You've got to get up early to beat me!
This is what it was like just to get me going with temp broken slabs..
Ventured to the plot after being too muddy and wet yesterday to finish laying the slabs that I started the other day.. All done now and just got to fill in a few gaps with mortar. Looks much better than when I had the temp broken slabs there.Wow Gavin that looks great,I've got a load of slabs waiting to go down,now you've practised on yours do you want to pop to my plot & do mine :D
I also added a small peak to the roof sticking out as a veranda.. just so I can stand under in the shed doorway in the rain without getting wet whilst surveying my garden.
This is what it was like just to get me going with temp broken slabs..
That looks great Gavin --- you just need some sides to the peak to keep the wind off when you are sittin there in the rain, having a cuppa :D
Too wet and stormy still to do any real gardening. Dug a two feet deep hole to bury my son and daughter in law's deceased cat
Been and layered on 10 bags of horse manure on the ground so the worms can do their job... Loads more manure required.. note to my sons GF horse... please do lots of p**s so we can collect it for my plotThanks - have done so! By the way - when layering the manure on the ground - do you do anything particular to it or just chuck it on top? Our site gets manure delivered so i've been keeping my eye out for some to arrive - but wouldn't know what to do with it! lol :tongue2:
What do you mulch your asparagus with please, New Shoot?
Pruned my new apple trees, how come they never look like the diagrams in the books!
Hi guys, up on the plot today i made up a few more raised beds, put some plastic sheeting around the compost bin, move a big pile of clay which was out of the raised beds (whats the best stuff to break down clay). De-nailed some more pallets. had a bit of a chatter and a coffee.
thanks will dig some in got manure coming next weekend will sort some lime out in the week :)
:)
My hubby went and paid up for the coming year. £18 well spent. Surely we can't still be newbies , we're into our second year now. :D
My hubby went and paid up for the coming year. £18 well spent. Surely we can't still be newbies , we're into our second year now. :D
Brightgirls - sorry to see your news above.. hope you can sort it soon.
Look lost and forlorn.......ask for some help from a neighbour.. after all we plotters should always spare a bit of time to help each other out.
After speneding time in my garden shed with all the tools evertime it rained I decided to build a shed out of breeze blocks with a pot belly stove to keep me warm :)
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll291/k3-dude/Allotment/IMG_0674.jpg)
more pic's to follow.
Very nice BarnsleyBill... great shed.
Very nice BarnsleyBill... great shed.
A holiday home!! It certainly looks great.
check on my little lemon saplings after the couple of heavy nights frost we had, they looked snug as bugs under the double layer of fleece i put over them last week..
Hi gavinjconway,
I see you've been lucky enough to get an IBC, it can sometimes be difficult to keep the water sweet in those tanks due to the sun/light and their transparency.
There are a few guys on our site that have them and all of them have them covered with a tarp to keep the light out.
They do this to stop algae from forming in the rain water and they all have crystal clear water from them, i have seen others where there has been no cover and the water turns green and smelly :nowink:
Hi stompy - thanks for the advice - good idea.. I'll get a cover sorted..
Just a thought ;)
Another busy day today. Fitted the greenhouse in its place. Then deeply dug and turned the soil in the GH (no glass fitted yet), then added manure mixed with shavings and fertilizer and dug it all in. Then started to shift the extra soil adjacent to the GH outside on the pathway that will be flagged once cleared.. My back aches today!! My plan is to grow directly in the ground so all the big dig and preparation.. Worms please do your thing.... :D
Gav,
Your plots coming on a treat there you must be up for 'plot of the year' this year. Like the website too with upto date photos showing the progress you have made since late last year - well done! Have you grown much before or is this your first year? ;)
Hi S of S... thanks fore the comments. It is my first year as a lottie owner.. I had my rooftop garden previously and 2 small garden shares last year.. I was previously in Zimbabwe where I had a huge veg patch but had gardeners and a tractor to do the hard work!!
I'm really enjoying the lottie and once the big works have been done I'll get on to the digging soon as it is dry and not frozen end Feb hopefully. Still got to make a lean to shed roof as a storage spot than the big work is done!!
Those metal spikes with the small u turn at the top help with fence repairs, I've foundYeah ive seen those around. Any idea where you can buy these and how much they might be? Currently using wood poles but they arent strong enough.
(The ones builders use to hold up that orange plastic holey stuff for temporary fences)
Had a productive day.. Finished the greenhouse area flagstones and filled the gh with more soil. Now I've got to fit all the glass..
Those metal spikes with the small u turn at the top help with fence repairs, I've foundYeah ive seen those around. Any idea where you can buy these and how much they might be? Currently using wood poles but they arent strong enough.
(The ones builders use to hold up that orange plastic holey stuff for temporary fences)
Those metal spikes with the small u turn at the top help with fence repairs, I've foundYeah ive seen those around. Any idea where you can buy these and how much they might be? Currently using wood poles but they arent strong enough.
(The ones builders use to hold up that orange plastic holey stuff for temporary fences)
They sell them in Wickes for about £2.30 each or you can buy them on eaby in 10s, p&p free for abot £23 or so
Had a productive day.. Finished the greenhouse area flagstones and filled the gh with more soil. Now I've got to fit all the glass..
Gavin what's the pressure like with those water butts when using a hose? Obviously better when full but are they strong enough to fit a hose attachment say?
???Gav
What are you going to do with the pipes and your leeks?
???Gav
What are you going to do with the pipes and your leeks?
Sorry it was just a joke - I was driving in Manchester and saw these huge pipes on a building site... so I took a pic with my phone as a joke..
They would win any show tho'...
[I,m sure they would - that size! ;) ;)
Have you had the snow your way today? tomorrow will be a dull day at work if theres nowt to read on your website]
[Boy are we shattered now though.
[Good feeling though isnt it?
DD - Will come once the weather warms up? Or will i have to start them again?
I bought my seed potatoes today. Can someone help, its my first year. I have second earlies and main crop. I'm about to set them chitting. Do I do them both at the same time or so I set them apart the same time I would between planting out?
thanks
They would win any show tho'...
[I,m sure they would - that size! ;) ;)
Have you had the snow your way today? tomorrow will be a dull day at work if theres nowt to read on your website]
About 6" snow last night but none today.. enjoy my site.. :D
I bought my seed potatoes today. Can someone help, its my first year. I have second earlies and main crop. I'm about to set them chitting. Do I do them both at the same time or so I set them apart the same time I would between planting out?
thanks
I think we said the same, gobs!
got my greenhouse today its 8x6 glass greenhouse it cost £63 of ebay :DI love the shed. Would go with my pink handled spade & fork
it took me 2 hours to take down from the last owners only 2 pains of glass got broken hard work though ???
its all at the plot waiting to be put up the hope i remember how :blush:
also i painted the shed pink i wonder what the other plot holders will think :tongue2:
did ask the chairman first ;)
I CAN'T EVEN SEE MY PLOT!
Yes, I am shouting!
Took a car load of spent compost to the plot that I found flytipped in a gateway on a country lane. This is exactly the same stuff that I found in an adjoining gateway a year ago. Obviously the same person, thanks very much. I shall be checking the same road in twelve months. Now I just need to go back and bag up the rest before someone else spots it.
Picked some purple sprouting, dug unprotected carrots and parsnips.
Aquadulce broad beans look like they`ve had it, the stems have gone black.
Observed one old boy, at least 70 years, attempting to rotavate his plot. What is the obsession on our site with rotavating during the winter?
Took delivery of a new shed at 07:00 - and they put it up (in half light in 2" of snow, bless 'em!)
Did you have any "unusual plants" growing in it? I was just wondering what sort of person might be wanting to get rid of some compost.
