We seemed to experience every season in a single week. Some days were pleasantly mild, with coats abandoned altogether, while on others we were piling on extra layers to keep warm. There was drizzly rain, along with a couple of frosty nights.
Late frosts always seem to arrive just as the potatoes begin to grow, so the question this year was whether the potato tops would survive.
The strawberry plants are covered in flowers too, but would the frost have blackened the centres and ruined the fruit?
We made another trip to Stillingfleet Lodge Nursery to collect plants for our second border.
It was shaping up to be a busy week, balancing work on the allotment with Ruby’s walks.
A warning if you choose to read on — this post is very photo-heavy, as the camera has had a particularly busy week.
At home and in the garden
We collected all our plants from Stillingfleet and, on Saturday, I raced to get them planted before the expected rain arrived.
I almost succeeded, but the final few went in just as the drizzle started. As the drizzle increased, I watered the plants to settle them in. The irony was not lost on me, but the rainfall was unlikely to be enough to water them properly. I do not expect a spectacular display this year, but if the plants survive the winter, it should look lovely next year.
Martyn has also been busy in the greenhouse, sowing seeds and potting on young plants.
At the allotment
The recent rain has awakened the weed seeds, so one of the main jobs was to weed around the young onions before the weeds matured and outcompeted them.
I also weeded around the cabbages and cauliflowers, which are growing well
I planted a second batch of brassicas, this time including some calabrese.
I also planted the second batch of broad beans. As before, the seeds had been started in fibre pots. In some pots, two seeds had germinated and, when this happens, we simply plant both seedlings together as one clump, which always seems to work well.
The rain softened the ground enough for Martyn to till some of the beds. However, the wet weather also encouraged the grass paths to grow rapidly and they needed strimming yet again. At this time of year, the grass seems to regrow almost as soon as we turn our backs.
After losing potato tops to frost more often than not, this year we covered the early potatoes with an Enviromesh tunnel and delayed planting the main crop. The potatoes beneath the mesh were growing strongly when the inevitable frost arrived. Had the protection worked? Thankfully, the plants under the mesh were completely undamaged. As usual, we also had a few volunteer potatoes left behind from last year’s harvest and these had clearly suffered frost burn, so it certainly seems the mesh did the trick.
Martyn also earthed up the potatoes under the mesh. The rest of the potatoes remain safely underground
The strawberry flowers have survived too, and some fruit has already started to set, so we netted them to protect the developing berries.
Out and about
Temple Newsam
Our first visit of the week was to Temple Newsam. As seems to be the case everywhere at the moment, the landscape is glowing with vibrant spring greens and the trees are looking at their absolute best.
The rhododendrons are beginning to complement the azaleas, creating a magnificent display of colour.
We also spotted a moorhen sitting on a perfectly positioned nest.
Nostell
At Nostell, the cygnets had hatched. They were snuggled up safely on the nest beside one of their parents. We counted five, although there may still have been more waiting to hatch.
I just hope the parent swans keep a watchful eye on the heron nearby.
Stillingfleet Lodge
This time, when we collected our plants, we decided to visit the gardens at Stillingfleet Lodge.
The four-acre garden has been developed by the nursery owners over the course of forty years. It is made up of a series of themed garden “rooms” of varying sizes — some intimate and secluded, others opening onto sweeping lawns and expansive herbaceous borders.
There is also a large wildlife pond and meadow area, with the whole garden managed organically and in harmony with wildlife.
As we wandered around, we encountered fancy chickens and guinea fowl roaming freely through the gardens.
Some of the “wildlife”, however, was rather less mobile.
More nature
On our walks we spent time exploring the many different tree species, noticing their flowers and early fruits.
Unlike the showy horse chestnut, most trees produce very small, petal-less flowers that often pass unnoticed.
The trees from top left are, beech, lime, maple, elm, willow, copper beech, beech, sycamore and the large photo is hornbeam
Trees also provide food and shelter for countless creatures.
One lime tree hosted several small green caterpillars browsing the leaves. Gemini identified them as most likely being copper underwing caterpillars.
Nearby, on the same tree, we spotted a harlequin ladybird, probably hunting aphids — so the caterpillars were safe enough, unless a hungry bird happened to notice them first.
Finally
As the week came to an end, there were finally the first signs that the garden and allotment are beginning to wake up properly after the long winter.
The plot is slowly looking less bare, with fresh growth appearing and young crops beginning to put on new growth.
There is still plenty of work to do, and probably more frosty nights and showers to contend with, but each week now seems to bring a little more colour and a little more life, along with the promise of busier and brighter days ahead.
As always, until next time stay safe and stay well.
Awww, those cygnets, how cute. I hope they all survive. We’ve never visited Stillingfleet, it looks like a nice garden to explore.
Fingers crossed for the cygnets, Jo. The garden at Stillingfleet is the sort of garden I would like.
The Stillingfleet garden photos are beautiful particularly the herbaceous borders and path shots. It really is such a beautiful time of year, especially when the Sun shines on all the new growth.
The late frost and cold wind have been causing irritation here but we’re hoping this is the last week of needing fleece.
Your allotment and garden are looking good for the year ahead and beyond!
That green caterpillar really is a perfect match for that leaf but the cygnets win the cuteness award.
The hail has spoiled the leaves on our apple trees, Belinda they look very tatty. The allotment is looking very neat as we are spending so much time tidying rather than planting. We just need some decent weather.
What a master of disguise that green caterpillar is!
The weather is on the turn again, not looking good for gardening, but will save watering. I am very concerned as to how it will impact on my fundraising as it looks bad for a few days.
The caterpillars were an exact match, Debbie. The problem is that on the allotment there is little to water. Fingers crossed for your fund raiser.