Propagation

Today I have started to propagate my first batch of seeds. I have sown french beans, spring onions, maincrop onions, dianthus and marigolds into a couple of propagators in the spare bedroom. Fern has also sown some strawberry seeds. I have also put a batch of onion seeds in the coldframe outside and will compare their progress with the onions in the propagator.

The dianthus and marigolds are intended to be used as "companion planting". The idea is, I think, that if I plant them in my veg beds they will repel insect pests. Either that or they will attract the pests to their flowers and in doing so keep the pests off my crops. Or are they supposed to attract the good insects? I'm not sure. If the theory doesn't work at least the flowers will add a bit of colour to the plot.

Waiting for topsoil and raised beds.

All work on the plot is on hold pending delivery of a few hundred tonnes of topsoil to the whole allotment site in February. The contractor will also be installing 3 raised beds (12ft x 6ft) on each plot. Off the plot I have bought wire and drilled and stained some 8ft 2x2 wooden posts ready to be used for constructing vine trellises and I have built a cold frame (pictured above). I have also put in an order, through the allotment committee, for three wooden potato crates from a local farmer, which I will use as compost bins.

I have now got four or five weeks to catch up on jobs around the house, after which, if you want me, I'll be on the plot!