Planning and plotting
No matter how many times we say it, few new plot holders seem to plan for the year ahead, yet it’s one of the most important things to do on an allotment. Deciding what to grow and preparing the plots can be done during the winter months (depending on the weather) so that by April, you’re ready for action!
April is traditionally the noticeable start of our growing year; weeds begin to sprout aided by the warmth of the soil and slowly, the green leaves return to the trees that span the edge of the site.
It’s not just what we see, but also what we hear that tells us we have entered a new season!
There’s a distinct bustle of ‘April activity’ on the plots. The faint background buzz of plotters chattering between themselves, interspersed with the clanking of a hammer from somewhere along the back row – no doubt repairing a shed.
The winter months were so wet it was almost impossible to complete structural repairs, but as we are blessed with the lighter evenings, it’s time to complete the neglected patches on the allotments.
We start with the greenhouses. The beds inside are ready to be topped up with a mix of horse muck and new compost, both bursting with fresh nutrients for the new cucumber, loofah and tomato plants. The glass has been washed, allowing more light into the buildings and, hopefully, cleaning away any pests lurking in the crevices.
Next are the sheds. Signs of a leak or two appeared in December. Out with hammers and battery screwdrivers to fit new layers of feather boards to the side of the small shed which, when painted, quickly looks as good as new!
The slabbed paths are mottled with a green moss caused by the prolonged rain. A job usually completed on our hands and knees, but instead, we whip out the magical flame-throwing ‘weed wand’! With a flick of the switch the flames are pumped relentlessly onto the mossed
areas and seedlings nestled in the gaps. Seconds later the perennial weeds are cleared, and our fingernails are spared for another day.
Tools are next for inspection. Spades need a clean and in a flash are plunged into a bucket of coarse sand. Any debris languishing on the blades is gone, leaving clean, shiny surfaces ready for use again.
The raised beds have been hoed to aerate the soil, so it’s just the fences now to paint, which can be done as the weather warms.
With all the main tasks completed, it now leaves just the decisions about what to grow and where. While we have planned and prepared for both plots, the greenhouses, and the poly tunnel, the only thing we can’t plan for… is the weather!
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are easy to grow once you’ve got to grips with some basic steps and are familiar with their likes and dislikes.
Cucumbers used to have a reputation for being tricky to grow, needing heated greenhouses and lots of space to ramble, but thankfully, that’s no longer the case. Anyone can grow one and with the new market varieties, cucumbers can even be grown on the windowsill.
Whatever varieties we grow, we set the seeds in March, remembering cucumbers don’t like the cold. The seeds are more likely to rot than germinate if they’re not warm.
Set the seeds on their sides in cell trays of compost, then water, ensuring the contents are damp but not soaked. For the seeds to retain warmth, try wrapping each tray in a clear, plastic bag. Old bread bags are ideal, you can secure the bag using the original plastic tie and place the tray somewhere warm and light.
After around 10 days there should be signs of germination. As soon as this occurs, remove the plastic bag and move the trays into a large, lidded plastic storage box. This container will keep the young seedlings warm and out of draughts, even after they are re-potted into the next sized pots.
If a cold spell is forecast, pop the lid on the storage box to protect the plants. It will allow light inside but will protect the delicate plants from getting cold. We pack plants into the boxes and as necessary, water by pouring it into the bottom of the box.
As the weather warms and the plants are around four inches high, repot into large pots or buckets, or sow directly into the greenhouse – being careful not to disturb the root system.
Sunflowers
April is the month we sow our sunflower seeds.
We set the large, oval shaped seeds on their sides and lay into cell trays of compost sowing them ‘double the depth of the depth of the seed’. (That rule is regardless of the type of seed you are setting by the way).
Once watered, we leave them to germinate in the greenhouse and after around seven days usually there are signs of life. As the seedlings reach around three inches in height, we repot each into larger pots before planting them out into the allotments as the weather warms.
Tea and Tomatoes
April is one of the busiest months on the plots, but we always find time for a cuppa!
As the soil warms (and the weeds start to grow) it’s time to set our tomato seeds including our favourite compact variety ‘Red Robin’ which can be grown on the windowsill, needing neither staking nor pinching out but which produces an abundance of tiny, red tomatoes.
Alongside these, we will be setting other varieties because if there is one thing better than the smell of a cuppa, it’s the scent of a home-grown tomato on a summer’s morning. .
Protection
One of our most common accidents on the plot is being poked in the face with a stick that’s been set in the ground. It happens so regularly that we’ve now created our own rule: when we set a stick in the ground, get the pots out and cover the ends.
What ‘pots’ do we mean? Those tiny terracotta pots that you saved in the shed because they would ‘come in handy one day’. Those pots! Being terracotta, they are perfectly weighted to stay in place and we think look rather nice too!
Go to pottyplotters.co.uk for more or search for Potty Plotters Plotcast.
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