Page 12 - ALG Issue 4 2024

SEASONAL JOBS DECEMBER
Cold short days and long cold nights can make finding time to get to the plot more difficult. Small, regular bursts of activity
at the allotment are much better than prolonged irregular sessions. However,
it is a good idea to try and keep ahead
of winter jobs such as turning compost heaps, cleaning out water barrels or collecting pea-sticks.Avoid digging on cold, wet soil – that’s if you still dig.
Protect any slightly tender crops such as celery with a covering of straw. Swedes and parsnips benefit from a few hard
frosts to convert starches into sugars, thus sweetening them.
Vegetable
• Regularly check all stored crops and remove any that show signs of decay.
• If seakale is grown, clear around the crowns of debris and lightly prick over the soil in readiness for forcing.
• If chicory is grown, lift some roots and take into a warm dark place for forcing.
• Check over and stake any tall growing brassicas, such as Brussels sprouts, kale
JANUARY
Use this time to start to look over tools and equipment. Cutting implements, spades, forks, hoes etc. should be sharpened, cleaned and oiled. Clean, lightly sand and thoroughly rub over with linseed oil any wooden shafted tools.A general tidy through of sheds and stores is always a good idea.
Greenhouses, polytunnels, cold frames and cloches should be checked and cleaned if you have not done so already. If heaters or propagators are used, these should also be checked over and all pots and trays should be washed in readiness.
Vegetable
• Sow onions and leeks under cover, especially if required for exhibition/ showing.
• If space is available, a few early potatoes can be planted in large pots and kept in a greenhouse or polytunnel.
• Feed and mulch asparagus if not done last autumn.
• If a slightly heated greenhouse is available, dwarf French beans can be sown 4 or 5 to a decent size pot for early crops.
• Continue to check over stored crops. • Continue as per last month to force
chicor y.
• If grown, seakale can now be forced,
Greenhouse
• Very much the same as last month. Remember
to ventilate a little on mild days, though cautiously, and always ensure houses are closed
up again in mid-afternoon to trap in any warmth from the winter sun.
FEBRUARY
Where a heated greenhouse, polytunnel, conservatory or even a good sunny windowsill is available, some of the earliest sowings can be made. However, light levels are still low, and young seedlings can easily get drawn and leggy.
Put cloches onto vacant prepared ground to start to warm the soil for early sowings in a few weeks’ time. Early peas, beetroot, carrots, lettuce are ideal candidates. Choose varieties that are quick maturing, suitable for early sowing, or in the case of root crops, varieties that produce small, tender roots.
Vegetable
• Where soil is free draining and the plot very sheltered, broad beans can be direct sown under cloches.Where the soil is heavier and naturally wetter and colder, sow under cover, but do not give too much warmth or the young plants will quickly become drawn and leggy.
• Early cauliflowers can be sown undercover.
• Plant Jerusalem artichokes into well prepared soil.
• Lift remainder of last year’s parsnips, swede etc. if not already done so.
• Sow a self-blanching celery under cover for an early crop.
• Plant more early potatoes in pots in colder districts. In milder areas, the
12 | Issue 4 2024 | Allotment and Leisure Gardener