Digging trenches!
The snowdrops are at their best now and crocuses are just coming into flower in the garden. On the allotment, I’ve been able to dig my trenches for runner beans and sweet peas. I grow them on the same framework of canes but the
sweet peas didn’t do well last year so I’ve changed the site. I’ve marked out the beds for
the different veg – I grow onions, leeks, shallots and celery on the same bed each year but have four beds that I rotate for other crops. I’ve pruned all my roses on the allotment, at home and also some for a friend. Apart from those outdoor jobs, all my other jobs have been in the greenhouses. I’ve been having trouble with the heater in one of them. I’ve now got a new one with a separate thermostat so I’m hoping this will solve the problem.
I’ve sown about six varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and aubergines. The first flower seeds I sowed have germinated and have come out of the propagator.
In Garden News a few weeks ago, Medwyn Williams was advertising free seeds of a new leek so I sent off for some and sowed them. They’ve now been pricked out into cell trays. I’ve got some leeks from someone else so I’ll compare the two varieties. The onions I sowed have also been transferred to cell trays. I’ve boxed up the begonias, gloxinias and achimenes. These have all gone into the propagator. I’ve taken about 70 dahlia cuttings up to now and some more chrysanths. The first batch of chrysanths have rooted and are ready for potting.
The potatoes have arrived at our horticultural supply hut, so I got some and stood them in trays on the greenhouse shelf to chit.
I’ve started re-potting all my pot plants that are in 12.5cm (5in) pots and over, which I do every year at this time.