Plot 32

Still here (reprise)

2008-06-08T21:31:00.001+01:00

A long, long time since I updated the Blog. Happenings since:
i) I took a promotion, which was supposed to mean less work and more money - and in reality means more work, at the wrong time and a question mark as to whether the money's worth the extra hassle.
ii) I injured my back in a car accident when a cr**tin pulled out of a side road wrecking my pride and joy.
iii) The allotment shed blew over (yet again) in the February (?) storms.
iv) The owners of the allotment site put us onto a rolling contract (year to year) with a curious break clause.

Shed now anchored and, despite the lack of time, some things growing on the Plot - but not as much as I'd like. It looks like being another funny year - onion sets not doing so well and brassicas struggling to germinate; angelica disappeared. I also seem to be the only person who can kill Bocking comfrey. Parts of the Plot, once cleared, have travelled backwards but I may well post a pic - we have some lovely flowers in the middle of the Plot and the potatoes and rhubarb are rampant .....

Still here

2007-08-21T09:34:00.000+01:00

A long time since I updated the Blog. Like many people I've had more than my share of failures this year. The runner beans were slow to start and 1 wigwam was devastated by slugs and snails. Most of the peas and French beans failed to germinate - unfortunately I was too slow off the mark to get any more started. Some seeds just didn't get sown at all. Despite the ravages of blight elsewhere on the site, we have been enjoying the potatoes - although the Moulin Rouge has fared badly and it remains to be seen whether the Caras will be a success. The tomatoes, which were hit, have hung on but I suspect that the lack of sun and warmth means that many will not ripen. Onions (Radar) and garlic have been a success. Am waiting on the sweetcorn!

Feels like Autumn's on the way - onto Autumn digging ...

Happy Birthday

2007-06-03T20:33:00.000+01:00

A swift interrogation of my email account reveals that this is the first anniversary of the date I officially obtained Plot 32.
With work and the weather often against me, progress has been sporadic; however, growing on the plot (with the help of my parents) are:
rhubarb, red & white currant, angelica, gooseberry (2 types), asparagus, onion (3 types), garlic, broad bean, beetroot, turnip, radish, carrot, potato (4 types), mint (3+ types!), tomato (2 types), chive, foxglove, sweet william, lupin, peas, runner bean, french bean, sweetcorn, raspberry, thornless blackberry, strawberry and gherkin (struggling!).
Still to go in: African marigold, comfrey, spring onion, pak choi, another radish, lettuce, pumpkin, 2 more tomatoes.
Almost certainly too late for: sunflower, squash, limnanthes and brussels/caulis.

Have guttering on shed courtesy of pater. Will post new piccies soon - no sniggering!

Still behind

2007-05-01T21:27:00.000+01:00

All of the potatoes are now in, with the Arran Pilots earthed up and the Charlottes just beginning to show. Only 4 of the asparagus crowns have thrown spears - fingers crossed that the rest haven't died. Have sown pickling onions, whilst the African Marigolds and tomatoes have been started courtesy of mother - have also bought Black Russians to try. Picked up a petrol hover mower from Ebay (to keep the paths down) and have also bought a water butt.
Broad beans attacked by bean weevil; sweetcorn not yet sprouted. Extremely busy at work .....

Progress so far ...

2007-04-14T11:27:00.000+01:00

.. not much! Having complained about the wet weather, the Plot is now too dry and I'm desperate for some rain. I have got my early potatoes in and created my asparagus bed, which is planted up with the crowns from Seeds of Italy. I'm hardening off my sweet peas and chitting my sweetcorn - a tip I saw on John Harrison's website allotment.org.uk, linked to on this site. Have done a bit of rotavating and am still clearing parts of the Plot. Mother has planted broad bean and some onion seedlings (Red Baron?)
My intention this week is to get the Brussels and Cauli started and get some peas in. I still haven't sown the tomato, which is another job ...

Planting?

