Allotment view for January

General view for January 2008

I made my first trip up the allotment this morning as it has stopped raining briefly. I wanted to check what state it was in as I haven’t been to see the plot for several weeks. The soil where it hasn’t got a manure topping is looking very rain compacted, especially around the strawberries. I will hoe the patch when it dries out and give the plants a spring fertiliser boost next month.

The broad beans are reasonably sturdy but as they are in shade, are not growing as quickly as I had hoped. I have removed the horticultural fleece now. I must take some slug pellets next time-something is snacking happily on them. I will give them a bit of a feed next month too.

There are a few peas (Meteor) through now, but I suspect they too are suffering from being in the shade.

Apart from that and the Japanese onions, there is not much to report. I have nice sturdy garlic plants in pots at home waiting for the soil to dry out a little before I can plant anything onto the plot. And at home, I have set out the first of my seed potatoes, an early variety, Lady Christie, in old egg boxes to chit.

I spent an hour or so tidying up in the garden at home, cutting back some perennials so the early bulbs can be seen more easily.

There is plenty to do, but weather breaks are few and far between this month. Plus, I have finally succumbed to a fairly hefty head cold, so am lacking in energy too!

Mmmmm…..mint

During my garden tidy yesterday, I moved the potted mints and couldn’t resist brushing my hands over the leaves. Even at this time of year they have a fragrance, although they are dying back now, preparing to go into winter dormancy. I have 2 main varieties-an apple mint, and a fabulously aromatic eau de Cologne mint. The apple mint seeds reasonably freely and I pulled several pieces out of the vegetable garden where they had already established a good root system. I like to keep them under control, as mint is a very vigorous plant. I also find that if they are kept in a pot, they use up the nutrients in the soil fairly quickly and then look at you sulkily until you just have to repot them! Mine rewarded me with a very long season of leaves this year because I did repot them.

The main reason for posting the mint picture was because this afternoon I managed to get up to the allotment and amongst other things, I prepared a shallow trench and sowed peas. I chose a dwarf, winter hardy variety-Meteor. The packet promise me peas in May. The mint will be ready by then. Mmmmmm……buttered peas cooked with a sprig of mint.