Wednesday 29 December 2010

Snow and Frost

Firstly i would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas (late i know) and a happy new year hope you all got want you wanted,i did very well the only thing i didn`t want was all that snow and the heavy frosts i live next to the coast on the east and we don`t normally get serve frosts or snow but it got as cold as -10 and about a foot of snow the ground is still frozen solid so i was unable to get at my leeks and parsnips for the Christmas day meal manage to get some sprouts but the serve frosts managed to ruin my stored potatoes which to be honest am quite gutted about even though they was not that good for mash.The hard frosts as also managed to break two pains of glass in my cold frame my little pond is still frozen solid to a depth off six inches.

There ain't much i can do down the plot at the mo so i am busy making a list of crops to grow this coming year and toying with the idea of taking over the plot next to me i think this growing lark as bitten me big style.

Anyway Happy new year and don't drink to much (unlike me.)

Monday 29 November 2010

I have finally finished laying the path the full lengh of the plot(many thanks to work for all the pallets)what else have i been up to well not a great deal been very busy at work but i have managed to empty the greenhouse and clean it up got most of the winter digging done.I have got hold of some old railway sleepers for my plastic bottle greenhouse still quite a few bottles short but getting there.
The long nights give me plenty of time to think of next years crops and projects,i planted some garlic and red onions hope the survive the winter.
We have had snow and its only November seems to be early this year so things on the plot seem to have grind to a halt not much can be done when you have snow,i hope to get down there this weekend to get some sprouts and kale and just to keep an eye on things make sure its all safe.
I have got hold of some glass so i might make another cold frame over the winter months ready for the spring.i have also stored my chili and pepper plants t work hope the survive the winter because it will just give me that bit of a head start next year,talking about next year i must start planning my seed list now where is that seed catalogue .........

Friday 8 October 2010

The high's and Low's of Allotment life.

Am on holiday from work for week so i thought i would be able to spend sometime down on the plot (kids at school/collage),but Monday was a wash out and Tuesday i had planned to fit a new shed door on my Mum`s shed.So i nipped to the allotment Tuesday morning just to get some screws for the new door but when i got there my gate onto the plot the latch was all bent and when i got to my shed the hasp was broken off but on close examination nothing was missing from the shed,why do people feel the have the right to break in to peoples sheds and cause mindless damage if i ever find them(not that i will)i would love to slap them,so any way i digress i mended my door and gate and managed to fit a new door on my Mum`s shed.

Wednesday i had chores to do for the wife but Thursday i spend a good couple of hours on the plot i manged to dig up a full row of Cara potatoes and it was a good yield as well quite chuffed with them.The weather is supposed to be fine all weekend so i might get the rest dug up and stored away and also get my winter salad raise bed sorted.

I am also trying to decide to set some over winter onions and am trying to sort out next years seed list so many things to do and so little time to do them now the nights are drawing in still i would not give it up not for anything.

Anyway back to it am off te collect loads of fallen leaves for my own leaf mold and i am also going to the beach to collect loads of seaweed to put on the plot catch you later.

Sunday 12 September 2010

Back to Digging

We are still are managing some great days of sunshine maybe its a Indian summer,but never the less i have started some of my Autumn/winter projects.The first one being laying the path which will run the full length of the plot (180ft) i am using pallets which i collect from work and i must say they make a very good walkway.

Has for the harvests i am still collect courgettes not as many now my butternut squashes are just about ready and my spinach beet is to die for as is the sweet corn must grow more next year.I have yet to harvest my main crop of potatoes which i shall do before the end of the month.

My horseradish as finally began to show sins of life so next year fingers crossed i will be making my own horseradish sauce,i bought a fig tree last month i have put it in a tub and its shot of mind you i don't expect any figs for a few years yet.

I have been surfing the web of late and came across  a site which i joined and entered a conversation about rent i just can't believe the difference rent prices and mine seems to be the most expensive.

Wednesday 28 July 2010

Courgette Heaven



Is it just me or is everyone the same you just seem to harvest you crop of lovely green or yellow courgettes turn your back and there is more ready to harvest, I have been searching the net for recipes so looks like me and the family (plus friends) will be trying all new ways to cook a courgette, last year I had four plants which we dined on very well but this year I seem to have gone crazy and got ten plants (never got round to giving and of my little plants away).



Well after what seemed a slow start to the season everything as caught up well and new its time to harvests many crops at the moment I have broad beans peas, potatoes courgettes (as already stated) cucumbers tomatoes salad leaves spring onions along with my normal onions (red and white).All the soft fruits have been harvest and either eaten or frozen (mostly eaten).



This year seems to be a failure for beetroot carrot just cant seem to get them going but sweet corn as surprised me it as come on very well and hopefully in a month times we shall be eating home grown sweet corn.

