In the Kitchen Garden, recent weather was cold with some snow. Unusually, the frost lasted for 3 weeks and dropped to -10°C. Rainfall for the month was 65% of average at 165 mm, 6.5 inches.
The fruit tunnel. Not much to do except prune the young grape vines which tend to ooze sap if done much after January then lay the rods flat to stimulate buds at lower levels. There will be no watering of fruit trees till growth buds start in spring. Some topsoil will be scraped away from each tree and replaced with compost to improve the soil.
Polytunnels. They will shortly be cleared out, ready for the coming season. The tunnel potato crop was kept dry once the shaws died down but unfortunately, there is considerable frost damage to the tubers.
The outdoor veg The leeks are mostly ok but carrots, swedes and turnip have been frosted. I may think about clamping them next winter. It would be most useful if there was a broadly accurate weather forecast.
For more plant details see - This month in the garden at Ardtornish
Wildlife There are still a few fieldfares and lots of blackbirds about. Sparrowhawks seem much commoner than in the past and are regularly seen. There are several little grebes on the loch but I have seen less wigeon than normal though I don't walk as much as I used to.
Stags are coming in close to the garden during the day and are always looking for a way in so the gates are closed at dusk.
Bird feeders. The feeders are still popular with the birds. The cold weather has brought back goldfinch, siskin & greenfinch, all of which we normally see only in the nesting season. We have had to move the feeders to under the eaves to stop the pine martens eating all the food and this has upset the shy woodpeckers though they feed when we are not in view. We now put one large feeder out during the day and rescue it at dusk; this large feeder is so popular, it needs filling every day.
Here are some of my recent photos.
Left to right and top to bottom:-
31st January, 2010.