Allotment Diary: Year Four, First Visit

Year four. The allotment feels like an old friend at this point. I know exactly which beds need attention first, which perennials need space, and where the sun falls in April. I don't even need to think about what to do when I get there — I just do it.

What Survived Winter

All the perennials are accounted for. The rhubarb has divided again and is now genuinely enormous — I probably need to lift and split the crowns this year before they take over the bed completely. The cherry trees both blossomed last week in the brief warm spell we had. The red currant and blackberry bushes are leafing out well.

The bulbs I planted under the currant bushes in October have come up beautifully — a row of small daffodils that look completely unplanned in the best way.

The Flower Patch

I've cleared a section along the south-facing fence for the zinnia and cosmos seeds. The plan is to direct sow them in May once the frost risk is gone. Zinnias in particular want warmth to germinate, so starting them too early indoors would just lead to the leggy seedling problem I've had before with sunflowers. Direct sowing in warm soil is the right move.

The San Marzano Plan

The San Marzano tomatoes I mentioned in January are currently doing very well on the windowsill at home under the grow lights. They're noticeably more vigorous than last year's seedlings — I think the heat mat setup under the propagation tray is making a consistent difference. They'll go into the ground in late May once the last frost date has passed.