Its been very dry so far so am down the plot everyday watering just trying to keep things moving on but the more I water the more we get courgettes which I suppose isn’t a bad thing………

Wednesday 2 June 2010

Let the battle commence

This year I am getting ahead start on my battle with the dreaded cabbage white butterfly; don’t get me wrong I like butterflies but not when they are attacking my cabbages and cauliflowers.


So I have starting netting up so far I have the sprouts broccoli netted just got to sorting out some more poles then I shall extended the netting to the summer cauliflowers and cabbages.

Project Plastic bottle green house is coming on now must have enough bottle to complete one side of the greenhouse now so I trip to the wood yard is coming up for the framing timber.

Project path seams to come to a halt while I got on top of the weeding but need to get back on track the path I have done is a pleasure to walk on compared to the uneven track of the old path.

I have harvest the first of my out door radish and the gooseberries are just about ready even though I keep picking the old one or two as I pasted.

My little pond is now complete in my herb garden and is now home to about 30 tadpoles.

This week also saw me plant out the sweet corn and this coming week should see me get my leeks planted out along with some more carrots and Swedes.

In the green house all the toms are growing nicely along with the cucumbers and aubergines need to pot up my peppers and chillies.

Its a pity work gets in the way of something you really enjoy doing………..

Sunday 23 May 2010

To Hot for Digging

Been a while since i wrote anything so here goes,been a busy couple of weeks i now have all the potatoes in along with brussel sprouts two rows broccoli carrots parsnips some more peas and plenty of salad crops in.

Started sorting out my path finally decided to use pallets from work i have laid about ten so far and the give you a good study walk way only go about twenty more to lay.
In the greenhouse i have all my tomatoes and cucumber plants in grow bags and they are coming on nicely 15 in there today.
I moved the herb garden to the top end and everything seemed fine but now the parsley is a bit limp so i feel a trip to the garden centre coming on for next weekend (bank holiday).i have also just ordered the pond liner for in the middle of the herb garden so i might get that dug next weekend as well.Time for cool beer and cut the grass

Saturday 1 May 2010

1st May

Chilly start to May but i went down to the plot anyway,To warm me up i did a bit of digging and planted out my free main crop potatoes,i also planted out my cabbages and cauliflowers that i have grown from seed they all looked very healthy.After a nice cup of tea t warm the cockles i planted out my last broad beans(should of planted them two weeks ago) and i gt two rows f peas in once they show i will planted a couple more rows.

My early potatoes are just starting to show along with my first row of broad beans,a quick check on my salad raised beds on i was quite surprised to see the lettuce radish and spring onions all up.Loads of blossom on my new apple and pear trees but not holding out for any fruit this year.Got given some tomato plants and Cayenne pepper plants which i was pleased with cause my pepper never did show,as for the rest of the greenhouse all is well but i must get some grow bags soon.Hopefully back down there tomorrow after work

Monday 5 April 2010

Easter Hols

Why is the weather so bad at Easter?.I managed to get to the plot on bank holiday Monday i have planted all my early potatoes some broad beans and some beetroot.Most of the seeds i planted over two weeks ago are now up and the garlic seems to have taken really well up a good inch already.Back on early shift this week so i will find it hard to get any digging done till the weekend,when i will need to plant some peas and try and sort out the fruit area need to erect some kind of cage.Still no signs of life from the horse radish(how hard can it be)but on the plus sign all my fruit trees are starting to come into bud.

Saturday 27 March 2010

Spring Is here ?

Whilst down on the plot today i saw two peacock butterflies and a bubble bee.Anyway did some digging today plus i planted out my shallots red onions and white onions.In the greenhouse it reached a whooping 30c today and most of the seeds i planted earlier in the month are now starting to show.My pear tree arrive this week so i planted it out to day in the hole that was dug over two weeks ago feed it some bone meal and watered it in well.well its going to be a early night to night the clocks go forward tonight and i am hopeful of a full days digging tomorrow,keep you posted..

Thursday 18 March 2010

Nice Surprise

Pleasant surprise today whilst carry on with the digging (never ending) i came across two parsnips in excellent condition.In the greenhouse the cabbage and cauliflowers i set on the 7Th are just starting to pop there heads up,at last i feel spring is on the way.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

March 17th

17th of March happy St patricks day,well today i finally planted my Garlic and in the Green house i have set some Antirhinum seeds and some sweet pea seeds

Monday 15 March 2010

March 15

March 15Th
Got some seeds started today pepper,chili,cucumber,tomatoes in the greenhouse.Last week i got my leeks started along with some cabbages,and cauliflowers,also thought i would try sweet corn this year along with celery ,hopefully they will turn out ok.Need to do some digging but it rain yesterday so i will try and dig tomorrow otherwise i shall be behind and then playing catch up just like last year.Two weeks ago i plant three apple trees and two pear tree still waiting for my last pear tree to arrive and just order a plum tree,i will try and get some photos this week and post them on here.until next time
Happy digging.