Only the Perpetual Spinach (Leaf Beet) had survived as a complete row. The Turnips and Komatsuna (Japanese Mustard Spinach) had disappeared. Only a small number of Beetroot seedlings could be seen. I resowed the rows, covered them with small branches to stop the cats digging there. and crossed my fingers. In the same plot the Rhubarb is doing wel lin a slightly shaded spot up by the compost heap. I transplanted it last year from the border by the fence because it was too dry and the poor plant was wilting in the sun.

Allotment May 2012

The frame is for the climbing Snap Peas and behind it is last year’s sowing of Perpetual Spinach which will be removed once it bolts. The frames protect the salad crops from marauding cats and passing Badgers. The empty spaces will be filled with Outdoor Cucumbers, French Beans and Courgettes once the plants are big enough to go outside.

Allotment May 2012

In the greenhouse the Tomatoes, Chilli Peppers and Cucumbers have been transplanted into their final pots and I’ll erect supporting canes once I have taken down the plastic bubble wrap.

Tomatoes, Chilli Peppers and Cucumbers in pots

I still have some flower and herb seedlings in the greenhouse and while checking some Cosmos seedlings I noticed about five had suffered damage, stems still there but no leaves. They were on a shelf five feet off the ground….the culprit must be agile and not afraid of heights.

Damaged seedlings

Or perhaps not so agile but slow, steady and persistent! On a pot to the left of the seed tray I found the culprit. I carefully removed it and put it into a clump of Achillea in the garden where it could do less damage.

Sleeping snail

I quite like snails but for such slow moving creatures they can do a lot of damage. Nevertheless I admire their resilience and ability to turn up in unexpected places despite having no legs and only one foot.

Those of you with a Kindle and a relaxed attitude to snails might like to read a lovely book called “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” by Elizabeth Tova Bailey. The author suffered a long period of debilitating illness and a friend brought her a pot of violets which was home to a small snail. This snail became the focus of her attention while she was bedridden. I highly recommend the book. It is available as a download from Amazon. You might also like to visit the author’s website too which has some lovely photos and videos.

Book

Of course her snail is a delicate little  thing while mine is more like the King Kong of snails….. but I say  but live and let live…..just do not come back into the greenhouse.

I lightly watered the plants in the greenhouse. It can get hot in there when the sun shines even when it is freezing outside. I left the door slightly open to provide ventilation. The trick is remembering to close it later on otherwise the fan heater which keeps temperatures just above freezing would be on all night.

Greenhouse

Greenhouse

Here is what it looks like outside. Brrrrr…

Snow wonderful snow!

I am glad that this year I wrapped up some of my plants that had suffered damage last winter.

Protected plant

Yet there is still some colour in the garden even though snow blankets all the borders. Some plants take advantage of the extra warmth generated by a fence.

Ribes speciosum (species Currant)

Ribes speciosum (species Currant)

Some plants evolve with petals that shrivel up in the extreme cold and uncurl when the weather grows a little warmer.

Hamamelis 'Vesna' (Witchhazel)

And some plants refuse to accept that snow is even an issue. They look right at home.

Double Snowdrop and Cyclamen coum

Though I like the snow I would prefer winter to depart. I think it is time for Spring to arrive.

Cloches in the vegetable garden

Slow worms (Anguis fragilis) in the compost heap

Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'

Georgie & Halki watching squirrels in the garden

Visit Katarina at Roses and Stuff to see more Blooming Friday contributions.

So far I have done the top half near the house.

Top part of garden

Top part of garden

I have also removed a shrub beside the greenhouse which is on the left just behind the green shrub on the picture above.  Here I have created a small perennial herb garden. So far I have planted Chives, Garlic Chives, Fennel, Sage, Thyme, Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Winter Savory and Mint (in a pot sunk in the ground) . There is also a pot of French Tarragon which will go into the greenhouse over the winter as it is not reliably hardy.

