Cheated :o(

Well today was supposed to be wet according to all the forecasts - so I planned indoor jobs - filing, shredding, cooking, cleaning.

But - NO!

A small amount of rain in the morning gave way to a nice warm sunny day. By which time I was too deeply involved in what I was doing at home to change my plans.

I could have possibly got the tiller up the allotment and got a bed prepared for the onions. Or I could have planted some seeds.

Still at least the clocks have gone forward this morning, so I will have a hour or two of daylight when I get home in the evening.

I console myself with a photo of the leeks I dug up yesterday and the thought that the ground was probably still very very sticky.

New Coat!

This was the find of the month - a replacement plastic "coat" for my mini greenhouse. The original one had become cloudy and brittle with age and I was thinking about having to buy a new one and using the shelves in the garage. But I found the replacement cover in a local garden centre which solved the problem at a fraction of the cost.

Covers can also be found on line here

Spent some time up the allotment today, but the recent rain had made it very sticky. I dug a small area - about 2 sq metres - but it was hard going.

Harvested a row and a half of leeks, the last of the sprouts and some sprouting broccoli that had not be ravaged by the pigeons.

Nothing doing

Well this is the view over my back garden. I haven't even bothered to go up to the allotment over this Easter break, although I really could do with some leeks. I should also be potting stuff up to start off indoors - but it is cold and I can't get myself motivated.

The long range weather forecast on the BBC web site isn't offering much hope of warmer weather either.

Spuds in

Well I managed to get the spuds planted today. Two rows each of Winston and Pink Fir Apple. I have used Winston before and they are a good choice. Not a very dense potato, but if left a bit longer then they are good baked. This is my first time for Pink Fir Apple - supposed to have a very good taste.

Unfortunately I left my spud buying a bit late and was a bit restricted on choice. I had meant to buy a mixed selection box from one of the seed suppliers - but spud buying slipped down the list of my priorities I am afraid.

Ready! Get Set! Go!

Well I decided that today was too cold and damp for a session of allotment digging, so I made a start on the seed planting.

We only have one serviceable window cill in our house and that is in the lounge. I purchased these seed trays as they fit nicely and are not too wide after my other half managed to knock the wider ones onto the carpet when opening the curtains.

So I am hopeful this year that they will survive the curtains and, once transferred outdoors, the snails and I will soon be seeing little shoots.

Planted today were:-

Brussel Sprouts - Oliver & Topline
Cabbage - Redcap
Cauliflower - Snow Prince
Tomato - Golden Sunrise, Garden Pearl, Harbinger
Purple Sprouting - Early, Rudolph & Redhead

Incidentally - it looks like Oliver has been dropped from Kings' seed catalogue, which is a shame as it was by far the best performing sprout on my allotment.