Life on the Weald - and in the garden - February 2022
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| Crocuses, Camellia, Hellebores and Primroses - 7 February |
The month started with very mild weather.
Monday 7 February was like a spring day with blue skies and temperatures reaching 12C. But it wasn't to last!
The temperature began to drop on the Tuesday. I had sown some parsnip seeds which I covered with fleece.
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| 8 Feb - Parsnips sown |
I dug a shallow trench for the first row of First Early Red Duke of York potatoes, and part filled the trench with some good compost before planting the seed potatoes that had been chitted.
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| Trench ready for the first early potatoes |
Saturday 12th was bright but cold with strong winds which, overnight at home, had brought down one of the branches from our eucalyptus tree.
The kale which had not been netted had been devastated by pigeons, but the crop was coming to an end but the purple sprouting broccoli was looking good and almost ready to harvest.
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| 12 Feb - Purple sprouting broccoli |
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| 12 February - Purple sprouting broccoli |
Sunday 13 and Monday 14 February were miserable days with persistent rain and a maximum temperature of only 7C. At home the crocuses were flowering on the lawn and the fallen branch from the eucalyptus can be seen in the background.
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| 15 Feb - crocuses and fallen branch |
On 15 February we took off for Spain, returning on 28 February. Whilst we were away some of the worst storms in recent history hit the UK. Damage and flooding in the North of England was extensive but the South East did not escape some damage. We were worried about our allotment but were reassured when Sylvi's son, Luke, sent us some photos.
Our shed, which was already a bit worse for wear, had survived miraculously and the roof had stayed on but the doors were blown in and the shed is now at a jaunty angle and some panels have come adrift.
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| 19 February our shed after the storm |
Our neighbour's shed did not fare so well.................
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| Our neighbour's shed |
............and her wooden-framed greenhouse had been blown on to its side.
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| Our neighbour's greenhouse |
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| Another plot holder's greenhouse |
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| Our stroage box, after the storm |
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| The lid from our storage box after the storm |
There will certainly be lots of clearing up to do on our return.
