Spring Cleaning on the Allotment

Allotment Tales 13-02-2025

Overcast today, but not as cold as forecast – possibly due to our average 4 layers of clothing, or to the welcome warmth from today’s bonfire.

But first, a big Thank You to George Anderson, who led a fantastic Winter Fruit Pruning Workshop on Sunday. We had space for 20 folk and places were heavily over-subscribed. The lucky participants were treated to a masterclass, aimed at de- mystifying this core gardening task and encouraging all to have a go with increased confidence once back home.

Today’s bonfire was fed with the prunings from Sunday, and from our recent hazel coppicing. We baked some of our apples on the brazier lid – delicious! Ash from a previous fire was spread around the base of our fruit trees and bushes too.

Today’s main activity was Spring cleaning. Both sheds were emptied – the smaller one seemingly Tardis-like when all contents were spread out for inspection and re-organisation. Bags of netting, recycled yoghurt pots and numerous off-cuts of string (always useful!) were kept, whilst others (a meat thermometer anyone??) re-housed or consigned to the bin. There’s something thrilling about entering a cleared shed – or perhaps this is a sign that we need to get out more!

Other jobs today – we watered the compost bins which were quite dry, weeded and cleared the sprout bed, harvesting the last of the little gems found snuggled up amongst the uppermost leaves. We also pulled some leeks – more like fat spring onions but tasty nonetheless, once sweated down as the base for a soup or sauce.

Jobs for next week: go through the bags of netting and chuck the most perished; finish fruit tree pruning; check through the seed box in preparation for this year’s sowing; weeding (as ever!).