The new chapter in the garden this year is going to be that I have it all to myself! Mike will be on hand to muck in now and then but is looking forward to developing his own plot which means – I’ll be going solo! The extra space means that I can pick and choose what I want to grow and where I want to put it. I’ll be sharing how I’m going to follow some of your suggestions to improve the wildlife area and the bigger greenhouse, plus revealing the only type of seed I’ll be sowing in January! There are also a few thank yous to some fellow gardeners (links to their channels below) so wrap up warm and come with me for an icy trip around the garden. Enjoy!
Channels mentioned in today’s video:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheFarmyardGarden
https://www.youtube.com/@DigwellGreenfingers
Come say hi over here:
PATREON https://www.patreon.com/janesgrowinggarden
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/groups/janesgrowinggarden
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/janesgrowinggarden/
EMAIL janesgrowinggarden@gmail.com
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41 Comments
Phew you had me for a second there lol I thought the term perished was polite lol Happy new year hun great to see you back x
Happy New Year! Don't let him take the stove 😂
I'm trying oca this year too but as I had a lot eaten last year I'm going to keep it simple. Building a fruit bed this year ,hopefully before end of Feb
Hi Jane. Happy Neeeew Year!!!
We’re concentrating on staples this year. Potatoes, onions, carrots etc. and our chosen bumper crop for the freezer this year is peas. Everything else is fresh eating greens/perennials. 👍🏻
I'm totally with you on the wild area 👍. I'm doing more of the staples as well as i'm not hugely adventurous and i have fussy men here. Let's hope we all have a fantastic year as i think we flippin deserve it now 😂
My hubster and I have 2 allotments but we share them. I help hime and he helps me. So neither of us relly work the plots alone. I like having the company whilst I'm working and prefer it that way. You are brave and looking forward to exciting times. happy growing 🙂
Jane girl you will rock the allotment solo ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Happy New Year to you and Mike! Lovely video and how exciting to be able to experiment on ''your'' plot and have Mike growing the staple varieties 😀
Your dahlia bed looks stunning, I'm after getting the FG autumn bulbs into the ground, too and was tempted by the Dahlias, I might just order a few, especially seeing how nice their bulbs quality was. All the best on ''going solo'' Maiju 😊💚🌿
Happy new year
It’s a big step to go totally solo. Be interested to see if you grow different things to normal. I suspect more flowers!
It looked chilly in the shed, I bet you got the log burner lit to warm it up.
I need to get some Oca to you. Thank you for the mention.
Happy New Year.. let’s hope for an amazing growing season ❤
Jane that was a lovely video I know it's hard this time of year but it's a real boost to keep the faith and encourage us back to the plot
I know you won't need luck but good luck with your solo venture I look forward to seeing progress on both allotments x
Happy New Year Jane and Mike! Glad to hear you haven't had a Christmas barney and all is well! lol Did you have a good Christmas and New year?
Yes, it got down to -6c in London on Friday night! usually about 2c this time of year and mid Jan we start to get below 0 temps. Met Office has already declared this as the coldest Jan in 15 years, which makes sense as thats the last time we had proper snow in London.
I have been putting food out for the birds and totally didn't check the bird bath but it was totally solid! Totally lol Was going to put warm water on but was in a rush to get some old net curtains on as i haven't got around to putting leaves on the beds. I normally am able to get Christmas and NY done, put the tree, etc away before doing the cold weather stuff. Didn't expect it to get this cold and this quickly. Might see if i can empty the block of ice out of the concrete bowl and refill tomorrow. Was wrestling with frozen carrots and our peas sized sprouts today for a lovely roast dinner but was a funny comedy in the garden. Forget the giant turnip, these were baby-ish carrots in a cold frame!
We have a daffodil in bloom in our front garden and our nasturtiums died on the 2nd Jan. Our winter yellow Jasmine normally comes up in Feb but i think it maybe slower this year. Would be great if some of our pests have been killed off and we just have to deal with the eggs.
Not seen any of our new bulbs come up yet but our regulars already resurfaced before Christmas as they normally do. Planted our fridge stored garlic on the 14th Dec and the hard neck rows have come up. Not unusual for the soft neck not to appear yet.
Oca sounds great and didn't know of it until i saw Maiju @spudsandroses talk about it a year or so ago? Not sure how hard it is to get hold of but interesting history behind it.
I really want to find some Bambara beans to grow. Think they are native to Ghana/ Nigeria but eaten throughout their continent but grown for their resilience and nutrition values like haricot beans.
Honeycomb is all what it is cracked up to be. Danny grew them in 2023 and recommended them. I grew them last year and they were great. Was surprised to hear that they don't split as much as sungold but not having grown Sungold, Honeycomb did split more than Garden's delight. That being said we grew too many of those and only so much to process and preserve. Will be sticking to two Honeycomb and two gardener's delight this year.
This year will be 5 Dr Tonys, two Money makers, two Alices Dream, and the 2 x2 cherries above.
