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 20, 2014 | Allotment
The weather was much cooler today and it was very very windy so I took refuge in the greenhouse with a mammoth planting session. Neil loves sunflowers so there are several trays of them (Pacino, earthwalker and ring of fire). I also did cabbage (savoy vertus, pointed red kalibos and red drumhead), pak choi (joi choi and rubi), leek (almera), celeriac (prinz), cucumber (cucino), squash (honey bear), climbing French bean (cobra), peas (early onward, purple podded, sugarsnap and Oregon sugar pod) and watermelon (charleston grey). The staging is now heaving and it is pleasing to see all the trays in various stages of sprouting.
I also planted some flowers as well and discovered my new favourite seed! They are for the acroclinium and they are like little dots of cotton wool, all fluffy and white. Although I had to be a bit careful with it being so windy that they didn’t get blown away!
Along with the acroclinium (double mixed) we now have aster (milady), zinnia (Oklahoma), chrysanthemum (rainbow) and ipomoea (grandpa ott). The dahlia and marigolds we sowed a couple of weeks ago have all germinated really well and so we pricked out the marigolds to individual cells of the seed trays. We haven’t been great at doing this in the past with our flowers and so we are trying to do better this season. So we now have nearly 100 marigolds! Oh well, if there are spare we can put them in some planters and I’m sure they will be appreciated in the gardens of friends and family.
While I was in the greenhouse Neil was on to his second DIY job of the weekend, building a coldframe. It certainly kept him quiet for a good while as there were lots of angles to cut. In the end he had to move on to another job as he needs to buy some longer screws (in all the boxes of screws we have there aren’t any long enough, which seems unlikely but true!) so he cleared the couch grass from the rear of plot 118.
We both then tackled the digging over at the front that Neil started on Friday. It is so much quicker with two of you on the job and satisfying how much progress you can make. So much so we were able to plant the potatoes that we have chitted, only one variety this year, Charlotte, in three rows.
We think we have passed the milestone of digging over half of plot 118, woohoo!
Another exciting milestone, we spotted the first signs of the asparagus! I’m sure that it has usually arrived by this time of the year and so I had thought that maybe it had died so I’m pleased to see it again, fingers crossed we might get a crop of it this year (only about four years after we planted it ha!).
We took home the last of the leeks-I think it is a record as this year we have eaten every single leek we grew! Also a bundle of rhubarb and a tray of purple sprouting broccoli that would not look out of place in the supermarket! The leeks and most of the broccoli made a tasty tea for two. Recipe to follow…
by Philippa | Mar 23, 2014 | Allotment
It soon comes round to that time of year when the seed packets come out, they get stacked in little bundles with post it notes on saying when they need to be planted and the seed sowing starts afresh.
The earliest seeds to start off were some flowers, so I sowed dahlias, marigolds, lupins, phlox and a colourful selection of sweetpeas. As per Neil’s usual instructions, I planted lots of marigolds!
The tomatoes we brought from the propagator at home were ready for transplanting to larger pots and were looking really healthy.
To make room for the burgeoning collection of seed trays Neil was busy putting the extra staging up. As a result of the B&Q offer on woodstain we had bought some dark red stain and Neil painted the pieces as he constructed. It looks pretty smart!
Meanwhile, outside, the white onions in seed trays were bursting out the bottom and ready so we planted these on plot 118 in blocks of three rows with enough space to walk between them for weeding. This first required a good bit of digging and I think we got a bit carried away with trying to get to the next fence panel as we ended up with a cleared space about twice the size we needed! It’s a really good plan starting them off in the trays first as by the time you plant them out they immediately look green and on the it way and you can see your progress as you work.
There are signs of Spring all around and the trees are in bud. It suddenly feels like there is lots to be done!
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