The end of winter

As the days are getting longer and the weather is warming up we’ve been able to pick up the pace with clearing the allotment again. With the addition of new tools, manure and the help of polyethylene, many of the beds are nearly ready for the spring planting! Here’s a little photo update of our winter work:

Should be lots of seedlings but instead the weeds won

Initial clearing of next bed

The plot is starting to take shape

New bed next to the raspberries and blackcurrant bush

We’ve bought lots of seeds ready.

We’ve had a clear out in the shed so there’s room for tools.

As its still quite cold we’ve started some onions inside. The potatoes are chitting nicely too!

Might have bought a few too many seed potatoes.They’ll need at least a whole bed!

New strategies

Since the seedlings didn’t do so well in the allotment beds I’m trying some indoors to give them a head start! In just 7 days they’ve grown well.

Although the cherry tomatoes have ripened well, the larger ones are staying very green. Think I need to find a good green tomatoe chutney recipe!

Now what to do with the nettles….

September is here

Were starting to get produce however mostly we’ve been battling with weeds and pests!

Here’s some of our growing successes!

Summer slow down

Whilst the beautiful sunny days have slowed progress on the allotment we’ve now managed to complete the second bed. Being late July it limited which vegetables we could grow from seed but we’re trying our luck with Swiss chard, rocket, scarlet kale and Raab broccoli!

Today I spent a few hours clearing brambles and nettles. 4 garden bags later and the shape of a 3rd bed is visible and the rhubarb can see sunlight!

Progression…

(Noun) The process of developing gradually towards a more advanced state.

Ending the week with a productive allotment session is most certainly “awesome”. Sweating in the early evening sun we definitely earned the curry and wine tonight! In just 90 mins we dug half of the second bed…

However what to do with the weeds and rejected soil is still to be decided!!

 

Bed one. Done.

We’ve had our plot for 2 weeks and today we completed the first vegetable bed. Our team is shaping up nicely with each of us starting to find our natural skills and strengths. Following advice from friends we have tried to be conscious of spacing and have taken the guidance very literally, tape measure and all. With the sun setting and grey clouds starting to fill the sky we just managed to get the plants in and watered. Bed two begins Friday….  

Communications from our allotment neighbours

Tonight when we went to dig we were greeted by this sign. I think it’s too late to call, so for now I’m trying work out if this means:
a) a case of boundary disputes and a gentle threat to move over
b) an offer to extend our plot
c) an offer to swap for a significantly easier plot
d) …other interpretation
Answers on a postcard!

Day 2-allotment

Between us we own 1xspade, 1x fork, and a pair of gloves.
It fails us to think of tools needed, to even begin clearing the 4ft grass.
Having our Alfa male on site day 1, cutting the mass back to a suitable standard,using the petrol tool. Which he refused to let the girls play with. It’s a mans tool. We meddle through using a fork n spade.

Making some interesting discoveries in the shed!!…and I don’t mean big spiders, swinging next to ur ears.
Planks of wood, chairs and lots of cobwebs…. CRINGE!!

So anyway being my first post with pictures, meet CJ and Daisy.
No more selfie’s, it’s time to ‘watch the Garden Grow’

 

 

 

Day one of action – we agreed that cutting back some of the grass would allow us to better assess the soil situation. Plot 2b has started to take shape. Blood, sweat but no tears…yet.

Next step – cover what we’ve cut and hope some of it dies off without the need for back breaking digging!

Getting started

The first cut is the deepest…