8/2/26 - Bean Update, Transplanting, Chitting and Sowing

Good afternoon and welcome to this weekends allotment diary update.  It might not be long before I go back to doing smaller updates through the week to keep posts shorter as the amount of work I do increases.  We're nearly at the point where it is possible to do a visit to the plot after work which is exciting.

So, to kick off this update, we start with a bit of AI fun.  I wanted a new profile picture for my Instagram account, so off to an AI provider, supplied a photo of myself and asked it to create a caricature of me harvesting veg on my allotment with my shed and polytunnel behind me.  Have to say, not a bad effort!

First job this weekend was to sow some carrots in the polytunnel carrot bed.  Now, this maybe too early.  The compost might not be warm enough, despite being kept undercover in the polytunnel, but I decided to give it a go.  Last year, I devised a way of using a cell tray to get some good spacing between the carrots and it worked really well.  So, I've done that again, and have sown a bed of Main Crop Berlicum 2.  Perhaps I should have done an early season variety, but if it doesn't work, I can easily re-sow in a month or so.

Next, the onion seedlings that I took up to the polytunnel last week had started to push out their second leaves.  As I said last week, I did forget to water the seed trays for a couple of days and so germination and development was impacted.  But, the ones that have pulled through have now been transplanted into a cell tray.  Not quite enough to fill the tray, but a good start nevertheless.

In further onion news, the later sowings are coming on nicely.  I have one 1/4 tray that is now off heat and just sitting under lights, ready to take up to the polytunnel.  I also have another 1/4 try that is just showing signs of germination.  If they all come, that should be fine, and will give me enough seedlings for another 2 cell trays.

A quick look in the pond as I passed on the way to the tunnel showed that it's looking nice and clear.  No sign of any frogspawn yet though sadly, but I remain hopeful.  An allotment neighbour who also has a pond has got some already, so spawning has started for sure.

Back to the polytunnel and a couple of checks on what else is going on.  The strawberry hanging baskets are still in their dormancy, but otherwise, looking healthy.  Sweet pea growth has continued with a few more cells germinated and other seedlings started to push more growth.  In the coming weeks, we should start to see their true leaves starting to unfurl.

The bean update for this week is that there isn't a bean update to be had.  No sign of germination after 2 weeks.  But then again, the bean plants being overwintered haven't exactly put on a huge amount of growth either.

A couple of weeks ago, I took delivery of my seed potato order.  Since then, they have been kept in their cardboard box in the garage, but this weekend, I've set out the early Charlotte variety out to chit in the tunnel.  They'll stay there at least for 2 or 3 weeks now until I think the weather will play ball and allow me to get them out into their spud buckets.

Back at home, sowing continues.  This weekend, I've sown a 1/4 tray of Aubergine Black Beauty.  I struggled with them last year, only producing 2 fruit.  Hopefully they will be a bit better this year.  The next sowing I made was Tomate Ananas, a variety of tomato that I picked up seeds for in a French supermarket while on holiday last year.  They ripen to a yellow/golden colour and will hopefully put on a good display.  Finally for sowings this weekend, I sowed a 1/4 tray of saved seed from last year from a Beefsteak tomato called Steak Sandwich.  This will be my first year growing tomatoes from saved seed.  I have no idea if the seeds are viable or if this will work, but we wait and see.

All these sowings were made into my standard seed mix and then covered with a sprinkling of the same mix before being given a light spray of water.  These, along with the pepper sowings made last week are now all on the heated super 7 in on a window sill indoors.

That about wraps up activities for this weekend.  The forecast for next weekend suggest we may get a bit of respite from the ongoing rain, but will also switch to frosty temperatures again.  So, I'll need to monitor the onions and other sowings and give them a bit of extra protection if they need it.  

There's still a load more to sow in February and I'll be looking to continue that next weekend and the weekend after.  Can't wait!