23rd April 2017 - Wow, how time flies!

I can't believe it's been so long since I last wrote anything, where on earth do I start with what happened over the winter and since I got back to the plot?!

Well, to start with I was very excited to be able to harvest my sprouts at Christmas and we had them for our Christmas lunch.  I planted some winter veg but the pigeons had all of it :-(  I had managed to get all but 2 of my beds covered so I only had 2 beds (the one that I had tried to grow the winter veg and the old flower bed) that were a bit of a mess.  Then over winter we had storm Doris.  Thanks to the hard work of Mr L the Polytunnel and shed were fine but my fruit cage took a battering and was damaged beyond repair.  

I was late getting back to the plot because I got the flu and so I've felt like I've been on the back foot from the start.  The first thing we did was sort out the fruit cage.  I told Mr L that I needed something more robust to avoid the same thing happening again next year so Mr L bought timber and built a fantastic structure that will definitely stand up to most winds, even on my very exposed plot.  I was able to save the netting and because Mr L has put a door in for me I can fasten the netting down all around; which I'm hoping will stop any more birds getting in.  


I've also managed to completely clear the old flower bed and move it next to the shed.  Last year I grew some beautiful sunflowers but the rest of the bed was over crowded and didn't do as well.  In addition to that it was next to my brassica bed and the netting meant I couldn't actually see the flower bed anyway.  I've made a conscious effort to reduce the number of plants in the bed.  I've put 1 foxglove, 1 rose, 2 peony's and 6 gypsophelia in the bed.  I've put some bedding plants in for colour and I have some sunflowers to put in at the top of the bed.


I've used KGI Garden Planner again (although they've changed it's name to Seed Money) and I've got all of my plans in place for this year.  I like the planner because as well as helping me plan my beds it reminds me where I've planted in the past for my crop rotations so if I try and plant in a bed that I've had something from the same family in before it flashes red.

I'm really hopeful about this season, I learnt loads last year and I plan to use all those lessons this year.  I have only done one bed of potatoes this year, which means I have a bed for roots, and after the success of the sprouts but total failure of the broccoli I'm going to try cauliflowers this year.  I'll also put some leeks into the allium bed because they few I grew last year were good.

I've still got loads to do before I'm fully ready for planting out.  I think I said it last year but I don't plant out until after the Chelsea Flower Show when I know that all risk of frost has passed.  Next week is supposed to be really cold, and perhaps even with a risk of snow, so I'm glad I don't use the rule of planting out after Easter that other people seem to use.  I'm hoping to get more beds ready next weekend; until then...

Happy gardening everyone