2007-03-25T20:19:00.000+01:00

Work and the wet weather mean that I've done very little by way of blogging and plotting. I did spend part of last weekend at the Plot and intended to go today but the lawns at home begged for their first cut of the year. Anyway, all of the garlic is now through and growing strongly and the onions seem to have over-wintered well. The rhubarb is beginning to grow and the gooseberry and currant I transplanted are beginning to bud. My potatoes have chitted well and my intention is to get the earlies in next weekend - 1st April is a root day and I'm trying lunar planting! Have just had 1500 litres of mushroom compost delivered - a bit pricey but it looks and smells great and comes from a company that supplies the National Trust. One small disaster is the Wild Asparagus ordered from OGC - another crop failure! Fortunately I think I've found an alternative supplier in Seeds of Italy - who I shall add to my links. I'm behind with several things - tonight (?) I'll be soaking my sweet peas with a view to starting them off tomorrow. Then there's tomatoes and broad beans. At least I've dusted off, refuelled and tested the rotavator, which still starts!

Seed / potatoes

2007-01-27T17:46:00.000+01:00

I'm currently chitting my seed potatoes - 25 each of Arran Pilot and Cara, 14 Charlotte and 10 Moulin Rouge. Apart from those, the asparagus and the onions and garlic already planted, I shall be growing this year:
Carrot - Early Nantes and Autumn King; tomato - San Marzano; turnip - Purple Top Milan; pak choi - Green Revolution; sweetcorn - Sweet Sensation; beetroot - Detroit Globe; lettuce - Little Gem; spring onion - White Lisbon; pickling onion - Barletta; cauliflower - Snowball; radish - Sparkler 3; chilli - mixed; broad bean - The Sutton; French bean - Safari; gherkin - Bimbostar; petit pois - PeaWea. I'm likely to add Brussels sprouts - Breeze - and some choy sum.
Flower wise, I have numerous varieties of sweet pea, some African marigold and Limnanthes. Daughter is likely to add sunflower!

Weather etc.

2007-01-20T13:02:00.000+01:00

The storms of the last 2 weeks have resulted in a lot of damage to the roof of my house. Thinking I'd better check the Plot, I arrived there yesterday to find that my shed had been blown onto its back and the roof partially detached. A hasty telephone call to my parents and the fortuitous arrival of my "neighbour," Bob soon saw it righted - father and I then spent a couple of hours carrying out repairs. Will have to think about some sort of ground anchors.
Other "news:" spent part of New Year's Day digging, some of the garlic is now just beginning to show, the days are noticeably lengthening and I've just bought a couple of books on lunar planting, which I'm going to try.
Now, where's that seed list?

Updates

2006-12-29T13:04:00.000+01:00

Updated to the all-new Blogger yesterday, which gave me a few heart-stopping moments when I thought (more than once) that I'd lost the Blog. Not, at this stage, entirely sure what the benefits are!
Have only made it to the Plot a couple of times in the last fortnight, principally because of the rain. Alarmed to see that the garlic is still not through, despite the cold spell we had.
Gardening related pressies - "Allotted Time" by Robin Shelton, raised bed kit by Link-a-Bord (which I think I'm going to use for my asparagus bed), vouchers from Marshalls Seeds and an electronic labeller. Thanks everyone!

Dogged digging ...

2006-12-02T21:57:00.000+01:00

... a phrase I borrowed from someone else but I'm not sure who. Not at the Plot last weekend (too wet) but there the weekend before and today. Garlic not yet through - I'm starting to worry that I planted it too deep (unlikely) or that it's been so wet it's all rotted off. Will have to wait and see.
Still clearing parts of the Plot. Too wet at the far end, so concentrated on the near end - where the beans and peas will go. The weeds still seem to be growing but most are now annuals apart from a section of taprooted dandelions (?) and patches of couch grass.
The constant wet weather's a curse. Most of my fellow Plotholders seem to have cleared their plots and put them to bed - saw only one other soul in 3 hours.
Will post a list of the seeds I've bought shortly ...

