Well, I’m back again with my re-shooting garden journal just as promised. Mind you, given that gardening for me is somewhat thin on the ground just now, I’ll concede that the ‘garden’ part as mentioned in the title could be considered somewhat misleading. I implore you to stick with it however, as gardening will feature if you can read on long enough!
Generally Speaking
It seems odd that already we’ve turned enough diary pages to see us comfortably beyond the second full working week of the year, and memories of that Christmas break along with January’s wolf moon itself are fading fast. Over the course of winter, like many others, I too hear that inner calling to hibernate, or in the very least a plea to slow right down and take things easier. Nevertheless, with a level head, I also hear the mightier cry to pay off those festive bills; so also like many others, my Christmas default position rests somewhere awkwardly between work, rest and play.
In all fairness though, whilst for many the Christmas period can be incredibly busy and stressful, I do count my blessings in being able to ease back on the throttle for a few precious days and take things easier. During the holidays then, whilst overall the usual lively family time was enjoyed, I was still able to carve out time for some much-needed reflection and contemplation. Through reading, some atmospheric local walks and meditation, which have become hugely important to my wellbeing over the last two years or so, I thankfully glided through the season unscathed and felt somewhat refreshed – if only it had lasted!
In the Garden
Thankfully, whilst in my home garden little is moving, I’m glad to say that we, as in Mrs. W. and myself have successfully achieved our first 2025 session at the allotment garden. To be fair the session could have waited, but with the weather, ground conditions and a time slot opening, it felt good to get the gloves on and to at least do a little towards the new growing season.
Understanding that some plants offer useful winter refuge for wildlife, we tentatively started by cutting hard to the ground last season’s ornamental woody herbaceous growth. Knowing that some dried stems can be useful as food or nesting material for birds in the coming weeks, the ones pruned were all the other random sticks, the ones useless to man nor beast. All the pruned material was removed away to the compost bin – everything being recycled.
Elsewhere on the plot I set about cleaning up the space where last year’s pumpkins were grown and an adjacent weedy bed with a few unproductive cabbage stems. In this space, previously mostly covered with matting, the task was to tease out the weed growth initially, and particularly through the middle and around the perimeter where weeds have been trying to get a foot hold; relatively straight forward all things considered.
Going forward, my plan is to sub-divide this large bed into four strip beds, each four feet across with narrow paths in between. As tested elsewhere on the plot, the strip system makes it easier to work the soil from each side without stepping on the growing ground at all: a long-established method of growing that preserves the soil, one that will better contribute to my goal of no-to-minimal dig growing. Once the last of the weeding is complete in this space then, I shall look to carve out and establish the paths and bed areas, which worked really well elsewhere on the allotment last year. Finally I shall cap over the beds with compost to enrich the soil.
Looking Ahead
Without wanting to overshoot my garden journal stay which is intended to be short and sweet, I will roundup by swiftly looking ahead to my gardening activity in the next week or so. Hopefully, time may present itself to return to the plot, but of prime importance is the need to secure some seed potatoes that will need chitting in the coming weeks; more on that in due course. Otherwise, I shall be looking to acquire some onion sets and seeds, so some retail therapy is definitely in my stars.
Finally, as bird nesting season approaches along with some more challenging weather no doubt, I shall be continuing to provide clean water and fresh seed in the garden. Oh yes, and I’ve also a new bird box to install, but not before some small-scale decorating to make the birds feel welcome – all TBC!
For now, I’ll wish you all the best, and will sign off from my first garden journal edition.
Regards, Gary Webb. Gardening ways.
Gardening Ways 