This has been the coldest Spring creating the longest Winter following the wettest year ever. A nightmare to work out when to plant.
I always try to watch nature. Wait for the signs, she's good like that Old Ma Nature, giving us little pointers. The birds seem to know when to get a bit frisky. The frogs start to spawn. Ladybirds appear and everything starts to wake. This year it all took longer than usual but the signs still arrived. The most exciting being that weed seeds started to germinate meaning it was time to plant.
I decided with the cold to start more off in pots than usual. I've now got a polytunnel and kitchen full of seedlings and plants. Several varieties of tomatoes for indoor and allotment. I'm hoping for a warm summer. Optimistic maybe. Figuring a cold spring equals warm summer. I've cucumbers, lemon cucumbers. Several kinds of basil, melon, squash, courgettes, tagetes, chillies and peppers all in the kitchen window waiting for more warmth and space in the polytunnel.
The polytunnel is crammed full of trays of allotment seedlings. Climbing peas, sweet peas, broad beans, chickpeas ( experiment, first time grown) multiple varieties of brassicas and salad, sweetcorn and multi coloured popping corn, shallots and more. Slowly hardening plants off to transplant outside.
Meanwhile on the allotment I'm finally sowing into the ground. The soil feels nicely warmed. Aided by use of cloches and polythene.
Today I sowed parsnip, as always I sow quick growing radish in the same row as a marker with the parsnips sown in stations of 3 every 10cm or so along the row. I also sowed leeks and dill.
Also transplanted peas, Chinese artichokes, divided and moved globe artichokes and herbs and drank some Red Stripe.
This season is going to be a hectic one. Best stock up on more beer.
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