting them into this years Brassica bed. The first row of 9 was done by mid afternoon and I then, finally got round to removing the dead Runner bean plants from Plot N1. The viable beans for this years seeds had been removed some time ago. The canes used as supports were removed and stored in my shed. The area I have been using to grow the Runner beans, on the L-shape of the plot, is well laden with soot. Due to the vast amount of soot in the soil here it is relatively free draining and was dry enough for me to hoe it over removing various perennial weeds in about an hour.

First of the Daffodils Showing on the Drainage Bank

Bluebells Showing on the Drainage Ditch Bank

 Friday afternoon saw me back down the plot continuing the battle against the Dandelions on Plot N2. The surface of the soil was a little damp due to heavy overnight and early morning mist, but was drying out slowly. On Saturday, Sunday and this afternoon the digging continued and by four p.m. today. I had completed clearing the fourth bed of everything except soil. If the rain holds off, the main central bed on N2 should be dry enough to work on in the morning.

One side of N2 Plot Finally Cleared of Dandelions

Can You Identify This (If I'm Correct it Devours Earthworms and Birds Don't Eat it)

As Above Picture

Just an update on the "BEASTIE" in the photographs. It is likely to be a Horse Leech (Haemopis sanguisuga). They can exist several meters from water and eat small snails and other invertebrates. The other possibility is a foreign imported species (Trocheta). Anyway I'm glad it wasn't a flat worm which I first thought. Leeches have gone up slightly in my estimation now I know they eat snails.

There's always tomorrow!!

Free Seed Vouchers

Just a quick post which I thought might be useful to my readers. Vegetableseeds.net are currently sending out free seed vouchers to the value of £10 if you link to them from your blog or website.

This is the link to their site (it is not the voucher link) - ClickHere

HAPPY NEW YEAR

A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL

CELEBRATE WITH A DRINK

Rooko's January Top 10 Tryouts & Tips

1. Are you a pet owner? Dogs Cats Rabbits etc. When you have groomed them save up the hair/fur. This can be deposited around your garden/allotment so that birds can use it for lining their nests. If the birds don't use it up, it may well discourage slugs from the area.

2. Slugs and Snails will be loving the wet weather we have experienced in UK this year and know doubt their populations will have drastically increased. One good method of killing them off is to spread oatmeal around on slug infested areas. Cheap and effective this method it be! (thanks Yoda).

3. Some allotment holders say they have little work to do on the allotment during the Winter months. If your soil is dry enough digging and/or rotavating it and adding compost or manure, will add nutrients and structure to it. This will give you a head start by the time Spring arrives.

4. Apply some mulch to your garden plants before any permanent frost sets in. The contents of used grow bags can be re-used for this. Lettuce or similar veggies can also be sown in old grow bags in the greenhouse.

5. Make sure your houseplants are not drying out, courtesy of your central heating being on during the Winter.

6. Many shrubs and trees can be planted in January. Try adding some evergreens to your garden, for permanent colour.

7. January is a good month to start chitting your seed potatoes. Lay them out in trays in a dry frost free place. Discard any damaged or diseased specimens.

8. This is an old tip I posted many moons ago but I thought it was worth re-posting. When you discard your (real) Christmas tree this year, saw the trunk into sections just below each set of branches, leaving a few inches of trunk intact above the branches. The branches on most Christmas trees grow around the trunk at the same height. Cut the branches down to a manageable length. Drill a hole through the trunk above the branches. Screw the completed "hooks" in place in your shed for hanging tools etc up on. Or sharpen the trunk piece and use for pegging down netting etc.

Christmas Tree Peg

9. Cleaning out your shed, greenhouse/outbuilding now is a good idea. Get rid of all the unusable clutter, "that has been kept for later" before the sowing/planting season starts.

10. If you intend to carry out any Winter pruning, check the weather forecast first. Heavy frosts can damage recently pruned trees and shrubs easily.

Reindeers Make Good Compost

A Nice Christmas Present

 The continuing rain finally eased off during mid morning today. With my Christmas celebrations over for another year and the last of the minced pies eaten, I decided to visit my plots. It has become a post Christmas ritual for me to take the used, discarded Christmas wrapping paper, cardboard and kitchen waste down to the plot, before new year and deposit it onto the compost heap. Having checked over the mass of paper and cardboard for any none compost able materials it was duly loaded into the back of my car, along with the bagged up kitchen waste and I set off for the allotments.

Two of my fellow allotmenteers arrived at the same time as I did, with the intention of checking over their plots for flooding and wind damage. They remarked that not much work would be possible due to the saturated condition of the ground. Leaving my car on the allotment road next to Plot N2, (my grass parking areas were far too wet and soggy to park on), I unloaded the car and deposited the paper, card and kitchen waste onto the compost heap.

