Let's Get Plotting

Grow It Magazine (Click Here)

2008-04-08T23:57:00.003+01:00

I've only just seen this in the newsagents last month and will definitely buy it evey month. There are links to other magazines at the bottom of the page.

Nice Weather For Potting

2008-04-07T15:38:00.005+01:00

From glorious weather to really crap weather, that's England for you. I was called out to work about 4am Sunday and had to drive through sheets of snow, for a quickly sorted 10 min visit. I was glad to snuggle up in bed when I got back, only to be called out again at 9.30am. After that longer visit, I took a drive up to the allotment just to check on my new fresh frozen peas. Birdseye eat your heart out! I think they will survive, as will the broad beans, but wrapped fleece around the supports just in case there was another flurry.
Spent the afternoon today sowing Dwarf French beans in pots, along with cucumbers. The Italian beans are doing nicely in the mini greenhouse, as are the globe artichokes(which will be transplanted this coming weekend)Courgettes are taking their time in showing.

As you can see from the photo above, I have constructed a coldframe, which I hope to extend upwards into a kind of greenhouse/warm house, with some staging.(That's not a windswept bin in front, that's my undercover Rhubarb, next to my two open ones) Cheaper than investing in a grown ups greenhouse. I'd like one of those, but I have transportation problems in getting it up to the allotment.I shall just have to put my d-i-y skills to the test.
I've finally finished drawing out the plan for the allotment, but as I have changed it around on paper and in my mind about three times already, I'm sure that it will be nothing like the finished product in the ground.I will try and get it done with the free trial version of 'Growveg' and then scan it and post it on here. A test of my computer skills is called for I think, so watch this space!
My problem now is trying to arrange my plot visits around varying shifts, so it will be fun to see how that plays out. With the longer evenings and the better weather, I'm looking forward to spending more and more time up there.

Glorious Weather

2008-04-01T13:03:00.004+01:00

Wasn't Sunday a beautiful day, weather wise. Unfortunately, not spent up the allotment, as I was on shopping duty. However, I didn't leave the allotment out of my thoughts entirely, because I happened upon the greatest innovation of the 21st century!!!!! The 99p store in Northampton!

I came away with armfuls of little goodies, that I would never had dreamed of. Double headed hand tools, which include a hoe at one end and a claw at the other.

Another one had a slim trowel at one end and a kind of scraper at the other, which I use for making seed drills. Also a pair of very sharp garden shears, cloches, fleece and a long handled dutch hoe. All 99p each, so even if they break, it won't cost too much to replace. I used them all yesterday and they seem pretty strong.

The weather wasn't so brilliant in the morning yesterday, but it turned into a glorious afternoon. I managed to get some more broad beans in 'bunyard exhibition' and some peas 'serpette guilloteau', as well as sowing, spring onions 'white lisbon', beetroot 'soloist', parsnips 'tender & true', scorzonera 'duplex'.

The sweetcorn has been started in a propagator, 'double standard' & 'incredible' F1, as have courgettes 'striato di napoli', these now accompany the aubergines 'de barbantane' and all manners of capsicums.

In the greenhouse are bush bean creso, an Italian yellow bean, climbing French beans 'cherokee trail of tears', and 4 kinds of tomato, 'moneymaker', 'sub artic plenty', + 2 others I can't remember just now.

In the coldframe are, kohl rabi 'blusta', artichoke 'green globe' and more beetroot.

I love it now, when things start to take shape, and the sequence of sowing, potting on, and transplanting really moves on.

The trenches for the french beans keep getting muck added to them, so it will be nice and rich when planting time comes up next month. The frame is built and just needs bamboo sticks added. The forced rhubarb looks pink/purple and lovely, so it won't be long before that's in a bowl of custard.

Now I want to spend every available moment up there, but that's difficult with the hours I keep at work. Most of my free daylight time is spent sleeping, so I'm thankful for the clocks going forward which will provide extra evening light, for those all too important little jobs.

Great Easter.......Not!

2008-03-25T09:53:00.011Z

Despite the crappy weather this weekend, I managed to visit the plot and do bits and pieces, deciding to leave the bulk of the work until Easter Monday, when the weather was forecast to be good. Went up on Sunday and pottered, taking my portable drill up with me to start on some raised beds. The weather turned so I gave it up, and decided to finish off Monday. I left the drill at the allotment, hidden under a load of old black plastic and membranes, intending to use it on my return next day.

You can guess what happened next. Went up the allotment and low and behold, some theivin' git has broken into my shed and nicked the drill. When I first took on the allotment, the shed wasn't secure so I put a new lock on the door and purposely knackered the screw heads so they couldn't be unscrewed.

But hey, this didn't deter them, they broke the padlock. I didn't realise till later what they must have used to break it, until I went to pick up my fork and it didn't feel right in my hand - it wasn't my fork. What I guess has happened is that somebody has come up to the allotments and seen that there has been sheds broken into and gone round securing them. They have seen the fork laying outside mine, and placed it inside thinking it belonged to me. It must have been a fork taken from somebody else's shed and used to snap the padlock.

