Chitting, pricking out and hardening off.

I'm back! I hope nobody has missed me. Well actually I do hope you've missed me and please accept my apologies for not publishing much of late. I have now properly started getting things together for this years season. My potatoes have been chitted and planted and soon my seedlings will be sprouted, pricked out and ready to harden off, but more of this later.

First of all I need to urgently respond to Louise's comment regarding things to do and my lack of action. I hope you don't mind me filching your comment for this entry Louise, but it will help me catch up, and I have edited it appropriately. And look, a picture of me down at the plot, at last! Could this really be SuperDave?

Louise sent me a comment some weeks ago now. With much embarrassment (for the tardiness) here is my response (in my defense please refer to "Procrastination..."

Louise Wrote...

Hey SuperDave!

How is everything? I was wondering if you had any more advice for my new allotment now that Easter is on it's way. Like you I have my very own old man in Penylan! (I already want to know more...SuperEd) He is lovely and given me lots of help and some free potatoes. One thing though (Aha). My favourite vegetable is asparagus. I know it takes a long time to grow but Stan said it is too difficult for a beginner. Boo Hoo! Is he right do you think? Is it worth trying this year?
Louisexx
PS Don't listen to all those people calling you names. I think you are great!

****************************************

SuperDave replies

Hi Louise, sorry I've been absent for so long, but I'm back now and raring to go, perhaps raring is overstating the case but you know what I mean.

Everything is good, the sun is shining, the potatoes are chitting and the wine is flowing, at least for the long weekend.

RE: Asparagus. It does take a long time to grow, it's a couple of years before you're even able to harvest it, and it may be difficult (never grown it myself, maybe I'll start this year).

But I would never say it's too difficult for a beginner, if it's what you want to grow you should go for it, and with such a long time before you get a harvest then the sooner you start the better.

The worst that can happen if your first attempt fails is that you'll have gained experience which will put you in good stead for the next attempt.

The big problem will be in getting hold of some crowns in time for this year. The crowns need to go in the ground for late March / early April. Much as I don't want to promote Homebase I can confirm that they had some for sale a couple of weeks ago, so if you're quick.

For further growing tips I've added some links for you to check...

This one and this one.