Homegrown Garden

Is anyone else in a strange state of excitement and panic at the same time? Whilst it may be cold and miserable outside, Spring really is just around the corner now and thats great, but I still have so much to do first!Longer days will soon be here and boy do I need it! Not only to have more time on the allotment but because sunlight, like many gardeners, is my medicine! I even saw a blue fuzz of daylight in the distance when I left work yesterday so it won’t be long now until I can potter about the allotment after work for an hour or so.

I have a long list of jobs to complete before Spring and it’s been getting to me a little bit. Now that I’ve written them down and categorised them by urgency, I’m already feeling a little less overwhelmed.

Urgent

• Finish pruning the hedges ✅
• Prune the dwarf apple tree ✅
• Re-felt the shed roof ✅
•  Sow chillies, sweet peas and peppers ✅
•  Plant spring bulbs (bought on sale) ✅
•  Draw an allotment plan
•  Order seeds ✅

Can wait a week or two

•  Remove hedge and tree clippings
•  Tidy the shed ✅
•  Pot up strawberry runners
• Clear area for new cut flower planter
•  Build leg (A-frames??) for polytunnel table

Can wait a month

•  Weed the strawberry patch
•  Wash the polytunnel
•  Dig and clear ground for new woodland plant bed
• Dig and woodchip paths

I should do, but probably won’t happen

• Sharpen tools
• Clean plant pots and trays

That’s just it for my winter jobs! I have so many big projects lined up for the year some of which are tackling overgrown areas that haven’t even been cultivated yet. I really hope I can stay on top of everything to get at least some of them done. The biggest part of that for me is to not feel overwhelmed and when you’re managing a 300m² on your own, it’s pretty tough going!

How are you getting on with your winter jobs?