I'm realsitic to know that there is no point reporting it to them in blue, as there is not a lot that can be done. Everyone at the allotments is aware of what went on, and we just have to be more vigilant and make things either more secure or take everything home with us when we leave.

Despite a bad start to my day I did persevere and got a couple of beds turned over. Started the trenches for my French and Italian beans. Loads of muck in 'em, to bed down before I plant them out next month.

There is still a wilderness behind the shed, but that will get cleared up in time.

I've loads of seed trays all over the house in every available sunny spot. They are coming on a treat, and the small greenhouse in the back garden is now full, so I'm in a quandry what to do with the next lot that I pot on. Hurry up weather, and improve, so that I can utilise the new cold frame.

From Small Yard to Large Allotment

2008-03-12T19:15:00.004Z

Trawling through my pictures, I came across these before and after pictures of my small yard at the back of my town terrace, and it got me hoping that I could achieve the same change in the allotment. Bigger scale I know, but if I can make this much of a difference at home, then the same enthusiasm can be applied to the plot! With the weather lately, I'm surprised that anyone has managed to get anything done. What a horrible week! Storms, winds well above the average, and the most horrible downpours. Enough to make anyone take to the sheds and cuddle up to the gas rings and brew for England. Cloches flying past your ears and onions screaming out for protection. Not the best of weeks thats for sure.

Speaking of gas rings, my friends have just bought me a small, portable gas ring, in it's own carrying case. The gas cannister slots in beside it and will be the perfect thing to brew up on when I become a full time lazy so & so in the heat of the summer months.....she wishes!!! It comes from Wilkinsons, and is only a tenner!
http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0224108

Long Time. No See

2008-03-02T00:51:00.003Z

Been absent with the posting lately as Google Blog had problems and I couldn't get rid of the 'Happy Christmas' picture and couldn't use the posting options. Hey, but I'm here now. Several weekends utilised in clearing more ground. Little & often, that's my motto. Got some good manure dug in as well. The house is full of seed boxes, propogators, and the greenhouse at home is having shelves filled every so often. Early spuds are a chitting, and onions go in tomorrow.

I know there is still a fair bit of grass to get rid of, but my idea is to build some raised beds to stand on the grass for this year and then clear it next winter. Being the first year, I don't expect 100% clearance as it is only me doing the work, and being in my salad years, I want to stay healthy enough to enjoy what I do manage to grow.

I've started to make a cold frame that is attached to the shed, so raised beds will be a doddle, she hopes. Cloches are made and ready to go in place. Saw some super ones on someone's blog, so they will be in that fashion.

One thing I have found is that between 'Kitchen Garden', 'Grow Your Own' magazines, various blogs, seed packets, books and articles, everyone differs as to when to sow, so I managed to lay them all out and reach what I consider a fine compromise, see what they are doing on adjoining allotments....heh! heh!

Do Not Drink And Scythe!!!!!

2007-12-03T00:30:00.000Z

Hungover, and not looking my spectacular best, I walked up to the allotment this a.m. (Didn't dare drive, as it was still swishing around inside me) I looked like old father time, albeit with an Azada and not a scythe over my shoulder.

Every time I come up, I close my eyes as I approach, hoping that the veggie version of Ground Force has been in the night and cleared it all for me, but alas, no, not this weekend!

Now is the time to test out this wondrous new tool, and after a few shaky swings (not sure if it was the DTs or inexperience) I managed to build up a rhythm and get a fair bit cleared.

I reckon the alchohol would have disapperaed from my system tomorrow (Monday) so shall drive up with the wheelbarrow and move all the clods to the end of the plot. I read that if you stack it grass on grass, and mud on mud, in about 50 years you should get some loam etc. Or, if my partner gets fed up with me banging on about seeds, plants, compost, sowing, harvesting, moons, Junes and Ferris wheels, then I shall use the clods to build a grass hut and you can then call me 'Lottie', 'Stinky' or 'Ratty' or whatever these tree, hut dwellers are called.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas..........sorry, wrong blog!

It's beginning to look like a proper allotment now, with a few more brown bits appearing, more like chocolate chip ice cream than a Neopolitan, if you get my meaning. I ordered some more seeds and tuber type thingys tonight, so I practically have coming all that I aim to grow this year. Whether it all gets planted is by the by, but so far the list is:

Jeruselem Artichokes : Globe Artichokes : Cauliflower : Summer Cabbage : Broad Beans : Baby Beetroot : Onions : Leeks : Broccoli : Carrots : Sweetcorn : French Beans : Peas : Courgettes : Aubergines : Kohl Rabi : Turnips : Swede : Parsnips : Early, Maincrop, Whenever Potatoes : All Salad Fruit & Veg, which will sit lovely in the greenhouse I will buy soon.

