March madness is well underway. Lots of seed sowing, potting on and juggling greenhouse and windowsill space. Thankfully we have two big windowsills both south facing which helps a lot. It’s been lovely seeing the greenhouse starting to fill with life after a long, wet winter.
I’ve been using the RocketGro Seed&Cutting compost mixed with a little extra vermiculite to start all my seeds and they’re all growing so well. This is the first year I’ve used vermiculite and its made such a difference. It helps aerate the compost and keeps moisture levels perfectly balanced. I’ve had to buy a big 100ltr bag of it but works out much cheaper that way.
My autumn onion sets are finally in the ground! They’ve been growing well in their pots over the winter but desperately needed to get their feet in the ground so I’m pleased to have that job ticked off the list. It was even sunny when we did it.
I’ve planted them in a grid leaving space between for salad leaves, and direct sown carrots. Come June I’ll be direct sowing swede and turnip before lifting the onions in July or August. The onions should help deter slugs from munching any emerging young shoots, we hope anyway.
Mulching of beds is almost complete ready for spring planting. I’ve got one big bed to fill which will have my baby corn and some pumpkins this year. I’ve layered some cardboard in the bottom then a load of grass clippings to help fill it then I’ll add a load of manure before a top dressing of compost.
I’ve finally got round to emptying the home compost bins and turning the others. A good job done. The compost has filled one of my brassica beds which will hopefully give the space a boost for this years plants.
The first carrots have been sown and should hopefully germinate no problem this year with the ever damp ground and consistent rain (will it ever stop?) I’m sowing carrots every few weeks to ensure a nice long harvest season. I’ve potentially tripled the amount of carrots I’ll be growing this year which is exciting.
Easter Sunday was potato planting day and what a glorious day its been! Sunshine and warmth, just lovely. I’ve planted my earlies and maincrop all together. It’s easier than doing some now and some later. When it comes to harvesting I just make sure to lift the 1st earlies first followed by 2nd and then main crop much later in September/October. This year I’m growing Charlotte and Nadine (2nd earlies) and Desiree, Picasso and Pink fir Apple (main crop). I also have my 1st early Swifts in a bag in the greenhouse which seem to be growing well.
Harvesting times vary with each type.
- 1st Early 10-12 weeks
- 2nd Early 12-14 weeks
- Main crop 14+ weeks
Garlic is looking great and I’ve had a couple harvests off that wonderful rhubarb! Oh and I’ve still got those lovely leeks to lift too.
As we head into April I’ve got even more sowings to do and lots of tidying in the garden. I had a list of things I wanted to tackle in the garden but the weather has been so awful that we haven’t been able to do anything until today. I’ve swapped some of my pots and finally got my new climber in the ground. The grass is still really wet but we have managed to give it its first cut, hurrah!
As we head into April there is lots more sowings to come, potting on and we will be starting to plant out our early sowings too. Don’t forget you can click here to see what I’m sowing each week. Here’s hoping we get a lovely April.
Steph x
Steph’s Allotment 