This morning I did go to the allotment and, opening the shed, I found it deceptively dry and almost cosily cool. However, the graceful lacey pattern on the inside of the roof left no doubt that there was no hope for any gardening today!

In fact it was so cold that the soil was frozen even inside the greenhouse: remember the chilli plants that were almost going to flower at the beginning of December? The stems have now burst, under the pressure of water in the cells expanding into ice… this certainly shows what an amazing system frost-resistant plants use to prepare for winter (called “cold hardening“: they accumulate sugar as an antifreeze and leak water outside the cells, much as emptying a bottle a little before putting it into the freezer).

There was obviously nothing to do, except taking pictures of the amazing scenery. There’s a few, so they are worth a Flickr slideshow. Here they are – hope you enjoy!

Deary deary me, it’s the start of a new year already, and I am already looking forward to spring: there’s something in the air right now that feels new and full of promise.

The reality however is that over the holidays I have done nothing at the allotment, not even watered inside the greenhouse (which I had locked against intruders, but it’s not proved very convenient as it is laborious to open for me as well). Neither have I studied towards my horticulture diploma. I am still tired from last year and feel very very lazy!

While I gather together all my energies to start anew, I wish you all the best for the new year, gardening or otherwise!

Yesterday I spent another four hours at the allotment, and I finally planted all the Alliaceae: garlic Vallelado (plus two species Neil gave me), onion Shakespeare, shallot Vigarmor.

I have never seen so many hibernated ladybirds; actually I had never seen any in the previous two winters, so I guess that is a very good sign – they were all native as well.

The ones below were in my compost heap, but I found another four while digging – I picked three and put them on the pallets around the compost heap, for shelter, one I lost in the undergrowth. Frankly, that has put me off digging a little bit, and clearing the plot does not feel too good at this time of the year either. Obviously it is confirmed to me that native ladybirds like messy long grass and weeds – a habitat that is increasingly lost.

Will have to figure out how to keep an area in the plot that is messy enough, even when it’s not by mistake like this year. This is in the interest of nature and also of my gardening finances: a pack with 25 ladybirds against aphids’ infestation sells for £20+!

It was sunny yesterday and, despite the mud, I managed to do a few things, like covering the herb patch (oregano still flowering) and sow some salad in the greenhouse, where the chillies are still holding on to their flower buds. I also transplanted the last brassica seedlings: a task long overdue.

The rocket I sowed a couple of weeks ago has germinated, and the strawberries are on their way to ripening. My leek seedling are still growing too.

Very oddly, there was a bumblebee out and foraging on my borage and, in a neighbour’s plot, two broadbean plants stood vigorous and in flower. Beside being the wettest period on record, it is still fairly warm, and plants (and insects) are obviously being tricked into thinking it might be spring already.

But there are signs the cold is coming: the nasturtiums were all gone and the celery sported freeze burn on the edges.

Still too wet for garlic & onions, I’m afraid; however, I will have to plant them soon before the soil goes hard.