March 2007 Video Diary

• The rest of March was very mixed, many mornings were foggy but as the fog lifted the sun came out to give us lovely weather in the afternoon. Towards the end of the week we had lots of rain.
• Just in case we have a sudden freeze we have moved some frogspawn into a bowl in the greenhouse to try and ensure that at least some make it into froghood. We intended to film their development so watch out for that.
• For the first time a heron has been spotted in our garden so I hope the fish lie low. It was quite a large bird to see perched on a garden fence.

Weekend 17th & 18th March 2007

• This week's weather has been a very mixed bag. It has been bitterly cold despite the frequent sunshine. Gale force winds, especially during the night, have battered the daffodils and we have had showers of snow and hail.

On the plot

• Cultivated some ground in preparation for planting
• Dug up some carrots which were still edible

In the greenhouse

• It was a cold weekend and sowing delayed for conditions to improve

Weekend 10th & 11th March 2007

On the plot

• Sprouting broccoli ready for picking and still picking salad leaves especially mizuna.
• First daffodils in flower
• Fruit trees and bushes starting to bud

In the greenhouse

• Summer cabbage Puma sown in trays for an early crop
• Alpine strawberries Mignonette sown in seed trays
• Sweet Peas Galaxy Mixed and T&M Prize Strain Mixed sown in pots
• Salad leaves Niche Oriental Mixed sown in seed trays
• Mixed Salad leaves sown in seed trays

Out and about

• Blackthorn is flowering in Wakefield hedgerows
• Flowering Almonds in blossom
• Oil seed rape starting to flower!

Weekend 4th & 5th March 2007

On the plot

• Some native bluebells planted on plot (from an approved source).
• Laurel was cut back before birds start nesting, the buddleia was cut back hard too.

In the garden

• Planted English bluebells, Lily of the valley and Ixia
• First broad beans sown in pots in the greenhouse
• Strawberry plants moved into cold frame
• Early miniature daffodils are in flower as are hyacinths and  miniature tulips in tubs
• Blue tits are checking out nesting boxes - they seem to prefer the sparrow terrace - typical!
• Frogs are back in the pond
• Camellia and Magnolia are in flower

The photos below, were taken during the March 2007. The weather was very varied, we had gale force winds, rain, sleet, snow, hail and some sunshine. On many days it was bitterly cold. The site is continuing to look good. Daffodils, early tulips and even some tubs of primroses add colour to the plots. The pussy willow is in flower too. This is unfortunate for Jazz as the small trees that he had been nurturing thinking that they were apricots (grown from stones), turned out to be pussy willows. He has to break the news to the plotters that he gave them to! Many plotters are busy digging and some planting has been done. Tom our latest addition is making a great start on his brand new plot. I have had to guess some of the plot numbers maybe we need little door number plaques!!! Even the plot holders don't remember their numbers so please don't blame me too much if I have got yours wrong but I am sort of getting familiar with the numbers.