The weather has been brilliant for the last week and then over the last couple of days it's been a let down. It seemed that winter had returned with its cold, wet wind and I've been stuck indoors thinking of all the things I could be doing outside. Today seemed like it was going to be another wintery day but the winds on the Irish Sea must have blown so fiercely that they sent Jack Frost back to where he belongs.
Needless to say, I jumped into my gardening clothes and headed outside and up to the allotment. And yet another unexpected surprise stopped me dead in my tracks - our allotment shed is up! The poor builders must have been working away through the stormy weather over the last few days since there was definitely no shed there on Sunday. The windows and door have yet to be attached but I'll bet we'll see them magically appear in the coming days.
After admiring that fine structure I headed down to my plot to do a bit of work. Most of my beds have been dug over a couple of times but very little has been planted out aside from shallots and some early radishes and spinach. This is a dangerous time of the year for a lot of gardeners since warm days that seem like the beginning of summer are followed by cold weather sent straight from Siberia. I have no doubt that more than a few people were fooled by last week's sunshine and are going up to find that tender greens planted optimistically early have been devastated by the cold and wind. In fact my plot neighbour's handmade mini-greenhouse has been blown all the way on the other side of the field.
Even so, I was delighted to find that an overly leafy Purple Sprouting Broccoli had finally begun sprouting. About time! I have several handfuls of juicy sprouts and put them in my basket along with some tender greens from my last Brussel sprout stalk and the first of this year's rhubarb. The rhubarb is going into the Hubster's all time favourite dish tonight - Rhubarb Crumble - and the greens will be cooked up as a side to the spaghetti squash cakes I found a recipe for on Pinterest.
There are a few handfuls of greens and PSB which will do for another meal or two but after that we'll be in the lean time before the asparagus start shooting up. This will be the first year that I can really start harvesting it in earnest and I'm eagerly awaiting the first spears.
How about you - has the weather been good for you this week? Do you have any vegetables still coming out of your gardens?
I know I have said it before, but I am transported with delight every time I see the location of your allotment, to say it is fabulous is an understatement.
ReplyDeleteWinter here too, have had storms, snow, sun and rain all in the last 24 hours!
It's a wonderful site isn't it? We're so lucky to have a countryside allotment :) Fingers crossed your weather clears up as well!
DeleteAs my son and his wife are over on the IOM, I am glad to hear that the weather was a little better today. Your allotment looks absolutely marvellous Tanya.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that lovely lip balm which, in this terrible wind, is already being put to good use.
You're welcome Pat and I'm relieved for D and K as well...it's no fun going on holiday just to find yourself stuck indoors the entire time! I'm looking forward to meeting them next week and maybe if they're still here next Thursday they can even stop by the Farmers Market at Tynwald Mills :)
DeleteThe allotment looks real nice, with drainage, a great view and now a building. I hope you don't have wild animals that get into the area like we do.
ReplyDeleteWe have pheasants and Long-tails (aka as the R.A.T. - it's unlucky to say that word here) but no larger animals are native to the island. Though we did have a farmer's cow bust into the allotment last autumn and I had a jolly chase getting her back into her field!
DeleteOur weather has been terrible since Saturday and today we have had torrential rain so I'm not happy at all as I really wanted to get down the allotment in my time off work.
ReplyDeleteI still have leeks planted on the allotment along with some PSB and a few cabbages but it's certainly the time of year when you start running low. I still have onions and garlic form last year which I am using and a few carrots, broads beans and parsnips in the freezer...actually I guess I'm not doing so bad after all!!
Here's hoping you send some of that better weather my way!
You've got a lot to tide you over Tanya - not doing bad at all :)
DeleteThe weather here is really unsettled too and I am so keen to get things planted!
ReplyDeleteI hear you!
DeleteTouch wood, although the temperature has dropped a little, not as much as elsewhere. All we have left to eat are two varities of kale. But the shallots and garlic are growing nicely and hubby also cannot wait for the asparagus (our proper lot as well). Unfortunately I love asparagus, but for some reason in the last couple of years I have become violently allergic to it :( Have a good Easter xxx
ReplyDeleteHow tragic is that? Violently allergic to asparagus? Why couldn't it be to something you have no intention of eating? Such as shame especially seeing as your hubby is going to be happily tucking into them in no time!
DeleteWe have some PSB growing at the moment but no sprouts, leeks are looking good and some garlic and chives still in the ground-(late plantings) and lovely bunch of green parsley- rhubarb just shooting, so not ready to pick yet.
ReplyDeleteWeather same pattern here except yesterday was our wet day.
Darn those PSB...last year my sprouts were tiny and I was actually contemplating giving them up altogether. I think I've changed my mind though and will need to look back and see which variety it was that has done well for me this year.
DeleteSounds like you've got plenty of alliums to tide you over and probably have all the fixings for a leek, potato and parsley soup :)
And you'll have your sunshine soon enough I think...the skies are blue and cloudless today and it's about time for me to get off this computer and enjoy the day :)
Your harvest look fantastic, Tanya - nothing can every look as fresh and vibrant as newly picked veg. Not a lot happening here yet, as the garden is not in place. plenty on the windowsills waiting patiently. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Jacqui :) Mine is mostly inside too but hopefully I'll be able to start planting out in the next few weeks.
DeleteI can't believe that was your weather yesterday, we had snow here, though it's gone now thank goodness. The shed looks great, it will be good to have some communal tools to make use of.
ReplyDeleteThe tools are going to be fantastic! I can't wait until we have some communal strimmers to use around the site.
DeleteWhat a HUGE shed - it's going to be fantastic. Lovely harvest - our favourite with rhubarb is crumble - and custard of course.
ReplyDeleteHaha...of course :) I suggested serving rhubarb crumble with vanilla ice cream last week - you should have seen the look I got!
DeleteLovely shed Tanya - first thing to do is get a kettle installed!
ReplyDeleteIt'll have to be a solar-powered kettle then ;)
DeleteI love the views from your allotment. I know what you mean about jumping into your gardening gear and getting out there as soon as you can. Especially when you never know how the weather will turn this time of year!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely site isn't it? I feel lucky every time I go :)
Delete