Alliums away

Garlic

Sundays weather was changeable to say the least. From cold to sunny to heavy rain to sleet and back to sun again.

At least some things are working well on the plot. Above shows the Albigensian garlic and behind that the Purple Moldovan that was planted in November.

Eschallot Grise

Also going well are the Eschallot Grise planted around the same time.

The Elephant garlic has yet to show but I may have planted that deeper.

Slightly disappointing is that a number of the potatoes that have been chitting for a while now have gone rotten. No idea why but they are all from the same supplier. Others I bought from a different supplier are much healthier and are likely to go in “real soon now”

Early Spring – or is it?

Jerusalem Artichokes

Finally got back onto the plot this weekend and decided to clear some of the rubbish. Three apparently dead Jerusalem Artichoke plants yielded the lovely harvest above and also half a dozen potatoes left over from last August that look good enough to eat.

The stainless steel spade works wonders on the clay I have in many places at the moment. I should have bought one ages ago. It is noticeably easier to work where I added manure last year so in a few years the whole plot should be happier.

I’ve dug over two of the potato beds and covered one with fleece to get a head start. I’ve got carried away this year with Pentland Javelin first earlies and Kestrel seconds. I then couldn’t resist some Desiree main crop from Lowden Nurseries and finally fell for some Swift very earlies which are in planters to beat the lot.

I should be getting the onions later this month so I have dug over and levelled one of the beds for that  but then wanted to plant the bulb of Solent Wight I bought in the Isle of Wight last year. I’m interested to see how it performs against the other garlic that I planted in November that is looking good so far.

The broad beans are still showing few signs. Just three are poking their heads up from the 96 I planted in modules and none from the second sowing in the ground yet. 

The Purple Sprouting broccoli is showing signs of recovery having been netted again to keep the pigeons away.

Last but not least I still have the last of the parsnips and sprouts to collect before they finally rot, and I lifted the first of the leeks. There are still swedes (admittedly small) and cabbages that I cannot see will be ready before next winter. 

Hopefully I’ll get a bit more time as the days lengthen but lets hope the economy doesn’t mean I have too much time!