Did you have any "unusual plants" growing in it? I was just wondering what sort of person might be wanting to get rid of some compost.
Whatever plants there were started off life in net jiffy blocks and he even threw away the clay peas used for drainage. The compost is perfect as a soil improver.
You're on the thinking on the same tracks as me :blink:
Did you have any "unusual plants" growing in it? I was just wondering what sort of person might be wanting to get rid of some compost.
Whatever plants there were started off life in net jiffy blocks and he even threw away the clay peas used for drainage. The compost is perfect as a soil improver.
They'd be the same Jiffy blocks used in Hydroponic growing setups. Obviously you're going to be weeding regularly to protect your own crops, just don't get tempted to see what might grow from any apparent 'weeds' as you may get a visit from the local plod!
Are congrats in order then, Nige?
See, I was right.
Started to clear my construction zone and what looks like the remains of an old compost heap I think from the storage area. I have also done a photoshop of the proposed area...
Started to clear my construction zone and what looks like the remains of an old compost heap I think from the storage area. I have also done a photoshop of the proposed area...
Looking good Gavin!!
Ground too wet for digging but all the snow has gone so if it stays dry this week I'll be starting work on clearing the area where the greenhouse will be going soon.
For today though we braved the gale force winds for a quick hour and trimmed another few feet of the tall weeds and laid another load of card down.
got lots don today :D
my hubby finished laying the slabs for the greenhouse and we got the base and half the frame up will finish it tomorrow
oh and i finished digging and raked over bed 2
also pick up seed potatoes from the allotment shop
3 1/2 pound of kestrel £1
3 1/2 pound of caesar £1
7 pound of desiree £2
bargan
home
got some squash seed from ebay. turks turban, uchiki kiri, yellow bush scallop
would like to try these as i love butter nut squash which i got as soon as i got the allotment only going to plant 2 of each of the squash :tongue2:
had tea then chitted all the potatoes there all sitting in the spare room with the rad off 8)
thought about the plot alot last night was thinking of popping up there for a few hours after work, but my wife had a different idea, decided to go into labour, so sad for now that the allotment with have to see me a little less of the next few weeks. but hey welcomed a new member to the family a little girl called lily mai weighing 8lb 5oz.
:D :D :D :D HAPPY DAYS :D :D :D :D
Hi Digg..... the wooden thing ( can't thing what to call it ) just call it a raised wooden frame!! :D :D
You were busy today - well done..
hi dig it i do like your mini cloche will make some tomorrow :D
thanks gib it and gavin for reminding me that it was called a raised wooden frame :blush:
op's that was ment to be (can't think what to call it )
i was very very tired :wacko:
today don some shopping with my sis tried to get a greenhouse heater and some more pink paint all soiled out :(
but did get more W clips and Z clips for the greenhouse and 4 pains of glass £30 :mellow:
then in the rain we fitted the glass
all that need doing is the door now hubby going to do it tomorrow as i can not seem to get it to fit in to the runners :blink:
So far this year:
Built a deep asparagus bed.
Strengthened the compost bins I made last year after they started to splay outwards when filled with manure.
Burned the remains of the willow trees dug out of the plot last year.
Burned all the rotten timber found around the plot since I took it over last year.
Dug out the raspberry plants that were invading the growing beds.
(Yesterday) I chucked some dried chicken manure onto the asparagus bed and the raspberries and then mulched with spent compost from last year's tomato bags.
Planted 3 dozen shallots (Mikor and Golden Globe saved from last year), also with a scattering of dried chicken manure, then chucked some net over them to put off any birds who might want to have fun pulling them out again (and also any foxes who have managed to forget what chicken poo tastes like!) :)
(Yesterday) I chucked some dried chicken manure onto the asparagus bed and the raspberries and then mulched with spent compost from last year's tomato bags.
Planted 3 dozen shallots (Mikor and Golden Globe saved from last year), also with a scattering of dried chicken manure, then chucked some net over them to put off any birds who might want to have fun pulling them out again (and also any foxes who have managed to forget what chicken poo tastes like!) :)
I've almost given up using pelletted chicken manure unless I have a bed that needs digging over. Those there foxes make quite a good job of it. ::)
got to the allotment at 10.30
painted new fencing
dug half of bed 3
had 2 cups of tea
weeded the onions
swept shed
all don for today
left at 12.30 so had a look in the shops for allotment bits :D
here is up date photos
I dug.
I shall not be able to move tomorrow.
Or the day after that.
Oh well, it looks nice! :lol:
My Garlic... It seems so good and changed sense of feeling of owning my own plot now that I have planted something!!
Herb ask any scafold firm for some ...flex 'sorry forgot the right name' they use it on scafolding jobs its really tuff and works a treat, mine is coverd in it lol.
Herb... well done on not having a hard floor... so many people grow in tiny tubs and expect huge veg... I have done mine like that as well so the roots can get into some good deep soil..
Dug, and dug and dug again to try and get over yesterday's heartbreak at Wembley. :( :(
Did this yesterday.
All ready for planting now :D
(I just love tractors :tongue2:)
did not do much today
planted some broccoli in a small polytunnel they were to big for the seed trays it they don't work then nothing lost will remember not to sow so early next time :unsure:
in greenhouse
sowed lettuce, peas, spring onion's
when the best time to plant my potato's
desiree, casa, kestrels
i live in the south of England
there chitting nicly 1/2in green shoots
Dug, and dug and dug again to try and get over yesterday's heartbreak at Wembley. :( :(
Your boys gave it one hell of a go yesterday, thats all you can ask. Couple of good chances to win it late on before extra time kicked in too. Unlucky.
Main job was tending to a strawberry patch on the plot that was looking a bit neglected. Gave it a good weeding, cut away all the dead foliage of the strawberry plants and spread a good layer of rotted muck on it. Going to start off a brand new strawberry patch sometime in the next few weeks so if I get a crop off these older plants this year it will be a bonus. I dug up most of the runners that had rooted and just potted them up for now. Checked around the roots for pests but they seem in good nick.
Planted 80 each Red Baron & Sturon onion sets in modules in the greenhouse, bit more weeding, plenty of contemplation with a butty and a brew before rain stopped play. A lot of the soil still far too wet and heavy to venture onto.
Planted my cherry,peach and plum trees today.
The first things I've planted in my allotment :D
Had to put up a temporary fence so next doors goats don't eat them!
Planted my cherry,peach and plum trees today.
The first things I've planted in my allotment :D
Had to put up a temporary fence so next doors goats don't eat them!
That's some posh heavy fence you have there!! 8)
Marvellous day today. the boss told me to go home at lunch time! Never happens! So with herself still at work and the kids still in school, there was nothin for it but to spend the afternoon on the plot. i got so much done. it was a nice enough day too. lets see i finished preparing a row for earlies. i turned over the compost and discovered i had more than i thought. :-) i weeded a bit. pulled back some ground cover to fork over a patch for peas. Watched my garlic gro :)w. chatted with some friends . one of whom gave me a few raspberry canes. popped those in. planted 24 pansy. i like them my mum always grew them when we were kids. i got them real cheap at a large hardware shop . . . Reduced but with nothing at all wrong with them !
Thats it i think. what a day. :D
Marvellous day today. the boss told me to go home at lunch time! Never happens! So with herself still at work and the kids still in school, there was nothin for it but to spend the afternoon on the plot. i got so much done. it was a nice enough day too. lets see i finished preparing a row for earlies. i turned over the compost and discovered i had more than i thought. :-) i weeded a bit. pulled back some ground cover to fork over a patch for peas. Watched my garlic gro :)w. chatted with some friends . one of whom gave me a few raspberry canes. popped those in. planted 24 pansy. i like them my mum always grew them when we were kids. i got them real cheap at a large hardware shop . . . Reduced but with nothing at all wrong with them !
