It continues to be very mild so I took the opportunity today to plant a few sets. I put in about thirty Stuttgarter Giant and aroung the same number of a red onion. I also put in about ten shallots. They all went into a prepared slightly raised bed which should help them along with their early start. The garlic in the same bed is doing well.

I have been reading about companion planting and decided to put a row of onion sets into the bed where my carrots will be. I will net this bed also and hopefully will keep it carrot fly free. I have tried carrots in the open before - with no luck at all.

A fellow plot holder commented we could do with having the trees topped to the south of the plots. I agreed. They cast a lot of shade. I like the trees though - they also provide shelter and habitat for our feathered friends, but

I nipped up to the plot on Tuesday and bumped into the nice lady who has inherited a half plot next to mine.

She was busy clearing out some of the raspberries when she commented that she hoped she could end up with it like mine! I was chuffed. Nice words can really help!

I have  few bare root strawberries. I think I will pop them in tomorrow.

It has been very warm

I spent a good couple of hours on the plot yesterday. It was a cold but beautiful day. There was snow on the hills all around and Cavehill looked grand dressed in white.

There was some snow on the plot too. It thawed fairly quickly though.

The very first daffodil had flowered! Very early. We have avoided any long lasting cold this winter, so I think the soil is already warming up. I found a few small weed seeds germinating and some bigger ones doing ok under my black covering fabric.

So I decided to fork over a section and I will wait and see what the weather does. It would be nice to get a longer than normal growing season this year. I popped some onions I had grown in pots into the cold frame. I will give them a week or two there and stick them into their permanent bed in early March.

I also picked up a cheap clear plastic box that I amgoing to pin down as a cloche and then I will sow a few broad beans underneath in a week or so, once the soil underneath might have warmed up.

I feel that spring is almost here, but perhaps that is just wishful thinking....

Today was another rough and nasty day. In England they are having heavy snow, but here it is cold, relentless rain.

I did manage to squeeze in a little gardening, in between dropping kids to parties and all the usual household duties!

Despite the terrible weather, I can feel the gardening year gathering pace. In ancient celtic tradition, the first of February was the beginning of spring, or the beginning of the growing year. In the freezing cold and damp I found myself questioning this - but in a way it is true. I realised that this week I have really started to plan for the week ahead. I have sown a few broad beans (sutton) in pots for an early crop. I have also sown a few sweet peas in pots (love those) and dahlias from seed for the first time.

As well as all that I have put seed potatoes 'Red Duke Of York' and 'Ballydoon' (both first earlies) in trays to chit.

Today myself and my daughter dropped a few cabbages up to the cold frame to harden off a bit before planting out. My poor girl was shivering after only five minutes so that was enough plot time today!

We popped into the local garden centre too and she picked up a nice pack of Calendula (pot marigold) to sow. I love calendula - they are easy, free flowering and throw up the odd surprise bloom or two.

So, yes, maybe this really is the start of the growing year!