by Philippa | May 25, 2014 | Allotment
We really are being spoiled with the run of three day weekends we have had since Easter, it’s a shame we have to wait until August now for the next one!
After coming back from Spain on Thursday we knew that while there had been some warm days, there had been mostly cooler temperatures and quite a bit of rain. This was to bode well for how things had got on in our absence! However, as predicted last week the tray of calabrese that had suffered in the heat had not had a miraculous recovery and so I had to sow some more calabrese green sprouting, purple sprouting and summer purple sprouting broccolis. But at least the old dried out tray did not go to waste, as we discovered the culprit in ‘cat bum gate’!
We had a lovely lunch with friends today so we only got to the plot after 4pm. We had a long list of things we wanted to get done and managed to check off quite a few items despite the late hour. The tomatoes have come on well and suddenly looked tall and full of side shoots, so Neil removed them and tied them up.
We potted on the aubergines (jackpot and long purple) and most of the courgettes. Although, oddly, the zucchini variety hadn’t germinated at all so I popped another few seeds while we potted on the rest. We also potted on the chillies (which I think we were on the third or fourth sowing of after a strange run of issues with them!) and as a result of all of these jobs, Neil had to take down one side of the staging to make extra room.
On a slightly smaller scale I sowed some more Savoy cabbages as they had some patchy germination and I pricked out some leeks (almera) into larger pots to get them a bit stronger while also sowing a large pot of the jolant variety.
In the greenhouse on 118 Neil hacked back some of the grapevine, and I do mean hacked back. It grows with abandon and I’m convinced that the harsher you treat it, the more it likes it! We try and train a central line along the apex of the greenhouse roof so that it doesn’t get too much in the way of the other produce in there but it still persists in trying to, literally, branch out!
As for outside jobs, there was lots of re-jigging of the coldframe to be done to fit in the cauliflower (snowball), zinnia, aster (milady), chrysanthemum (mixed) and celeriac (prinz) that were ready for some cooler conditions. I also gave the shallots a water, as while they didn’t need the moisture after a lot of rain in the last day or so, they did need some organic feed as they had some yellowing tips and generally looked in need of a bit of a boost.
We dug up the spinach that had most definitely gone to seed! In fact I was joking that we had been keeping it in until it grew as tall (yes I said tall!) as me. Well it had exceeded that height, so it was most definitely time for it to come out. We’ll add some manure and feed to the bed once we dig it over to get it ready for whatever is next to come.
There are still jobs left on the list for tomorrow’s bonus weekend day but we are hoping for drier conditions to get more done outside, fingers crossed.
by Philippa | May 17, 2014 | Allotment
We were due to go on holiday on Sunday, straight after the Great Manchester 10km, so an hour or two on Saturday was all the time we had to do some of the jobs that really couldn’t wait until our return.
The peas and sweetpeas had been outside for a couple of days and were ready to be planted. Leaving them for much longer, particularly if the weather was going to be warm would have made them too leggy and pot bound. So we planted them out along with the climbing French beans and the broad beans. The previous days had been quite hot and due to not being on mid week to water, the broad beans were very flopped over. They looked a bit pathetic after planting out but it didn’t take long for the good soaking to start to work and they looked much perkier by the time we left.
There were a few other casualties to the heat. The sprouting broccoli and calabrese varieties I sowed last week and which had germinated successfully had completely collapsed and despite watering they didn’t look as if they would recover-it would be pretty miraculous if they did but we’ll see! It is always a bit of a worry that there will be a heat wave while you are away but by planting out what we did we gave ourselves the best chance of things being in good nick when we get back!
by Philippa | May 12, 2014 | Allotment
We knew we were in for a wet weekend this weekend. We also knew that Saturday was a working party day at the site. Always seems to be the way! Thankfully it didn’t put everyone off and despite having to periodically hide from the heavy downpours, there were up to 17 members helping out! The plan was to clear some of the back of site 3 so that a poly tunnel could be dismantled and brought across from the bottom end of site 2.
We made good progress, clearing a large area, laying membrane, taking the poly tunnel apart and bringing the parts over. Unexpectedly, there was also the offer of about 60 flagstones from a local house, which are going to be used around the tunnel. Given the number of helpers and the fact that Steve had his van, it was too good an opportunity to miss, so after two trips and endless carrying of flags, they too were shifted onto the cleared site.
After all the work on the site, we didn’t manage a great deal of time on our own plots, but then again we didn’t have a very long list of things to achieve. Last weekend, after the monthly meeting we did manage a short burst in the greenhouse before we set off to Milton Keynes for Neil’s race. I planted a selection of brassicas and by this week they were all sprouted-borecole (scarlet), calabrese (minicole and green sprouting), sprouting broccoli (purple and red arrow), cabbage (tundra) and broccoli (summer purple).
All the things going on in the greenhouse meant it was time to start moving some more stuff out to the coldframe. We took the dahlias, lupins and marigolds out of the coldframe and to take their place transferred some of the brassicas and all the broad beans, climbing French beans and peas in.
We then potted on all of the tomato varieties into both greenhouses, digging the pots into the greenhouse beds in the 118 greenhouse. We put a handful of organic feed pellets into the tubs before transplanting.
Then on to slightly more delicate transplanting, pricking out the zinnia and chrysanthemum into separate cells. One thing is for sure, I think we will have plenty of flowers this year! A slightly amusing bit of innovation from Neil while in the greenhouse. It became obvious that our tray of pak choi was providing a comfy warm seat for one of the resident allotment cats. So Neil fashioned an anti cat bum device. Here’s hoping it works!
