Renewal

The allotment hasn't been quite as neglected as this blog - although you wouldn't think I'd paid it any attention at all, going by the huge numbers of dandelions now in flower.

The Aquadulce Claudia broad beans survived the snow, as did the cavolo nero, which kept us in winter greens until about February.  The radicchio worked really well as a cut and come again crop; a month ago I cut it all down to the roots, and it has bounced right back with another crop.  The chard looked dead after the cold weather but also had a last hurrah.  However, the broccoli raab and red russian kale didn't do all that much.  The purple sprouting broccoli is now beginning to yield.  The asparagus is up, but I have to leave it for another year before harvesting.

Over the winter I've put in a plum tree - there is no blossom yet, but it might be too much to expect in its first year.  The apple tree is compensating and is covered with blossom.  Last month the first early potatoes went in - Red Duke of York and Arran Pilot.  Jerusalem artichoke also went in one bed - I'm hoping these will do well.  I also attempted to get ahead on the weeding, with little success.

This morning I dug over the last patch of plot still uncultivated, pulled out a bushel of nettle roots, rehomed several slowworms under the rhubarb leaves, and put in the second earlies - very late.  Charlotte, which I grew last year I think, and a red variety called Raeburn Gregor Cups.  I also sowed Sciabola Verde broad beans and some salad leaves.  Fetching water for the seeds, I nearly drowned a green lizard that was hiding in a watering can.  It pulled itself onto the rim, gasping, and I let it dry in the sun for a bit before trying to help it out.  Unfortunately my first efforts simply knocked it back in again, but I managed to tip it out into some weeds.