Sandgate Community Garden Team Diary Entry for 6th March: All Systems Go
It is all systems go from now on; it remains reasonably warm here in the South East, with no frosts on the horizon to knock any of the growth back. In fact we had to remove the fleece covers from all the broad beans as they have already started to flower and it would not be possible for any of the pollinators to reach them with the covers still on. Flowers are what we definitely look for as regards broad beans but not what we want with the kale. As soon as the kale starts to go to flower it means the beginning of the end for that crop. However the flowers can be eaten before they are fully open, and so we picked as many off as we could and the rest of the crop will be salvaged and removed next week.
Also cropping early are the spring onions sown last September, we were not expecting to be harvesting them until the end of this month and into April. Most of the Romanesco broccoli and the Kaibroc have been harvested, but as the ground is not required as yet for the next crop, they have been allowed to stay put and send out some side shoots with miniature flowering heads, as an added bonus. If you have the time, space and decent weather to allow them to do this, they will reward you.
Just when you think there can be no more parsnips in the ground, four more suddenly put on some top growth and make an appearance above the ground. To be fair, three of them must have slid down into the path early on in life to have escaped the final collection, but there was still one more to be found actually in the bed.
The peas and radishes sown just seventeen days before, got planted in the week, and we got to try out our brand new super-sized dibbers we had treated ourselves to before Christmas. They will make life much easier as they can be used without having to be on your knees, not always possible for some of our gardeners.
We had an invite to visit a new garden project by Touchbase Care in Tontine Street. For the past year they have been working very hard on the main design and structure of their garden in the corner of a field on a farm. Nearing completion, they have made it wheelchair accessible, there are some beautifully built raised beds, a tool shed, a greenhouse, a classroom or summer house, plus they are now starting work on the all-important compost toilet! We first heard about the project this time last year and are delighted that they are realising the dream and now reaching completion. It has been a lot of hard work to put all the structures in place, but it will be an amazing space once it is up and running and such a beautiful spot too.
What’s next?
- Take up the kale and strip anything edible
- Sow spring onions, more radishes and herbs
- Cut back the butterfly bush
- Remove more of the woodchips in store
- Remove some random onions growing near the raspberries
This weeks update from the Sandgate Community Garden Diary.