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

Annie's Little Plot

Annie's Little Plot

Friday 8 January 2016

Cold

Ooh its gone cold today. There was a biting wind up at the allotment this morning, I didn't stay long as its far too wet. I shouldn't complain though there has been alot of pictures of flooded allotments around. I've never known it as bad as this, even my bark chipping paths are getting churned up now. So not much point in doing anything. Not that there is much to do, but the raspberry canes need chopping down and I want to remove a blackberry plant at the bottom of the plot. I bought it very cheap, from a pound shop I think, which wasn't a great idea. It was supposed to be a Tayberry but its definitely a blackberry! It crops OK but I've got another on the other side of it which is a thornless blackberry and this has much bigger fruit on it. Plus its a spiky thug so its time to go. On a visit to my local garden centre earlier on in the week, they had a sale on all plants and I decided to get a Loganberry, so I picked a good sturdy plant, took it to the till and they charged me £2.99, what a bargain, should have been £10. So very happy with that. Just got a bit of work to do now planting it.
The kale that is not covered is being eaten slowly by the pigeons so I need to get them up. But I picked lots off the ones undercover and will freeze a couple of batches. I usually drop the leaves into boiling water then take them out almost straight away into cold water, dry them off slightly and then scrunch them up into balls and pop in the freezer. Then you can just get them out of the freezer and pop straight in soup or casserole. I also harvested a few more chard, celeriac and some leeks. Big soup making time for me I love that at this time of year. The kale grown undercover still does have some whitefly on it too so the enviromesh hasn't prevented that, but its not as bad as the ones not covered.
You have to have faith at this time of year, the plot can look very bleak, but actually its quite green for me this year, which might be a bit of a worry. The chives have been starting to sprout, the globe artichokes are sending up lots of their lovely silver grey foliage.
This clump is getting a bit big and probably could really do with splitting but might be tricky now with so much growth. So I might leave that till next year now, though I could probably could do with removing the old stems.
The rhubarb is also getting a bit ahead of itself. 
I noticed I have a few bulbs coming up as well, some Camassias and Alliums, cold is forecast for the next few days and into next week though and there may be some snow on its way. Eek. But looking at the long term forecast (if it can be believed) it looks like there may be some dry, cold weather on from Wednesday onwards. We need a respite from this incessant rain.

I've been back at work this week and made a sad discovery. I work in Manchester and get the train in, I have a short walk at the other end which I really like, some fresh air before I have to sit at a desk all day. As you can imagine I go the same route most days and you get to know the surroundings its part of your scenery. There is a lovely big Horse Chestnut tree on my route and I track the seasons by this tree, watch the buds break into those impressive candle like flowers, the big leaves unfurl, followed by conkers which I love to see just as they come out of their spiky shell all shiny and brown. Then the leaf colour change in the autumn and then leaf fall and then it all starts again with the big sticky buds. This looked a great specimen too, they have such a distinctive shape these trees. Its a marker for me on my journey to work. I was walking through part of the old UMIST area, which is now part of the University of Manchester, on my first day back and shocked to see it cut down to its trunk. What a sad sight.
I can only think it was diseased and the rip in its bark from the other side also suggests that but Oh, it didn't make it a good start to my week. There are so few trees in a city anyway, sad to see another one go. Horse Chestnuts are known to suffer quite a few diseases and from a quick bit of research its likely that it had canker, from the bark tear. Shockingly half of Horse Chestnuts in the UK are showing signs of this disease according to the Forestry Commision.
So lesson from this, cherish your trees.
Anyway keep warm over the upcoming cold spell, make like a cat. Bob is an expert at getting cosy.

14 comments:

  1. I need to cut back our tayberry and blackberry when I get the chance. I am a bit concerned about the raspberries as they don't like their roots to be to waterlogged and it is very soggy. We lost the last lot of raspberries due to root rot so I hope it isn't going to happen again.
    It's sad about the tree what will they do with the trunk do you think?

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    1. Yes my raspberries are at the bottom of my plot at the bottom of a slope so bit worried about mine too. Will keep fingers crossed.
      I'm not sure will keep an eye on what they do.

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  2. The plot is looking good, and you sound like you're going to be busy weather permitting.
    Shame about that tree.
    I envy Bob who's looking well cosy. Flighty xx

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    1. Yes they keep saying that we are going to have so dry days but not happened here yet, so lots of plot planning in the meantime.

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  3. I love the light on your plot. I noticed chives sprouting today. A bit more seasonal weather would be nice. All this mild, wet weather isn't good for the garden. So sorry about the horse chestnut tree. Trees seem to have that ability to touch us and when they go it's very sad.

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    1. The light at this time of year is lovely isn't it. Its gone colder definitely so lets see how the plants respond.
      Sad when its such a majestic tree somehow.

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  4. Brrrrrrr... your photos have captured the cold Annie! I'm very apprehensive about visiting our plot at the moment as the central paths are so wet. I fell on a dry day so do not want to repeat my trick! As you suggest there's not much that you can do when you are there anyway. So sad about the tree - I've cried before when familiar trees have abruptly disappeared.

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    1. I know, my paths are treacherous too, I slipped the other day as well, a soft landing in the mud though and don't think anyone saw me!!
      I'm glad its not just me then who gets affected by such things

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  5. Very cold and windy here too though fortunately we haven't had the amount of rain that most f the country has had...still we are very boggy!! How sad about the tree...we have many horse chestnuts around us so I will be watching carefully now for signs of 'canker'!
    Bob really does have the right idea...just like oue Alfie!

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    1. Yes Horse Chestnuts seem to be suffering with a host of pests and diseases at the moment, but then do so many of our trees.
      He's hardly going out at all in this weather

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  6. Poor Horse chestnut tree, maybe someone will carve something beautiful with meaning for the area it is in. I daren't think what the veggie garden here looks like, I would have to squelch up the lawn to find out, but would ruin the grass in the process. I must get a paved edging to the lawn so that we can get up there in the winter.

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    1. Yes they may do, I'll be following what happens.
      So squelchy every where

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  7. I just LOVE Bob!!! We certainly do need a break from this endless rain, it's driving me crackers, you get SO sick of being wet don't you?
    What a shame about the tree, I'd miss it too. Your loganberry was a bargain, I can't get enough of them, they have such a mild, mellow flavour. How lovely that you still have so many fresh ingredients for soup, this is the perfect time of the year for it as you say.xxx

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    1. Its driving me mad too, don't think I normally suffer from SAD but all this cloud and rain is testing me this year.
      Really pleased with my bargain, looking forward to seeing it grow.

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