Our weather continues to be unsettled. I guess that we should see that as a bonus as now it just rains some of the time.
We have had some hail and rain accompanied by bitingly cold wind. We have had some sunshine but this hasn’t meant that the temperature crept up although at times we have been tempted to shed one of our layers of clothing.
At the beginning of the week, the forecast was promising that the weather would improve, but of course, that changed, although the weekend was relatively pleasant.
At least, we have continued to make progress at the allotment. We planted a second bed of onions, shallots and garlic. The shallots were seedlings and so will only each produce one shallot each but last year the individual shallots were huge. Mal informed me that if I replanted a shallot the following year it would produce a cluster. Two of last year’s shallots have shooted so I have planted them to see what happens. You may be able to spot these at the end of the far row, they may be too far gone but we’ll see what happens.
I planted some gladioli bulbs in a bed containing sweet Williams.
I planted our first batch of mixed brassicas.
We finished planting our potatoes. We haven’t been able to source one of our favourite varieties – Elfe, so we have planted some from last year’s crop. We did this last year and they produced a really good crop so I guess you could say that these are the grandchildren of the bought seed potatoes.
Our final planting was a block of broad beans.
Details of all our planting are given here.
Video of our week’s work on the allotment here
During our walks last week, it was noticeable that most of the trees were greening. I love the fresh green of early spring.
At Temple Newsam, the rhododendrons are opening. We’re looking forward to the main display.
Ruby had her first meeting with some pigs. She was fascinated but for their part they ignored her.
Instead of our usual visit to Nostell, we decided to have a day at Clumber Park which is just over an hour’s drive from home.
There are always lots of swans and various ducks and geese on the lake and browsing the grass. The swans are non-breeding individuals so tolerate one another. I often wonder whether the juveniles from Nostell arrive here once they are chased off the lake by their parents.
The grassy area where the birds browse is covered with daisies which I think must be the result of all the bird droppings. From a distance, it can look like a covering of snow.
After lunch, we decided on a walk around the lake. The far side of the lake is more natural.
As at Nostell, there were areas carpeted with bluebells.
On previous visits we have walked so far around the lake and then doubled back but this time we walked further and it seemed that the route would take us back to the other side of the lake. We carried on walking with fingers crossed and luckily arrived at the car park just as it started to rain. In all, we walked 8km or about 5 miles but Ruby probably covered twice or three times that distance as she darted back and forth the whole time. Even then when we arrived back in the field where the car was parked she was hankering after a game of ball chasing. I wish I had her energy.
A video of our walk is posted here
Finally, although lots of our stored vegetables are now depleted we still have lots in the freezer and a few onions that haven’t yet started to grow.
Last week, some of our remaining onions, along with red chilli and cauliflower from the freezer were used in a chicken curry.
A red onion and some frozen squash went into a vegetable tagine.
Into a sweet and sour turkey dish went more onion and frozen red chilli.
One less welcome visitor to our garden at the weekend was a heron. Fortunately, we scared it off before it could turn its attention to the fish in our garden pond. Let’s hope that it doesn’t return.
Anyway, that’s all for now so as always until next time stay safe and well.
You have certainly been busy planting! I’ve gotten a bit done here, with more to come as soon as I can get the beds worked up.
Things slowed down, Dave as some beds are still soggy
You’re getting on well but it’s really not inviting out there when it’s so blowy ☹️
It isn’t Belinda – is it really spring?
As you say Sue it just rains some of the time now and not all the time 😂 It’s unseasonably cool though. I’ve started off my shallot sets in the greenhouse but will soon plant them out. It’s indeed a magical time of the year with everything greening up.
The weather is just spoiling things, Anna
I am still wearing my heavyweight thermal shirts with a brushed lining. Normally I’d expect to be in either my lightweight ones or a heavy, long sleeve tee shirt in April.
We always planted shallot sets, never grown them by sowing from seed, and they always produced a cluster of bulbs. We always grew a lot of them because I love them pickled or roasted.
We decided on trying seeds as we couldn’t seem to buy many of the long shallots from sets, Debbie and I prefer those. I’m still in fleecy thermals too.
I’m so done with cold winds. We have the same here. Another month before planting begins. Your gardens look amazing.
It really has been a miserable spring so far, Bonnie
I was standing in the back garden yesterday and noticed how the tree’s looked a lot greener, I love the fresh green look.
Shallot sets are shallots from the previous year, so planting last years shallots, in theory should produce a cluster. It’ll be interesting to see if it does happen.
It will Steve. I had intended to try planting some early but the two were all we had left. I just wonder whether they are too far gone.