Deb and Em's Allotment Diary

[Sweetleaf]

debidoos said:

Wish we could have a polytunnel on ours! We mentioned to the manager we would like one, and he showed us a picture in the newspaper of an allotment in another area of birmingham which had been shredded by vandals. we put the idea on the back burner after that.

We planted wildflowers at the front of the plot to make it pretty when we first arrive, we need some bark to go on the paths to keep the weeds down. to help keep it tidier.

Have a look on Bobs plot, he has made some small tunnels using canes and lengths of hose pipe, covered in plastic, not the same as a real poly-tunnel but useful just the same.

[debidoos]

Planted some seeds today, Broad Beans: two varieties Bunnyards Exhibition, and master... something. Tomatoes: Marmande, Courgettes: Green Bush, Sweet Peppers, Chillies: Hot Stuff and Scotch Bonnet and Red Cabbage.

They are all ontop of my fishtank which works well as a propagator.

[Sleepy]

debidoos said:

Planted some seeds today, Broad Beans: two varieties Bunnyards Exhibition, and master... something. Tomatoes: Marmande, Courgettes: Green Bush, Sweet Peppers, Chillies: Hot Stuff and Scotch Bonnet and Red Cabbage.

They are all ontop of my fishtank which works well as a propagator.

It is very very early to be sowing most of those.

[Sweetleaf]

admin said:

debidoos said:

Planted some seeds today, Broad Beans: two varieties Bunnyards Exhibition, and master... something. Tomatoes: Marmande, Courgettes: Green Bush, Sweet Peppers, Chillies: Hot Stuff and Scotch Bonnet and Red Cabbage.

They are all ontop of my fishtank which works well as a propagator.

It is very very early to be sowing most of those.

I agree, where are you going to put them Debi? It will be way too cold in an unheated GH

[Sleepy]

sweetleaf2 said:

admin said:

It is very very early to be sowing most of those.

I agree, where are you going to put them Debi? It will be way too cold in an unheated GH

For planting out (1st June) I think about sowing in late April.

For the toms and peppers in an unheated greenhouse I would sow late March.

[debidoos]

They are going from the fish tank to my window for a bit, then to the GH, where they will be covered in horticultural fleece.

I was reading my book as to when to plant them and they suggested planting now to get them established, I haven't planted all the seeds so if it's a total disaster I have plenty to try again.

[Sweetleaf]

debidoos said:

They are going from the fish tank to my window for a bit, then to the GH, where they will be covered in horticultural fleece.

I was reading my book as to when to plant them and they suggested planting now to get them established, I haven't planted all the seeds so if it's a total disaster I have plenty to try again.

You never know, it could be a complete success, we could have an early summer, its possible isnt it? We will cross our fingers that thats the case.

[dutchy]

;D
My adagio Never tried never failed seems appropriate.

I would sow chillies and their relatives and toms and Nicotiana in the second week of March indoors.
Then into the cold frame half April.
Hardening from early May and plant where they should be from after Ice Saints. 16 May.

[debidoos]

Planning on planting my Broad Beans at the lottie tomorrow, or do you think it's too early?

[debidoos]

My Broad beans are now planted in the Lottie.

We also planted 3 apple trees; Rode Boscoop, Katja and one we believe to be a cox's

[debidoos]

Been up t'lottie today with emsey. My Broad Beans that I planted before, cannot be seen anywhere. The apple trees have all got leaves forming so they seem to have settled in quite nicely. We planted some onions today (well LOADS really), some called turbo which are the usual white onions and some Red Baron red onions which were very nice last year.

Emsey also started digging over where the potatoes are going in, but we have been offered help on getting that sorted by 2 of the plot holders as they are all ahead with there plots, and I think at a loss with things to do until planting time.

I also weeded around the Fruit Shrubs which we believed were choked by bind weed last year but they are popping up quite nicely. And Emsey weeded around the early onions as the goose grass or whatever it's called (sticky stuff) was starting to take over.

All in all tho a good day, the weather held until we were just leaving and then there was a short sharp shower.

[4pygmies]

It's a great feeling to have made a start isn't it? BUT you be careful young Debi - you are in a delicate condition! How are you feeling now? Are you in the second trimester now? I hope the sickness had gone now, sugar.

[debidoos]

I am being careful! Emsey won't let me do the digging! Plus we told the other plot holders my current condition and they have offered to help out a bit.

I've got one more week to go before I'm in the second trimester, Sickness has mostly passed off I think, although certain smells (hen poo in particular!) seems to bring it back!!

[4pygmies]

Good, I'm glad you're not digging - Emsey's a strong little thing! She'll be fine..... ;D It's kind of the other plotholders to offer to help too - it'll build a bit of community spirit won't it?
But it's a shame about the chicken poo...still, it could be worse - you might have had an insatiable urge to have it spread on toast for breakfast.....