Not Real Reindeers On The Compost Heap Of Course

  All of the grass paths around the plots were sodden with surface rainwater, with several inches of standing water on the lower end of both plots. The weak Winter sun was by now just showing through the broken cloud, but not warm enough to dry out the ground. Jason, who's plot is next to mine was the fourth person in attendance. He was busy digging trenches along the length of his plot and installing a drainage system, so that the rainwater would run off down the sloping ground into the drainage ditch at the lower, southern, end of our plots. I checked out my sheds for water damage and any leaks, tidied up some paper and vegetation that had been blown onto my plot, depositing onto the compost heap. I then checked over the beds of both plots. The Rhubarb plants were growing well, each with several new stalks already well developed. The Chives and Welsh Onions and Strawberry trees seemed unaffected by the wet ground, as did the Senshyu Onions at the top end of N1 plot. My Spring Cabbages were just about surviving the wet conditions but by now they badly need thinning out. My overwintering Lettuces, under cloches, were at about the same stage of growth, as they were the last time I visited the plot. I shelled a few more Runner beans inside my shed then left for home, deciding that nothing else could be achieved.

Latest news flash from Sky News, Potatoes selling at approximately £12 per bag (Somerset).

Mud Splattered Leeks

Waterlogged

Lower End of N2 Plot 30/12/2012

Rhubarb Looking O.K. Top of N2 Plot 30/12/2012

Welsh Onions Chives & Strawberry Trees Looking O.K. Top of N2 Plot 30/12/2012

Waterlogged Alpine Strawberries 30/12/2012

There's always tomorrow.

Fantasy Allotment Plans For 2013

Many of the gardening/allotment blog posts I have read over this past Christmas week had a similar theme of either planning for next years sowing and planting, or re-capping on this years successes and failures. Despite the common factor of too much rain, all of them were interesting in their own way. One or two blogs mentioned the possibility that gardeners and indeed farmers, may have to grow different types of crops to the "norm", in future, to offset the effects of both flooding and climate change. 2 gardening magazines which I have read recently expressed the same opinions.

 Are you attempting to grow different crops next year? Leave me a comment, I would be interested to know what differences may be taking place into the future. I will publish a post in mid 2013, on the outcome, if enough people are interested in commenting.

As for my 2 plots, (If I ever get plot N2 cleared of weeds), I will be sticking to the usual crops, I normally grow, next year. I usually order larger quantities of seeds, from my supplier, than the common sizes found in the majority of retail outlets, therefor it would be silly to waste the seeds I have left from last seasons order.

 I also received news today that I will be having my current hip replacement, replaced, in mid January. I expect to be out of action, down the plot for at least 3 months after that. Of course that will be well into the new sowing and planting season. I now have just over 20 days to finish clearing N2 plot, if the rain stops, which looks unlikely.

 I visited my plots on Sunday last, when I lifted several Leeks, another batch of Sprouts for Christmas dinner and I also harvested my Oca, (see my post of 13/3/2012), from the surviving 4 plants, on my old plot. The Oca was cooked for boxing day dinner and wasn't up to expectations. Not so much tasting of Potato with a Lemony tang, as just a bland very soft (mushy) Potato taste. The amount of tubers I harvested from the 4 plants was greater than expected but not enough to justify planting out in 15 or 20 foot rows over a large allotment area. The original 6 tubers that I purchased panned out at £1 each. So for my money not a crop to bother with again. I maybe wrong but the Oca could have been adversely affected by too much rainwater over their long growing period, or my cooking method (same as spuds) was incorrect.

1 Large Bowl of Oca After They Were Cleaned

 Prior to last Sunday I managed 2 days down the plot, a week last Monday and Tuesday. The rain had held off for a while so another 2 foot of the central bed on N2 Plot was double dug and cleared of Dandelion roots and other weeds. I also managed to completely clear one of the smaller beds of weeds and double dig it, leaving one more smaller bed to complete from a total of 4. Heavy rain during most other days for the past fortnight has halted further progress. It was recently suggested to me that I should use the Dandelions to make wine from. I reckon if I did, I could supply half the country with Dandelion wine in the process?? (No checkout available by the way).

THE FOLLOWING PLANS ARE NEXT YEARS FANTASY LAYOUT

My Main Plot 2013

N2 Plot Layout for 2013

I will be sowing/planting the following vegetables next season, weather and time permitting of course.

Beans Runner (Scarlet Emporer & Enorma) - seeds from this years plants.

Beans Climbing (Cobra) - seeds from this years plants

Beans Borlotti - ordering later

Beetroot Bolthardy - from this years seeds

Brussels Sprouts - 3 varieties from this years seeds

Cabbages Derby Day - from this years seed

Carrot - at least 3 varieties as early as possible

Chard - Not chosen yet

Cucumber - 2 Ridge varieties (none under glass)

Khol-rabi - Balot - ordering later

Leeks Musselburgh - from this years seeds

Lettuce - several different varieties (especially the B&Q mixed variety)??

Onions Ailsa Craig - maincrop 

Onion Senshyu - already sown and growing

Onion Salad - White Lisbon & Ramrod - from this years seeds

Parsnips Gladiator - from this years seeds

Peas Feltham First, Kevedon Wonder & Hursts Greenshaft from this years seeds

Potatoes Desiree - Main crop only, to be ordered

Pumpkin Atlantic Giant - from saved seed

Radish - undecided

Swede Marion - from this years seeds

Sweetcorn Lark F1 - ordering later

Tomatoes - A couple of indoor varieties only to be ordered later

Turnips Purple Top Milan - from this years seeds

Although todays weather has been mainly dry, cold and breezy, I can hear the rain just starting again. Think I will have another couple of minced pies and a cuppa.

There's always tomorrow.