Poisson d'Avril

aPRIL aNTICS at the aLLOTMENT

Today is April Fools Day* (Poisson d'Avril in France) and I was trying to think of something outrageous to say on here but what we read in the newspapers is often far more unbelievable than anything I could cook up.  So, back to the allotment blog:


The April rain, the April rain, 
Comes slanting down in fitful showers, 
Then from the furrow shoots the grain, 
And banks are fledged with nestling flowers; 
And in grey shaw and woodland bowers 
The cuckoo through the April rain 
Calls once again. 
(From: April Rain by Mathilde Blind 1841 - 1896)


March was very dry, we spent many days up at the allotment clearing and preparing seed beds for sowing after our Easter holiday up in Derby/Scotland.   


We also cleared where the old shed and compost heap area, hacking away at brambles, stinging nettles and other weeds. We also removed large sheets of corrugated iron and other debris from under the ground.  Some bits may come in handy, the rest were burnt in the incinerator on a still, dry day.


However, I did risk planting a few lettuce seeds, in case they survive being ignored for our ten days' away. Also planted were shallots, onions, as well as early and maincrop potatoes.  


The broad beans, leeks and onions planted in the autumn are coming along well and we're picking spinach and broccoli (both flowering heads and leaves).


On the fruit side, the raspberries are sprouting, along with other berries and the strawberries are also coming into leaf.


It's frustrating having to water the plants in March and April, knowing that as it hasn't rained much for several weeks, the water in the butts will run out very soon.  

Background - broad beans, then leeks and spinach and broccoli in the front

 Broccoli, spinach and onions

 Broad beans

View of the front half of our allotment with 'new' shed 

and water butt, with overflow tank

15 April: Back from our break up in Derby and Edinburgh to find it has rained - but it would be difficult to tell as everything is still rather dry.

We spent the afternoon hoeing, picking broccoli and spinach, cutting grass edges and started digging one of the beds.


Guess what we had with our roast dinner tonight? Yes, broccoli and spinach!


27 April: In the past week I've planted beetroot and Swiss chard at the allotment and runner beans in the greenhouse at home. Have dug over some areas at the allotment and composted the green manure.  


It's really time to plant more seeds but its so cold, much colder than usual at this time of year.  For instance, today it's 10C when the average for this time of year is more like 14C to 16C.  It's been raining nearly every day and been blustery, so not the best weather for gardening or allotment.  Tomorrow is forecast to be 100% rain, so may stay in the house!


We bought some hanging baskets and flowering annual plants to put at the front of the house to make it look inviting for prospective purchasers.  I just hope they don't blow away!


End of April: The weather's been appalling for the past three days - gales and rain, with winds up to 70 mph recorded nearby at Berry Head (http://www.berryhead.org.uk/main.cfm?main=9).  The hanging baskets have survived - just - all credit to whoever planted them!  The wind's been so fierce that the rhubarb has blown over and the stalks broken.  
All very dispiriting, but gardeners are a hardy lot and are quite willing to keep going, even against the odds.


* Talking of April Fools' Day: On April 1, 1698, several people were tricked into going to the Tower of London to "see the Lions washed".^[5]