A very different spring
LIZ CHARNELL
Maybe you are wrestling with the rather big challenges of 2021. I’m sure that none of what is called the ‘new normal’ is easy for anyone right now. So please forgive me if I share with you one small aspect of this crazy spring from a gardening perspective. At this point I need to say that in the 11 years I have been here this has never happened!
Every year we have about 3 – 4 sowings of cucumbers. The first one is early in the year but we keep them safe and warm in the propagator until the weather warms or they get too big (about 50cm) and then they are planted in the tunnels.
Now, as you know, it hasn’t been particularly warm, but there was a moment when we took the risk and put the first sowing out. They looked good at first, so we even put the strings up for them. As the days passed the casualties mounted and we were left with 3 out of an original 77.
To the second sowing – this went out into the tunnels a little later and the casualty rate for this bed was about 30%. We have now replaced the first sowing with the third and filled in the gaps of the second (which isn’t looking too happy although there are some first cucumbers coming) and we are keeping our fingers crossed that it really is going to warm up.
What has kept us amused though is that somewhere in the crazy bustle of spring I saved one plant from the first sowing to give to my sister (perk of the job!). However she never took it, so I potted it on, gave it some seaweed feed and a little bit of extra muck, and kept it in the warm propagator tunnel.
Well, we now have what can only be described as a successful transplant to say the least and definitive confirmation that it has been the coldest spring since my records began which I know in the greater scheme of things is not saying very much but it is food for thought!
