March 2018 garden notes

Garlic patch with leeks in front, Mar 2018

Roots

Finally finished eating celery (2017's Roots bed) by the end of March, and let the chickens onto this bed to scratch and clean it up in preparation for this year's Misc bed.

Garlic growing strongly in this year's Roots bed, but only a few shallots sprouting up.

I sowed a patch of parsnip seeds early in the month--and they got snowed on!  No sign of them by the end of the month;  I didn't get a single one last year so I'm not holding my breath for them. 

Sowed a few beet and carrot seeds at the end of the month.

Onion and leek seedlings now sheltering in my cold frame, to be planted out in April.  Last year's leeks still growing slowly, with a couple now ready to harvest (I'll let the rest carry on growing and dividing).  I sowed another tray of leek seed early in the month.

Peas and beans

Dwarf broad beans growing and thinking about forming buds.  Seed sown in February now sprouting up.

Early, maincrop, and (I think) mange tout peas all sprouting up, having been sown in February and early March.  I lost track of what I've sown, but all are in separate patches this year--the maincrop peas are actually in their own bed with the plum tree.  Put a small batch of mange tout to sprout near the end of the month.

Brassicas

Began harvesting winter cabbages in March, some of which are now trying to bolt.  Harvested a small amount of kale, mizuna (self-seeded) and the last of the Brussels sprouts including leafy tops.

Spring cabbages growing well, particularly in the cold frame.  Purple sprouting broccoli also growing well, but no shoots yet.  Neither of these harvested in March.

Planted out about a dozen overwintered cauliflowers.

Sowed two varieties of Brussels sprouts in trays outdoors, but none appeared by the end of the month.  Sowed a small row of radishes and another of turnips at the end of the month.

Miscellaneous

Overwintered chard beginning to put out new growth this month;  a little harvested.

In the cold frame, lots of growth on winter salad greens (mainly miners lettuce and arugula), giving us a small salad per week.  Harvested a few overwintered spring onions, grown in a container.

Fruit

Took a few cuttings from the redcurrant and cut back the yellow raspberry;  all fruit bushes putting out new growth by the end of the month.  Planted out two new blackcurrants which I got for free--one definitely growing, the other possibly.  Blackcurrant cuttings taken earlier are leafing out, but I don't know if that means they've rooted.

Almond tree and patio peach flowering at the end of March;  I've been hand-pollinating them both, although bees have been spotted on the almond.  Many flowerbuds formed on the Williams pear, Kumoi pear, plum, both cherries--none of these opened yet though.

Slightly pruned Sparta apple tree;  both it and Laxton Fortune starting to form buds by the end of March.

About a dozen strawberry plants left after chicken rampaging.  They scratched up most of the alpine strawberry plants too.  

Perennials and herbs

Artichokes growing strongly.  Rhubarb forming new leaves and stems.  No life spotted yet from asparagus.  Sorrel growing a little, but has been eaten by chickens.

Been nibbling a few daylily shoots (chickens have too) this month. 

Chives growing strongly, picked a few parsley leaves, thyme still alive.  All other herbs still dormant or dead (rosemary probably).