As of today, most gardeners and allotmenteers across the Emerald Isle shall be crossing fingers, knocking on wood and waiting that much anticipated break in cloud cover in the hope that there may finally be a sunny-side of things to look upon as the month of April 2017 draws to a close…
Winter 2016-2017 arrived quite late and the hope was that March would eventually herald the new growing season in earnest, which, for the most part it did. But then April arrived, and everything it seems has stood still for over three weeks. It has been a very dull, very dry month to date, and where the early days of the month were noticeably cooler than average, the last number of days have actually been unseasonably cold, due in no small part to a polar air mass sweeping down across the country with all the accompanying hail, sleet, and even snow showers on high ground, sub zero night time temperatures and sharp to severe frosts each of the last 5 nights. But the forecasters promise we are to be reacquainted with our more familiar prevailing Atlantic weather fronts from today onwards so, fingers crossed.
Of necessity all activity on the Monster’s new plot duly adjusted to the inclement conditions, and perhaps this weekend shall see us finally plant out all of the cosmos, sunflowers and antirrhinums which we have under cover in our potting shed awaiting improvements on the weather front.
Most of our activity the last 10 days has involved sowing under cover; chard, spinach, kale and beetroot, and yesterday saw us sow some rocket and lettuce seed in trays and pots. Ideally speaking both perform better if sown direct, but we’ll give them a fighting chance and plant on when necessary in a few weeks time.
Everything seems grey, and stunted, and sluggish, and everyone it seems is waiting on that little tip over into more reasonable spring-like conditions before committing too much to the elements, but, it is the weather; just the weather and as such it is what it is. You learn to work with it or you allow it work against you. Simple as. I mean it’s not rocket science!!!!!
Monster In The Corner... 