It's the beginning of April in the Uk and we've only just started sowing our seeds. This is as confusing for us here in the Uk as it is for others elsewhere. But, honestly it's started off as a strange year. It's still far too cold with temperatures still going below freezing on the odd night and with energy prices at their all time high we have opted for patience rather than indoor / heated germination. And, to be honest its going okay so far!
Normally by the first week in April we would have had a bit of a head start, but honestly not that much. We advise not to panic and go buy the starts from the garden centre, you will catch up and your crops will be just as strong and healthy.
Garden update
This week we have taken the plunge and started planting lots and lots of seeds. We're hoping the frost doesn't come back. If it does, we have the sheeps wool covers at the ready!
What's happening in the garden
It's definitely starting to look like spring now, and less like winter. Our fruit bushes, rhubarb, fruit trees and roses have alI started to bloom wonderfully. We've even had a bunch of rhubarb for infused vodka. (which we didn't force, just lots of horse manure last year)
This week we have planted:
- Brussels (greenhouse, unheated)
- Spring onions (greenhouse, unheated)
- Lettuce (greenhouse, unheated)
- Radish (greenhouse, unheated)
- Spinach (greenhouse, unheated)
- Basil (greenhouse, unheated)
- Courgette (direct sown)
- Marrow (direct sown)
- Runner beans (direct sown)
- Pumpkin (direct sown)
- Broad beans (direct sown)
- Dwarf french beans (direct sown)
- Brocolli (greenhouse, unheated)
- Celery (greenhouse, unheated)
- fennell (greenhouse, unheated)
- Leeks (greenhouse, unheated)
- Cabbage (greenhouse, unheated)
- Carrots (greenhouse, unheated)
- Beetroot (greenhouse, unheated)
- Cucumber (greenhouse, unheated)
Jobs we have done this week
Now it's started to dry up, it makes for the perfect weather for painting wookwork, as it's dry, not too cold and not too hot. We have been treating all of our wooden structures and raised beds to lengthen their lifespan and reduce the chance of rot.
We also uncovered a number of beds that well left covered over winter, in preperation for direct sowing and transplanting in a few months. Although this will make for more weeding it will allow the soil to breath.
Our allotment compost bins have been emptied onto our beds, (well all but a bit and the fabulous worms) to ensure the beds are ready for our veg and the compost bin is empty enough to fill back up.
Products we recommend
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