There are lots of carrots now and they are starting to put on weight. These came from the first row I sowed in late Winter. The others that I thinned were much less impressive, so I put them on the compost heap. I don't know if I'll get back down to the allotment for another week or so. Already, it's been nine days since the last time I was there since I was busy with studying and work. I hope to get more done after the 5th. Also in the pic are three of the Japanese Onions. I'm so impressed. They are the biggest onions I've grown so far. The rest are still in the ground to see if they'll get bigger. I read that they are suppose to come up in late June.
I cut the spinach back as it's starting to bolt. We are now in need of a spinach and feta tart recipe. I thinned the radish and turnips again, and picked the purple sprouting broccoli and four large broadbean pods. Those greens last week were awesome! The few small broadbean pods that I picked last week went into a mushroom risotto pods and all. Yum.
The weeds are taking over
Today, while the sun was shining, I tried to knock back all the weeds on the undug parts by stomping on them. I hoed the interior paths, which have hundreds of nettle plants. I've noticed that the back area is covered with that sticky willie weed, which is becoming very tall and invasive. And some of the old nets from the Winter brassicas are covered with them.
I weeded and raked the area where the cauliflowers were. I'm thinking of putting some of the corn there because the space is free. I really don't know if I'll get that back part dug in time. As it is, Summer and Winter squashes need to go out there. I might put the courgettes over where I am digging up the First Earlies. I dug up three today, and gave away what was under one plant to an allotment neighbour who kindly gave me a cup of tea. They are doing a great job over on the far side of the plots by the river with hard landscaping, pergolas, decking, wooden cold frames, and tons of fruits. I'm jealous!
Thinking ahead
I sowed mangetout and snap peas where I sowed peas the first time. Only one germinated from that bunch.
In the asparagus bed, I ripped out the dead crowns, weeded and sowed the lettuce that I ordered last week. I figure it will give me a chance to use the bed for a while until I can properly dig it over and manure it for new crowns later on. I read somewhere that the end of May is pretty much your last chance to sow lettuce before it gets too hot.
Good news! Two of the purple artichokes germinated and are now hardening off in the cold frame. I'll plant them out and dream of artichokes for next year!
Some time over the weekend, I mixed cosmos, rudbeckia, phalecia, gypsophilia, and pot marigolds together in a bag like the guy on Gardeners World did a few weeks ago. I then spread them around a bare spot in the back border. A few have germinated already. I started putting in some flower bulbs. I can't remember the name right now, maybe I'll mention it when I plant some more in a few days to keep them blooming for longer. I think they are some type of gladiola. The Irises are blooming in the pond and the lavender is beginning to bloom in the border just as the Forget me nots are fading away. I have resown some of the Lima beans. The first sowing rotted in the pots because it was way too early for them. Finally, I've started off 9 butter beans that grow like runners and 9 regular runner beans called Enorma.
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