January Jobs

It's now mid-January and although there isn't much to do at the allotment there are a few jobs that I've been busy with. As you can see above the Broad Beans have all come up really well. I sowed 3 rows in the Autumn and it seems like just about all of them have come up. They're inside a mini polytunnel to try and keep any frosts off.


The Rhubarb has completely died back now, with not a single leaf remaining. Using some old fence posts I built a simple border around the Rhubarb crown to make it easier to see where the Rhubarb bed is (see above). I then covered the bed in manure to help feed the crown for this years crop - which will be the first year I pick the Rhubarb.


The Strawberry Cage on the old plot, which I moved in the Autumn to make way for the shed, needed a new lid. The old one was built with timber from an old fence, and it rotted a bit too soon. The lid was also previously hinged on the short edge, meaning it opened onto whatever was behind the cage. I've now built a new lid that hinges on the long edge, in the middle of the cage, so that one lid folds on top of the other lid when open. This will make it much easier to get inside the cage to pick the fruit in the summer.


Last weekend I bought some seed potatoes (Maris Peer, second early) from B&Q and they're now 'chitting' at home in some egg boxes (see above) ready for planting out in the Spring.