Sprouting Broccoli
I spent an afternoon at the plot last week. It was mild, strangely mild for the start of January, and dry. It hadn’t rained for about 5 days in a row and I couldn’t remember when that had last happened. I know, if you live outside the UK, you’re probably getting sick of me going on about rain. You’re thinking, ‘Hey, I knew these Brits were obsessed by the weather but she writes about it ALL the time’. I did think one of my New Year’s resolutions should be to stop mentioning the weather so much but then I realised how much it governs what I do and thought there wasn’t any point in setting myself up for a fail so early in the year. Even on a slightly sunny, pleasantly warm day where the weather seems pretty uneventful we’ll still find something to say about it. Anyway, I digress.
On the plot I was greeted by the pile of plant debris dumped by the compost heap. This was the remnants of dahlias and other plants from the cut flower beds. I’d got round to removing them, on what was probably the only dry day in November, and piled it all up, the intention being to come back another day and chop it up for the compost heap. I hadn’t planned that it would take me two months to get round to doing it but with an allotment inspection due I thought it was about time I tackled it. Then there was the brown and scruffy dying foliage of the Alchemilla mollis which was cut back ready for new leaves to appear in spring.
Stocks and their first flower buds
I was excited to see the first buds on my biennial stocks. It’s early but my stocks last year flowered sporadically from October to March. They coped well with the cold spell we had last year but, just in case the doom merchant newspapers that are suggesting a catastrophe is coming in the form of snow and ice are right, I’m off up there today to rig up some protection.
Excitingly, there are the first signs of flowering stems appearing on my sprouting broccoli. It’s the first year I’ve grown them. I bought them as plug plants from Delfland Organics. Five of a white variety and five purple. A couple succumbed to the slug onslaught of the summer but eight remain. I read somewhere that it was better to start sowing sprouting broccoli later than the packets suggest as they make smaller plants which suffer less in wind but it doesn’t affect the yield. My plants are much smaller than those on other plots. Brian, who is always so organised and has the neatest and probably most productive plot, has all of his broccoli plants staked. Even though mine are smaller they could have done with a little bit of support. That’s one to remember for later on this year and next season’s plants.
And finally, to the title of the post. The plot next to me is up for grabs. The couple who have had it for several years now have decided to give it up, finding it difficult to juggle it with a young family and work. I didn’t see them at all last year. It’s a shame because the allotments could do with more younger people up there. I said last year that I was looking for some extra space as my ambitions had outgrown my own plot. With a new clerk managing the site the idea is that they are going to be stricter with maintenance and several people have decided it’s too much and with only one person on the waiting list it looks like a few plots will be going spare. The temptation is hard to resist to increase my plot space. There are two problems though. The first is the state the plot has been left in.
Doesn’t look that tempting, does it?
And secondly, time. There are only so many hours in the day and taking on another plot is probably only going to make me feel stressed. I’d rather do the things I’ve committed to well than spread myself to thinly and find everything goes pear-shaped. I’m not sure what will happen to the plot if nobody wants it. There’s talk it might just be turned over to potatoes by some of the other plot holders. I suggested sowing one of those pictorial meadow seed mixes once it had been cleared but it’ll more likely end up as spuds. It is tempting but I must resist, for my own sanity.
I’d find that second plot very tempting, but being strong is probably the best bet. Look at it this way: if it does go to spuds, at least it will be well cultivated, dug over and manured. And then it might be available later, in better condition.
Enabler, me?
I like your thinking. Even if that plot isn’t available next year there will be another one somewhere. The grow your own revolution is waning here. It really is the preserve of retirees. It’s a pity there aren’t some younger people interested.
Probably a good decision. It is so easy to decide you need more space and then regret it later (especially as the other plot looks like it needs a huge amount of work. I’m trying to work out how I can create a couple of beds for flowers for cutting – that’s your fault, inspiring me to have flowers for the house. I may be asking you lots of questions. Christina
It is tempting but I need to learn to say no to things. The plot is in such a state nobody wants to take it on. Love the sound of your cutting garden. It’ll give you great pleasure. WW
When I gardened for several years on a headland jutting out into the sea, almost surrounded by brassica fields I learned a valuable lesson about their cultivation. The local farmers all planted their cabbages etc in a ridge and furrow system, planting the brassicas down into the furrows. Once they were established and growing away they earthed up the stems like spuds so that they could form stem roots – those both give extra feeding and stabilisation.
I’ve done a lot of experimenting with broccoli sowing dates over the years and I find that the earliest sowings give the earliest crops – perhaps because of wind rock in part. Those big plants catch the wind most and I think the plants panic and go into production mode for the sake of survival. Small late sown plants don’t give quite as big a crop though there isn’t a huge difference, but the shoots from the late sowings are usually smaller. But to be honest you can sow anywhere from the first week in March to the end of June and still get a worthwhile crop. More than any other it is a crop you can sow whenever you have time. And because the seeds stay viable for ten years or more you can actually use up all the seeds in the packet. I’ve had home saved sprouting broccoli seed still give nearly fifty per cent germination after fifteen years, simply putting the dry seed in a screw top jar, dating it, and losing it behind the jam on a top shelf in the attic.
