We Grow Our OwnThe trials and successes of life on our allotment

Yesterday was a very grey day, so I spent the majority of the day inside the greenhouse potting on the many and varied seedlings that had come up in the propagators. I still find it difficult to be ruthless and have to constantly remind myself that there is not room for everything that has germinated, and that I can only pot on the strong seedlings!

Today was a gorgeously sunny day, and even though the weather forecaster on BBC1 said it was 12 degrees tops, the thermometer told a different story.

We concentrated on the fruit bed, and planted a couple of rhubarb crowns, two red gooseberry plants, a cranberry plant and a blueberry plant. One of our neighbours gave us a raspberry cane or two to plant, so they went in as well.

We also had a little surprise when we checked the half of the allotment that we hadn’t cleared yet. A rhubarb crown had poked its head through, so we may get some this year after all.

Also, we noticed that there seemed to be three rows of foliage growing near the rhubarb plant. My first thought were that these were the dreaded docks, but they were in orderly rows and earthed up. I dug one or two up, and they came up too easily for docks, but had similar roots. The consensus when I asked on Twitter was that either they were docks and someone had just hoed between them, or alternatively they were small chard plants or similar.

Either way they are coming up next week, as we have plans for that side of the allotment now we have produce planted!

Also, I have to create space for the raised beds that are being delivered by Freshly Forked which are going to be used to create a ‘L-shaped’ raised bed for herbs and salads.

All systems go now, and believe me, I’m not complaining after the late start because of the snow!