January things to do around the Allotments

The weather this year has been reasonably mild compared to previous years and like all Irish weather nothing is predictable so you might ask what I should be doing on my Allotment in January besides hiding in the warmth of the Polytunnel with a hot cup of coco.

In January hard frosts are likely so it’s probably a safer bet to sew seedlings in a propagator or warm window sill vegetables that can be sewn from seed include the following:

Garlic if the weather is mild sow straight into the ground

Shallots if the weather is mild sow straight into the ground

Onions from Seed at temps less than 15°C in a propagator tray.

Jobs to do at MCA

• An inventory of the tools in the tool shed is needed- let MCA committee know what needs replaced.
• Tools need sharpened and oiled
• Compost from bay 2 is ready to use
• Polytunnel needs cleaned and soil prepared.

If you’re an organised soul you will have put manure onto your allotment by now and it should be bedding in nicely. It’s probably a good time of year to start thinking about what you wish to grow this coming year and get your seed orders in early. The Irish Seed Savers have a number of traditional variety’s and are dependent of the previous year’s crop see link http://irishseedsavers.ie/ they also have good variety’s to grow in the Irish climate. If you are wishing to grow certain varieties of potatoes it’s a good time of year to get the order in and get them chitted early.

Fruit trees such as apple trees are in the dormant phase so they can be pruned this month. Damsons and Plums should be left alone until the summer months.

For those of you are interested check out this Lunar planting calendar which gives you the ideal days of each month of the year for sowing seeds and harvesting vegetables see link: http://uk.rhythmofnature.net/gardener-calendar.

MCA