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I saw on Sue's Our Plot at Green Lane Allotments blog that she's wrapped the containers which she's growing her trees in in bubble wrap to give them a bit of protection over winter. I haven't done this before with my trees, and they've fared perfectly well, even in the harsh winter we had last year, but I don't think you can ever be too careful where the weather's concerned so I'm going to do the same. I'd be very upset if I lost any of my trees so it's a good idea to give them a bit of protection. Hubby is able to get some bubble wrap from work, so I'm just waiting on his firm getting some deliveries now so that I've got a supply with which to wrap the pots. I hope it won't be too long as the colder weather is surely on its way.
We found a hedgehog at the allotment recently. At first, I thought it had gone in to hibernation, but a little investigation revealed that it was unfortunately dead. I just want to mention that hedgehogs need to be a decent weight in order to survive hibernation, at least 600 grams I believe, so please be on the lookout now that winter is on its way for any small ones which are out and about as they would need to be looked after, perhaps by a shelter. There's a decline in the number of hedgehogs which is a sad state of affairs, so they need all the help we can offer.
Well done with the spring onions - looks like you'll get an excellent spring harvest from them just as everything else is feeling quiet :)
ReplyDeleteThey should give a decent harvest early in the season. I was hoping I'd get something from them this year, and I suppose I could, but I'll be better being patient and letting them bulb up a bit.
DeleteThanks for mentioning the hedgehogs and letting people know they need some help now and then.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have them here but I really loved them when we lived abroad.
It's only recently that I discovered you don't have hedgehogs in the USA. I'd hate not to have our little prickly friends around here so we must take care of them.
DeleteSo sad about the hedgehog. Your spring onions are looking good though - and they will be ready in the spring! I'm not sure where your trees are, but if they are in your garden and you don't want to look at bubble wrap, try adding a hessian sack or something similar over the bubble wrap - that is what I did and it worked well. xx
ReplyDeleteI thought the hedgehog was hibernating at first so it was really sad to discover that it was dead. My trees are in the garden and hessian would probably be nicer to see than bubble wrap, but it's easier to get hold of. I don't know where I'd get hessian from.
DeleteI did also use a cheap and about to be thrown away used painting drop cloth that was a sort of hessianny colour. It would have been thrown out, so it made an ideal bubble wrap disguise! xx
DeleteI suppose anything would look better than bubble wrap, but not everything would work as well.
DeleteOh joy - spring onions!!! :) I really must hget some to grw next year. You could use the beetroot leaves in salads.
ReplyDeleteAs for hedgehogs we had an hour long return journey a few years ago to transport an underweight baby hedgehog to an animal sanctuary. The nearest we could track down was somewhere in Kirklees - do you know of ant nearer?
You must try spring onions in containers again, I'd put money on them growing for you next time. I thought of the beetroot leaves in salads but to be honest, they didn't look that good so didn't bother. I'm so pleased that you're looking out for hedgehogs too, they need all the help they can get. I googled West Yorkshire rescues and I saw that there's Hedgehugs in Wakefield, but don't know of any personally.
DeleteJust found Hedgehugs on Facebook. I'll keep that in mind. maybe it is a fairly recent opening as we contacted vets and the RSPCA when we found the baby a few years ago and they couln't offer us a local address. Will try spring onions again in containers.
DeleteI dont have Facebook but it came up on Google. I would think it's closer to you than Kirklees. Definitely try spring onions again in containers, you can't be that unlucky to have another no show.
DeleteThe Spring Onions I sowed a few weeks back have all died! They germinated well, but never got over about 3 inches high. I don't know what caused this, but I suspect they got waterlogged because I had them in a big plastic box (though it does have drainage holes). I don't seem to have much luck with Spring Onions...
ReplyDeleteI never have any problems with spring onions, though I know many bloggers that do. To be honest, I sow the seed, water them in then let them be. They don't seem to need much help to grow. Try growing fewer seeds in a smaller plant pot type container, I've had lots of success this way too. Fingers crossed that you have better luck with them next year.
