Tales from the Plot February 2025
Well here we go …. the New Year, a new start! Last year was very indifferent for me, I experienced both successes and failures although I have to say a lot of the failures were self-inflicted. It would appear that unless you cover it, it will be destroyed by the birds or bugs: my successes throughout last year were all grown under netting.
The only exception from being covered were my climbing beans, so more planning is needed for 2025. I already have two large net tunnels and don’t really want a 3rd so makeshift ones with water pipe and enviromesh will be the order of the day. I actually find the need for covering quite sad because I look back at photos and videos I did of my allotment some 12 years or so ago and barely anything was covered and it all seemed to do so well, maybe I’m remembering time past with rose tinted glasses LOL!
Well what is to be done in February if you haven’t already? Set onion seeds, they need to go in trays now; the first seeds to go in the ground will be the broad beans at the end of the month, I will set them directly in the soil about two inch deep and eight inches apart don’t forget the word bingo …always set bean seeds eyes down they’ll be covered with cloches to protect them until they’re about six or so inches high. I had a great crop last year and managed to save quite a lot of seed so it’s a nice feeling knowing that this year‘s crop will be free. If you’ve not already done so you could also set garlic although I’m far from an authority on garlic as I have never been that successful. You can set pea seeds this time of year, also parsnips, but I’ll leave mine a little later. It’s very easy to see someone else planting a particular vegetable seed and think you must get yours in but patience is often rewarded on the allotment.
If you have a greenhouse or a spare windowsill you can start tomatoes, brussels, spring cabbage, cauliflower etc. all in seed trays, this is by far the most economical way of filling your allotment with vegetables, buying vegetable plants from garden centres is the most expensive way so much so that they can work out more expensive than just buying your vegetables from a budget supermarket – so I try to avoid buying plants from garden centres wherever possible however tempting that maybe.
I remember last year thinking how ridiculous they had trays of carrots and parsnips seedlings, root vegetables are almost impossible to transplant successfully and they were charging £3.99 for about 20 carrot seedlings that never really were going to succeed.
A £1 packet of seed will have at least 500 carrot seeds in it so don’t waste your money, just use fresh seeds every year and providing you cover them with a fine mesh to keep the carrot fly away all should be well.
Take care everyone and I hope we all have a great gardening year.
Richard Thorpe
15B Syston allotments