Barry Cuff takes a look back through his notes on what happened on his Sturminster Newton plot last month
Images: Barry Cuff
After weeks of rain, the weather turned a little drier around the third week of February, finally allowing some work on the plot, although the soil was still too wet to dig. There were only two slight air frosts which meant that weeds continued to grow, as did the grass paths. Daytime temperature reached 16º on the 16th, and we’ve had red dead nettle, dandelion, speedwell and hairy bittercress all in flower. We spotted a brimstone butterfly on the 25th, and many ladybirds among the weeds and vegetables, as well as three slow worms found in the compost heap.
Plot work: Mulching with manure and compost as land became vacant, and straightened the plot edges (we have more than 400ft of edges!).
Hedges: We have a fairly thick hedge on our northern boundary consisting of hazel, blackthorn, hawthorn, elder, ivy, snowberry and bramble. We have cut it back and burnt the trimmings.
Sowings: In the greenhouse – red cabbage (two varieties), little gem lettuce. In large containers – radish, mixed salad leaves and agricultural peas for seed sprouts.
Planting: On the 23rd, we planted an 18ft double row of broad beans – Witkiem Manita and Masterpiece Green Longpod (these were sown in trays in the greenhouse on 19th January).
We have spare plants to fill any gaps. The leftover seedlings will go to a neighbouring plot-holder.
Mice: We have caught 17 mice in our two greenhouses since the beginning of the year. We do not like killing them, but they can cause so much damage. Was the rain driving them inside?
Seeds: We bought the majority back in November 2025 but we still look out for any bargains or new varieties not stocked by our main supplier (Kings Seeds). We have tested the parsnip already: germination can be poor for parsnip seed, and as they will take up to 50 days to emerge on the plot, we need to test early (result 68 per cent).
Potatoes: All chitting well in trays in the garage. We hope to plant the first earlies during the first week of March. For an early meal of new potatoes, we planted two ‘Jazzy’ in a large pot in the greenhouse on the 6th.
Harvesting: From the plot as required – parsnips, carrots, leeks, Brussels sprouts, spring cabbage, sprouting broccoli and salad leaves and roots.
Still using 2025 harvest: From the store we’re still eating our own potatoes, onions, garlic and squash.
And we also have sweetcorn, peas and French beans in the freezer.
Fresh February salads: We are still enjoying freshly harvested ingredients from the plot – spring onion, winter radish, carrot, rocket, spinach beet, sorrel, land cress, radicchio, mizuna, red and golden mustards, plus chicons from store. The mild winter has meant all these have kept producing.
Rent: We have just received our invoice for 2026/27, and it comes to £53.92 + £7 insurance for Val and myself. This works out at 16p/m2 and includes free water and a 40 per cent discount on our Kings Seeds order.
May we have lots of fine days and plenty of sunshine in March!
