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 Veg Journal - 2012 February

This was a month of contrasts, weatherwise at least. In the first half we had snow and temperatures well below freezing, but in the last week it was almost like summer! Consequently we spent a lot of time protecting the plot from the snow and hungry pigeons, but we were also able to start planting and planning for the rest of the year. This is the first time we're rotating the beds as they were intended to be rotated, and it means that some veg (e.g. the chard) is having to be pulled up before it's really finished, so we may have to rethink once more for next year's rotation.


Week ending 7th February

5th - Snowed overnight, so spent some time knocking it off the brocolli and other veg. The pigeons have been pecking at the brocolli so put one of the enviromesh netting cages back over the frame. Hopefully we got to it in time. Cut the big savoy cabbage and picked 3 carrots (10.4oz).

7th - Picked 2 carrots (5.5oz).

Week ending 14th February

8th - Very cold last night down to -8°C. Leaves us wondering if the brocolli, broad beans and peas will be all right, although the beans and peas are still covered in snow so may be protected a bit.

10th - Snowed again yesterday evening and overnight. Very powdery and not too deep, but needed to shake it off the netting covering the brocolli.

12th - Picked 2 carrots (5.7oz).

13th - Picked 4 carrots (4.6oz).

14th - The snow has pretty much gone now - the broad beans and peas seem to have survived.

Click on a photo to see a bigger version:

  • Broad beans, peas & leeks after the 2nd fall of snow (10th Feb)

  • Brocolli & kale after the 2nd fall of snow (10th Feb)

Week ending 21st February

15th - Picked 4 carrots (4oz).

16th - Put the full length enviromesh net over the brocolli and the kale, as the pigeons are now having a go at the kale which is still trying to grow new leaves. We might get to eat some ourselves if we're really lucky!

21st - Bought some garlic from Wilkos - the sort that's meant to be for planting rather than for eating, although we might eat the spares. The thought is that it might grow larger bulbs, as opposed to the small bulbs that the Sainsburys versions produced.

Week ending 29th February

23rd - A very mild day (16°C), so decided to plant the garlic and shallots after raking the bed. The garlic bought from Wilkos had much fatter cloves than the Sainsbury's version, but we had to plant it all as the shallots only stretched to 2½ rows. Pulled up the cabbages and swedes which had gone rotten and took the netting frame off their bed. The beetroot tops are dying back and the remaining roots need to be harvested. Also sawed off the overhanging beech and holly branches which should stop anything bashing onto the top of the greenhouse with a bit of luck.

26th - Picked 1 huge carrot (14.4oz) and the first of the fairly sparse chard, so that we can say we've actually eaten some before we have to dig it up to make way for sowing this year's parsnips!

27th - Put some chicken wire over the shallots and garlic to stop the cats digging them up. Also ordered the celery seeds from Fothergills - we're trying a different variety (Loretta) this year to see if they self-blanch any better.

28th - Put all the seed potatoes in the large egg boxes inside the mini-greenhouse by the back door to start chitting. Picked 5 large beetroot - one was a bit beyond using, but the rest were still good for making soup.

29th - Picked 4 carrots (5.8oz) and probably all of the remaining eatable chard - there wasn't much of it but it was tasty.

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