Brrrrrrrr, it’s chilly!
A frosty allotment has halted any work and left time to admire how pretty it all looks. Plant pots that were lying around are well and truly iced up. I’ve been having trouble digging up my parsnips and can only attempt it when it’s really dry and not freezing and it’s almost like they are welded into the ground. I’ve now realized that going in sideways is the only answer. Too many times I’ve used a garden fork to lift them and ended up rupturing them. A spade is must to dig a trench adjacent and this, in turn, reveals their huge roots. Then careful brushing away of soil like they were part of an archaeology dig, and a little bit waggling, I’ve finally got them out.
Scale has also been evident at the veggie plot. My unbelievably tiny Brussels needed clearing and after I took off all the dead leaves, there were enough for at least a stir-fry. Still harvesting are carrots and leeks although something is nibbling at the carrots and I’m not sure if its rabbits or rats.
I did get to sow some Aquadulce Claudia broad beans after I cleared away the not-so-sprouting broccoli. If only there was a waterproof crop rotation wheel that I can keep at the allotment. I keep forgetting what order the veggies are supposed to go. But then I’ve had another idea and that’s to take a photo on my mobile phone of a rotation plan, then I’ll always have it on me. Genius.
Back home my dry-river bed feature is blooming well with white hyacinths and delicate little hellebores ‘Verboom Beauty’. So dramatic with black Ophiopogon grass and the slender bright green horsetail stems.
A new project is underway too and that is to reposition the garden bench to go between two climbing roses so that they create an arch above the seat. Not as straightforward as expected, as the bench legs were rotten and needed sawing off and treated with end-stop. This will be a sunny spring sitting area and I have already but weed suppressant down under the bench and added gravel. I’ve moved some primulas and there are snowdrops in the area. A neighbor has a big bed of crocuses and I am hoping to swop something for a clump. A good ‘before and after’ picture is a must for next month once spring starts picking up.
