Hello again! 👋
Welcome to 2024 at the Anaesthetist’s Allotment. This is the third post of the Year in the Anaesthetist’s Allotment. It is a fairly quiet period of the year in the garden, so this post will be on the shortish side.
Disclaimer: I’m a professional anaesthetist, not a professional gardener. I do a bit of gardening and cycling in my spare time. I have grown veggies for many years and have learnt what works for me (sometimes!). These are my ramblings! I would be honoured to be corrected / advised by those with more knowledge than me!
General:
We are well into the throes of winter in the North of Scotland.
The weather continues to be awful. We have had more named-storms battering us this year, so far, than ever before. And, although there have been no more named storms since my last post; the winds, rain, snow and ice, which are so predictable and ”normal” for the far north of Scotland at this time of year, continue unabated.
In the Veggie Garden:
No more lying snow in the Veggie Garden recently. We are still harvesting some of last year’s crops:
– Brussels Sprout – still delicious.
– Winter Cabbage – only three left, but still holding up well.
– Leeks – 🤔, starting to get to the end of these now, the remaining ones are starting to get a bit ropey – but we can still find the odd good one and they still taste amazing!
– Beetroot – only a few left now.
– Potatoes – another bed of tatties emptied during the week. Only one bed of tatties left now. 😔
These winter vegetables are wonderful. Full of flavour and will last us right through until spring when we start to get our first harvests from this year’s crops. I am expecting some with my Sunday roast today 😋, before heading off to work later.
Garlic (“Granny’s” and Solent Wight) have appeared through the soil during this last week. They were planted, using cloves from lasts year’s crop, in October last year.
Spring Cabbage “Hero” – have survived winter well. They are looking really good under their protective net. They will grow away well as soon as the days lengthen and the temperatures rise to provide us with a delicious early crop of cabbage.
In the greenhouse:
In my last blog, I described my new battery-powered irrigation system which I had installed in the greenhouse. This was designed to last through short holidays and work trips, to keep the few plants in the greenhouse watered without connecting to the mains water supply (which would freeze at this time of year). All seemed to be working well last weekend, and I went away for a week’s work.
On my return, I noticed some bubbles in the pipes going to the plants. 🧐 🤔. Lifting the lid, I discovered the water butt was completely empty! 😠 It should theoretically last for several weeks at the rate set on the automatic watering system. I discovered that the tap at the base of it was leaking. I have tried putting the tap into a different position, and overnight, it seems to have done the trick and remains full this morning. We will see how it goes during the week this week – I may have to get another “reservoir” – yes, I do admit that this one was a very cheap “bargain”!!!
The three lots of tomato seeds which I received in my Christmas Advent Calendar have now sprouted 😊. The chilli, has not sprouted yet. I planted them all about 3 weeks ago and they have been in the mini-greenhouse within the greenhouse.
The salad lettuce seed tape which I planted at the same time has also sprouted this week. 😊
A couple of the Shallots have also started sprouting. Hopefully the rest will follow shortly!
My seed potatoes (Winston) have arrived. Every year, I place them onto trays to chit. This is process where the seed potato is encouraged to form small shoots prior to planting them. This produces quicker growth once planted out.
Rest of the garden:
January is often a very cold depressing month in the North of Scotland. February is not much better! Cold, rainy, snow. Wind howling. Very short days and long dark nights. Everything in the garden looks brown, bare, dead!
I’m not selling it, am I? 😉
And then, signs of life, start to appear, promising the beginnings of better times to come………..
Crocuses are ready to take over from the snowdrops in the pots, whose petals have passed their best and have now blown away in the wind.
Snowdrops are, however, now out in full force down the driveway. One of clumps is getting quite impressive and has even started seeding naturally around itself, with snowdrops appearing in the middle of the path 😊. They are gorgeous!
The large tree down the driveway has started to show signs of life again. Buds are appearing which will very soon turn into catkins. I always find that as soon as these catkins appear, my hayfever kicks off with a vengeance. 🤧 I’d better get the antihistamines, nose sprays etc ready!
The apple trees are similarly poised to spring into flower as soon as conditions allow. The buds are all formed and waiting…..
…….. for just the right moment.
And……
The days have definitely started getting longer! 🥳. It’s now longer pitch black dark at 1530, the sun only sets at 1700, there’s still a glimmer of light in the Western Sky until after 1800 😊
………. “Summer is Coming”
Hopefully, I will not get quite as tied up in work again this year and will be able to keep you updated on developments in The Anaesthetists Allotment regularly throughout the year
See you next time!
Dr Doug (Douglas) McKendrick 
Spring is on the way! However, I’m sure we will have a few more weather challenges to face in the coming months. Enjoy your gardening and your delicious produce.
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