Fixing the Cold Frame and Planting More Potatoes

Coldframe Repairs

Back in the winter storms, I cleverley put a brick on the twinwall polycarbonate roof of our home greenhouse to stop the wind blowing the roof panel out of its channels into next door’s garden. So the roof flexed, the brick went up and what goes up must come down. Smack into the coldframe below where it took out all four panes of glass and bent one of the side pieces beyond my ability to repair.

I called the coldframe suppliers who sent the part – over £7.00 for a little bit of aluminium but I suppose it’s post, packing and time – which arrived today. So now we have a clear glass coldframe at home again.

Planting Second Early Potatoes

Today was more like Flaming June than early April, beautiful warm sunshine although a slight chill in the wind. Far too good to spend the rest of the day indoors, so it was down to the plot with the second early varieties.  I’m about three weeks ahead of last year with these. Despite the lovely warm days, the nights are a bit chilly and we may well get a frost still.

Anyway, one and a half rows of Anya and a row of Charlotte went in as per Monday.

To keep the warmth in the soil and protect from frost, I covered with horticultural fleece that I will remove when the haulm starts to come through so I can earth up. A good tip for holding fleece in place is to use 4 pint milk containers filled with water. Unlike real bricks, they don’t have any sharp edges and unlike stakes or pegs you don’t pierce the fleece. My fleece is a few years old but in excellent condition.

Busy on the Site

It’s been quite busy on the site for the last couple of days. Everyone is coming out with the sun. It’s a bit strange as I like to see people and it’s nice to have a chat but I rather like being on the site on my own. The allotment cat obviously felt the same way judging by the way he swished his tail at the sight of children on his hunting grounds.