We know we don’t have a lot of time next weekend and so it was good to get these jobs done as while they weren’t urgent, by the time another week had passed they really would be! Now all we need is some sunshine to dry off!
by Philippa | May 3, 2014 | Allotment
Glorious sunshine on Saturday and given the forecast worsens for the rest of the bank holiday weekend and Neil has the minor distraction of another marathon to run on Monday we thought we would make the most of it today.
In a fit of giddiness of being ahead with our ‘things to do’ plan we did some more planting. The first of the seeds to be sown straight outside this year were parsnips (countess and imperial), spinach (medania and perpetual), chard (red and rainbow) and beetroot (boltardy, forono, golden and barbabietola di chioggia).
More planting in the greenhouse of green and purple basil, melon (Blenheim orange), courgette (zucchini, jemmer, tondo chiaro di nizzi and dundoo) and cucumber (gherkin and burpless tasty green). Things that had not even germinated last week, such as the cucino cucumbers or Savoy cabbages, had grown pretty tall, all in six days. Some of the brassicas were growing so well that they needed thinning out, especially as we have no need for 50 plus red cabbages! Neil got busy snipping with the scissors-cruel but necessary! He also pricked out the pak choi and in a bit of an experiment put some in black growing bags and some in a seed tray to see which fares best.
Due to the warmer weather the onions and garlic looked like they could do with some water so I watered them with some organic feed which should perk them up. I always worry about how much this feeds the weeds too as I’m sure things like mares tail must love it! We did some outside sowing of flowers too. Cornflowers were sewn in ‘deep masses’ and poppies were cast in ‘majestic drifts’ according to packet instructions. Otherwise known as fling ’em in and see what happens!
Neil, always one to be tempted by an internet purchase, had added a white marker to his order when getting some seeds online and now it had arrived was keen to try making some signs for our crops. So we used it on some slate pieces that we have previously written on with chino-graph pencil with only short term success. Apparently it is waterproof but can be easily removed with soapy water. Stand by for reviews of its progress in a few weeks time. Meanwhile Neil thinks any allotment judges will like the extra effort to make the place look nice!
Having emptied the manure bay on plot 97 with recent loads to dig into the plots, Neil filled it back up again while there was spare manure in the communal bays. He also put about 6 barrows of it at the end of plot 118 which was only cleared of the kale a couple of weeks ago. I’m sure digging it all in will appear on the ‘things to do’ list for coming weeks! So much for being ahead, there are always jobs to be done!
by Philippa | Apr 27, 2014 | Allotment
This weekend was a bit of a DIY based weekend with lots of bits and pieces being finished up and by the end of a couple of days at the plots things were ship shape.
Neil had a day off and used it to pop to the glass merchants for some large glass pieces to replace those we lost in the storms. It’s only so long you can have a greenhouse with half of one side open to the elements! This was all fitted with no problems, despite the fretting I always do when Neil is working with glass! Neil also finished off the coldframe and so we could start filling it up with some of the flowers that will be too warm in the newly sealed up greenhouse. Our dahlias and lupins were ready to prick out and thanks to Bob giving us some spare ice flowers we suddenly looked like we had quite a selection of flowers, we just have to make sure we are disciplined in planting them out in a timely fashion which has been our downfall previously. We just need to come up with a way of opening the frame to varying levels, until then a snazzy wood baton will have to do!
While I weeded the strawberry and asparagus beds Neil was suspiciously quiet but all became clear after a short while. He had been on a bit of cleaning up frenzy and had quickly fashioned a tool board to hang everything up. No more losing screwdrivers for him! He also did a good tidy and sweep out of the shed on plot 97. A braver man than me given all the spiders that have taken up residence there over the winter! (note: first strawberry flowers of the year spotted, only two visible so far).
Neil finally replaced the wheel on our wheelbarrow and collected a celebratory couple of barrows of manure to test it out! My mum visited on the Sunday and joined us in some weeding (thanks Mum!) which extended to the clearing the front of plot 97. Having cleared our front so well it was a shame to stop there and so all three of us blitzed the front of our neighbour’s plot opposite. It was a bit neglected and nettles and brambles were straying into the path so as well as helping them out it makes things a bit nicer for us too and with three pairs of hands it was quick work.
Looking forward to another bank holiday next weekend. After all this time enjoying the plots we are actually *whispers it so we don’t jinx ourselves* ahead of plan!
by Philippa | Apr 21, 2014 | Allotment
We had loads of rhubarb to harvest this weekend, more than we needed really so I thought I would make something to use it all up and rhubarb curd was the solution. This is a great base recipe that you can add more flavours too, such as vanilla, ginger, cardamom, lemon, orange (although not all at once!)
Rhubarb curd is a lovely blush pink colour if using forced rhubarb. Outdoor rhubarb tastes just as yummy but has a muted colour and looks not unlike a darker lemon curd once it is cooled and in the jars.
This recipe yields 4 jars, about 1200g at a guess as the jars were a higgledy piggledy bunch!
750g rhubarb, washed and roughly chopped
5 large eggs, beaten
225g caster sugar
260g unsalted butter, cut into small cubes.
Start by washing your jars and lids in hot soapy water and sterilizing them in the oven while you make the curd.
Whizz the rhubarb in a food processor until broken down to a pulp. Put into a sieve over a large bowl and using the back of a spoon press the juice out as much as you can. Add any optional flavourings at this stage.
Put the bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. Add the eggs and sugar and lightly whisk until the eggs are incorporated. Then add the butter and using a wooden spoon keep stirring all the time. Once the butter has melted, the mix will start to gradually thicken. Don’t rush this stage as the mix can curdle if heated too much. Just keep stirring until it has thickened so that it will cost the back of the spoon.
Sieve the mix through a fine mesh sieve and pour into the jars. It thickens as it cools so once the jars are cooler place in the fridge. The curd keeps for a couple of weeks in the fridge.
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