DeleteOh how lovely to see those healthy little spring onions! Did your Christmas potatoes every come to anything? I put some in too but nothing much has happened.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you highlighted the plight of the little hedgehogs, I've found three over the last week alone, the poor things have no chance. My three were all under 300 grams.xxxx
No, the Christmas potatoes haven't done anything at all since I last posted about them. I feared they had rotted in the soil as we had some wet weather around that time, so I think I must be right. It's always a gamble planting at that time of year, but it sometimes pays off. I hadn't realised that hedgehog numbers were dwindling, it's such a shame so I hope we can all pull together to help them.
DeleteThis is my hard season on planting spring onion and other alliums. Too much rain, too wet.
ReplyDeleteYou may have more luck with spring onions if you grow them under cover in the wet season, though it isn't really an option for ordinary onions and other alliums. These spring onions won't really grow over winter, but they'll take off once the warmer weather in spring arrives and I should get an early harvest.
DeleteWell done with the spring onions. Both those and beetroot are rather variable when I grow them.
ReplyDeleteBubble wrap round containers is a great idea.
Sadly it's been years since I last saw a hedgehog. Flighty xx
I'm pleased that I've got a head start with the spring onions, they'll be a very welcome harvest come spring. I'm just waiting for Hubby to bring some bubble wrap home from work now and then I'll be good to go. I must admit that we see lots of hedgehogs around here, especially on an evening when Archie's having his last walk.
DeleteSpring onions have never done much for me either, so will try your method next year. Suddenly the winter greenhouse seems to be filling up!
ReplyDeleteI always grow my spring onions in containers and never have any problems with them. My greenhouse is now stocked with everything that will reside in there over winter, I don't know what I'd do with everything if I didn't have a greenhouse.
DeleteOh you have got a good head start there with your spring onions Jo. I've been to the allotment today where I was pulling up late sown beetroot which never got to a decent size. Sorry to read about the hedgehog - sadly the last one I saw was dead :( Hope that you have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'll be pleased to have something to harvest in spring. I didn't think the beetroot would come to much, but it was worth a try. It's such a shame that hedgehogs are struggling, I'm on the lookout now for any that look too small to survive winter.
DeleteSuch a shame about the hedgehog. I haven't seen a live one since I was little. I think it's a good idea to protect trees in pots if you can; I lost a peach and a nectarine the winter before last. I like your idea with the spring onions. I might try growing them in pots next year.
ReplyDeleteI see lots of hedgehogs around here but it's worrying that their numbers are on the decline. The little peach tree that I got this year is supposed to be winter hardy but I'm going to move it in to the greenhouse just to be on the safe side. Spring onions always do well in containers for me.
DeleteShame about the hedgehog Jo.
ReplyDeleteAll my trees are planted into the ground so I don't have to protect them...probably just as well because i am sure I would get caught out at some point and then be upset about losing some to frost!!
Yes, I was quite upset to discover that the hedgehog was dead. I want to keep my trees in the garden rather than the allotment and the only way I can do this is to grow them in containers, there just wouldn't be room for them otherwise. I'm sure it's easier to have them planted in the ground though.
DeleteUnsurprisingly, I've never seen a hedgehog here in NW London but I did find one in my parent's garage a few years ago! I'm wondering if you've already dug up your beetroot seedlings? A couple of years ago, late sown beetroot didn't come to much by the year end; I left them in the ground, through snow and ice, and come the spring, off they went again giving me some very early beets! Worth giving it a try if it's not too late!
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame there's so many people who don't get to see our prickly little friends around, we have lots of them here, snuffling about in the dark. I've seen more since I've had Archie, as I have more reason to be out in the dark these days, giving him his last walk. That's really interesting about the beetroot, they behave like spring onions then. I think emptying out the container they were growing in was one of the jobs I gave to Hubby so I'll check if he got round to it, though I fear I'm too late.
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