After three weeks of sowing a wide range of things at home in the raised beds, hardly anything had germinated – apart from two poor rows of radish! So I decided to delve deeper and see if there was a bigger problem than just the cold weather. And I’m glad I did.
Two things became apparent. The soil had ‘capped’ and had become compacted under the compost mulch I’d put on in the winter. Also, the soil was full of tree roots from a barrier of trees just outside the fence. So, although my raised beds are no-dig beds, it was time to dig them both over. Each one yielded a wheelbarrow full of tree roots and the soil had become badly compacted. So after a couple of hours or so of sweat (and a few tears because I hadn’t thought of it earlier in the year) I’d got two new raised beds full of lovely, un-compacted soil and no tree roots. So let that be a lesson to you all – just because you use a no-dig system, every now and again (my two beds have been in place for four and six years respectively) they do need digging over. The only thing left to do then was re-sow everything. Hopefully now I’ll get good germination and better growth.
I’ve also been really busy over the last few weeks sowing more pots of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and aubergines, plus trays of broad beans, leeks, beetroot and brassicas to transplant to the allotment plus the first pots of French and runner beans are on the go. And of course, there have been dozens of seedlings to prick out and pot on. It looks like we’ve overdone it again and we’ve produced far too many plants. Never mind, I know a couple of people who have started growing their own for the first time this year and I‘m sure they’d welcome a pot or two.
The allotment is now looking pristine and nearly completely weed free, ready for all the crops at home to be transplanted out when the time comes. I’ve already put in a row of broad beans, the early spuds are in as well as shallots, garlic and onions – all of which are looking remarkably good – just about every single bulb has sprouted.
It also looks like it might be a good fruit year on the allotment. There’s masses of blossom on all the Coronet apple trees, the damson has just finished flowering and (frost permitting) there looks like there’s going to be a god crop and the apricot is absolutely smothered in fruit – this is its third year. The soft fruit bushes are all doing well and there’s a lot of flowers on the strawberries. My mouth’s watering just thinking about it.