Despite holding off a little longer this year before starting with veg growing, it seems that I was still far too keen even though some of the seeds were initially planted inside to germinate. Eventually they still needed to be planted out but the weather in our part of the world just hasn’t warmed up as quickly as I’d hoped.
After a slow start there is finally something to show for all the efforts now that the red cabbage and red brussels sprouts have been transplanted in the raised beds last weekend.
Unfortunately things don’t look quite so good where I’ve been planting seed directly into their final growing positions. The raised bed that was set aside for carrots and parsnips this year looks distinctly unimpressive and I may need to investigate a backup plan if nothing happens soon.
After last years successful crop, there was no reason not to grow swede again and at least this has proved to be more resilient. The netting is already up to protect from the expected rush of pests even though the plants themselves aren’t yet of a size to make much of a meal for the bugs!
On the bright side though, the soft fruit is doing well in the temporary home of a raised bed. Eventually this will be moved to a permanent home but I’m taking my time with that after learning a hard lesson when planting fruit trees in what turned out to be an underground pond in winter!
Have you thought about a ‘hot’ bed for the winter/spring? I used the method very successfully down here in Surrey in my allotment days. It is a great way of improving the soil and especially good for ‘hungry’ plants – onions and beans – when you take the overs off in the summer.
Also it will help you get rid of some of the manure you must be accumulating – anaerobic digestion rules!!!
That sounds like a cheaper option than the polytunnel I’ve been eyeing up – if the money runs out sooner than I had hoped then I’ll give it a try!