I planted some leeks (Autumn mammoth) 3 or 4 weeks ago along with some left over seed from last year. One lot from last year totally failed, while I've been able to prick out 4 trays of 60 plants from another variety. The Autumn mammoth came up pretty well, and because I sowed them more thinly, don't need pricking out. They are all a couple of inches high and looking good. They will continue developing in seed trays until I plant them out. I've done them earlier this year because last years we're a bit of a flop. Although they were planted at the same time as "Beechgrove Garden's", they never developed properly, and I'm still harvesting pencil thin ones.
I have a couple of trays of lettuce pricked out, along with a few early brassicas. I have a tray of nice Asters coming along with some other flowers. Also have some early pea and broadbeans sown in pots, the beans are just emerging. I planted my tomato seed on 16th Feb, a couple of days later than last year. Tomatoes didn't do too well last year, I grew half a dozen unusual varieties. This year I have Gardeners Delight, and a yellow plum tomato. Let's see how they do.
Outside, conditions are still very wet. I tried rotorvating a patch that was sprayed off in the autumn, but it was very heavy going. I'll leave it for a bit. I've planted around 750 willow cuttings for windbreaks. These really can't be easier to grow. I cut whips at about a metre in length, and push them in the ground as far as I can. 15 cm is OK, but deeper is better, 30-50 cm if possible. I leave 30-50 cm above ground. Hopefully this will be high enough to be away from smothering grasses. Done while the plant is dormant, late Jan and Feb, gives the whips time to form roots before a demand for moisture is put on the plant by the emerging shoots. I plant them 30 cm's or so apart in a double line in a zig-zag formation. I will be dissapointed if I don't get a 75% take. Back at work, willows were cross-bred and under ideal growing conditions would form a single stem, 1.5-2.0 m high. These would be cut into six 15 cm "rods" and planted into bare ground. It was unusual to get less than 95% take, even with cuttings thinner than a pencil.
I have a couple of trays of lettuce pricked out, along with a few early brassicas. I have a tray of nice Asters coming along with some other flowers. Also have some early pea and broadbeans sown in pots, the beans are just emerging. I planted my tomato seed on 16th Feb, a couple of days later than last year. Tomatoes didn't do too well last year, I grew half a dozen unusual varieties. This year I have Gardeners Delight, and a yellow plum tomato. Let's see how they do.
Outside, conditions are still very wet. I tried rotorvating a patch that was sprayed off in the autumn, but it was very heavy going. I'll leave it for a bit. I've planted around 750 willow cuttings for windbreaks. These really can't be easier to grow. I cut whips at about a metre in length, and push them in the ground as far as I can. 15 cm is OK, but deeper is better, 30-50 cm if possible. I leave 30-50 cm above ground. Hopefully this will be high enough to be away from smothering grasses. Done while the plant is dormant, late Jan and Feb, gives the whips time to form roots before a demand for moisture is put on the plant by the emerging shoots. I plant them 30 cm's or so apart in a double line in a zig-zag formation. I will be dissapointed if I don't get a 75% take. Back at work, willows were cross-bred and under ideal growing conditions would form a single stem, 1.5-2.0 m high. These would be cut into six 15 cm "rods" and planted into bare ground. It was unusual to get less than 95% take, even with cuttings thinner than a pencil.
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