The snow and freezing cold weather has restricted our visits to the allotment to gathering winter vegetables. This lack of activity gave us the ideal opportunity to plan for the coming season and finalise seed orders. Now we have everything that we need to start the new season…except favourable growing and soil conditions.

It is tempting to start sowing but experience tells us that this would be a mistake. With only a cold greenhouse, for us March is really the start of seed-sowing in earnest. Earlier experiments with seeds sown on window sills have rarely been completely successful. Later-sown seeds benefit from the improved conditions and soon catch up with and overtake early sowings.

Not all seeds need to be bought fresh every year – many remain viable for several years. Sow-by-dates are usually printed on seed packets – often on the part that we tear off to open the packet! Many seeds are supplied in huge quantities which would keep the average grower supplied for years. Throwing away packets still containing seed goes against the grain, but it sometimes has to be done. Parsnip seed for instance needs to be bought fresh every year.

We always try to grow something different, while keeping the best successes from the previous year.

• We previously found melons disappointing, but this year we are trying ‘Noir des Carmes’, which is apparently the easiest melon to grow. The immature fruits have black skins – hence the name – which ripen to orange mottled with green.

• Bell peppers didn’t work out for us last year, so we are opting for carrot-shaped peppers. Firstly Jimmy Nardello’s, which is red and claims to be the best sweet pepper I will ever taste, and secondly Tequila Sunrise, which is a golden orange variety.

• We always grow a variety of tomatoes but for the first time will include some Tumbling Tom and Garden Pearl. Both produce cherry sized tomatoes and will be kept in tubs in the garden. For the past two years we have lost all outdoor tomatoes on the plot courtesy of blight.

In an old shoe box, we have organised seed packets according to the month in which they are due to be sown to ensure that none are forgotten so now all that remains is to sit tight, dream, plan and wait until it is time to start sowing.
To read my complete January diary click here.
Harvested:
Cabbage – Tundra
Parsnip – Gladiator
Carrot – Yellowstone & Autumn King
Leek – Autumn Giant 2
Swede – Marian
Used from store:
Potatoes – Juliette
Broad Beans – Witkiem Manita
Squash – Crown Prince