Garlic

2006-11-10T18:12:00.000+01:00

Not at work today so I spent a couple of hours at the Plot. A little too wet for serious digging but I managed to get the garlic in and also dug over and manured part of the rhubarb patch. Darkness fell all too quickly and it also came in to rain. Snow showers are forecast for next weekend!

The Iceman Cometh ..

2006-11-07T21:59:00.000+01:00

.. not quite but given the change in the weather, it's difficult to believe that only 2 weeks ago we were enjoying one of the warmest Octobers on record.

Spent part of Friday and Sunday on the Plot. My onions are through and it's now getting cold enough to put the garlic and broad beans in, which I intend to do this weekend. I've devised a planting plan for the allotment, which I'd like to upload but haven't yet figured out how to! Most of my seeds are now ordered, courtesy of Mr. Fothergills and Marshalls - a combination of crops and flowers, including gherkin, sweet pea and African Marigold, which I'm looking forward to growing.

Some unwelcome visitors at the site this week, resulting in vandalised sheds and greenhouses. Since we're told that ASBO's are seen as a badge of honour, we're building stocks and a ducking stool ....

Rain .... and laid low

2006-10-28T19:03:00.000+01:00

A hectic time at work and poor weather meant that I didn't get back to the Plot until Weds 25th, when I managed to spend a couple of hours digging until the rain returned. Unfortunately a nasty virus that I've been incubating then conspired to fell me - I say it's flu, my wife says it's a cold or "man flu." Whichever, there'll be no plotting this weekend - and they say this is supposed to keep you fit! On the other hand, I could blame the 25+ years I've been smoking (to my shame) - which, no doubt, exacerbates things .....

New Acquisition

2006-10-15T20:07:00.000+01:00

Kept looking at folding wheelbarrows. Saw one in B&Q but thought it wasn't very sturdy. Thought about adapting it to carry my trug - got to thinking that would be a great innovation / invention. As usual, someone has beaten me to it - now (despite me saying it would be an ideal Christmas present) my parents have bought me a Rhino Runna. A great piece of kit - it's sturdy, has a foldable frame and pneumatic tyre and comes complete with trug. £35 incl. delivery from one of Amazon's partners (but available from other outlets). It has a bigger brother - the Bull Runna.

Spent part of Friday and today (with parents) on the plot. Am kicking myself because I forgot to bid on some (10) cloches on Ebay, not far from where I live - which went for about £27 ...

Onion sets ...

2006-10-09T20:26:00.000+01:00

... sown yesterday with the help of my mother - 55 went in, 15 were thrown away due to rot / mould. Too early for the garlic, which will have to wait for another day. Have cleared some more ground and ordered some seaweed meal from OGC together with asparagus crowns, which won't be delivered for a long time yet ...

Onions & Garlic

2006-10-07T11:29:00.000+01:00

My onion sets and garlic have both now arrived, the garlic perhaps being delivered a little bit early. The organic Radar has been substituted with non-organic - apparently OGC's entire crop failed due to the weather! I'm going to try to get the onions in tomorrow, despite Dig My Plot's view that over-wintering them may be an invitation to white rot.

Incidentally, times certainly seem to have changed. My edition of The Vegetable Expert by Dr. Hessayon says in respect of garlic:
"Garlic has an important role in Continental but not in British cookery ..... If you are a beginner with garlic, you must use it very sparingly or you will be put off for ever ... You can try dropping a whole unskinned clove into a casserole or stew, removing it before serving. If by then you have lost a little of your garlic fear, you can try using crushed (not chopped) garlic in meat etc. as the Continentals do."
The date of publication? 1993!

Cultivator

2006-09-29T13:46:00.000+01:00

I'm now the proud owner of a 3.5 hp cultivator (an Al-Ko MH350-4), which I bought off Ebay as a non-runner. The picture and description suggested it had had very little use, which was borne out by its appearance when I went to collect it. It was a bit of a gamble but, since it had been standing for 2 years(!), I suspected its problem was stale fuel. Drained the tank and refuelled it this morning - it started 5th pull!

