I'm hoping to get down to the allotment this weekend, just to check things over. It will be my first visit for quite some time, it's just been so wet lately. I've got some leeks in the ground, but that's it. Last year, I did really well with brassicas over winter, but the plants I was trying to raise this year all got eating by slugs at the seedling stage and I never got round to sowing any more. I really must do better next year.
I think we can safely say that no fruit will develop from the wild strawberry flower, it's far too cold now. The temperatures have plummeted this week and I've heard it mentioned that we're due to have our coldest winter for 100 years. Not only that but some experts are expecting the temperatures to drop as low as minus 20C during December and January. Goodness, I may have to invest in some thermals, I hate being cold.
My summer strawberries were a disaster this year and like you I have no brassicas in the ground everything got eaten or would not even germinate so I gave up.
ReplyDeleteI do have about 5 or 6 parsnips but whether they will amount to anything much I doubt. And thermals will be on my chrimbo list that's for sure.
I hope the weather holds and you manage your trip down to the allotment x
I did ok with my normal strawberries, they've never let me down yet. I forgot about the parsnips, I have three growing at the allotment, the only three which germinated from multiple sowings, so I'm hoping for great things from them. I may just add thermals to my Christmas list too, I think we're going to need them this year.
DeleteI guess the centres will have blackened with the frost, Jo. We went to Fairburn today and some of the frost in the shade hadn't thawed in the middle of the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteNo blackened centres yet, though the plant's covered in frost this morning. It's another cold day today.
DeleteI don't think all the "experts" are predicting -20°C but apparently it's the sort of headline that sells lots more newspapers. So fingers crossed it wont happen!
ReplyDeleteSome long range forecasters are predicting it, and it's happened before in the UK, so who knows. The temperature's certainly dropped over the last few days, I really need to dig my gloves out.
DeleteI've been contemplating thermals but I'm not quite ready to succumb to them. Not until I can find some that don't make me look thirty years older than I am. ;)I keeping meaning to grow some of the wild strawberries but never get round to it. I did fancy edging one of my paths in the garden. I don't mind some seasonal weather but I don't want it to be as cold as the last two bad winter's. We had minus 17. Lets hope they've got it wrong, they often do.
ReplyDeleteI don't care what I look like, they're underneath normal clothing and no one else can see them. I hate being cold, so needs must. I think wild strawberries would make a great edging plant, and you've got the added bonus of the delicious berries. I was hoping for a mild winter, I think we've had our fair share of bad weather over the last few years.
DeleteI'm not keen on strawberries but a lot of people say the same about these ones.
ReplyDeleteI think that we all want to do better next year, weather permitting.
Fingers crossed that it won't be as bad as some say it will be. Flighty xx
I think they're totally different to normal strawberries, you should try them, you may like them. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they've got the forecast wrong, it wouldn't be the first time.
DeleteA pretty little flower to cherish at this time of year Jo. Feeling cold just reading about such low temperatures. I wonder what we will be saying about the winter of 2012 when it is over.
ReplyDeleteAny flowers are welcome at this time of the year. I've learnt over the years that the weather can throw anything at us, so I don't think I'd be surprised with anything.
DeleteI've been really enjoying the strawberries here lately - our local season is in full swing and while I don't grow many I certainly eat a lot. I hope the forecasters are wrong for you and the winter proves to be relatively mild.
ReplyDeleteI'm envious that you're in the middle of strawberry season, they're one of my favourite fruits. I'm sure you're enjoying whatever you're managing to produce. I think we're owed a mild winter after the last couple we've had.
DeleteThanks for the "good news" concerning the weather, Jo! :-(
ReplyDeleteMy Alpine Strawberry seedlings are growing away steadily on the windowsill of our spare bedroom. I don't think they would enjoy -20C!
Sorry, let's just hope the forecast's wrong. Never mind the seedlings, I wouldn't enjoy -20C. I haven't had much luck starting alpine strawberries from seed, I think I may give it another go.
DeleteMy neighbour has lots of alpine strawberries and her dogs love to eat them. As for thermals, well I have a pair on long-johns and they make such a difference under a pair of jeans when you are outside, they don't look terribly sexy I must say!
ReplyDeleteMy plant is in a raised border, so Archie can't get to it. He's been known to snaffle tomatoes off my plants though. It's usually the top part of my body which feels the cold so I may have to get a thermal vest. I hate feeling cold.
DeleteI hope you manage to get a bit of time at the allotment. Although it's cold here it's nice and bright which makes it a nice walk out today. I think if these temperatures stay where they are I won't be doing much else now.
ReplyDeleteI had heard the harsh winter predictions too...but a cold winter is supposed to portent a good summer. That said considering they were bbq ing last Christmas I can understand why summer was so rubbish!!
It sounds like we've got the same weather here today. I'm hoping to get to the allotment this afternoon, though I won't be doing much, I just want to check things over. I can suffer a harsh winter if a good summer is guaranteed to follow, that sounds like a good trade off.
DeleteI totally agree, I love alpine strawberries. I grew a load from seed and I now have them lining a couple of paths at my allotment. I love going along hunting the ripe ones out in the summer. Mine are still flowering now too.
ReplyDeleteThey're such hardy little things. It sounds nice to have them lining the paths, I may do something similar.
DeleteWe use them to edge fruit beds, so fairly similar
DeleteThey seem to be a good edging plant, yet they still give a harvest, so no wasted space.
DeleteOnly one plant? I'll bet it would welcome some company :)
ReplyDeleteI bought some alpine strawberry seeds a couple of years ago and now have a tub of them growing in the back garden. I believe they're called Golden Alexandra? Pretty things with yellowish foliage. Their berries are small but they're lovely to have around in the garden anyway.
I only have one plant as it's in my border in the garden and wasn't bought for it's fruit. If I do decide to grow them at the allotment, I'll need many more to give me a decent harvest.
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