Wow, March already! Fingers crossed the weather will improve over the next few weeks and I can get to growing stuff at last. As would be expected, things have been relatively quiet over the past few weeks though things are set to get busy this month.
So, lets start at the plot where I've taken the covers off the bed where my early spuds are going this year. Given all the rain over the Winter I was expecting swamp-like conditions so was pleasantly surprised to find the ground workable and it didn't take much to fork over the area. I also dug over the path the divided the beds as I have done on the plot opposite, this will make using the little tiller easier.
I put up some temporary fencing and have let the chickens scrape around on the dug over bed. They can have access to the area until I put the spuds in and probably for a week or two after that too, though as soon as the early potato plants are showing they will have to be moved off unless they can show they won't eat them!
The leeks I sowed into a small tray on the 22nd January have done OK and it's time for them to be transplanted into a larger tray to grow on for a few months. (Pictured - leeks in small seed tray where they were sown and then the leeks thinned into a larger tray).
I've a tray that is deeper and bigger than a traditional seed tray and it's ideal for leeks. I teased out 40 leeks (the most I can cover with my enviromesh cage on the plot), plenty for us as a family, and transplanted them into five rows of eight using a pencil as a mini-dibber. These will initially go into a cold greenhouse then they will be put outside for a few months until planted into their final positions around June time.
The Californian Wonder sweet peppers, sown at the start of February, (see 07 Feb post), have finally germinated. They still have their seed leaves but there's six of them and if I can get four potted on I'll be happy. (Pic - Californian Wonder sweet bell pepper seedlings).
Finally, a quick update on the tomatoes which have come on leaps and bounds since being transplanted into individual pots (except a few spare of each variety). Full true leaves are in evidence and all is well (touch wood!) much better than last year when I tried the Shirley F1's which were really disappointing. My usual Alicante and the Marmande Beefsteak are really up and running on their sunny windowsill.
That's me done, bye for now.
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