Yes it's quite small and won't do the work of a Merry Tiller but I wanted something I could transport by car; in any event I've got quite good soil and I'm happy to do the Plot bit by bit.

Ironically, the day after I "won" this, the Mowerland tiller I'd been waiting to buy came back in stock ...

Potatoes

2006-09-19T19:18:00.000+01:00

Little to report. The weeds continue to grow apace and I continue to take them out. Onion sets have not yet arrived. Have already pre-ordered my potatoes for next year. Nothing adventurous - Arran Pilot, Charlotte and Cara with some free tubers of Moulin Rouge thrown in courtesy of Mr. Fothergill's. Apparently Moulin Rouge is a cross between Pink Fir Apple and Desiree. Hoping to steal some time off work next week ...

Autumn beds

2006-08-31T12:10:00.000+01:00

Have been doing some serious weeding to create some clean ground for the onions, garlic and broad beans I hope to plant from Autumn. Part of the plot has been infested with a soft, fast growing type of grass which, although I was told could be dug in as green manure, I've been taking out for composting where the Autumn crops will go. The rest I will dig in. Once the soil has dried a little, my intention is to dig some manure into the beds and add some Super Dug (see website link) which is supposed to produce excellent results with vegetables.
Have used my azada (again see website link) for some top clearing of annual weeds etc. - it really is a great tool. It will probably replace the hoe come Summer.
Back to work next week so most things from now will have to be done over weekends and evenings :-(

Finnegan Begin Again

2006-08-21T14:01:00.000+01:00

There was a man called Michael Finnegan
Cleared a Plot of poppy and dandelion
The rain came down and grew it back again
Pooor old Michael Finnegan
Begin again ....

One of the consequences of removing most of the previous weed growth is that it's let the light in and awoken dormant weed seeds. After a week away I've returned to rampant growth on the plot and it's not fruit and veg! In fairness I'd anticipated this - in a slightly different context (preparing seed beds) Andi Clevely recommends preparing the soil 3-4 weeks in advance and then hoeing off the weeds that appear. Fortunately, apart from the onion beds, I've got plenty of time to lick the plot into shape before the next planting season.

Completed shed

2006-08-11T21:34:00.000+01:00

Shed arrived 2 p.m., 2nd August - just before a spectacular downpour. Had to spend more than 2 hours sheltering in the car before we were able to start the build. Painted 4th August.
Have replaced the original pad bolt with a safety hasp; the wire over the window won't deter a thief but I'm hoping it will at least stop a stone.

All in all, I'm quite pleased with the shed. It looks like a bus shelter from the back (see below) but it's a good solid construction and even came with the roof already felted.

Work on the shed means the Plot has been neglected and I'm now away for a week. Still, I've ordered onions and garlic to spur me on towards Autumn ...

2006-08-11T20:42:00.000+01:00

Completed base

2006-08-11T20:17:00.000+01:00

Shed base completed as planned on 31st July. Slabs were 400mm square and, as we needed a base approx. 1200mm x 1800mm, we had to lay an infill of 20mm. Bizarrely, B&Q had 3 broken slabs which were almost exactly the right size - hence the apparent fracture down the middle. Otherwise perfectly level and solid as a rock.
Arrived home to find shed would be delivered on 2nd August.

Shed base etc.

2006-07-29T21:24:00.000+01:00

Some very welcome rain saw me at the Plot last weekend beginning preparatory work for the shed base. On Monday my father came and marked out the levels whilst my mother busied herself on the Plot discovering mint, parsley and chive that might otherwise have been dug up!
After Wednesday's thunderstorms I returned yesterday and spent another couple of hours weeding.

Work on the shed base began in earnest today. Having decided to lay slabs on a sand and cement base, I was lucky enough to find some Bradstone slabs at B&Q for £1.01 apiece. B&Q were also selling sharp sand at £1.12 a bag with cement about 60p cheaper than elsewhere.
The base is now more than half finished - my father takes credit for most of the work: I just did general labouring! We are hoping to finish on Monday when I shall post a photo of our efforts.

