New Year Calendula

Calendula

So we have reached the end of 2013 – it is mid winter and I still have Cyclamen, Fuchsias, Primroses and Calendula in flower. It has been a mercifully mild winter so far, which many gardeners have been complaining about because it has thrown some plants into a confusion and caused them to flower in the wrong season. The Fuchsias and Calendula have not stopped flowering since the summer but they probably wont go on much longer as today it has turned colder. There was a frost this morning, the first real one we have had this winter and it's a lovely crisp clear day today but there are more winter storms blowing in from the west next week which will keep the temperatures up – although trees and power lines may come down!

Lady Boothby

My tiny £1.99 Lady Boothby 'climbing' Fuchsia is very happy in the coalshed bed, it was still flowering in November. I have tied it onto it's supporting mesh to stop winter weather damaging it and I discovered a lot of new shoots and even some flower buds! To prevent the new shoots from damage I covered her in fleece and then bubblewrap. Next year should be even better. The small pink fuchsias in front of Lady B. are still flowering well and looking quite happy. I am tempted to add in some other fuchsias next year as they seem to like the conditions there. All I have to do is choose something suitable!

Just before Christmas I went down to the allotment to dig up the last of the root vegetables;

Winter Leeks

Mutant Parsnips

 Leeks, Parsnips and Scorzonera. Remember the mutant carrots from the summer? Well the Parsnips were little better – I have looked it up on the internet and it could be erratic watering, too much fertilizer, too close together, too many weeds too many stones or root knot nematodes. Talk about being up against it!! The leeks were better although many were pencil slim, this is probably due to a combination of planting out late and not enough water. The Scorzonera have done remarkably well despite the difficult growing conditions – again a variety of sizes but not bad for a first try. We had some of the Parsnips and Leeks with Christmas dinner and they were good but have yet to try the Scorzonera.

Scorzonera

The allotment is looking a little unkempt to say the least but not much worse than many of the other plots. I have some caged brassicas which are looking quite happy. The seedlings were given to me and I can't remember what they are!

Iced Calendula

Up in the greenhouse it is an oasis of calm, the roof is still in place and the temperature is just right inside. I still haven’t sorted out and made room for next years seeds but I have a cunning plan....... I am now the proud owner of an electric propagator! There is no electricity up in the greenhouse and no cat free safe place indoors so I have cleared a space by the windows in the middle shed, which does have electricity so I will be able to get a lot of things germinating which I haven't managed to grow before. There should be enough room to start some other seeds off out there too. Now all I have to do is order the new seeds.........

Finally I'd like to wish all of you a Happy and productive New Year

Primroses