25 Mar - Early Potatoes

I'm sticking my usual Rocket early potatoes into the plot. I like Rocket, they're cheap, easy to grow and very reliable. Plant them them now and I'll be eating them the first week of June, regular as clockwork.

These days my back doesn't want to go through the whole trench digging routine, anyway, it's not required. My method involves far less earth moving. I use a string line to help me get a straight(ish) row (or a plank can act as guide if you are using one to stand on), I then set the spuds out about a foot apart on the line (12" earlies, 18" for main crop). 

Remove the string guide line. I move the first spud in the row out of the way, usually towards me but keeping it in line with its original position and dig a hole adding a little fertilizer into the hole and around the spud next in line on the surface. Pop the moved spud into the hole and move the next one out of the way. Dig the hole for the next one, using the earth you dig, along with the fertilizer you just sprinkled on it, to fill the previous hole. That way you shovel a lot less earth and you ensure a little fertilizer is all through the earth above the spud, not just around it. Continue down the row until all the spuds are planted. You can wait until the shoots start to show or earth up after planting.

That's it from me. Bye.

15 Mar - Potatoes and Brassicas

The weather has been good these past few weeks and this has allowed me to get on with preparing the allotment for the upcoming season. I've pulled the covers off the bed intended for the potatoes, let it dry out for a few days then gave it a quick go with the tiller.

Meanwhile in the greenhouse I sowed my usual Bosworth F1 Brussels Sprouts which are usually able stand well into the Spring of the following year without 'blowing' open. I also sowed some Summer cabbage, Primo II (aka Golden Acre) - I'm only doing a hand full as I find that in the height of summer we don't tend to have heavy cooked meals that require cabbage.

I transplanted the Shirley F1 tomatoes into separate pots now that the true leaves have appeared. This is the second time I've tried this variety, a variety that many say is one of the best; I was disappointed the first time and I'm disappointed this time around. Once again the very expensive and meager amount of seeds (less than a dozen) germinated poorly and those that have appeared have grown slowly compared to my usual cheap varieties. Shirley F1 tomatoes - never again!

That's it for now. Bye.