I notice that in my last post, over three weeks ago, that I commented on how the weather had changed for the worse. It certainly did! As you will know from the news, we had a bout of very extreme and unusually cold weather for the second half of March. Blizzards swept in and counties Down and Antrim were severely hit. The farmers will have a very difficult year, twelve foot drifts at lambing time. Poor creatures.

So, as you might imagine, nothing at all has happened on the plot. It has been under snow for almost two weeks now. Thankfully, apart from some onion sets and garlic, I had nothing out early this year. A thaw set in today.

My potatoes have been chitting for so long now, that I wonder will they be ok. There will only be one way to find out, I suppose!

I also have some large broad bean seedlings in my little greenhouse that could do with going out. I will start to harden them off in the thaw, then get them put in an about a week. It will feel good to have a few plants out!

Apart from that, I used a spell of not so cold weather today to sow a few trays of seeds for the mini greenhouse. Nasturtiums (easy, edible flowers); Turnips in modules (to give them a head start); Red Cabbage (did ok last year) and chives. That'll keep me busy!

I checked on everything else. The melting snow has topped up my water butt nicely. In the mini-greenhouse, I have some fairly decent Greyhound Cabbage seedlings now. Lettuce seem a bit leggy and slow. Marigolds ok. Cornflower ok. Hopefully we get a little heat now during April, so that everything gets some strong spring growth!

Sometimes, you only need a few minutes at the plot.
The sun was low and clear. It was cool but not cold. I tidied up a little, then gathered a few things. All around, the birds were singing.
Allotments offer far, far more than meets the eye. Yes vegetables and even flowers, but peace, quiet and an incredible store for nature. Many allotments are a last refuge for nature in an increasingly urban world.

Visit this site - they need support:
http://www.farmterrace.btck.co.uk/
- an allotment site in Watford with over 100 years of history.

On a lighter note, I picked this selection of fresh greens from the plot today.

It struck me, that in the days before fridges, people would leave hardy veg like this kale and cabbage standing out during the winter to harvest as needed. It is no accident that there are at least three traditional dishes from Ireland/Northern Ireland with cabbage or kale as a main ingredient.

Today I managed to get to the plot after work for 45 minutes, before darkness descended.
I rooted out some couch grass that had taken hold here and there. That is my weed enemy no. 1.
A cheerful robin kept me company. I suspect it was not my conversation he was after!
I also got the chance to take a snap or two. This is a red cabbage grown from seed. Unfortunately I cannot remember the variety. I managed to get a few cabbages all the way to the head stage this year - delighted with that!

I also have some curly Kale standing out. This is Black Kale, possibly a Tuscan variety... I bought these as young plants - six of them - and all six are doing fine.
You can see the dew gathered thickly on this leaf. Elsewhere on the plot, the frost never melted at all today.

I planted out my Brussels Sprouts - nine plants, and three Green Kale plants. I raised them all from seed, potted them up a while back. Now they must fend for themselves... almost... this year I made them a brassica net from net, old metal chair legs and bamboo. I hope it keeps them safe. Cutworm seems to be my worst enemy - two years in a row I lost every single brassica to these little grubs. This year I wrapped the lower parts of the cabbage stems in tin foil. Might work.

I didn't wrap the kale or sprouts. I might not - and see it as an experiment in cutworm deterrent this year.

The weather has finally warmed up a bit. Weed seeds are germinating everywhere now. Time to get the hoe busy!