Thats it i think. what a day. :D
Sounds brilliant!!!!
Finally decided to get on & do the deed. Off I went with my sprayer & roundup. I really don't like spraying but the new plot is so full of couch grass I can't see that I would get any thing planted this year.So now I just need to wait the 2 weeks for it to get to work.
Finally decided to get on & do the deed. Off I went with my sprayer & roundup. I really don't like spraying but the new plot is so full of couch grass I can't see that I would get any thing planted this year.So now I just need to wait the 2 weeks for it to get to work.
Finally decided to get on & do the deed. Off I went with my sprayer & roundup. I really don't like spraying but the new plot is so full of couch grass I can't see that I would get any thing planted this year.So now I just need to wait the 2 weeks for it to get to work.
I thought roundup must be sprayed onto growing stuff... mine is all hibernating...
at a cost of £1 a barrow load.
at a cost of £1 a barrow load.
That seems a bit expensive. We have just had some 8 ton loads delivered at £30 per load.
We charged the tenants £10 for around 50 barrow loads. Everyone had plenty.
Nothing as it's chucking it down
Delivered some poly carb sheets I found in a skip (I always ask)...
Delivered some poly carb sheets I found in a skip (I always ask)...
Lucky - I just spent a fair bit of cash on buying some new!
Yesterday I levelled up the greenhouse and fitted the 'anchors' - it'll be concreted in next.
Ten peas wouldn't get you very far anyway!
One for the rook, one for the crow, one to rot and one to grow!
Ten peas wouldn't get you very far anyway!
One for the rook, one for the crow, one to rot and one to grow!
Typically enough, it was a grand day until knocking off time at work, when it started lashing. So instead of my favourite leg it to the plot on Friday, I went to the garden centre. I bought a lupin and a delphinium. On my way out it had brightenened a little so I went up the plot and spent ten happy minutes putting them in. I think they will do just fine in the shade by the compost bins! ::)
I am starting to win the battle of the roses! I have dug half the allotment and planted my potatoes out today. Very happy as my garlic has started growing, wasn't a hint last week thought they were a no go as I planted them out late. Feels nice to get something in!
Came home and planted many variety of seeds:
Borlotto Beans
Sweetcorn Mirai
Courgette Best of British and Zucchini
Butternut squash - butterboy and harrier, plus unknown variety my mom gave me!
Pepper Californian Wonder
Aubergine, moneymaker
Cucumber, marketmore
Phew! Lovely day today!
I'm actually just round the corner from you, in Leicester!
I already planned my allotment out and today i finally had some time to "try" and get rid of some of the grass. WOW WEEE there were a lot of stones. Does anyone have any idea on how to sort of get rid of them....I put my excess in a bucket (i.e. the very big ones) and either use them for drainage in tubs for my carrots or make paths with them !! 8)
planted some Garlic that was going cheap!
planted some Garlic that was going cheap!
I've been robbed :ohmy: Mine has never made a sound >:(
Sorry ............. I'll get my coat :lol:
Here are the raised beds made from old pallets :)
I'm rather pleased with them.
planted some Garlic that was going cheap!
I've been robbed :ohmy: Mine has never made a sound >:(
Sorry ............. I'll get my coat :lol:
:lol: :lol: ::) :nowink:
I planted 150 peas (Lincoln), so nice to be planting instead of weeding. I gave the autumn planted broad beans a severe talking to, they got really hammered by the snow & crazy cold snap a few weeks ago (it got down to -10 at the allotment). I gave them notice that if they don't buck their ideas up they'll be compost by the end of the week :)
Decided to tackle some of the overgrown marginal plants in my goldfish pond - needed a saw to cut back the water irises which are now lying in a stinking heap of pond mud and other lord-knows-what that I fished out by hand. Yuk!I always leave the stinking heap by the side of the pond for a day or so that the beasties have a chance to get back into the water - except for the leeches which always get stuck to my rubber gloves <shudder> :ohmy:
Decided to tackle some of the overgrown marginal plants in my goldfish pond - needed a saw to cut back the water irises which are now lying in a stinking heap of pond mud and other lord-knows-what that I fished out by hand. Yuk!
Can confirm that although showing only 10C it felt really hot in the sun, but that the pond water definitely didn't! :wacko:
No frog spawn yet, if that doesn't change I will have mixed feelings - in previous years I've had enormous problems trying to keep the fish away from the poor tadpoles. :(
I'm not contemplating beans or curcubits for another 3-4 weeks.
I'm not contemplating beans or curcubits for another 3-4 weeks.
ive only put a couple in, if they get hit by the frost ive only lost a couple of seeds. nothing ventured nothing gained.
Yesterday I lifted leeks for dinner, dug over the old strawberry bed and trimmed the plum trees a little more (hoping that I have the right time of year!)
Yesterday I lifted leeks for dinner, dug over the old strawberry bed and trimmed the plum trees a little more (hoping that I have the right time of year!)
Paul, I hope you treated the pruning cuts to with arbrex or such like. Helps prevent silverleaf.
Plums need to be pruned when the sap is rising. Reading up in my RHS manual before I pruned mine, they reckon from Feb onwards, so since we're both in the south of the country, we should be ok. :)
Hi Guys & Girls update on the plot ..... today i fitted crop bars in the tunnel and some staging down one side here is a few pictures
(http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu2/fekete_2009/DSCF0810.jpg)
Paul Plots & jrko, I'm glad you like what iv'e done with the tunnel....just got to grow some stuff now lol ...took my toms up there today and put them on the new shelving...it still looks bare...will take some filling...thanks again :)
I will i've got a heater if it going to get 2 cold.....thanks for the heads up...it hasn't been below 10 in there over night
I will i've got a heater if it going to get 2 cold.....thanks for the heads up...it hasn't been below 10 in there over night
Brillliant.
It has been pretty mild down here too but I don't trust our weather one bit. Just as soon as you think there's a warm streak on it's way the cold belts back again sometime before May! ;)
planted onions and got shot at :(
planted onions and got shot at :(
Not the allotment, but in a sheltered spot in my home garden, I've started the Great Mushy Pea Experiment, as inspired by a discussion on another thread.
I've sown a packet (250g) of "Bigga" dried peas to see what we get.
I'll probably try one half cooked as fresh peas, (if they make it to the pot) and the other half I'll leave to dry to make my own mushy peas. (Theory).
planted my spuds and what a joy it was first time my granddaughter who is only four came with me to help ,it was one of the best days I've had up there since i can remember :D
wow 5 days for chillies... !! where did you put them? what temperature? what soil?
Planted out 28 beetroot seedlings and 40 King Edward seed potatoes. Rigged up an awful looking fleece contraption for the sweetcorn seedlings that I started far too early that are going leggy on the windowsills and will have to be planted out at the weekend. Hopefully my Heath Robinson many sticks and fleece combo will keep them frost free for a while. Must remember to contain my seed planting excitment next year (I say that every year) :tongue2:
Hello to you all, joining tonight if nobody minds, just been given my own allotment which is very exciting mum of 2 and youngest is only 6 months which is going o be a challenge (waiting list was supposed to be 10 years not 1.5 ) spent today digging out rubble and putting up a bean pole wigwam for the kids to play in.( I'm a childminder too) can't wait for lighter nights so can really get stuck in looking forward to getting to know you all
Massive day today - 8 hours digging deep, removing all perennial and bad weeds and levelling. Then laying fabric and planted half the strawberries.. My back is aching now..
now that you can see the plot properly, it's scared me a little with how big it is!
