{"id":42749,"date":"2026-04-04T18:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T17:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ossettweather.com\/gardening2022\/?p=42749"},"modified":"2026-04-06T09:47:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:47:12","slug":"april-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ossettweather.com\/gardening2022\/susan\/april-1\/","title":{"rendered":"We had potato plans. The weather had other plans."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Easter\u2014ideally Good Friday\u2014is traditionally the time to plant potatoes. This tradition is rooted in folklore, with the belief that planting at Easter brings good luck and a strong harvest. After all, Easter symbolises new life, making it the perfect moment to start thinking about a new growing season.<\/span><\/p>

We had intended to follow tradition and get at least some potatoes in the ground over the holiday.<\/span><\/p>

A Windy Good Friday<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Good Friday, however, had other plans. Working at the allotment was far from pleasant\u2014the wind was relentless, and a nearby polytunnel seemed destined to follow Artemis into space. It looked unlikely that any of our potatoes would make it underground over Easter.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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At the Allotment<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Despite the weather, the pace of work at the allotment is quickening.<\/span><\/p>

On Tuesday, I finished tidying the bed that houses the thuggish horseradish. Ideally, we\u2019d remove it entirely\u2014but believe me, we\u2019ve tried, and the best we can do is control its spread.<\/span><\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Martyn removed the covers from several beds and weeded the garlic and winter onions, which are now growing away nicely.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u00a0He had planned to net the cherry tree on Good Friday, but the strong winds quickly put paid to that idea.<\/span><\/p>

I tackled a bed of rather sickly-looking Sweet Williams. Being buffeted by the wind made the task less pleasant, but I was determined to finish. On the way home, a newly fallen tree blocked the road\u2014so perhaps sticking to the weeding saved us from being squashed!<\/span><\/p>

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By Saturday, some beds had developed a crusty surface, hardened by the drying wind. I removed the weeds while Martyn ran the cultivator through the soil to break up any clods before they returned to being rock hard and unworkable<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/p>

We had hoped to plant potatoes on Easter Sunday, but the rain dashed that plan. Easter Monday is now the target\u2014but will the weather cooperate?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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At Temple Newsam<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

The daffodils are still taking centre stage at Temple Newsam. By planting different varieties that flower at staggered times, the gardens cleverly extend their flowering period\u2014a strategy we could take\u00a0<\/span>into our own garden planning.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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While the daffodils remain the stars of the show, early blossoms and newly unfurling leaf buds are emerging from the wings, at the start of the greening of the\u00a0<\/span>landscape<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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At Nostell<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Horse chestnut trees are among the first to awaken from their winter hibernation, with young leaves bursting into life and the trees donning the fresh, vibrant green unique to spring.<\/span><\/p>

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Wildflowers are also springing into action: aconites create sunny patches across the grass, while more bluebells are appearing, gradually forming a soft, blue carpet across the woodland floor. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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To me, yellow and green have always been symbolic of spring.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Nature on the plot<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

When we\u2019re working on the plot, we are under constant watch. A robin perches in a tree, singing a territorial tune announcing \u201cThis is my patch. Keep off!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 while occasionally swooping down to forage in the freshly turned soil for tasty morsels.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Meanwhile, our manure piles are sprouting fungi. Tall, bell-shaped mushrooms\u2014Petticoat Mottlegills\u2014and brown, cup-shaped fungi\u2014likely Blistered Cup Fungus\u2014appear shortly after rain on horse or cow manure. Both are decomposers, specialised in breaking down the high-nitrogen content in herbivore dung and straw. Fresh manure is packed with concentrated nitrogen, retains moisture, and presents little competition from organisms that cannot tolerate the\u00a0<\/span>high ammonia content. These fungi help convert \u201chot\u201d manure into stable, nutrient-rich organic matter, so it\u2019s best not to apply the manure to growing areas while the fungi are active.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ruby is proving a challenge with her thick coat. The next time you see her, she\u2019ll have had a visit from the groomer and look far more slender. Until then, her daily brushing remains a rather arduous task\u2014one I\u2019m looking forward to being made easier!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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With only Easter Monday left, will we manage to get some potatoes in the ground over the holiday period? Whether or not you\u2019ve been planting potatoes.<\/span><\/p>

I hope you had a happy Easter and weathered the storms safely.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Easter\u2014ideally Good Friday\u2014is traditionally the time to plant potatoes. This tradition is rooted in folklore, with the belief that planting at Easter brings good luck and a strong harvest. After all, Easter symbolises new life, making it the perfect moment to start thinking about a new growing season. We had intended to follow tradition and 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