SPRING IS UPON US…
And excitement and activity levels are increasing on the allotment
Goodbye February, hello March! Is this one going to roar in like a lion and go out like a lamb? Will it be one of March winds or, as the seasons are a-changing, keep us all guessing?
This is the month of the year when activity levels on the allotment grow with each passing day. For those allotment keepers who don’t visit very often during the winter months, this is the time to wipe the cobwebs off your spade and fork and have them at the ready. As the month
progresses the planting season gets underway. The broad beans will soon go in the cold frame to get used to the outdoor temperatures after being www.gardennewsshop.co.uk cosseted in the greenhouse, and towards the end of the month they’ll be fully hardy to go out into the soil.
The end of the month will also see the first potatoes go into the soil, weather permi ing, and these should be chi ing well in your shed by now with some sturdy li le shoots emerging from their eyes. Argh! This description always conjures up in my mind something from a horror movie!
And get those cloches cleaned and at hand, for it’ll soon be time to plant out the le uce and cabbage you’ve been nurturing in the greenhouse. No open environment for these li le beauties yet, but protection from the elements under the cloche.
There must be a great expectation among our members for a super-hot summer, with time to relax in the convivial surroundings of the plot – there’s an upsurge in benches appearing in the allotment! The one outside the café is a practical one used for consuming drinks on pleasant days. However, Dai has built one for si ing and viewing his plot and Bob has now cleared a spot for one, which is on its way. Come on boys, if this culture catches on there’ll be more people si ing and admiring the plots rather than working on them!
Still, what’s gardening if you can’t snatch those moments to admire beauty and relax among our favourite surroundings? There are few be er places to spend a summer’s evening than among the sights and sounds of a well-kept allotment.