Page 22 - ALG Issue 3 2023

on the...
from March to mid-May 2023
Kings plot
What a difference a year makes. Last year the soil was so dry and lacking
in moisture, we were all watering
like mad to get seedlings going and any planted crops moving. This year there have been plenty of dry days but topped up with adequate amounts
of moisture, making germination of seedlings and the establishment of planted out crops much easier. In 2022 from March to mid-May, we had approximately 41mm of rain. Over the same period this year we have had 180mm, making all the difference to our growing conditions.
In this part of East Anglia, we were blessed with good weather at Easter, which meant the allotment site was a hive of activity. Those of us who had dug our plots in autumn had soil ready for sowing or planting. Those that didn’t were out there getting started on their plots.
On Good Friday I planted my seed potatoes that had nice green chits and, by May, they are now looking good and have been earthed up a couple of times, Fingers crossed we don’t get any late frosts. The onion sets raised in modules were also planted out over Easter and watered in once and have established well.
Although early, the soil had warmed up well this year by Easter and I thought it was worth giving it a go with sowing my Hybrid Parsnips Gladiator, and Victor, some Beetroot Red Ace, Radish French Breakfast and Crunchy King, as well as one row of Carrot Romance. All were sown direct into well prepared soil, then covered with some wire mesh cloches or enviromesh to stop any unwelcome visitors pecking or scrapping at the
soil. I must say growing conditions were ideal, and germination was very
The summer cabbage, cauliflower, calabrese and Brussels sprouts that were sown in early March, and were planted out in early May, are establishing well.
good and, by early April, I had nice rows of seedlings emerging, which have continued to grow well.
Once I saw that the first row of Carrot Romance had germinated well, as you never know with early sowings if the weather turns cold, I then sowed two more rows of carrots and covered them all with an enviromesh tent. A further sowing of beetroot, and radish was also made in April and May for continuity of supply.
In early March, I sowed some Pea Onward in modules under glass;
these were ready to plant out in early April, up against some chicken wire, then next door on the same day as planting out, I sowed two more rows of Hurst Greenshaft peas. These have germinated well and again will give me a longer picking season of fresh peas. I love them straight from the pod.
The large netted structure I put up last year for my brassicas have kept in place and this year I am growing my peas, but also my onion sets, along with my Large Exhibition onions and leeks. These large onions and leeks have been growing under glass before hardening off in
a cold frame from mid-March. These were planted out in the first week of
22 Allotment and Leisure Gardener