Digging again
Well fortunately the sun came out yesterday and I took the kids up to the allotment to start the year off in earnest.
Cathy was tucked up in bed with the lurgy and we were all going a little stir crazy stuck in the house. When we got there, the first thing I saw was that the pigeons, not content with ruining my brussels, had now had a right go at my purple sprouting broccoli! They obviously just sit on top of the net to weigh it down and then peck at whatever they can through it. I wasn't the only one that suffered, but reckon mine should just about be OK.
We cleared out some of the beds that still had remnants of calabrese etc. in them, which went straight on the compost heap and I started digging. Although digging's always hard work, compared to this time last year it was a breeze. I've decided that I'm not going to use a rotavator again on the plot. Although I needed it to help break up the soil the first year, it's now easy enough to dig and I can take out whatever's left of weed roots by hand. It felt good getting stuck in and Stanley and Connie, although they mucked about a lot, came good in the end as they forked and barrowed a few loads of the highly prized council compost which was quickly disappearing. Can't wait till spring.
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It's far too wet to even think of starting to dig our plot. However on the plus side the pesky pigeons have so far left our purple sprouting broccoli alone. With luck we should have some to harvest in a couple of weeks.
Still deciding how early I can risk potatoes in pots in the greenhouse. Might start a pot next week and keep any early growth protected with fleece. Just like you I can't wait for spring.
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Folks,
Is it a good idea to dig so early in January?Old hands tell me that with frosts still common all I'll do is move cold earth deeper and cause the ground to take longer to warm through in spring. What do people think?
Cheers
Po Rees
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I think it was Christopher Lloyd who said that the right time to do something is when you want to do it.
If everything is left to the perfect time to do it, then all the jobs mount up and all you need is one small problem just then to really throw you out for the year.
I don't think there is any harm in clearing soil and digging it over in mild spells in Jan/Feb. You can always warm the soil up with black fabric or something later on and anyway, the base heat of the ground (12C or so - the basis of ground source heat pumps) will soon warm any buried cold soil.
Not a good idea to dig in cold weather and then plant straight away of course, but with a good couple of months to go I'd do what Joe's doing and get stuck in!
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Hi Joe
I took on half a derelict allotment 15th jan this year. I`ts full of couch grass which I am digging out by hand,despite two old chaps who tell me i`ll never get rid of it! Do you recommend using a rotovator or should I keep doing what i`m doing! Bearing in mind i`m just retired.
Can`t wait for the programme to come back on t,v
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Hi Joe,
My friend Christine and I are just about to take on a marathon NEW adventure of half an allotment. We are like you were last year, totally new to this experience. Can you give two 50plus blonde totties any advice as to how to get started without ending up in hospital flat on our backs. We are not that far from your allotment in Enfield and were wondering if you would like to come and help us get started. We make a mean cup of tea and bacon sarnie. Look forward to hearing from you.
Love the programme.
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Well we started digging our allotment today as the weather had either been too wet or too cold. This is our second season this year and last year our first attempts seemed to parallel yours.
Our Brussels and Cabbages had been attacked by Pigeons and I had noticed some minor damage to our Broccoli and your explanation would seem to ring true by the evidence.
Everyone on our site has complained that the Leeks this year have not been as good and seasoned veterans put it down to the weather conditions last year.
Can't wait for G-World to start again. Will be interested to hear and see how the allotment develops this year. I know we have made a number of changes to things this year.
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