Yesterday I went to the lottie, the sun was shining which was a lovely break from the heavy rain and damaging winds that have been hanging around lately, surprise surprise much the same today. After spending a couple of hours hand weeding and generally mooching about (as you do), I sat on our bench made from tree logs by the shed and enjoyed my sandwiches in the warm sunshine. It was so lovely I didn’t need to put my coat on. Looking around at my surroundings, my plot and others look as if they’re trying to wake up already.
Growing happily in the strawberry bed and pumpkin patch (the latter a tangled mushy mess) are broad bean plants. Probably the result of rodent or bird activities, I didn’t plant them but if I had they certainly wouldn’t survive to this stage (I don’t have much luck starting broad beans in autumn!). One plant is flowering. Will I be picking broad beans soon? I wonder….
I noticed Calendula ‘Flashback Mix’ flowering by the allotment shed, colourful small flowers entwined with grey skeleton stems left over from summer. We’ve seen just one hard frost so far this winter, obviously not enough to wipe these cheery little flowers out completely.
Remember the garlic I planted recently? Well, they’re poking through the soil already, soldiers standing to attention. The rhubarb patch is waking up too.
I’m a big fan of Timperley Early rhubarb, a super early variety great for forcing for an even earlier crop. I won’t lie, I was tempted to place my forcer over the crown but I’ll be patient and give my rhubarb another year to grow even stronger before inflicting greed and a terrible case of sweet tooth upon it.
Glad to see things are moving on your plot. We checked ours last week and we were water logged and since it hasn’t stopped raining we must be flooded now I imagine. Crazy weather!
LikeLike
Green Bench Ramblings – the rain is relentless, sorry to hear your plot is being troubled by this horrible weather.
LikeLike
Oh how lovely. I am so jealous of anything green and growing since everything here is covered with snow. How wonderful to have such a long growing season!
>
LikeLike
I’m sure the snow will arrive at some point..hopefully not when it’s time to start sowing!
LikeLike
I am solo envious! Even if greens could survive the cold here in the frozen north and even if they were not standing in puddles of water, they would get torn out of the ground by the near gale force winds. It’s just not fair! ;-)
LikeLike
It’s looking good! And how lovely to see those little flowers. Let us hope that this is a good year for fruit and veggies.
LikeLike
Happy new growing year :) lovely blog post, I’m starting to get excited about this years adventure :) what seeds are we using for our pumpkins :) ?? X
LikeLike
How lovely to see Broad beans..too early for us here..Summer is very cruel..having said that we have had one day of 44.4C and now back to cool days..very odd and the garden is not amused!! Artichokes doing well..cumqats good..Apples doing well..that’s about it…bit sad really :)
LikeLike
Thank you Lottielandgirl, I’m also raring to go!
For competition pumpkins the Atlantic Giants are fun to grow, I’ve grown them for 2 years running but never actually grown a very big one! 2012 was a bit of a disaster!
http://www.seedparade.co.uk/products/Pumpkin_Dill_s_Atlantic_Giant_6_seeds-174-21.html
We could try these if you like? Seed Parade are very reasonable prices, or perhaps you have something else in mind?
LikeLike
Aw what a lovely blog, wordpress recommended it to me and I am glad they did. My plot is not too far from Timperley and is awash with the very same rhubarb, it’s coming up already! Looking forward to following your blog now I have discovered it.
LikeLike
Hi Jacqui, many thanks for stopping by and for your lovely comment. Timperley rhubarb is fantastic, it’s up and raring to go so early in the season.
LikeLike
Nothing in my garden knows whether it’s winter or spring. I’m sure we will pay for it later though
LikeLike
Wow those pumpkins look awesome :) Yes lets go for them :) How exciting! I’ll let you know when I’ve got them x
LikeLike
Brilliant! Looking forward to sowing those huge seeds!
LikeLike