Our containers will be purely Roma's this year for a change and then any tomato spares in the front garden again.
Kuri Squash was also a big win and saved the seeds. Also no change on the runner beans, bush beans and yellow pole beans.
Anyway, great to see an update from you and hope you are keeping warm and well.
Take care and hope you both have a lovely week! x
The habanda was just the best tasting things I tried this yea I went for several no heat or very low heat and this was most tasty also aji delight is fab – keep meaning to tell the potty mouth lot about the habanda – I notice at the end of the season they had a very mild heat but this was November in Polytunnel at first they were no heat and fruity
Certainly been cold this year Jane. Great thing is we needed it to knock some of the pests on the head. Im sure you will do fine without Mike. But he will have the better allotment 😉 Only joking
I think it's an excellent idea to leave it Jane .Perfect spot for wildlife .
Looks chilly but we know in just a few short months we,will be in full garden mode. Wild areas are so important to our gardens. I can' t to watch solo Jane this year.
How very exciting Jane, to have that opportunity. Hurrah for leaving the area at the back for the wildlife, I would perhaps inject more native plants to cover a greater season. Regarding what to grow, I'd be more inclined to use the area for things I enjoy to eat. Thanks for sharing. 🐞🌻🌱
You'll like those Habanada's. Early season they were not special but as the season progressed they were wonderful.
Can you now say WE TAKE regular pickings now? You're going solo……..😁.
Happy New Year Jane! It's been perishing up here in southern Scotland too. The soil is still frozen but at least the garlic will benefit and the pests will be killed off as you say. It hasn't stopped the rodents having a dig though!!! I'm so looking forward to growing along with you this year. x
We have had a real wintry mix on the weather front this year. Looking forward to following your progress ❤
One thing for sure Jane…. You are never alone when you have a YouTube channel!! 🤣. If the workload ever gets too much, sub it out to a neighbouring plot holder 😉😉😉. Sorry Mike 😱
Happy New Year Jane, and what an exciting start for you!
I brought my Spring bulbs too from Farmer Gracy last month, and actually today I've ordered some Dahlias for my new plots.
Fingers crossed for a thaw, so we can get this season started ☺️ 🤗 Tilly x
Hi Jane, Happy New Year to you and your family. I'm glad its been very cold, too, as we needed a cold winter to get rid of all those nasties. Lovely plot update. Im growing aubergine, orange beauty, black moon & honeycomb tomatoes for the first time, never eaten aubergine before. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
That looks freezing. Further south we have had a few days here and there but nothing like you seem to have. I used to have two allotments and only roped hubby in for the grunt work. He wouldn't have a clue about veggies or flowers. In fact I prefer doing it on my own as he likes to give advice that he thinks I need to follow even though he doesn't have a clue.
nice to see you jane have a great growing new year
Happy New Year Jane… It looks so cold there.
the first hellebore is in flower
what about a wildlife pond
How about creating your own “sculpture” from the various items already out there. Imagine yourself to be happening upon it during an archeological dig 1000 years from now. Love the many possibilities!
Are/were you a teacher in your day job by any chance?
Happy New Year to you both Hope you have a great year
Happy Hogmanay Jane🎉🍾🥂 blessings. Southern Ontario Canada 🐝🇨🇦
Hiya Jane btw as you started saying how much you want the wildlife and nature in your allotment a Robin showed up approx 8:29 right behind you hmm a good sign🐝🇨🇦
Happy New Gardening Year Jane. You nearly gave me a heart attack when I saw the heading! So glad it’s nothing serious and a ‘friendly’ split! I have always gardened alone as hubby is not interested – just likes to sit and admire and eat any produce! I can’t imagine working with anyone in my gardening space. Hubby just helps with the heavy stuff and digging holes. I am just beginning to get that gardening tingle. Our trading hut on the colony opens this week and seed orders can be collected. I am determined to try and be realistic this year. I have pared down my growing list. I am getting older and less flexible so have to be realistic about what I can achieve as I won’t enjoy my happy place. Last year was really difficult so here’s to a better gardening year. Good luck going solo!
As long as Mike won't be required to cut the grass or fix things, or feed the chickens I can use him to work on my boat. 😅
Nice video!
Through the winter we have primroses and hellebores plus some winters the daffodils are early and survive through the chilly frosty days too.
I'm a single mum of 3 homeschooled kids and manage 7 acres on my own lol. At least an acre of it is trees, giant vegie and chook runs, gardens etc that I have build myself from what was an extreme hoarder's rubbish tip that took 4 years to clean up. It was full of deadly tiger snakes, rats and mice too (Australia).
Happy New Year Jane. Glad to see your plans for your plot. Mike having a separate plot is a great idea. Can’t wait for spring now. Take care. Nick
Primroses but also Camilla (white ones in December then pink in early Feb) Heather is in flower but only white so far.
New growing as seeds arrived from Sarah Raven – samphire! Re try to grow cape gooseberries and chilli’s are new for me too