Cleared for a Herb garden

Herb garden

The bottom half of the garden remains untouched. Well, not quite untouched as my large Agave in a pot finally succumbed to the winter weather (despite protection) so that has gone. I have also removed an obelisk which supported Rosa ‘Zephrine Drouhin’ which suffered badly from blackspot.  I can’t be bothered spraying Roses so it just had to go. In  the space I have planted Hammammelis ‘Vesna’.

I must get started on this area soon – there are so many plants in the wrong place and if I leave it much longer it will be too late. There is a Fern planted in front of the wooden seat below that in mid summer grows so big you have to climb over it to sit down!

Bottom corner

The old Herb patch used to be in the small allotment that lies beyond our garden gate. This was not ideal because herbs need to be near the house so that you can pop out on impulse to pick some. Am I just too lazy?

Entrance to small allotment

It is called the small allotment because our main allotment is another 2 minutes walk away – how lucky is that!

The allotment has now been weeded and some seeds sown under cloches which I will remove soon. The Digger has planted a Tayberry ‘Buckingham’ where the herbs used to be (to the right of the white chair).

Small allotment

All in all the garden is looking much more alive.

Visit The Patient Gardener who hosts End of the Month Views from other gardeners.

Before.

Big allotment (May 2009), before weeding

After.

Big allotment (May 2009), nice and tidy

At the back we have a decorative flower/shrub border by the fence. In front the allotment is divided into four plots which are rotated yearly to keep disease to a minimum and to preserve the viability of the soil.

From the back;
Plot 1 – Onions, Garlic and assorted vegetables
Plot 2 – Potatoes
Plot 3 – Broad beans and Sweetcorn
Plot 4 – Empty as it is being prepared for Brassicas.

Meanwhile, the small allotment at the bottom of our garden is also filling up. I’ve just planted out 3 Courgettes (zucchini) and 1 Squash in the middle bed.  I need to put up cane supports for French and Runner beans in the left bed.

Small allotment

Then we have the greenhouse which is full of Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Chilli Peppers and Aubergines waiting to be organised. I need to remove the staging on the left so that there is more room. Some pots will be moved out into plastic “mini greenhouses” during the next couple of weeks. I hope we  have a hot summer so that the fruits will ripen quickly.

Pots in the Greenhouse

Finally – a tiny garden! My salad hanging basket by the kitchen door. It has done really well and I’m very pleased.

Mesclun salad leaves

Everything is looking good so far. No doubt there are pests and diseases over the horizon but I’m looking on the bright side for now!

So you have to imagine these…….

Wild flower seeds (Short Mix)

growing here. Pictures on seed packets can lead to disappointment but I am staying optimistic.

Small allotment bank

Back in the garden my greenhouse is filling up with various seedlings which are crowding out the tender plants. Most are vegetables but there are some herbs and flowers too. I am running out of room. Many seedlings need potting up – and then there will be even less room. Soon I will have to move some pots outside. I wish my greenhouse could expand on demand like a suitcase – or Dr Who’s Tardis.

Greenhouse full of seedlings

I am going to have to gamble on the weather staying frost free. Fingers crossed!

Small allotment before tidy up

I need tools before I start work and find my first splash of colour. We photographers are so innovative.  I also have some packets of seeds to sow.  Yes the hoe is a funny shape but it is very easy to use and prevents back strain. My camera is to hand should anything exciting happen – or not!

Garden tools, including camera

I need to weed and prune in the perennial herb bed. Note the gap in the fence and the flattened earth – Mr Badger is visiting again.  Back left is Sage (Salvia officinalis) which needs a heavy prune to keep it neat and to stop the plant getting too woody. Back right are the pale green leaves of Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum). Front right is the buried pot which stops the Mint escaping and creating havoc and next to it are the ordinary Chives (Allium schoenoprasum). Front left is Winter Savory (Satureja montana) which also needs a trim. I think I have lost my French Tarragon (Artemesia dracunculus) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare ‘Compactum’) both of which lie under the Badger’s path.

Herb bed with Badger trail

I am not good at overwintering salad leaves and get very mixed results. The seeds for these were sown in August and the plants put under the cloche shown in the first picture. The Lettuce did really well.

