Sandgate Community Garden Team Diary Entry for 17th March: Spring seems to have snuck in through the back door.
Just about everyone is fed up with the weather locally, and so it has continued with cold winds, and frequent showers just to add to the already ridiculously high water table. However spring really has arrived even if it seems to have sneaked in through the back door. There are so many buds just about to burst and new things are popping up all over the place. Unfortunately we are still under a tsunami of sycamore seeds and spending time hoeing as much as we can, however now that spring has arrived we are having to be ultra-careful in places because the first of the asparagus spears are poking through the ground and one of them got hoed before it was noticed.
On Saturday the sun did actually show itself and it was warm enough to want to take your coat off. We planted the peas for pea shoots and some radishes, the very first plantings of the year. They had to be covered with a good layer of fleece just to keep off the night chill and for some protection from the winds. It was also the first time we had used water from the bowser to water in the plants, but on opening the lid to access the inner water cap to check the water level, several great fat bumble bees flew out, startled at being disturbed. Last year it was full of ladybirds – interesting how the wildlife looks for shelter in the most unexpected places.
One of our tasks was to put a layer of wood chips onto the working compost heap which was when it was discovered that the wheelbarrow tyre had given up on life and was very much useless, so another tyre will have to be purchased. It has to be said our wheelbarrows do get well used and we probably get through a couple of tyres every year.
The marigolds have been pricked out into trays and will go to the greenhouse at Pent farm to bask in some sunshine for a while. It looks like it will not be too long before the tomatoes will need sorting out as six of our varieties have emerged already.
What’s Next?
- Wind supporting string around the base of the broad beans
- Prick out the tomatoes to grow on
- Fix the wheelbarrow
- Take out the sycamore seedlings by hand on asparagus beds
This weeks update from the Sandgate Community Garden Diary.