Aw grendel bet he was pleased :)Well he has always been active and still goes swimming once every week to do his 40 lengths, but I think with mum being ill he has suddenly realised that he too is no spring chicken, and I think thats taken a bit of the wind out of his sails. Still in a way h was pleased, but did look a bit crestfallen that now its done he has no excuse not to get his onions planted.
Not exactly on the plot but I limewashed some of the very tatty looking stone buildings. It's ages since they were last done ..... now all sparkling and ready for climbers to be trained up them. :)
weed weed weed that seems all i do wish the veg would grow as quick as the weeds :wacko:
did get some photos of plot today :D
found out how to post pics so heres my (water pipe)protective tunnel.oops sorry.
found out how to post pics so heres my (water pipe)protective tunnel.oops sorry.
found out how to post pics so heres my (water pipe)protective tunnel.
Sowed two pints of Early Onwards and carrots in a raised bed on Plot6B.
Sweetcorn on the windows sill in bedroom which I got moaned at by the other half :mad:
Saturday eventually got round to installing my water butt on the plot.
Other half helped me add the guttering to one and a half sides of the shed.
Amazed to find that the guttering etc cost as much as the price of the water butt.
All I need now is some rain to make all the incvestment worthwhile!!
Sunday just picked some purple sprouting brocolli for dinner.
Cheers HH
snowdrops, sounds like you had a fab day!
Wonder if I could bribe people with flapjack in return for help...?
Sowed two pints of Early Onwards and carrots in a raised bed on Plot6B.
How many peas were there, Nige? :lol:
Sorry - have have to say it now, before there's a problem.
Parsley, far from deterring carrot fly, is from the same family as carrots and is also prone to it, so you've actually added an attraction.
If you put "carrot fly parsley" into Google, you'll find a lot of hits that say parsley is prone to them. Here's one:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases/identifier.shtml?carrot_fly
hi all,i had a few jobs to do today but the weather put pay to it once again,i had planned to plant some stuff out but it was snowing and sleeting so i retreated to my shed and lit my hobo stove up to warm up a bit.i made my mind up that i wasnt going to stayat the lotty for long so decided to have a cuppa then back off home where it was warmer and more comfortable,heres a pic of me stove which comes in handy on the colder days and does a good job at boiling the kettle at the same time hehe.
nothing on the plot, but since I was in france this morning I bought some french varieties of pea, bean, shallot and onion sets, plus some lettuce and carrot seeds, lets see how they manage over here.
Grendel
nothing on the plot, but since I was in france this morning I bought some french varieties of pea, bean, shallot and onion sets, plus some lettuce and carrot seeds, lets see how they manage over here.wished id known you were going to france grendel,you could have brought me some turner baccy back :D
Grendel
Went down the plot to find my greenhouse totally demolished from the winds last night ???
After a morning of sowing celery, sweet corn and squash and repotting tomatoes on the windowsills at home
a giant one, or one to match the perspex lid :lol: :lol:
In a little pot in me green house ready to put in me big tubs when they grow a bit, now you are going to tell me i have done it all wrong arnt you lol ???
I thought of my plot, from the relative warmth of indoors with a cat on my lap!
I thought of my plot, from the relative warmth of indoors with a cat on my lap!Oh Yorkie... you disappoint me.. ;)
was fed up with the rain as i have been all week so though "right, thats it" and set off to the plot.
Saw lots and lots and lots of weeds coming through due to the rain but instead put a new fence up - something ive been meaning to do for a while as dogs (I think) keep coming onto my plot be inconsiderate owners. We are meant to have a no dog rule on site but some people dont do this - just the other day found a large present next to my raspberries......... >:( >:(
Well almost done chopping the hedge, only got the front of the plot to do and help my neighbour with his side a little (as he has let the bramble grow and can't get into it to get to the hedge) and thats that done....except for the very big bonfire. Also cleared up the chunks of sandstone that I've been digging out of the plot (as its less than a spade depths down) and reaking ready for laying carpet along the hedge line for a path.
OH moved the last of the bricks required for our tyre stacks (for potatoes) and then did about 10 trips to the muck heap to ferry some well rotted horse manure round to the lottie to start filling the tyre stacks. Good stuff, looks like we might have potatoes planted tmoz.
Both of us were entertained by the newbie holders of the allotment opposite ours who were constructing a shed. It was a chuckle brothers attempt - to me, to you, to me...
Well almost done chopping the hedge, only got the front of the plot to do and help my neighbour with his side a little (as he has let the bramble grow and can't get into it to get to the hedge) and thats that done....except for the very big bonfire. Also cleared up the chunks of sandstone that I've been digging out of the plot (as its less than a spade depths down) and reaking ready for laying carpet along the hedge line for a path.
OH moved the last of the bricks required for our tyre stacks (for potatoes) and then did about 10 trips to the muck heap to ferry some well rotted horse manure round to the lottie to start filling the tyre stacks. Good stuff, looks like we might have potatoes planted tmoz.
Both of us were entertained by the newbie holders of the allotment opposite ours who were constructing a shed. It was a chuckle brothers attempt - to me, to you, to me...
Old tyres are officially designated "Hazardous Waste" by Northampton Borough Council and are banned from all the allotment sites that they control.
I've not looked this up, but the chairman of our allotment association suggested that they leech toxic chemicals into the soil which get absorbed by plants.
Interesting..... the main ingredient is vulcanized rubber and are fairly inert (which is why they don't rot!), but that said they still could leech chemicals I guess.... Obviously councils don't want them scattered on their sites as they are a pain to dispose of...
What do other people think/know?
Interesting..... the main ingredient is vulcanized rubber and are fairly inert (which is why they don't rot!), but that said they still could leech chemicals I guess.... Obviously councils don't want them scattered on their sites as they are a pain to dispose of...
What do other people think/know?
Pretty sure they don't leach much, if anything. They have attempted (unsuccessfully), to use them in the past to create artificial reefs - they only issues that I have read has been them breaking free of their chains and causing further damage to existing reeds.
Sowed the next 2 rows of carrots - 'Yellowstone' - my favourite!
Cleared the strawberry patch of dead leaves and runners and fed them with some organic granular soft fruit feed (I'm not religiously organic but if the option is there then I take it ;)
Cut down last years herbs (the dead flower stems).
Planted some more tatties - 'Vales Sovereign'
Picked Dandelion heads for H.F-W's dandelion marmalade :D
Emma
I'm intrigued; do you have a link to the recipe?
I'm intrigued; do you have a link to the recipe?
I was just thinking the same thing, there has to be some use for the blasted things!
http://www.rivercottage.net/questions/pdf/food/3759/
sowed some fenugreek seeds. i'm not sure if they will grow well in UK but worth a try to see. soaked in water overnight which swelled to double the size and sowed outside in 4 rows. would be interesting to see the results and if they retain a strong fragrance.
I have some fenugreek seeds going. Sowed them in modules a couple of weeks ago and they're doing really well in the greenhouse. It's a bunny favourite. I even had to hide the seeds so they didn't eat them. :lol:
I have some fenugreek seeds going. Sowed them in modules a couple of weeks ago and they're doing really well in the greenhouse. It's a bunny favourite. I even had to hide the seeds so they didn't eat them. :lol:
how long they take to sprout? i was interested in growing it to make Kasoori methi (dried leaves) as my dad has trouble getting the "real mcoy". i thought animals would hate it becuase of the strong smell...now i have to be extra careful of the birds and pesky pigeons... ah well...worth a try. :happy:
will it be carpet all the way down?
Grendel
richrua, I haven't planted the Lidl carrots on tape, but have used the gherkins and dill tape which was very successful if that helps(?)