The downside? We have had to dig up 3 rhubarb crowns to make way for the shed. Still, at least there are 7 plants left!

Another pic

2006-07-20T15:09:00.000+01:00

View of the plot looking West from the "dry end." It is difficult to gauge from the pic how far back the remaining weed runs - the half plot beyond, tho' tenanted, hasn't been tended for a while, giving a misleading impression. The previous posting should help.

Anyway, spent another couple of hours at the plot today following a very light rain shower. The rain had made absolutely no impression, so again progress was slow. Discovered that I've had a mole - wisely it stuck to the parts I've already dug.

Comfrey plants (bought from the Organic Gardening Catalogue) have been potted up ready for planting out in September - all are thriving. Have yet to lay my shed base ...

New Pic

2006-07-20T14:55:00.000+01:00

Not the best picture - I'm still struggling to get the hang of digital cameras and software packages; however, if you look closely, compare with one of the previous postings and bear in mind that the wheelbarrow is on the neighbouring plot, you should be able to see that I've now cleared a substantial part of the plot - my boundary is just left of centre of the pic, the rhubarb being situated in the corner.

Saturday, Wednesday, Friday

2006-07-14T21:25:00.000+01:00

Despite the lack of posts, I have been working on the plot - 3 days this week as per the title. I shall take my camera up over the weekend, then I'll post some more (long promised) pictures.
In total I reckon I've put about 26 hours of "weeding" in so far but I'm not really counting! When you see the pic's you'll see that I started work at both ends and will shortly finish somewhere near the middle - the simple reason is that the soil dries out more quickly at the Eastern end; however, I also like the idea that people who've been walking past thinking I've achieved very little, will suddenly see a cleared plot when I break through!
Have also ordered a shed so I have to lay a base before it arrives. Then there's water butts to buy ... Could get to be quite an expensive hobby!

More poppies

2006-07-04T20:00:00.000+01:00

Got a bit tired of counting days so I decided on a change!

Despite what I said in my previous posting, I didn't get to work on the plot on Saturday, Sunday or Monday - domestic chores and the England game on Saturday, too hot on Sunday and Work on Monday. Today I spent another 3 hours taking out poppies and carting dried waste to the bonfire. I reckon I've now cleared about a third of the plot. I also tried to order my Mowerland tiller, only to find that it's out of stock at most retailers - I shall try Mower Magic tomorrow and failing that wait until August.

Some welcome rain is forecast but I have to go to Birmingham on Thursday and stay overnight. Still, I am taking my National Trust card and hoping to get an opportunity to see the Birmingham back-to-backs ....

Day 7

2006-06-30T16:47:00.000+01:00

Quietening down at work now, so I took the opportunity to spend part of the day on the plot. Still too dry and very hot but it's amazing what you can achieve in a few hours. If I'd been able to put in a couple of hours a day I think I'd be well on the way now - as it is I've sometimes only been able to get to the plot once in a week. I'm going to try and go every day for the next few days before the (promised) rain comes at the end of next week.

Incidentally, whilst digging I was surrounded by the smell of strawberry jam - lots of strawberries ripening nearby. I also got to see some of the 'planes practising for the airshow at RAF Waddington - which takes place this weekend - and a nice old boy gave me some strawberries and some brussel plants. Ain't life sweet.

Will post some more pics in the next few days ...

Days 5 & 6

2006-06-24T19:53:00.000+01:00

Have been trying to juggle the Plot with work, the World Cup and the weather - which accounts for the lack of entries!
Day 5 - spent part of the day (my birthday) taking out more poppies. Made good(ish) progress - easy digging and pleasant weather but still a lot to do. Tuesday and Wednesday saw heavy rain. With the cooler weather, I foolishly expected the ground to stay damp until my next visit.
Day 6 - today - arrived at the Plot to find the soil very dry. Hard work and slow progress. The pictures I promised will have to wait; I'm not confident that anyone would be particularly impressed.
Still not a seed planted and I've still not finished work for the Summer ....

