March 12th, 2016

Having my Grandson, Jake, visit from Yorkshire has disrupted my routine of allotment visits but has meant that, when I do get down,  I have had the benefit of his young muscles. Perhaps I am fortunate in that he enjoys any physical activity and, at 20 years old, he gets a lot done. Over the last fortnight he has cleared my 'glassless greenhouse' of weeds, dug over half my potato patch, tidy up the unsuccessful row of autumn sown peas, and collect and spread a trailer load of horse litter.
This is in addition to helping me clear the metal off plot 16 and take it to the tip, cut down two trees in my garden and level the ground in my new lean-to greenhouse at home.
While he was working I have been able to spread compost in my strawberry bed and plant a row of Sturon onions.
Back home I have planted Broad Beans in toilet roll tubes, the rest of the onion sets in modules and, as an experiment, some of last year's garlic; all growing nicely in my new greenhouse.
I have a crown of rhubarb to find space for which I bought in Wakefield during the Rhubarb Festival, from the major grower of forced rhubarb in the Rhubarb Triangle in Yorkshire. It is an early variety called Reeds which is the name of the secondary school I went to in the 1950's so  couldn't resist it. I think I shall have to find a big pot to set it going in while I clear a space next to the glassless greenhouse.
Unfortunately I did not get round to using him to help shorten my brassica net tunnels, or build my gate. Perhaps that is why several times this week the wind coming from the North has flattened the pallet I currently use as a gate.
Now I just need to decide when I can risk planting my early potatoes. Any suggestions as to the best time?