Rain has dictated my activities today. I have been sowing and potting on like mad - tomatoes galore, autumn broccoli, pumpkins, courgettes, squashes, chillis, aubergines, kale, cabbages, cauli, french beans. All now nestled in my conservatory (ones needing more tlc) and greenhouse (bigger boys). I have now run out of potting compost, so need to venture to the garden centre for some more (the thought of lifting wet bags of compost has put me off so I might wait for my hubby to help out!)
Went to the plot to check it wasn't washed away :blink: Saw that the plot I gave up was under water at the far end so I'm pleased with my decision to swap to the one next to my other one.
Back in the garden I continued washing plant pots,only another few hundred to do.
NN2Blue has posted an excessively long link.
We'll get onto it.
well spent the day running in and out of the green house between the rain
tidy up the greenhouse
re-potted the tom's 15 of them into 1ft pots using grow bag
re-potted cucumbers 20 of them same size pot but 2 in each
gave everything a good water
Checked for slugs after the nematodes were deployed yesterday;none found :D :D :D
Not a sausage on Tuesday... shame as the weather was conducive to an escape to the plot but.......simply didn't have the time. :(
Went down with the best intentions until the heavens opened and i had to duck sharpish into the shed...
...it wasn't all bad as I had a kip on a bed of unopened compost bags! :tongue2: :lol:
Went down with the best intentions until the heavens opened and i had to duck sharpish into the shed...
...it wasn't all bad as I had a kip on a bed of unopened compost bags! :tongue2: :lol:
Now - that sounds a very attractive idea.
Peace and quiet with no one coming along to disturb you.
Put a row of beetroot in the root bed (started them off in paper pots in the greenhouse) - also check on the other root that i sowed in there, some of the beetroots are through - but no sign of the carrots or parsnips -is it not to cold for beetroot? Was going to plant mine out this weekend but it is going to get very cold
On a brighter note i noticed that my sungold toms, hundredweight pumpkins, king tut and crown peas are through. :D
is it not to cold for beetroot? Was going to plant mine out this weekend but it is going to get very cold
Earthed up my 1st early spuds as temperature is even meant to be dropping to 4c tomorrow night down here in the sunny south :ohmy:
Planted out some little parsnips I bought earlier in the week. I'm now wondering if this was wise, in view of the cold nights coming. I've also got some little Tom Thumb lettuces, planted mid April and some young broad beans. Should I be protecting this lot with that fleece stuff I see others using?
No sign of my potatoes showing yet, planted 15 April, but faint signs of the beetroot, radish and spinach sown at the same time.
He tells me the Lady Christl potatoes are just showing through.
Am currently sat looking at the homebase website for ideas of paint colours for the shed. No boring brown for me. Was contemplating something stripey and possibly pink!
dug out the bed I plan to put my runner beans in eventually and added lots of compost, a bit of sand because it's very clay'y, some blood fish and bone and for good measure , chucked some chicken manure pellets in. Put a mini polytunnel over it to start warming the soil up.
Covered one of the shed windows with some strong plastic to keep the rain out. Waited patiently for the 3rd time for the man to come and felt my shed roof. He didn't turn up but fingers crossed it will all be done when I arrive tomorrow. If not I'll do it myself.
Met my plot neighbour for the first time and had a chat with her about my polytunnel and I agreed to move it further away from her plot (my suggestion not hers) as it might shade the decking area where she likes to sit. So my job for tomorrow is to get rid of the turf in the new location and dig a trench.
Am currently sat looking at the homebase website for ideas of paint colours for the shed. No boring brown for me. Was contemplating something stripey and possibly pink!
Potted up, potted up and potted up some more! From paper pots to larger pots, basil, anise, lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, lovage, amaranth, borage, orange peppers, courgettes, mixed peppers, strawberry sticks, dill, fennel (bulbing and none bulbing), leeks, welsh onions, spring onions, giant red celery, crystal lemon cucumber, custard marrow, sweet mace, clary sage, winter savory and red veined sorrel. Can't move in the greenhouses now!
Potted up, potted up and potted up some more! From paper pots to larger pots, basil, anise, lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, lovage, amaranth, borage, orange peppers, courgettes, mixed peppers, strawberry sticks, dill, fennel (bulbing and none bulbing), leeks, welsh onions, spring onions, giant red celery, crystal lemon cucumber, custard marrow, sweet mace, clary sage, winter savory and red veined sorrel. Can't move in the greenhouses now!
Hi Allo... I'm baffled - please can you tell me what "strawberry sticks" are...
Finally repaired the greenhouse, weeded onions and generally pottered about
Broad beans have all gone to line slug stomachs. Must. Buy. Nematodes.I think most of mine have too. I put my misplaced trust in the local hedgehog and he/she let me down. ::) So much for being organic this year, it's nets and the blue pellets of death again, they never let me down. 8)
Broad beans have all gone to line slug stomachs. Must. Buy. Nematodes.I think most of mine have too. I put my misplaced trust in the local hedgehog and he/she let me down. ::) So much for being organic this year, it's nets and the blue pellets of death again, they never let me down. 8)
Am deliberately staying away from the plot today. I had a look round my flat last night and realised that this allotment lark is having a seriously detrimental affect on my housework. So time to catch up. Which begs the question, why am I sat here surfing an allotment forum and drinking coffee when I have a pile of ironing to do?
Waited in hope - but still nothing! It's about potatoes, couch grass and, I hope, couch die back.
I planted a couple of rows of Swift pots on 15/4, having chitted them since mid Feb. They aren't showing yet - I visit most days in hope of seeing some Swift action but no joy. That's 4 weeks - could they have been rotted by all the rain?
As for the weeds - I have had a big couch grass problem since I took over the plot. It had been rotovated for me - I thought this was v helpful, but then half the plot was all fresh couch grass shoots ... Lots of grief. This year I dug out all the beds in December/Jan/Feb, and removed all the couch roots I could see. I knew it would be lurking under the pathways betweeen beds, so I bought a spray and applied glyphosate to the paths on 24 April - it was a dry day, and it didn't rain for about 12 hours afterwards.
So every visit now, I look for potato sproutings - nix - and for signs of weed die back on the paths - but nothing much yet. There may be a bit of brown on the bits where the weed cover is very thin. Nothing on the bit where the grass and weeds are most virulent. It's now over two weeks since I sprayed.
What do people think? Is there still hope? Should I respray when it's dry?
On a positive note, I've planted plugs this week - parsnips, broad beans, kale and spinach - all doing well and looking good. My 15 of my 20 new raspberry canes are sprouting green shoots, my little Tom Thumb lettuces are still hanging in there and there are faint lines of green where I sowed beetroot and more spinach on 16/4.
But the potatoes? And the weeds?
Nothing on mine, but I did go to Nige2plots and have a tour, eat from a buffet and drink tea. :D
We got loads done today. Painted the shed, put up some shelving and got the lock on the door.
We got loads done today. Painted the shed, put up some shelving and got the lock on the door.
What colour did you go for in the end yorkiegal?
Anyone know what this is for?
Had a great time yesterday.. Planted out my courgettes, summer squashes, my delicious Gem-squash (from africa) Hubbards and a few leftover garlic plants that were in pots.
Some small chillies, toms and egg plant that are not growing fast in the home GH so planted out in the GH at the plot which gets more sun. Hopefully they might grow now..
I also planted out some garlic into my nursery area that I have been growing on from seed (bulbils). This seed was harvested by a friend from seed last year and I planted a few months ago - potted on once and as they are all growing well I decided to plant them out to grow. They will take a few years of planting, reaping, drying and replanting again. They will eventually get big cloves after about 3 years of nurturing... well so I'm told!
thank goodness for warm sunny days. Such a difference. Let the growing commence at last.Did you read trillium's tip about planting a pencil thick stick up against the stem? I've tried it after 2 casualties - no more losses so far ;)
I planted out my brussels sprouts and kale under a vast net.
