The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies. Gertrude Jekyll

Annie's Little Plot

Annie's Little Plot

Thursday 21 March 2013

Spring has been postponed.

Where has Spring gone? The Spring equinox has now passed and it still feels like winter here in Huddersfield. Apparently we have had a colder March than December or January with average temperatures (day and night combined) in March of around 3C. Phew thats cold, well I think its just the fact that its been so constantly cold. No wonder the plants are taking their time peaking their noses out of the soil. I've still got lots of snowdrops in flower, the hellebores are loving this weather, but I've only got a few daffs out yet and the tulips are only just now showing the tips of their leaves above the ground. 
We have had the odd nice day, usually when I've been working and have had to look longingly out of the window ruing the missed gardening time. This time last year in the garden and the allotment we were having a lovely warm spell. I was sat in the garden sowing seeds and enjoying the sunshine. We must remember though that we had a very cool April with some snow
We gardeners do like to complain about the weather but I think we have been justified this year so far. Any weather that delays us getting growing is bound to get us down. Just like the plants we are bursting to come out of hibernation and get growing. We have been dormant for too long and want to get back in the garden. I have done a bit of seed sowing mostly things that I've started on the propagator upstairs in my back bedroom (oh for a greenhouse). Then starts the daily checking for the first signs of life. The Tomatillo's won the race for first seed to germinate this year. I never get bored with seed sowing, it thrills me every year.
I've sown some chilli seeds and you need to start these early as these are so slow to get going they need a long growing season. Last year I sowed 3 varieties 'Cayenne', 'Habanero Orange' and 'Basket of Fire'. I didn't get a huge crop so I decided to try and overwinter one of each and see if I could get an earlier crop this year. They are perennial plants so you should be able to keep them growing. I kept them in a bright spot, but reduced the watering, keeping them on the dry side. They looked a bit straggly so I cut them back a bit and removed any yellowing leaves. Then I repotted them and gave them some feed and they are now sending out new fresh green leaves and there are some flowers already. Whether they will fruit I'll have to wait and see. But I thought it was worth a try. 
Only time will tell whether I will have some early chillis.
I think I will wait a bit longer before I really get sowing properly. Its forecast a fair bit of snow here tonight, tomorrow and Saturday and for the cold spell to remain for at least another week. Our local weather forecaster on Look North did tantalize by saying that we could have some milder weather for Easter but that may just mean rain. You can't win with us can you!


18 comments:

  1. Hiya Annie! How I didn't realise you're in Huddersfield is beyond me since you say so right there and you have the weather!! Yes, we all do complain don't we, I am really not enjoying this 'snow every other day' malarkey! I had loads of gardening planned this weekend and now I just don't know if it will happen or not?! I've got my chillies sown too, they've just poked through. Took at least 2 weeks to germinate. I hope your little chilli plants you over wintered will do well :) Great idea!

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    1. Really heavy snow here over night and still snowing now. Garden dreaming for me today.

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  2. I suppose that us gardeners moan about the weather because all we do in the garden is so dependent on it. As it's something we can't change all we can do is work with, or round, it.
    Nice pictures to remind us of the glories of spring when it does finally arrive, which will be soon I hope! Flighty xx

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    1. Yes we are tied to the weather conditions and it all makes it even more of a challenge but I like that too in a way, keeps us on our toes. It will get here eventually I'm sure.

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  3. The overnight snow has already started to thaw here, but we're forecast more. I think it will be armchair gardening this weekend. Hope you succeed in getting some early chillies, it's a good experiement to try.

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    1. It is very wet snow here but is quite deep now and still snowing. Yep armchair gardening for me too. Will post at a later date about how successful it is with the chillies.

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  4. It just gets so depressing doesn't it when you are itching to get on with things - my snowdrops are still going strong it seems they like this colder weather - unlike me!

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    1. Yes I really want to get going now. I can't believe my snowdrops are still going. Its been a good season for them and the hellebores but not for us.

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  5. How wonderful to have chilli plants, I didn't realise that there were perennial varieties. I do hope your patience is rewarded.
    I couldn't agree more about the weather, we have snow and a blizzard blowing at the moment.....nothing is getting done.

    Your primroses are gorgeous! xxxxx

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    1. I have my fingers crossed for the chilli plants, will see how they do.
      Still snowing here now on saturday morning, not stopped since friday morning early hours. Mad amount of snow.

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  6. Lots of snow where I am, though if memory serves correct the last time it was this bad we had a lovely summer later on in the year.

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    1. I really hope you are right about that we need a good summer for once.

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  7. We are keeping in this weekend as more snow is forecast here. I will wait for visitors to come to me this time and also with the greenhouse door smashed due to my little dog running through the closed part of the door instead of the open this week, more glass is needed so the heat stays in. (She's fine, just embarrassed and frustrated that she didn't get the bird that she was chasing!) I think everything is about a month behind now after looking at our daffodil fields, hardly any out. Hope you get some things done this weekend. Chel x

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    1. Yes I'm not going far. Og no your poor dog, glad she's ok after that. Yes I think you are right about it being a month behind. To still have snowdrops out at end of March is crazy.

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  8. Hello, I've just come across your lovely photograph of primroses. I agree; spring has been postponed - we have snow here today. I think it's testing every gardener's patience. But, like you, I'm enjoying sowing my first vegetable and flower seeds (indoors).

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  9. Hi Wendy, yes winter gripping the country today. More snow here than I've ever seen since I moved here and its still snowing. I'm sure we'll be rewarded for all our patience eventually.

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  10. Oh Annie this weather sucks! We're lucky down here to have escaped with only a dusting of snow but it has been bitterly cold. I'm really starting to panic about getting my plants ready for the photos I need for my book. I've already had to postpone my first photo shoot and the photographer's diary has been completely screwed up by the weather. Aaaaarrrrggghhhh!
    Those chilli plant look good. Don't see why you won't get a crop from them. Just as long as we get some heat. Lets hope for a warmer Easter.

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    1. Its terrible no sign of the snow going from here for at least another few days, in fact we keep getting more heavy showers. That must be so stressful for you with your book. Thought we had a tough start last year but this is worse. Fingers crossed we get some good weather soon so that you can get going. Its got to change soon.

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