Ive spent the last 9 months turning the "mess" into what just passes for an allotment...built some frames, improved the soil. So this will now be the first proper year of planting. My first early spuds (Rocket) are chitting away...but its been raining solidly for a week and I dont know if I can plant out 'tho ive kept the bed covered. Presumably i cant wait for the rain to stop...it never does...so is it ok to plant. Or should i plant under a polytunnel whilst its still bucketing it down. ..... also interested to know generally what the opinion is on this for other veg
thanks for all responses
Don't think anyone's planting anything at the moment- too wet and cold! If you're talking about spuds, the traditional time to plant is Good Friday. Don't worry there's plenty of time for everything!
It's still a good couple of weeks before spuds should be going in outdoors. Earlies aren't planted early, they just are ready to corop early.... you could put a cloche over the row now and as long as the weather doesn't get nasty then maybe in a weeks time... lots of people don't plant spuds until the end of March, potatoes won't take being frosted, you could end up spending every evening on the plopt sorting out frost protection from now until the end of April ..... a few in pots in the greenhouse perhaps, I've got a few in for that.
I haven't even been to the plot - apart from picking, or with my admin hat on - since November! The potatoes are chitting away nicely and the broad beans are ready to go. But I'm not planting anything in this wet.
I've just got back from taking the dog for a walk - our woods are a sea of mud, with rivers where the paths are supposed to be. Not the best weather to encourage crops to grow!
If the soil is sticking to the soles of your boot 'keep off' or you will turn it into a bigger mess!
I won't be going on to my plot for at least another 5-6 weeks at best!
Many thanks to all.. a real eye-opener that the advice is to stay well clear for the moment
my lotty looks like glastonbury yep i want to plant.l;.............. my pots are chitting and i really want to get on there
but as the experts say if it sticks on your boots dont bother
You could plant Rice, but that's about it while it's this wet!! ;)
Quote from: flitwickone on February 28, 2010, 16:49:52
my lotty looks like glastonbury
what, with a chapel on top of a hill?
Quote from: tonybloke on February 28, 2010, 17:22:10
You could plant Rice, but that's about it while it's this wet!! ;)
lol aint that the truth
Quote from: tonybloke on February 28, 2010, 17:23:24
Quote from: flitwickone on February 28, 2010, 16:49:52
my lotty looks like glastonbury
what, with a chapel on top of a hill?
Last time i was at Glastonbury there was a brothel tent there..........wait, was you talking about the Tor or the Pop Festival ?
My notes from last year say I planted 24 Charlottes before the end of Feb. And got superb crops, still eating them now.
Absolutely nothing has gone in this year yet. East Sussex, constant flood warnings, the front at Hastings closed last weekend for flooding, A21 closed for flooding as I was trying to get home, water lying in the fields everywhere, parked in Greenwich overnight and this evening found SNOW on the windscreen, driving rain all the way round M25 and A21....
So when can we get started?
And to top it all, got home to find note from someone who was invited by a fellow plotter to help himself from my manure pile! But now wonders why..... SO looking forward to spreading it over my asparagus. Some misunderstanding, but such a downer.