Sadly, after all the effort I put into bringing these on from seed and potting up, I believe I will probably lose them to cutworm. Happens every year to me.......
thank goodness for warm sunny days. Such a difference. Let the growing commence at last.Did you read trillium's tip about planting a pencil thick stick up against the stem? I've tried it after 2 casualties - no more losses so far ;)
I planted out my brussels sprouts and kale under a vast net.
Sadly, after all the effort I put into bringing these on from seed and potting up, I believe I will probably lose them to cutworm. Happens every year to me.......
Finally, lots of watering lol
I've been putting up the bean frame, will plant runners later when it's a bit cooler :)
Quick visit to the plot today mainly to put netting over the raised bed because there are three cats roaming around our allotment and I think they have been digging it up, I couldn't find any poop so hopefully they weren't using it as a loo :ohmy: We had planted some lettuce seeds in one quarter but they will be all over the place now :(
I also watered everything because it was bone dry and I was going to start digging another bed but it was way too hot and I had a banging headache
Quick visit to the plot today mainly to put netting over the raised bed because there are three cats roaming around our allotment and I think they have been digging it up, I couldn't find any poop so hopefully they weren't using it as a loo :ohmy: We had planted some lettuce seeds in one quarter but they will be all over the place now :(
I also watered everything because it was bone dry and I was going to start digging another bed but it was way too hot and I had a banging headache
Wear a hat and drink loads!!
water at 6am then home fro breakfastreturned after buying some leek plants and 2 toms for the garden.
planted three rows of radishes three rows of beetroot and three rows of turnips.
runner beans have doubled in size in the last 24 hrs thing are looking uo now we have some sunshine.
john
Weeding and watering and then more weeding and watering. ;)
Was raining this afternoon so went up in my waterproofs. Harvested massive spinach leaves and planted more spinach, mizuna, spring onions and two kinds of radish. Sowed some more carrots and parsnips as the ones i put in april came to nothing. Transplanted beetroot seedlings to allotment after starting in pots. Marvelled at new guttering on shed to water butt. Pleased rhubarb is getting some new leaves! Some potatoes have flowerheads, exciting! :lol:
Managed to get the arch back upright, with four fence pins a foot or so in the ground and cable-tied to the legs, plus two guys to make sure it stays where it should be
Roses seem none the worse for wear, thank goodness :D :D :D
Took us an hour though :lol:
Managed to get the arch back upright, with four fence pins a foot or so in the ground and cable-tied to the legs, plus two guys to make sure it stays where it should be
Roses seem none the worse for wear, thank goodness :D :D :D
Took us an hour though :lol:
How much are you paying the guys to stand there all night? :lol:
Seriously: Pleased to hear the roses have survived. :)
The 2 guys - were they Bill and Ben... :D
Had a barby, weeded brassica cage and watched bees in broad beans, barrowed spent hops around to mulch...
http://plot-life.blogspot.co.uk/ (http://plot-life.blogspot.co.uk/)
First attempt at an allotment blog, be nice!
Looks good... You will probably be asked to remove the link as links to blogs are not allowed.. add the address to you profile and it will show under your pic as a globe web link.. (My links to my site were always removed..)
Looks good... You will probably be asked to remove the link as links to blogs are not allowed.. add the address to you profile and it will show under your pic as a globe web link.. (My links to my site were always removed..)
Apologies + thanks for the pointers Gavin... still finding my feet.
P
This is cheating a bit as I don't actually have a "plot"... however this morning I thinned my radishes, rubbed out some side shoots on various tomato plants, and had a small "wayhey" as I realised that my 2 years out of date carrot seed has started to germinate :)
Looked at the dismal selection of struggling and shivering veg plants. I think the supermarkets are in no danger of bankruptcy this year!
Got to the stables and picked up 6 bags of manure which I added to the current lasagne bed I am building.
Got to the stables and picked up 6 bags of manure which I added to the current lasagne bed I am building.
I'm intrigued... please tell me what a Lasagne bed is.. ??
Went out in car this mornig and after seeing water standing in the farmers fields
decided to stay in the dry away from plot and make a run for grandchildrens Guinea pigs.
Wow! Paul you have done some work there! It is so satisfying to see what you have accomplished - and all the more so when it was really bad to start with! You must be so pleased. What a lovely, tidy greenhouse you now have (says she rather enviously! Mine is so full and chaotic doing anything at all requires the flexibility of a yoga master!) :)
I harvested some new pots pentland jav, just had 1 in a mop bucket and got aboult 2 lb
thinned out a couple of swede that i planted too close together that where the thickness of a grapefruit, also lifted a couple of garlic
planted up some iceberg
In early spring, I planted some new raspberry canes, and also a single loganberry plant. The new growth is coming through well, so I tied them back today.
However, I somehow managed to break off the top part of the loganberry plant, so not sure I will get much from it this year! :mad:
rice next year Nige
I'm off to cut the grass
I'm off to cut the grass and tidy the flower beds at my parents old bungalow.... presently sitting empty.
Met up with two of our friends and we all enjoyed a picnic lunch on our plot today - despite the blustery but sunny weather.
We then set to work weeding the plots, then replanting the onion patch with beetroot and sprouts which we netted.
Lots of cropping - mange tout, french beans, broad beans, gallons of strawberries, charlotte potatoes and tons of courgettes.
Met up with two of our friends and we all enjoyed a picnic lunch on our plot today - despite the blustery but sunny weather.
We then set to work weeding the plots, then replanting the onion patch with beetroot and sprouts which we netted.
Lots of cropping - mange tout, french beans, broad beans, gallons of strawberries, charlotte potatoes and tons of courgettes.
So jealous, we don't have any signs of courgettes yet and I love them! All our crops are very very late this year. Sounds like you had a lovely day
Met up with two of our friends and we all enjoyed a picnic lunch on our plot today - despite the blustery but sunny weather.
We then set to work weeding the plots, then replanting the onion patch with beetroot and sprouts which we netted.
Lots of cropping - mange tout, french beans, broad beans, gallons of strawberries, charlotte potatoes and tons of courgettes.
I know what you mean, today we had blistering heat, rain, clouds and then wind. Last year we lost loads to the really late frost we had and now this year all the veggies have had to learn to swim! Still looks like we may neon track to get some September courgettes :)
So jealous, we don't have any signs of courgettes yet and I love them! All our crops are very very late this year. Sounds like you had a lovely day
Hi Symone, yes it was a great day today - it's not always like that. I have responded to your thread. I hope you can turn around you plot, seems such a shame that you aren't getting more out of it as it should be feeding your soul - not just your appetites!
We have been lucky with our courgettes as I continued potting them on into larger pots whilst the weather was horrible and resisted the temptation to plant them out earlier so they didn't sulk as some have done. The crops are behind, our potatoes certainly are behind, but stuff is starting to pick up - I just wish this wind would calm down as this is causing our exposed plot no end of problems.
......................then he came and had look at my two plots and asked if they dig it over for you ,didn't know if he was serious or not , :unsure: :unsure:when he went back to his i got on with tying in my toms and cucumbers in the greenhouse , ::) ::)
he came and had look at my two plots and asked if they dig it over for youHAHAHAH oh my, maybe he is in for a bit of a shock :blink:
Just been to the plot to water seeds peas and beans.
Peas starting to swell one should have a crop by the end of the week.
John
Oh Jenny I am so sorry. It is indeed a sad world when someone finds it fun to vandalise a vegetable patch! I hope you managed to salvage something :(
What a sad world we live in :(
Didn't get there today. Had so much planned but never got anything done because of the horrendous downpours. However........ Did manage to pick sugarsnap peas growing at the end of the garden as well as tie in the tomatoes in the greenhouse and stand in awe of my first cuke. About 8" long and there are loads of little ones coming along nicely.We are not far from you yank, the weather was indeed rubbish, a spheavy shower every 30 minutes resulted in nothing getting done!
