Monday 22 February 2010

Allotment 22/2/10

Just because it is cold and wet (really wet) doesn’t mean that nothing is happening at the allotment.
Well, when I say the allotment I really mean my kitchen and back garden. I was supposed to go and plant some seeds today but the rain was so hard that I decided against it. The plan involved early carrots and salad things (spring onions, radishes, salad leaves) under my ugly but useful plastic cloches but the weather put pay to that. It’s not that bad really because the ground is pretty much prepared; it just needs some seeds in it.
So a change of plan was called for and that’s how I ended up in my kitchen. I have decided to start that bit of the year that the non-allotmenter in your life dreads. It’s time to break out the seed trays. Soon the whole house and garden will be full of them (if you’re allowed to, I have an understanding Significant Other)
I have a nice collection of those seed trays with plastic tops on a bit like a mini greenhouse so that’s what I’m using.

Seeds out of my lovely seed box, compost from the worm filled bag and we are off. I have planted celery (never grows well), Swiss chard, autumn Cabbage (2 types) and autumn cauliflower.

Photobucket

As far as I can tell most seeds seem to do alright if you put them on the surface of the compost and then sprinkle a little more compost over the top. There are more scientific ways of going about this but I’m not one of those people. If it grows, it grows.

Photobucket

Don’t forget to label, nothing worse than not knowing what has germinated (I’m sure the people of Haiti may disagree but have they ever grown 2 types of beetroot and not known which is which?)

Photobucket

And then lid on and off to the shelf in my garden. Yes it is cold but they should be ok.
If I never mention them again you know they haven’t worked.