Wonderful weather for the end of March, cannot help feeling this is very bad news in the long term. The plums are flowering. I have two ballerina type plums, one on which was badly affected by plum moth last year, so it will be out with pheromone traps in May. The broccoli are still producing well, and still sweet and tasty. More sweet peas are in, and more coming up in the greenhouse. I will see if if succession sowing is worth it, or if I will get vast amounts of flowers all at once as usual.

The soil is warming up, the weeds are sprouting and I have been taking this opportunity to hoe them as they come up. I am trying very hard to keep them down in the asparagus bed this year, there were too many mixed up with the mature asparagus last year. The beans are growing well with no losses so far, which indicates the January sowing might be the best for my allotment.

Beetroot Boltardy, french bean Cobra, sweet peas and lettuce Little Gem sown in the greenhouse for transplanting later on to the plot. I try to get a succession of beans and beetroot, and last year succeeded well into late summer for both. The biggest problem was finding space in the crowded plot for new seedlings later in the year.

Cannot resist putting in photos of the camellia from the front of the house which is the best ever.

No action on the allotment for the last few weeks, either because of the snow or because of the wet, so down to Columbia Road Market in Bethnal Green for a look around and a coffee and bagel. This picture shows the ratio of snooping to coffee and bagel.
At last last weekend, the sun shone and it is time to get back to the soil. Most of the broad beans have gone in, with suitable protection from the squirrels. The daffodils are starting to come through, but less than previous years. I am not sure if this because they are getting too tired, or set back by the weather. The broccoli is sprouting well, and went from plot to pot within an hour. Gardening Which have sent more seeds to trial, a chili and sweet peas, and these have been sown in the greenhouse.

These are from Benington Lordship Gardens, Hertfordshire, which is well known for its display of snowdrops and for growing different snowdrop forms www.beningtonlordship.co.uk .

The first daffodil of this years crop, although I don't think there will be many more just yet, as all the other daffodils seem to have heard the weather forecast and are only just poking their heads above the soil. The first broccoli as well, the winter drought  of produce is over. The plants look healthy (Rudolph) and ready to produce.





Not sure that the urine is doing the trick with the foxes, no digging as yet, but paw prints all over the newly spread compost.
Today was a day of repairs on the allotment, fixing the paths, some of which have become positively dangerous. As we are on a slope there is a constant slide downhill and into the neighbours plot. I am trying two sowings of leeks this year, an early one for autumn picking of slim leeks, and a later sowing to keep over winter. Atlanta went in today.

OK , so there is not much going on in the allotment, but loads going on in the rugby pitch next door.First hard frosts, pruning and repairing the paths, and then back indoors to the warmth. Broad beans sown in the greenhouse (Witkiem Manita as recommended by 'Gardening Which). I usually sow them in November, but they get so battered by the weather I am trying a bit later. Hopefully early enough to beat the black fly.

There's apothecary based in a narrow boat on the Lee, anything good for back ache?

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Orchids on the allotment? Nope, this is growing in the Singapore Botanical garden. Just to cheer up a grey winters day.

New Years Day

I didn't think I would be on the allotment on New Years Day in my shirtsleeves, but this is how it has been. One of the pleasures of biking to the allotment is cycling along the River Lee and seeing the wildlife. This time there were two cormorants fishing, here is one drying off, with an unconcerned Mallard taking no notice of the showing off.

I have not been on the allotment for a month, and , of course, when I get there there is plenty to do clearing up and maintenance. First job is to get as much compost on to the soil as possible, starting with the asparagus bed. Some time recently a fox has dug a hole in the bed, which is sacrilege. I hear urine is an answer to keeping them away, will take jam jar!!

I have ordered next years seeds. I am trying two yellow versions, courgette Sunstripe and climbing bean Neckar Gold. I think the taste is likely to be sweeter, but the plants are not as vigorous, so we will see.

Not sure if my neighbours scarecrow scares birds, but every now and then I see it from the corner of my eye and it certainly makes me jump.

The Tree Musketeers are a Hackney group who plant trees all over the place and look after them after planting. They have planted a Sweet Chestnut just outside the allotment. 

My guess is the squirrels will get first go at the chestnuts