Today was 30°c. So what happened was I ended up picking tomatoes from the vine and a can from the cooler. Sat on an upturned bucket, under a picnic umbrella, I drank a toast to the coming of Autumn.
Today was 30°c. So what happened was I ended up picking tomatoes from the vine and a can from the cooler. Sat on an upturned bucket, under a picnic umbrella, I drank a toast to the coming of Autumn.
I have the heating on here!
nothing as I had a wisdom tooth extracted this morning.
Grendel
been up plots first thing before rain came in again to cut tops off 13 rows of spuds as blight hitting our site with a vengeance :( :(
been up allotments nice and early only to find my greenhouse open and someone had helped themselves to some cucumbers and onions that were drying on a bench at least they cut the cucumbers off and not just pulled them >:( >:(WHAAAAAT? After all us gardeners having a dreadful time, someone pinches your stuff as well? Many curses on them! :mad: :mad: :mad:
then went over to my shed and store not touched shed but been in the store and taken my sprayer and tray of sprays dont look like kids this time ,not very happy at all as who ever done it had only to ask and i would of helped anyway >:( >:( >:(
So sorry to hear you've had a thief on your plot Bill, I think I've had one on mine as all my Gooseberries have gone missing & my plot neighbours redcurrants have gone too. We have our suspicions.
I managed to get all the garlic & winter onions out,garlic has done well but alot of the onions had bolted so they've got a hard stalk but many are rotting with the wet. Then I harvested the globe artichokes as some of the globes were rotting as well. Then I dug up some rocket spuds a very meagre crop. Did lots of weeding. Mr S & our son came & put up some guttering around no 2 shed.
I didn't reach the plot but stayed in the garden and not the most exciting day until.........
Spotted a large white van parked at the end of my neighbour's garden (he's away for a week or two) so wandered (as you do) quite speedily to see what was going on. :unsure:
"It's alright mate, we're just clearing up the scrap metal."
I told the bloke he couldn't take anything else as my neighbour wasn't in (although it would have been lovely to see the neighbour's junk cleared) and no they couldn't go along the rest of the lane to clear it unless they went round the front of each house and asked first. And... no I didn't want them to move the bike at the back of my garage or even think about my aluminium greenhouse staging inside the fence....which they seemed between them to be eyeing up.
The police said I did the right thing letting them know but I could ring 999 if I see a crime taking place.
I explained that I didn't think the "scarp man" and his two brawny helpers would have waited until Monday afternoon for the police to arrive without clearing every garden first and sauntering off. :(
As it was the van sped backwards at light speed - not at all helpful. I had been given the "scrap man's" mobile number... very kind but I wanted the van reg too. Got it. So have the police. ;)
They left, their tyres throwing up gravel all over the place and didn't get as far as taking the four aluminium wheels sitting next to the garage further along the lane... but I think they would have done if I hadn't wandered out.
Lifted the garlic, good sized bulbs....
Nice garlic there Argyllie :D
.... watered (for a change), and then picked some raspberries.
Nice garlic ^^
Also pulled some of my garlic today and was amazed that most of them had cloved after me thinking they hadn't. No greenhouse to dry them in so hung them in the shed. Harvested very decent carrots and broad beans.
Pulled two rows of peas up. I'd class them as a first time failure, small, deformed and stunted. Can only be the weather as I used different seeds.
(http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p564/Wavertree/c5b8057d.jpg)
Took my new strimmer down to the plot today, planning on getting rid of all the grass. Stopped off on the way to buy petrol for it. I don't drive so have never had to use a petrol pump before. I managed to spill it all over the forecourt and they had to put sand down to cover it and provide tons of wipes to get it off my hands and jeans. I'd looked up to see the price of the petrol and my hand automatically lifted the pump out of the petrol can as I did. Was mortified but I suppose that is better than being blown up. Won't be going back there again though lol.
So I didn't do any strimming just in case there was any residual petrol on me. But I did do a good check around the grassy half of my plot, picking up any stones and rubbish to prepare for cutting it down tomorrow.
I also removed half of the tomato plants from the polytunnel. I made the beginners mistake of planting far to many of them and then not removing side shoots. It looks a lot better now and the remaining plants are more accessible. I also discovered that all the plants grown in planters or bottomless pots have produced fruit, whereas the ones grown straight from the ground haven't.
I have tons of fruit. One of them is turning orange but the rest have been green for ages so no doubt will be very tough.
i won the best newbie plot at are show on Saturday :D :D
Brilliant news. Congratulations.
i won the best newbie plot at are show on Saturday :D :D
been harvesting and weeding today lots of runner beans, French beans, broccoli, kale, lettuce, sweet peas
one of my sun flowers is 6 foot tall :D
2 cups of tea then home
Watered the leeks and wallflowers, cleared the broad bean patch and planted lettuce. Lifted onions, potaotes and pulled beetroot as well as a little digging.
For once I didn't mow the paths! :)
Had a furtle for some spuds for tomorrow's dinner, small but healthy.
Checked the notice board and discovered our site won best site in Liverpool and that my plot was top ten on our site. Pleased.
At last harvesting something other than pots
Not sure if i have the dreaded b.... toms not looking good. Crispy leaves, brown split stems and brown mushy fruit... :(
At last harvesting something other than pots
Not sure if i have the dreaded b.... toms not looking good. Crispy leaves, brown split stems and brown mushy fruit... :(
Sorry to say it does sound suspiciously like you have, Kim :(
A busy day then Sunshineband ;) Good harvest too.
I nipped down mid afternoon for potatoes and beetroot as we'd run out. Came home with those as well as gladioli, runner & french beans.
Watered a lot, topped up the bath, cut the path edges then pedalled like mad to get back for the evening dinner shift.
Watered my greenhouses and beans at home.
Now waiting for my veg to cook so I can have dinner and nip across the road for bedtime....after that it's "relaxing time"
Spoke to a policeman for about an hour after finding the sheds had been broken it again. This time they tipped the contents of one of the sheds upside down, not sure what they were looking for, maybe a key to one of the other sheds. We thought they had taken the strummer but found it next door, it looks like they were disturbed as. They left all their tools they used to break in in their shed. So far all we can see that they took was petrol, they took the petrol out of the strummer, took a can or fuel and took the petrol out of next doors generator.
We have to go back later and repair the damage to the shed doors and locks >:(
Yes CSI got some prints off the tools, strummer and one of the padlocks, they just need to see if they belong to us or not :blink:
Sorry to hear this but I'm pleased to hear your visitors took the petrol away rather than used it to set light to anything! Finger-prints from the tools left behind?
I got carried away and did a bit too much ::)
Same here, New Shoot. My arms and back are aching. Decided to dig over an 10 foot square area on my second plot. Only got a quarter of the way through as the ground was very heavy and wet.
Then transplanted the strawbs into their new raised bed.
Came home and weeded all the borders in the front garden.
I got carried away and did a bit too much ::)
Same here, New Shoot. My arms and back are aching. Decided to dig over an 10 foot square area on my second plot. Only got a quarter of the way through as the ground was very heavy and wet.
Then transplanted the strawbs into their new raised bed.
Came home and weeded all the borders in the front garden.
Yesterday picked 4 sweetcorn cobs and ate them with butter all by myself. I was so proud.
Really cant believe how weed free the plot has been this year so been up and really wasnt much to do but i:
scraped off any weeds starting to grow on the paths (even these are weed free this year!!)
planted some really large french beans i should have put in ages ago
planted some more lettuces (again should have been in ages ago!)
