Spring Sproutings

After weeks of heavy rain on every day we were able to come to the allotment, we finally have a Sunday coming up (tomorrow) with a reasonably optimistic weather forecast. So today in preparation, we decided to get a car load of compost from the council recycle place. 10 sackfuls we got, leaving 9 on the allotment, and keeping 1 for repotting at home - all great stuff and all completely free!

Last week we'd brought to the plot some of the black storage tubs used last year (for growing pumpkins, courgettes and tomatoes) in the garden. I had quite a few garlic cloves left over from the recent planting, and wanted to use up as many as I could, so we chucked some soil in each tub and planted most of the remaining cloves. It might not be a good time to plant them, now that we're in the middle of the frosts, but it's better than wasting them. And if these are as successful as the previous batch - well I don't think any vampires are going to be biting us in the near future.

Yes, the garlics we already planted in the raised bed are coming on very well! All 7 types are growing (including the slow starting German red ones), and I think every clove has germinated but one - and I'm pleased to bits!

Meanwhile, there have also been stirrings in the rhubard section of the bed. The Timperley Early plant has sprouted little leaves and red stalks. No sign of the other 2 plants yet, but I think those are meant to appear later anyway.

Bargain of the day (apart from the free compost, of course!).. Morrison's supermarket sells off the black buckets their cut flowers come in, in packs of 8 for 99p. Whoever bundled them into packs this morning was feeling generous, as I ended up with 27 buckets for £1.98! They'll be perfect for growing the tomatoes and chillis in this year, and probably a few other things too, once we've put some drainage holes in the bottoms - and at less than 8p each I don't think you can go wrong!