As I already have some herbs in place, I'm just adding, French Tarragon : Garlic Chives : Parsley : Coriander : Oregano and Basil. I also want to grow Mizuna, Pak Choi and Lemon Grass.

A hefty list but if I get them all ordered I shall plant what the allotment will hold, and then store the rest for next year.

Anyway, I shall de-blog myself now and get fit for tomorrow's digging/clearing by having a few games of tennis on the old Wii!!

Night Night

Better Late Than Never

2007-11-28T01:51:00.000Z

I'm back writing later than I thought, as with prior arrangements, weather and any excuse I can think of, I haven't had time to write about what has been happening, or in reality what hasn't been happening.

Missed one weekend up the lotty but tried to catch up this weekend last. I've created a few more feet (I'm a pounds, shillings and pence measurer) of usable ground, but am waiting for the arrival of an Azada, that great gert earth shifting tool that will be the answer to all my probs.

I have it on good authority that this will do what Carole King once said, and that is make me feel the earth move under my feet. Apparently I just have to practice my swing motion and then it's all Azadas blazing and ground clearance quicker than the stands at the Newcastle United home game, last Saturday.

I took the dogs up with me for conversation, but all they wanted to do was guard my shed and wander aimlessly.(See side picture)

I've taken some other pictures to show that I am doing some digging, honest guv!

For the first weekend since I got the plot, I am free to spend some considerable time up there, so look out for the pictures of a more earth filled site. The couch grass will be carved up and I'll have a better idea of the way forward. I'm torn between raised beds or just flat, wide beds, but I think I'll go with the former as I don't want my great clod hoppers to go trapesing all over the ground flattening down every lickle seed/plant in sight.

This stage of the game can be both exciting and frustrating. Exciting because of all the planning and the thought that all the hard work will pay dividends eventually. Frustrating because you want to be like all the retired allotment holders and be up there everyday, although I'm fortunate in that I have some holiday at the end of January, so I will be able to do the lion's share of work then, just in time for first planting.

Planning

2007-11-08T13:28:00.000Z

I've ordered most of my veggie seeds and will shortly be beseiged with seed catalogues from various companies. I thought I'd look at them all and decided which would be the best, in the future.

A chap at work keeps horses so that's my manure problem sorted, trouble is I'm not looking forward to the smell in the car when I have to go and collect it. Quadruple sacking and bagging methinks. Just as well the car will be sold at the end of December, but I don't think my partner will like me transporting the brown and smelly stuff in the new one!

The weekend is looming and I'm surprising myself with how keen I am to get up to the allotment, and get stuck in. Loads of ideas in my head, and drawn plans. They just need executing and a weekend of fine weather would be just the ticket

Knackered and back to work for a rest

2007-11-05T07:37:00.000Z

Spent 5 hrs on the allotment yesterday. It's suprising how much of that time was spent walking up and down the plot, casting a visionary eye over my 'manor'. To be honest, the wandering was between bouts of digging and rather than collapsing on the bench, gasping for breath, I tried to look fit and healthy by pacing and mentally plotting how to create the best allotment, in the world, EVER!

If I hadn't had stopped in between forkfuls, Time Team would have found me 100 yrs from now, and I would have had a whole TV programme dedicated to Ginny the fossilised woman.

Despite my lack of aerated lungs, I did manage to dig over three areas, and churn in the manure to boot.

Garlic is in, as are the onions and broad beans, pretty much all that can be planted now.
I forgot to take the blasted camera up, so pictures will be up at the weekend. Now is a week of work, and boy, do I need it to recover!!

My First Day - November 1st 2007

2007-11-03T16:22:00.000Z

I've got the key to the gate, a boot full of tools, and the enthusiasm of a teenager! Now all I need is to remember where the plot is.

Being a novice at this game, the willingness and the mind full of ideas, not to mention the fact that I once grew potatoes in my back garden, inspires me to go where no living family member has been and that is to embrace success with failure, and grow, grow, grow!

After looking it over I was pleasantly surprised to find several plants already in existance:

Strawberries

Celariac

Raspberries

Gooseberries

Winter Cabbages

A Pear Tree

Rosemary : Aniseed : Mint : Sage

I've been up about 4 times since the 1st and managed to dig over a few areas. Thankfully there are the remnants of two wooden compost bins, which are now close to overflowing, and I think a few trenches are in order to start taking the rest of the clearance and off course the obligatory kitchen scraps.

I work for a transport company which is a veritable Alladin's cave for broken pallets, and thanks to an understanding boss I have the pick of the choice wooden slats, which will repair the compost bins and provide the materials for the eventual raised beds. The amount that was put by for me yesterday is enough to make a shed, decking, hot tub, and even Noah's Ark; there is so much of it!

Not being of tender years, I'm taking the digging as it comes and making sure this over arthritic body doesn't get to the point of collapse and seizure, or else the plot will become a cemetary and not the land of life I intend it to be.