Took some spent compost from flower pots at home and threw over a few beds at the allotment
Dont get me wrong there has been blood, sweat and tears along the way!!!! ;)
Looked at the plots thinking............'Where did this growing season go?'
Got down to the plot for the first time in nearly two weeks as i have a nasty inner ear infection which is messing with my balance. Found lots of dead peas and beans so pulled them all out. Covered half the plot with black tarp because it's got beyond me a bit. Had another dizzy spell. Cut my finger on my secateurs. Fell over. Limped home.
Got down to the plot for the first time in nearly two weeks as i have a nasty inner ear infection which is messing with my balance. Found lots of dead peas and beans so pulled them all out. Covered half the plot with black tarp because it's got beyond me a bit. Had another dizzy spell. Cut my finger on my secateurs. Fell over. Limped home.
Here I am again, towards the end of summer and wondering what to do now. It’s my 4th year of allotmenting, and it’s been a constant battle against the weeds.
There are also about 6 or 8 beds where I have massive weed growth – couch grass, bindweed or chickweed. I’ve glyphosated some of this area, and as a result have some areas of brown dead stuff as well as quite a lot of flourishing green vigorous weed growth.
So what to do now?
Installed mesh tunnel over new brassica bed.
Transplanted cauli, cabbage, red kale.
Picked runner beans and 1 or 2 french beans
Picked spring (?) cabbage.
Got given some asparagus peas!!?
Dug some ditches, hopefully to lower the water table on my plot.
I think I can just see the first signs of my saffron crocus' coming through :).
I think I can just see the first signs of my saffron crocus' coming through :).
I'm dead jealous Ann, I have planted two batches of these in years gone by and haven't had any luck at all with them.
Had a happy time with bits of wood arranging beds and paths.
Cut down the thornless blackberry old wood.
Going back this afternoon to take out the sweet corn stalks and prepare a bed for my garlic.
Its been brilliant! We do get some nice days!
A dry day in Newcastle then. ;)
Another glorious day! What could be better than a day spent on the plot. It was so peaceful. I cleared the final bean wigwam and dug the leaves and lots of cardboard into a big trench, which I then covered and that is where I will grow next years courgettes. Built a new bean wigwam ready for next year, on the trench I filled in, in this years strawberry bed. Trimmed more leaves from the courgettes, which are still flowering and producing fruit (six today!). I noticed where I had cut the old mildewy leaves the plants have produced new, lush green leaves and more flowers. Planted a few foxgloves by the front fence. Filled the water butts while there is still water on. Weeded the whole plot. Put up a hazel arch over front gate, this looks very 'rustic' but I am thrilled with it. Wigwams and arches, what else can be be built with sticks and string I wonder?! Dug over the patch where my fruit trees are/will be, again. Trying to remove every last trace of weed roots ready for my wild flowers next year which will be the under planting for the trees. Today was an absolute joy. :)
Spoke too soon!
The flood waters are receding.
Spoke too soon!
The flood waters are receding.
I went down to take some pics for my blog and the water is back again! Nothing to be done except get depressed.
Did my first attempt at a Munty frame for next year's runners! :)
(http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp141/Flatters_photos/Photo0204.jpg)
Dug up the last three rows of spuds and took down the lady wigwam. Two hours of tidying then beds are closed till springWhat's a lady wigwam?
Well I went to the plots today with three year old in tow. It was a horrible drizzly morning, but I had made arrangements to meet other plotholders to look at the hazel coppice.
The coppice itself was pretty much inaccessible due to overgrown brambles and nettles. I spent an hour and a half hacking out a path, with another plotholder doing the same until we met, having carved a circular path to start opening up the area. The allotment committee is willing to pay out for a professional to coppice the larger hazel (some of the hazel branches are 4-5 inches thick) which will be my recommendation.
Once we had spent this time on the coppice, I gave my little man his lunch in our shed and had a cup of tea and lunch myself whilst waiting for the weather to clear. Looking out to sea from the shed, it was clear that the weather front was moving in (which is not what the weather forecast was today), so I decided to give up and go home as little man was getting cold.
The view sounds lovely angelavdavis... You were lucky that your nipper was patient enough to let you stay as long as you did. ;)
nothing for ages - waiting for a couple of dry enough days to get a bed sorted and garlic planted.Me too. It's very frustrating >:(. Just rained again so that's going to be at least another couple of days wait :mad:
Grendel
Not a lot but the visitors/guests over night had great fun breaking into sheds and causing damage :mad: :mad: :mad:
Bless them......................NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad:
I had nothing stolen but I feel for those who did! Nobody deserves this.. :mad:
Acquired 4 bags of shetland pony manure ???
Asked what the difference was to ordinary horse manure, reply: "smaller!". Walked into that one! :)
Angela I am so sorry, that is just crazy, it was only a couple of days ago. Is your site open for anyone to get in? I would really want to know who was doing it, twice in a few days is jst awful. >:(
Look forward to that!
I will post pics when done, it looks great in my mind but we will see when I've finished!! :wacko:
Hi Angela, could some fund raising or an approach to the council be made for better gates? If it is becoming a constant problem something needs to be done.Angela I am so sorry, that is just crazy, it was only a couple of days ago. Is your site open for anyone to get in? I would really want to know who was doing it, twice in a few days is jst awful. >:(
It does have gates that are supposed to be locked but to be honest, I could climb over them (and am wimpy when it comes to climbing over gates and railings as I have short legs!) My shed is overlooked from all angles by the surrounding houses, so I thought mine would stand more chance of being left alone but clearly not!
I have to meet my site manager over there today, to pay the rent which is around £70, then Monday I will get my weed fabric and some Cuprinol wood paint and the great pallet construction will commence!!Dont forget to post pics before you start as well as after
..... just sat and enjoyed the plot and the sunshine for half an hour and it was beautiful :)
..... just sat and enjoyed the plot and the sunshine for half an hour and it was beautiful :)
Sunshine???
I'm suffering from withdrawal symptoms I haven't been able to get there since Saturday!
Paul, do you ever sleep,just seen the time of your post :unsure:
Today all underwater! AGAIN! GRRR!
I,m beginning to wonder why i bother!
Too much snow on mine to do anything except spot the footprints and guess the animal.
All that snow on my last post has turned into water, I forgot it would have to go somewhere.
I went down to mark out a few more beds, but my measuring plank floated off.
So I did some air measuring and guess that I need 64 feet of scaffolding plank if I do four 4x4 single depth. At £3 per 13ft plank its erm.. I've got all winter to work it out.
Retrieved a celeriac from the waters, one good thing about the water is that it was easy to rinse soil off the roots! Soup tomorrow.
Hoped to go and dig up leeks and parsnips today. Not looking good as temp is not getting above 2 degrees all day. Still, will go anyway and have a look.
Hoped to go and dig up leeks and parsnips today. Not looking good as temp is not getting above 2 degrees all day. Still, will go anyway and have a look.
That's what I had planned for the day....... a lovely day for it to but it didn't come to fruition.
On the list for tomorrow.....instead of "going into town on the bus" (Sorry Mrs P!)
Didn't go to the plot today as
a) Its raining heavily
b) Its Christmas Eve
c) I think my wife would go mad
Happy Christmas
Carl
Didn't make it to the plot this Christmas day morning as the rain was torrential. Hoping to go tomorrow and harvest Brussel sprouts. Missed them on the dinner plate today
Garlic and onion sets in albeit later then planned due to bad back!!!
Carted 10 loads of leaves from the huge communal mountain to my plot, to use as a mulch for the long fruit bed (13m x 2m), with potash under it. Managed to get about a third done with this amount of leaves in two hours.
Didn't get wet... hurray!!!
Have to wait for the next dry spell to do some more
Noticed that the rhubarb is starting to grow