Back on theplot after a hiatus of one month. It has been either snow, rain or frost since before Christmas so digging has not been possible. The ground is still too sodden to dig over, however the cold, combined with the short days, has halted weed growth far more than last year.
I dug some Witloof/Brussels Chicory roots to take home to force in pots of compost in darkness to produce Lord of all the veg, chicons.
I was amazed tosee the Cavolo Nero had stood up to both the frosts and the ravages of the wood pigeons whom must have been hungry with s
now on the ground for weeks at an end. Removed the dead leaves and picked some of the dark green leaves to make ribollita with the dried beans, onions and potatoes, still in store, from the autumn.
The broad beans under cloches (with poles) have grown abouttwicethe height of the exposed sowing. As they look a little fleshy
and pampered, I removed the cloches to leave them too it. It will probably be frosty
tonight and I lose the lot, however they look quite big so should be OK. I will use the cloches to start some early lettuces.Hope for a dry spell now, I want all the digging done by mid-march.
