This winter has been characterised by lots of rain and strong gales. Many trees have been brought down, and there has been significant damage up at the allotments. My mini-plots are all covered with mesh to keep off the birds, and the corners of this are supported by posts driven into the ground. Two of these were snapped off and had to be replaced. And even when the weather has been dry, digging out the posts leaves holes half full of water, as the water table has come right up. On the positive side, there has been very little frost and no snow - I wonder if we will get another 'Beast from the East' before spring? Anyway, it does mean that some things have come on earlier than expected. I picked my first rhubarb yesterday - two weeks earlier than last year - and it was delicious. It has been covered with a wheelbarrow, which has protected it from most things. And I am still digging leeks (extremely small, but at least no damage as I protected them from insect attack with very fine mesh) and parsnips, which are of course a variety of very curious shapes, as usual. And we are also picking kalettes. As the name suggests, these are a cross between kale and sprouts. And they're very new and not easy to come by. The taste is mild, sweet and nutty - not like a sprout or kale - and they look like flowering or open sprouts, which grow on stems like sprouts, and can be green or purple. Very easy to grow - I have already planted seeds for this winter - but of course, like all other brassicas, the pigeons love them, which is why I grow them under mesh.
I have also planted (inside) peas, garlic, shallots and broad beans, some of which are coming up already, and will be planted out when they are ready - and when it's drier!