Day 4

2006-06-17T19:40:00.000+01:00

Mmmm .... I think I've worked pretty hard (job permitting) taking out the yellow weed etc. Obviously not hard enough for some. Arrived at the plot today to find that, not only had someone strimmed part (without raking the waste up), but they'd also burned the path and part of the plot. Probably had the best intentions but it makes me feel like the plot isn't really mine - it also means that I spend time doing things I hadn't intended to do. I'd rather dictate the order in which I do things, thank you!
Hoping now for some more rain to wash away the ash and the acrid smell ...

Anyway, after much raking have started taking out the poppy before it seeds. Also have my eye on a Mowerland "Hobby" tiller because (a) it's only £219 delivered (b) it's transportable (30 kg.) and (c) I don't think the soil needs that much work.

Hoping to post some more pics in the next few days so that you can gauge the (lack of?) progress.

Day 3

2006-06-14T23:02:00.000+01:00

Well the rain did come - 2 or 3 days of it. Still, it loosened the plot nicely and I've spent part of the day taking some more "weed" out. There's a sense of regret in that I'm destroying nature's own palette; however, I've decided to keep some of the wildflower, particularly the stately spires of foxglove and maybe the odd bit of poppy - call it biodiversity!

I feel doubly lucky today: I get most of Summer off and I'm nearly there(!) and my parents yesterday gave me an early birthday present - an azada. I've provided a link (see Links) so that you can read all about them (azadas, not my parents) and where to buy one - it should be great for digging trenches and hilling potatoes etc.

Off to mow my lawns now!

Day 2

2006-06-11T19:34:00.000+01:00

View of the plot looking East.

Spent a couple of hours today taking out some of the "yellow" weed before it all "goes over" and forms dandelion-like seed heads. Not sure what it is but it has a tap root. Some of it was difficult to remove without breaking the root - not helped by the fact that the soil is now extremely dry and it is becoming apparent that the previous tenant left at least part of the plot hilled, without taking out last season's (?) potatoes. Rain is forecast but I'm not sure whether it will make it here over the next couple of days.

It is also becoming apparent that the better soil is towards the Western (far end) of the plot, so the nearer part is likely to become herb and fruit. Desperate to get some properly prepared soil and plant something, if only lettuce and radish ....

Another "before" pic ....

2006-06-09T20:14:00.000+01:00

View of the plot, looking West.

Day 1

2006-06-09T03:00:00.000+01:00

Due to the pressures of work, this was my first day on the allotment. The photo shows my plot on the left, the (well tended) plot on the right illustrating the challenge ahead of me. I have some further views of the plot, which I shall add in the next few posts.

Although I arrived early, it was a punishingly hot day and I left after 3 hours burned crimson - bearing testimony to my lack of experience.

Still, I have cleared most of the area around the pallets and begun to clear some of the weed growth. I've also taken up some well rotted manure, which I had delivered some time ago when I first thought I'd secured a plot. Have discovered strawberry plants and gooseberry bushes - although I'm told that the previous tenant wants to remove the gooseberry when it's finished fruiting!

Off to buy calomine lotion and a legionnaire's hat!

New Plot

2006-06-02T21:47:00.000+01:00

After a false start, am awaiting the tenancy agreement (and rent invoice!) for my new and badly overgrown plot in one of the Lincolnshire cliffside villages. One of the advantages of living here is that there seems to be less demand for allotments - no real waiting list as such, just the wearisome machinations of the Parish Council.

The rent is a reasonable £20 p.a. for a full plot, inclusive of water.

I'm told that, although the plot looks daunting, it might not be so bad - some of the weed growth is poppy etc. and there is very little dandelion, bramble and couch grass. There are already pallets in place for manure and compost and the rhubarb is ready for picking. I'm armed with the new Andi Clevely book and the naive enthusiasm of a mid-life crisis 40+ year old!

Follow the postings to see how I get on (despite it being late in the Season) and don't forget to watch The Big Dig, Sundays BBC2 at 10 a.m., which I'm taping!