I hope you have all had a good start to the New Year. This may be my favourite time of the allotment year. Planning, viewing seed catalogues, planting seeds and getting prepared for the rush of new growth as the days lengthen and warm up.

I thought it might be a good idea to provide a list of monthly tasks we should be carrying out as we build to the long warm days of summer and the harvests we hope for.

This is not an exhaustive list but reflects my own thoughts which are gleaned from, in the main, my copy of Haynes Allotment Manual! If you think I have missed something or there is something you would like added drop me an email at mill.lane.allotments@gmail.com and I will amend these pages accordingly. 

The hope is that over several growing seasons we will build up a list which reflects our growing environments, weather etc.

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So the "important" tasks I felt I missed in JANUARY this year.

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FORCE RHUBARB :- Mulch with well rotted manure with some straw on top then cover with a bucket or similar for sweet and tender rhubarb in early March.

CHECK ALL STAKED PLANTS AND FRAMES:-Make sure all your stakes, frames, trellis etc is firm and secure. We will be having some strong winds over the next 8 - 12 weeks. Trees, shrubs and bushes planted in the last 6 to 12 months should be checked to make sure they are all firm and not likely to be rocked out of the soil in strong winds.

ORDER SEED POTATOES:- Start the process of chitting in a frost free location for your first and second earlies. (My favourites are Javelin and Swift)

CLEAN & SHARPEN TOOLS READY FOR THE HARD WORK OF SPRING

SPRAY FRUIT TREES WITH ORGANIC WINTER WASH:- particularly effective against woolly aphids.

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FEBRUARY JOBS TO BE TACKLED

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If you are lucky enough to have a warm green house then you can get all your seeds planted and out of the house, but if you are like me then window sills are beginning to bulge with ever increasing seed trays and plant pots!

Tomato seeds should be in pots now. I had great success last year with AKRON F1 and ALICANTE so these are my first choices for my "maincrop" this year. I also tried a few HARBINGER outdoors. They did quite well so will be planting a few more in the tunnel this year. Finally I only had one plant of SWEET APERATIF last year but they were very tasty so going to try them out in the "new to us" greenhouse on Christine's plot.

As far as cucumbers are concerned CARMEN F1 was a great success for us last year so sticking with these this year. Peppers have never done well for me in the polytunnel so going to try the greenhouse this year with a few sweet pepper plants, in pots, on the staging. I am going to try LONG RED MARCONI and hopefully the extra warmth and longer growing season will produce a useable crop.

I overwinter onion sets, shallots and garlic but if you don then you should be looking to get yours in the ground towards the end of the month. The mild winter to date has meant that all my alliums have progressed really well and this should mean that I will be lifting them in June or very early july. The beds will then be used for beetroot and some late salads.

This month is the latest possible for planting your garlic, and February is the latest you should consider planting out bare rooted fruit trees.

When weather permits February is a good month for getting paths, fences, shed and greenhouse maintenance done. I will be replacing my polytunnel in the next 4 - 6 weeks. It has seen better days and will be completely replaced. I intend using the original frame as a fruit or brassica cage.

I still have a few leeks left to harvest and have been enjoying them in a leek and potato bake or soup. The very last of our squash are still providing meals and have lasted very well this year with little or no wastage. Butternut squash, spaghetti squash and the abundant patty pans have been enjoyed, roasted, baked and in soups. I will be trying a few more varieties this year to extend the repertoire over next winter and spring.

Well thats it from me, if you have anything you think should be added to the diary drop me an email using mill.lane.allotmets@gmail.com.

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Cheers

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