Thanks for this advice Kathryn. I’ll try that earthing up with next winter’s crop. It’s fascinating that the seeds are viable for such a time.
You are right to resist. I was offered a huge corner plot six years ago and I took it with huge enthusiasm and excitement. The reality was I was constantly struggling to fill, and more significantly weed, the entire plot and it was near impossible. I now have the same length allotment but half the width and it’s bliss. You can plant intensively, not bother with produce that is relatively inexpensive to buy AND clear one crop and re-stock with another very regularly.
Thanks Sue. I’d love to plant some stepover apples and things like that but I’m not allowed them anyway. I think like any gardener there are so many plants I’d like to grow but they all need looking after and I don’t want it to become a chore.
Not sure how your current allotment is laid out, but you could take the second allotment on for sort of “gross” production. Rather than having to clear it, cover a large part of it in several inches of compost and plant potatoes into that. No digging, minimal work, which lets you put a bit more into putting the rest of it down to fruit bushes. Again, lots of mulch, no digging or sowing. Any good? Of course, I wouldn’t want to lead you down the paths of unrighteousness…
Thanks for the suggestion Helen. I did think about squashes rambling around but I’m going to resist. I’ve got a really busy year ahead and I’m fairly sure if I still want more space in the future they’ll be a plot free.
I think you have made a wise decision, I don’t think I would want to take on someones neglected plot or maybe this is the one time when some weedkiller would be beneficial, just to clear it, after all, you don’t want their weed seeds coming to your plot do you!?
Thanks Pauline. I spent all year having their weed seeds coming on to my plot, unfortunately. Hopefully something will be done with it, even if it is just potatoes.
The same thing has happened to me, long time lottie neighbors have just upped sticks and gone, which was a shame but not a surprise. I could use the space – you can never have too many raspberry canes in my view! – but the thought of double the current load turns me cold. Have you thought about some guerrilla seed sowing? sunflowers for the birds? beans for the humans and good for soil replenishment…potatoes…YAWN….
It’s so deep in weeds it would be impossible to sow anything there. It’s been a problem plot for years apparently. It would be good to be able to get it into a good state if only so I don’t have to stare at it and see all the weed seeds drift onto other plots but I need to learn to say no, so I’m sticking with my one plot.
Go for it — the chance may not come again!
Wasn’t it you, WW that wrote that your allotment rental was going up by a relatively large amount? A lot of money then for two plots, no? Especially if you’re not sure what to do with it. But perhaps I’m getting you mixed up with someone else. Dave
No, it was me. That is still all up in the air. Nothing moves quickly here. Looks like it will probably only go up by a few pounds this year.
Very tempting indeed! I think I’m with Helen and would try out some fab heritage potatoes (and Jerusalem artichokes?) and grow them a la no dig (if you have a reasonable supply of compost and the energy to get it to your plot!). This may be a tad on the dull side, but would keep all the weeds down, help clear the plot and keep you in delicious spuds, unavailable in the shops, for months. Decisions, decisions!
I did think about squashes rambling all over it. It’s in such a state though it’ll take a while just to clear it and I just don’t have the time. It’s a pity it was left to get into such a state.
Oooh the plot next door sounds tempting but that does like a lot of hard work. I inherited one like that and it took years to tame and, as you know, it’s always a constant battle. I would leave as a nature reserve, might take too much time away from your writing….which would be missed.
The plot has always been a problem one and I think that was part of the problem for the couple who had it. They never really managed to get on top of it. I’m sticking with my one plot. Thank you, you’re very kind
Oh what a dilemma but probably a wide decision WW. You may get a similar opportunity at some stage in the future when you have time on your hands.There would be no point taking it on only to become stressed. I am surprised to read that you have an inspection coming up so soon – we have 3 a year – April, June and September. Hope that those possible spare plots will not be empty for long. Enjoy your psb
I know it is a strange time to have an inspection bearing in mind it’s winter but it’s because we have a new clerk. I fear the plots will remain empty for a while. The grow your own revolution seems to be waning here.
It’s always good to be able to some plotting at this time of year, and start to see new growth on some plants.
I agree about resisting temptation as it seems to me the people who do take on another plot then invariably struggle. xx
I agree. It would be fine if I didn’t have other commitments. One plot holders has 3 plots but he’s retired so has a little more time. No matter how much space I have there will always be something else I want to grow but whether I have the time to actually grow them, and well, is a different matter. I’m sticking to one plot.
Depending on your allotment rules you could plant fruit trees after your crop of potatoes.
I don’t think I’d stress myself out by taking on another plot, especially when you have such a busy year coming up. It could easily become a chore, especially as it’s in such a state at the moment, when gardening should be a pleasure. I’m surprised that you have spare plots, we’ve still got a huge waiting list for plots around here. I’m envious of your broccoli, I didn’t get round to sourcing any after my seedlings were munched by slugs, so I’m missing out this year.
I am impressed at your restraint, though given the book, seems like a good idea to resist the temptation to expand, it would be so dispiriting to take it on and not be able to get it cleared and productive. Hope someone enthusiastic takes it on, I had an empty plot next to mine, and watching the weeds take over was depressing.