It's Potato Time!!!!

We made a very brief visit to Doug last weekend but there really wasn't much we could do.

Seedney!

Instead, I used the time to plant some seedlings on Doug's annexe (Seedney the Kitchen Windowsill).  Seedney had been used over winter for chive and basil seedlings, which are doing very nicely already.  They have now been joined by tomato (Black Cherry), pea (Meteor), turnip (Purple Top Milan), broccoli (Summer Purple) and radish (mixed salad).  More will be planted very soon.  Once they've grown a bit, we then have the cold frame sitting in Nigel in which they can harden off before being transported to Doug.

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This week was very different however.  This week was.....

Potato Planting Week!!!!

Last week, we bought what we thought would be two bags of a straw/manure mix.  When we got there this morning, five bags had been delivered (bonus!) Unfortunately, my back was a little sore so Phil gallantly did all the digging.  I managed to hoe inbetween all the brassicas and re-position the netting.  Phil set to and started to dig over the first part of the potato patch and then dug two deep trenches.  Alothough it's early for planting potatoes the guys at the allotment assure us that because of where we are, we can get away with planting early.  

Phil and his potatoes!

We have also lined those deep trenches with some of the manure mix and put the seed potatoes on top of that - helps to increase the warmth and extend the growing season.  We planted a row of Pentland Javelin first earlies and a row of our Purple Majesty main crop.  Lyta also helped by picking out some of the weeds and bits of rubbish.

Phil and Lyta discussing the veg!

The shop was open so we managed to get most of the seeds we need for the rest of the planting and I've ordered the three more unusual ones online. It's starting to get really exciting :) The next few weeks will probably be quiet again until we get to late February / early March when planting out can begin in earnest!  We don't want to plant all the potatoes now, and we have more seed potatoes being delivered later anyway.