To do in January
Some things you could be doing on the allotment in January
Now is a good time to consider planting new RHUBARB crowns. A variety I have become particularly fond of is “Champagne” An earlier variety with a surprisingl sweetness and good lavour
If you are lifting existing crowns please NOTE these DO benefit from being left on the surface to get a hard frost before planting. These (if old and over large can be split and re planted -or shared with others-
Rhubarb should not be planted where previous rhubarb has been grown in the past SIX years.
Dig a DEEP hole line it with old cardboard or newspaper well soaked -top this with well rotted compost/farm manure followed by a few inches add soil to avoid the rich compost compost burning the roots then some moe soil-just enough so that when you lay the crown on top it just covers the crown top by an inch(25mm)
If you want to grow early potatoes-assuming you have already got them - set them up to start “chitting” anytime in the next week or two bearing in mind these will need several weeks frost protection when planted out (mid-late February)
Please be aware that mice, rats and squirrels love to eat these sprouting shoots, so protect them as best you can. I suggest a covered seed tray with ventilation facility. Or a securely covered tray with a 20mm wire mesh securely fastened all round creating a 100-120 mm growing space may deter the little blighters but do check regularly for any damage. If family permission is forthcoming-Keep them somewhere cool and dry at home, where hopefully there are no vermin?
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Thoroughly wash and disinfect any plant pots you want to re-use and store these separately ready to “pot on” this years seedlings
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Give Fruit trees and bushes a good feed- I know they are still “dormant” but it takes a few weeks for the nutrients to be fully absorbed into the soil. Pellets of chicken manure can be scattered most easily, or seaweed or self generated compost mulch are excellent options.
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Pot up Strawberry runners from last years growth- these are the replacements for future years Strawberry bed, so make sure they are a variety you are particularly fond of.
Alternatively order now a commended variety for next years crop (it is not recommended to harvest the first years growth) Strawberries are best on a 3 year harvest rotation so they are completely replaced every 3rd-4th season.
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Ensure you have a sufficient quantity of multi purpose compost .
If you have cleaned your greenhouse? its worth planting some salad crops under cover- they may be slow to germinate but still come good as the weather warms up.
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Peas and beans can be started in seed trays in the green house, provided they are protected from early frost.
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Order Bare root fruit trees
Points to ponder when ordering fruit trees or bushes
Source a reliable disease free supplier. Remember it may be several years before you are able to harvest any fruits.. Should they be dissapointing for any reason that is a lot of time wasted TO Sve a few quid!!
I find “mail order trees” very good they fulfil all of these requirements, they’re probably not the cheapest but they are consistently reliable -Only purchase trees specified as M26 rootstock these will only grow to a max 7-8 foot high. The GY&GAA tenancy rules specify “fruit trees must be NO MORE than 3 metres in height and planted so that the final spread is greater than one metre from any plot boundary
Order the most advanced growth available, a 2 year old is a better option than a 1 year old for only a little extra money? Bearing in mind it may be 5 years or more before you can harvest any significant crop
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Good all round varieties are I have grown with success are
Eating apple (dessert) El Star-Chivers Delight-Kidds Orange Red-James Grieve or a Russett variety
Cooking (culinary)
“Greensleeves” keeps its shape well when cooked and left to fully mature (Sept-Oct) will need no added sugar
Arthur Turner goes to Puree- good for apple sauce or pie tart filling, a very nice flavoursome apple. These fruits can make ½ a kilo each and can store for several weeks
There is nothing to stop you cooking eating apples if you prefer
I personally would avoid eating cooking apple varieties even those described as dual purpose!
If you want to grow early potatoes- set them up to start “chitting” now.
Please be aware that mice, rats and squirrels love to eat these sprouting shoots so protect them as best you can. I suggest a covered seed tray with ventilation facility. Or a securely covered tray with a 20mm wire mesh securely fastened all round creating a 100-120 mm growing space may deter the little blighters but do check regularly for any damage.
Thoroughly wash and disinfect any plant pots you want to re-use and store these separately ready to “pot on” this years seedlings
Give Fruit trees and bushes a good feed- I know they are still “dormant” but it takes a few weeks for the nutrients to be fully absorbed into the soil. Pellets of chicken manure can be scattered most easily, liquid seaweed or self generated compost mulch are excellent options.
