Winter Time

As the cold weather returns, I'm reminded how spring is still just a little further away than I sometimes hope...

Winter-Time

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour or two; and then, A blood-red orange, sets again. Before the stars have left the skies, At morning in the dark I rise; And shivering in my nakedness, By the cold candle, bathe and dress. Close by the jolly fire I sit To warm my frozen bones a bit; Or with a reindeer-sled, explore The colder countries round the door. When to go out, my nurse doth wrap Me in my comforter and cap; The cold wind burns my face, and blows Its frosty pepper up my nose. Black are my steps on silver sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad; And tree and house, and hill and lake, Are frosted like a wedding cake. Robert Louis Stevenson

This time last year

Sometimes I forget this is only my second year on the plot as it feels like I've had it forever already!
Here are some pics of this time last year, it's good to look back at all the work I've put in and feel proud. I know if I didn't have a young family to look after I would be able to do much more, but under the circumstances, I think the results so far have been positive.

I love looking at the long shadows and washed out light at this time of the year, knowing the warm spring days are just around the corner. I remember days last year in April that it was so warm I got sunburn!

Roll on that asparagus....slurp!

Sunshine Elixir

Today was gloriously sunny, but bitterly cold. I sat inside by the fire for most of lunchtime before persuading myself to get down on the plot. Normally I don't need much persuading but I've been a bit poorly this week and my energy levels are a bit low. Despite this, a couple of hours in the sun proved to be the perfect elixir for both body and soul.

I couldn't get much done as I hadn't planned my visit, so I just weeded and dug the bed which will house all my roots. It's proving to be a trickier job than I anticipated as I forgot that this area had been left fallow last year, so there are a lot of thistle roots deep down. Last year I had a nightmare with young thistle shoots pushing up my carrot and parsnip seedlings, I'm slightly worried this might happen again. Perhaps I can strategically plant a load of spinach and chard in the middle as I'm not so bothered about loosing them!

After a couple of hours, my husband and children arrived for a quick mooch. I put them to work while I sat and drank tea, in fact if I could only persuade my husband to come down more often it would certainly make life much easier! (wishful thinking though, he does not have green fingers).

Mud Glorius mud

Hopefully anyone reading this isn't becoming too bored of digging anecdotes and pictures of mud. Unfortunately I could stare at these pics for hours!!

Today I went to the plot but didn't achieve as much as hoped as I think I'm coming down with something and didn't want to overdo the digging. I dug an area which had been covered all last year, it was quite crumbly but still had a lot of thistle roots and couch grass. I spread home made compost and blood, fish and bone over the top and covered up. I'm anticipating this bed to be for my first broad beans which I'll plant in about a weeks time, then perhaps two or three more rows in succession every couple of weeks. I have two varieties which I'll mention in my seed inventory which I'm due to list soon. 

Other than that, I planted a gooseberry bush that I've kept in a pot in the garden as it was  a little late to plant last year (variety is Whinham) I couldn't resist a picture of the blackcurrant bush which is full of buds

After a bit more digging on my roots bed, I couldn't resist putting in some onion sets, it's very early, but they were shooting in the bag, and it's no great loss to me if they don't take. I netted them well as there are a lot of pigeons about, and even the odd hungry pheasant!

A overall view of the plot

Chitting pots

I got my potatoes about a week ago, and left them in the kitchen and now there are sprouting like mad. So I've put them in boxes to chit away, and will probably keep them in the bathroom as it's pretty cold in there (ground floor rear extension). I may have to put the Desiree in the shed as I don't want them to get too ahead as they are maincrops, not sure my greenhouse is frostproof yet though?

First Earlies are Sharpe's Express

Second Earlies are Cosmos

Early Maincrop are Desiree

Slow progress

Today was clement enough to visit the plot for a spot of digging. Even though in retrospect I achieved quite a lot, looking at the plot it seems like slow progress. It's times like these that I realise how big the plot actually is and how many weeds have managed to take root over winter!

Today I:

1. Dug the area behind the asparagus, making a new herb bed which will also house my strawberries.
2. Make a timber surround around asparagus and infill with compost. Same with the herb bed (see below)

3. Weeded in the potato bed
4. Planted strawberries
5. Cleared out compost bin (being used as tool storage)

At this point a friend turned up with a flask of tea and biscuits and production inevitably slowed! Still got quite a bit done. Although didn't get around to planting onions and broad beans this time. Not sure what to do with my onion sets as they are sprouting already, keep them cool or plant them?

Passiflora

This spring, if we haven't sold our house, I will plant a passion flower. According to this article they are very vigorous , so it would be perfect to cover the other side of my shed. I have a spare bed next to the shed which I have left for the children to play in, but they may be lucky to keep it this year! mwahahaha.