DIY and Snippets From the Plot

The weather has improved recently with warm sunny spells here and there which is great but it also means regular weeding sessions will become part of the routine again. Weeding doesn’t feel like such a boring chore when the sun is shining and the birds are singing.

I’m scratching around for things to do before the sowing and planting madness gets underway, and I usually find something that needs attention on the plot. A couple of the raised beds were coming apart at the joins, moisture had warped the wood or perhaps my DIY skills are to blame….either way the frames were easily fixed just by using longer wood screws to pull the joins back together, thanks to Mr C and a drill. Adding angle brackets might be a good idea.

Asparagus season is underway. I planted my asparagus as young seedlings grown from seed, and according to the archives I did this in May 2022. I still have a fair way to go before I can start harvesting, this is to give the plants time to establish and grow strong and healthy which they seem to be doing. Occasionally I regret not planting 1 year old crowns because I would be harvesting much quicker, probably next year, but it did save me a lot of money by growing from seed. I’m not a very patient gardener and the wait is painfully slow, I resisted the temptation to cut a spear or 2 at the weekend but it took a lot of willpower!

The currant bushes are leafing up, tiny flowers will soon emerge. I can smell the pungent aroma of blackcurrant as I brush past them which I quite like.

Speaking of aroma, the garlic are growing nice and strong despite the constant wet conditions over winter. I will be interested to see if any white rot appears on the bulbs at harvest time which is usually late June to early July. The variety is Red Duke and this is my own strain from original bulbs bought many years ago, I simply put aside the biggest and healthiest bulbs at harvest time and replant cloves a few months later in autumn.

I haven’t planted my second early potatoes yet. I usually do this late March /early April but the ground is much wetter than usual so I will wait it out and see how things go. I bought Red Baron onion sets to plant this year rather than growing my onions from seed which I have done for several years. I guess I fancied a change. I will pop them into cell trays of compost to start off the rooting process and plant them out when conditions are better.

The rhubarb I planted from a division is doing really well, clearly loving the damp soil further down. I will keep it well watered this summer and then it should be able to fend for itself next year. I will be mustering all that willpower again, no rhubarb picking for me on the allotment this year but I do have a crown in my garden to pick for those lovely crumbles. You can never have too much rhubarb!