15/3/26 - Backup Sowings, Pricking Out and Spuds
Another week has gone by and another weekend is nearly over. I'm getting to the point once again where the allotment, or at least the grow tent and seedlings, need something doing on almost a daily basis. This year, I've added to our list of things to grow quite a number of different flowers. Some of them were sown a few weeks ago, and this week, were ready to be pricked out and plant on. Calendula, Dahlia and Nasturtiums were all in the first wave to be moved on.
Back to the vegetables, and this week has also seen some backup sowings. Around a month ago, I sowed a couple of half tray of beetroot seeds. For some reason, they have been really poor with only one or two of the tiniest seedlings appearing, and then not getting any further. I've decided to cut my losses, and sow some more. I'll keep the trays of the first sowings just in case something does come of them.
While on the subject of backup sowings, after a fantastic start, my Steak Sandwich Beefsteak tomatoes have grown on strong, but over the last week, they have started exhibiting signs of leaf curl, which is usually attributed to temperature issues. However, they have been on heat mats and under lights for the duration. The only thing I can think of, is that the night time air temperature in the garage is going a bit too low. I've moved them indoors onto a window sill and kept them on a heated propagator base to try and stabilise them a little. Just in case, I've sown another 1/4 tray of these seeds. There is still plenty of time for them to grow and catch up, so I'm not too bothered. Interestingly, the other variety which was sown at the same time (Tomate Ananas) seem perfectly fine.
On the pricking out front for the veg, the cucumber and aubergine seedlings have also been moved onto their individual pots. Over the last week in particular, both sets of seeds come on pretty quickly. They are still being kept under light and on heat mats. Once they get more established, it will be time to harden them off a little before they get moved up into the polytunnel.
This weekend also saw the sowing of the early potatoes. They are perhaps a couple of weeks later going in than previous years, but it has been so wet, or cold that it hasn't seemed to be quite the right time. Nevertheless, this weekend, I bit the bullet, dropped them into their spud buckets, and now they are being kept under cover in the mini polytunnel until the weather improves a little bit. They have been sown in a 50/50 mix of home made compost and 1 year old rotted manure. It might be a bit rich, but hopefully it will work fine.
Elsewhere, there are signs of new growth on the fruit front. The new raspberry canes which I planted earlier this year, during their dormant period, have now started to put on some proper green growth. The first of the buds put in a appearance about a month or so ago, but now we have leaves too!
The strawberry plants in the polytunnel have also pushed out quite a number of flowers this week. During the daytime, the polytunnel has seen a maximum temperature of around 40 degrees, but falling well into the single figures at night. These poor strawberries probably don't know of they are coming or going! With these signs of new flowers, I'll need to start thinking about feeding them soon too.
Finally this week, we return to the Great Broad Bean Experiment. Over the last week, there really hasn't been much change other than the 2 control plantings (in 100% shop bought compost) have continued to grow at the same rate as each other. The plantings in the 50/50 mix of compost and manure continue to grow at different rates. One plant clearly about twice the size of the other. Finally, the 2 plantings in 100% manure are still to put in an appearance with nothing breaking the surface on either pot. I expect I will bring the test to an end this coming week. Out of the sowings that are growing, root growth has been excellent, and all the pots have pushed out roots out of the bottom of the pots. They are in need of planting out into the main bed with the rest of the crop.
In the coming couple of weeks, I'll be starting work on a few of the beds to get them ready for this seasons crop. I should be able to sow may parsnip seeds in the next week or two and a couple of the beds will need to have their hoops and nets removed to make room for climbing structures for cucumbers and to allow easier access for this years main crop potatoes. One step at a time though!
