New year, new start!

It's hard to believe that it is March already and spring has most definitely sprung! Here is an update of what has been done since my last post in October:

December 2015

• Uncovered the broad beans as they were hitting the top of the small 'poly tunnel'
• Harvested Leeks and Brussels Sprouts for christmas

January 2016

• Tidied the shed and installed some shelving
• Planted the last garlic (Solent Wight)
• cleared away the remaining brassicas
• covered half the allotment in a tarpaulin to try to keep the weeds at bay

February 2016

• completed filling the raised beds with a compost and sand mixture
• built the runner bean climbing frame

March 2016 (so far)

For valentine's day this year Jo gave me a couple of things that she considered essential for the allotment - a small hip flask and a portable DAB radio - what can I say other than what a great addition they make, along with my purchase of a 'thermos' flask. 

Most weekends in January and February were taken up with work, so I knew that I had to do a lot in a small space of time to get back on top of the allotment. Last Sunday was to be my first full day at the plot of the year, so I prepared myself - spare batteries for the radio, flask full of coffee, hip flask full of Chairman's Rum (the best Rum to come out of St. Lucia), 4 cans of cider, welly boots and plenty of layers of clothing.

Essential Allotment equipment

Having been down to the allotment the previous Tuesday afternoon to plant 8 asparagus crowns and remove the tarpaulin, I knew how bad everything was looking. After 5-6 hours of work I had managed to weed and feed the garlic/onions/broad beans and rough dig/weed more than 2/3 of the allotment.

2/3 dug

I wasn't finished though, so on Monday afternoon I trekked down again with some more coffee and rum to finish the digging.

All dug

During my recent visits I have been pleased to notice that the asparagus crowns are already shooting through the soil - it is obviously warmer than I had imagined. I plan to plant some asparagus seeds towards the end of the month to supplement the crowns.

We have Asparagus