Category Sodbustin'

What to Sow Now Feb 2011

18 February, 13:54, by Fran
Broad beans
(also Fava bean)
Plant in garden. Harvest from June
Cabbage Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May
Carrot Plant in garden. Harvest from June
Garlic Plant in garden. Harvest from July
Jerusalem Artichokes
(also Sunchoke)
Plant in garden. Harvest from July
Peas Plant in garden. Harvest from May
Radish Plant in garden. Harvest from April
Snow Peas
(also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas)
Plant in garden. Harvest from June

Preparing for March

Amaranth
(also Love-lies-bleeding)
Plant in greenhouse Harvest from May
Asparagus Plant in garden. Harvest from 24 months
Basil Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May
Beetroot Plant in garden. Harvest from May
Broad beans
(also Fava bean)
Plant in garden. Harvest from June
Brussels sprouts Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June
Burdock
(also Gobo (Japanese Burdock))
Plant in garden. Harvest from July
Cabbage Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May
Cape Gooseberry
(also Golden Berry, Chinese Lanterns)
Plant in garden. Harvest from June
Carrot Plant in garden. Harvest from June
Celeriac Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June
Celery Under cover Harvest from July
Collards
(also Collard greens, Borekale)
Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May
Corn Salad
(also Lamb’s lettuce or Mache)
Plant in garden. Harvest from April
Eggplant
(also Aubergine)
Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June
Jerusalem Artichokes
(also Sunchoke)
Plant in garden. Harvest from July
Kohlrabi Plant in garden. Harvest from May
Leeks Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from July
Mint
(also Garden mint)
Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May
Mustard greens
(also gai choy)
Plant in garden. Harvest from April
Onion Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from September
Parsnip Plant in garden. Harvest from July
Peas Plant in garden. Harvest from May
Potato Plant in garden. Harvest from July
Radish Plant in garden. Harvest from April
Shallots
(also Eschalots)
Plant in garden. Harvest from June
Silverbeet
(also Swiss Chard or Mangold)
Plant in garden. Harvest from May
Snow Peas
(also Sugar Peas, Mangetout, Chinese Peas)
Plant in garden. Harvest from June
Spinach
(also English spinach)
Plant in garden. Harvest from April
Spring onions
(also Scallions, Bunching onions)
Plant in garden. Harvest from May
Turnip Plant in garden. Harvest from May

It Started over a Pint

21 July, 15:50, by Fran

I enjoy a drink like the next man (providing the next man is not a teetotaler) and ’twas a fair evening in March whilst enjoying a pint in my local that I suggested that myself and my long term drinking buddies should look into growing our own vegetables. This suggestion was not, I’m happy to say, spurned like a rat in a wellington boot but was received with a few curious looks, two nods, a grunt and a “tell me more!” It could have been so much worse!

“Well” I explained, “I was on the way back from Holland the other day and noticed while I was on train that every town and village that we passed through were bordered by allotments.”

Silence prevailed but I could tell that all ears were pricked. Someone may have farted – I can’t really remember. I continued…

“I think it’s a good idea to grow our food rather than buying all that processed stuff and it will work out cheaper in the long run. How hard can it be?”

How hard can it be?

My friend Fintan was the first to pitch in. “Great idea. Count me in!”

I had a gut feeling that he would agree as he is an excellent cook and had he not chosen his current career path I could imagine him trading recipes and expletives with Gordon Ramsey. I kid you not. He is a lover of fresh produce and like me, often bemoans the lack, if not the price, of fine fresh vegetables. I am not as hot in the kitchen as Fintan is, I do admit but I try.

“It’s something we should look into before we do anything.” said Maurice and Gus agreed. It was time for another pint.

So we did look into it. We looked through it, at it, round it, under it, over it, along it and up and down it like county councilors until we knew more about what we should do about taking on an allotment than a chain-smoker knows about a chesty cough.

All we had to do now was find the right place.

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Digging In

20 July, 09:55, by Fran

We were late starters in May but we plan on growing all year round and as we have been blessed with great soil to start with we dug in the finest of horse manure that is provided to everyone at Waterstown Allotments.

It’s powerful stuff!