Lettuce 'Bronze Arrowhead'

But the Chicory – they made no effort at all. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Chicory 'Grumolo Bionda'

I dug up the some of the remaining Beetroot  ‘Chioggia’  from last year. They did surprisingly well over the winter considering they had no protection and temperatures fell to -11C (12F).

Beetroot 'Chioggia'

I spread the compost around and sowed some seeds:

• Climbing Pea ‘Stenu’ which will climb up a cane and netting support.
• Dwarf Snap Pea ‘Zuccola’ with some small branches and twigs pushed into the soil for support.
• Beetroot ‘Chioggia’
• Radishes  ‘French Breakfat 3′ and a trial yellow radish from Marshalls Seeds (free with an order)
• Parsley ‘Lisette’
• Leaf Beet ‘Bright Lights’

I felt quite pleased with myself when I had finished.

Small allotment after seed sowing (1)

Small allotment after seed sowing (2)

The cold winter seems to have improved the Rhubarb which is growing very strongly. I think the winter hibernation has done it some good.

Rhubarb

In an effort to make the post a tad more interesting I thought I’d feature a faithful pet amongst the vegetables.  That didn’t go so well. She ran back into the garden and up the Eucalyptus tree. Now I have a colour combination infinitely more boring than brown and green.

Cozzie

Seed potatoes for 2009

The varieties are;

First Early – ‘Mimi’. A small red “cherry ” potato for cooking whole.

Second Early - ‘Royal Kidney’. A revived old variety with a pale skin and waxy flesh.

Maincrop – ‘Highland Red Burgundy’ a conservation (heritage) potato. It has a bright red skin when freshly dug, turning darker when it dries. When cut the flesh  has a burgundy red centre surrounded by a ring of pale yellow.

The potatoes came from Alan Romans who is based at Fife in Scotland.

They came with a free hessian storage sack. We have not used one of those for ages.  Now all we need is for the weather to improve so the Digger can live up to his name.

Our allotment - in the distance look for the white hoops (Click for a closer look)

I’m doing slightly better with the garden but that’s because I go out twice a day to feed the birds. This keeps me in touch with what’s happening – plus I have to water the greenhouse occasionally. I’ve never been keen on winter unless it’s made all sparkly by frost or transformed by snow. I think many of us must suffer this effect to a certain degree, some far more than others. Several people are deeply affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I notice this has been mentioned by a few bloggers recently. Luckily, I’m not one of the serious sufferers but I am interested in how my own behaviour has changed as the days have got shorter. No wonder some ancient societies worshipped the Sun and the coming of Spring!

Here comes the sun!

I’m now starting to look forward to installing Christmas lights to add some colourful twinkling. You should see my Snowman when he glows in the dark (lol). In the meantime I’m cheering myself up with reading seed catalogues and placing flowering house plants where I can see them. The brighter, the better.

Cyclamen indoors

This red Hibiscus was originally a cutting from the Greek island of Ikaria.

Red Hibiscus

I picked some Perpetual spinach leaves and three Beetroot ‘Chioggia’ from the small allotment. Perpetual spinach is not  a real spinach but a relation of beetroot which doesn’t happen to produce roots. Also known as Spinach beet it’s a very reliable cropper. It’s very hardy, grows in dry ground and is also a “cut and come again” vegetable so stands for a long time.

Perpetual spinach and Beetroot

Here’s the Perpetual spinach on the allotment. A short row provides ample leaves as you can see.

Perpetual spinach in the small allotment

I’ve got three cloches in place sheltering Rocket, Chicory, Lettuce, Winter radish and Tatsoi (a Chinese brassica). I find any growth is very, very slow at this time of year so the little plants are very vulnerable. I’m wondering how many will survive attacks by slugs and snails so winter  cold is actually the least of my worries. A pity a hedgehog couldn’t take up residence in each of them. Perhaps I’ll put up a “To Let” board outside each one.

Cloches sheltering crops over the winter