Today, 23 March, at midday, it is -2°C with a biting easterly wind, and as you can see snow - for the fourth (at least) time this winter. It is the coldest March weekend since 1963, and I expect that it will be the coldest March since records began, as there is no end in sight. Last year at this time it was more than 20°C warmer. So far this year it has either been wet or cold - or both - so it has not been possible to get onto the allotment as it is clay, and has been permanently waterlogged. I have - and indeed had, a month ago - 20 broad bean plants that I grew from seed in my greenhouse just ready to go in, but it has not been possible. Also chitted potatoes, and I would like to have sown some seeds, notably parsnips and carrots. All not possible, so I - like all other plotholders - am well behind this year. I spoke to two of the most experienced vegetable growers a couple of days ago, and they are in exactly the same situation. Let's hope for some better growing conditions later, and that the plants catch up!
I mentioned the third container which is to be used for the South East in Bloom baskets etc. This has now been installed on its concrete base, and will have some shelving put in before being used. We have also planted about 400 whips (very small bushes/trees) outside the deer fence and round the compost site, to replace the ones we lost last year. Also, we dug a trench for the electricity and installed a pipe for the cable - a cold, wet and arduous job. The sockets etc are all installed, and the electricity should be connected shortly. Then there will be a 10 000 litre tank to install underground, to store runoff, and the picnic area to flatten, improve with sand and sow with grass. So the jobs keep coming!