[debidoos]

Emsey and I went up the lottie this afternoon,we managed to get the rest of the spuds in (where the other plot holders had kindly dug for us), Emsey planted her Beetroot, whilst I planted some cabbages which I got from work "Golden Acre", and Emsey also planted the peas whilst I planted 2 fruit shrubs kindly donated by Sweetleaf, who was there before we got there and was still there when we left!!

[cheerypeabrain]

How brilliant! well done you two.

I like to think that if I lived nearer to 4P we'd share an allotment as well...oh well...maybe one day.

[4pygmies]

That sounds like such a productive day, and all bathed in the community spirit and the sheer wonderfulness of gardeners! Lovely...hopefully Sweetleaf stopped before her back started to hurt and you two didn't work too hard either!

[alicat]

Jan 7, 2008 12:45:56 GMT 1 Sweetleaf said:

debidoos said:

Wish we could have a polytunnel on ours! We mentioned to the manager we would like one, and he showed us a picture in the newspaper of an allotment in another area of birmingham which had been shredded by vandals. we put the idea on the back burner after that.

We planted wildflowers at the front of the plot to make it pretty when we first arrive, we need some bark to go on the paths to keep the weeds down. to help keep it tidier.

Have a look on Bobs plot, he has made some small tunnels using canes and lengths of hose pipe, covered in plastic, not the same as a real poly-tunnel but useful just the same.

Sorry if i'm juping in, in the totally wrong place but I saw this idea in the AG mag, and thought I might use it to cover my veg beds this year instead of using a full mesh cage.

If you try it ou em let me know how it works, I shall now read on to see if I have made a complete idiot of myself. : ;D

[The witch]

Apr 27, 2008 18:11:32 GMT 1 @debidoos said:

Emsey and I went up the lottie this afternoon,we managed to get the rest of the spuds in (where the other plot holders had kindly dug for us), Emsey planted her Beetroot, whilst I planted some cabbages which I got from work "Golden Acre", and Emsey also planted the peas whilst I planted 2 fruit shrubs kindly donated by Sweetleaf, who was there before we got there and was still there when we left!!

The pair of you have certainly been busy.

[debidoos]

We have!

The dock leaves everywhere are getting me down, I took a glyphosate weed killer yesterday, but the on and off rain meant I couldn't put it on, otherwise it'd all have washed off! Sweetleaf had her petrol mower and she very kindly mowed over some areas for us, which got rid of some of the height put not rid of the actual problem in hand. Back to the drawing board I think.

[4pygmies]

I hate to say it but if you can't do repeated sprayings on them, the only way is to dig out the roots and keep doing that every time they grow up....not much fun....they root so deep too don't they? Maybe Myrtle knows a way to eat them so you can use them as a crop........

[debidoos]

Apr 28, 2008 10:15:27 GMT 1 @4pygmies said:

I hate to say it but if you can't do repeated sprayings on them, the only way is to dig out the roots and keep doing that every time they grow up....not much fun....they root so deep too don't they? Maybe Myrtle knows a way to eat them so you can use them as a crop........

I might have another go with my flame thrower.

We'd have enough to feed the whole country if they suddenly became a delicacy!

[emseypop]

Went to the allotment on sunday, planted out Ali and 4p's poppy's which i'd sown in the GH in oct. Earthed up the spuds and tied the peas in. Debi planted out some sweetcorn, broad and runner beans. Overall though we were overwhelmed by how much the weeds have grown Will we ever get on top of them? We are on the lookout for a cheap petrol strimmer of tiller then let battle commence!

[4pygmies]

May 20, 2008 10:05:26 GMT 1 @emseypop said:

Went to the allotment on sunday, planted out Ali and 4p's poppy's which i'd sown in the GH in oct. Earthed up the spuds and tied the peas in. Debi planted out some sweetcorn, broad and runner beans. Overall though we were overwhelmed by how much the weeds have grown Will we ever get on top of them? We are on the lookout for a cheap petrol strimmer of tiller then let battle commence!

Erm, I don't think you ever really beat the weeds...not when your time is limited. I've been battling them for 16 years and every year they overwhelm me Unless you use chemicals or have endless hours to keep at them it's a losing battle really. The only major thing is to try and stop them seeding I think. Lower your standards and try and keep the main bits clear....That's what I aim for now - the rest is a 'wildlife haven'........

[emseypop]

May 20, 2008 10:09:26 GMT 1 @4pygmies said:

May 20, 2008 10:05:26 GMT 1 @emseypop said:

Went to the allotment on sunday, planted out Ali and 4p's poppy's which i'd sown in the GH in oct. Earthed up the spuds and tied the peas in. Debi planted out some sweetcorn, broad and runner beans. Overall though we were overwhelmed by how much the weeds have grown Will we ever get on top of them? We are on the lookout for a cheap petrol strimmer of tiller then let battle commence!

Erm, I don't think you ever really beat the weeds...not when your time is limited. I've been battling them for 16 years and every year they overwhelm me Unless you use chemicals or have endless hours to keep at them it's a losing battle really. The only major thing is to try and stop them seeding I think. Lower your standards and try and keep the main bits clear....That's what I aim for now - the rest is a 'wildlife haven'........

Some of them do look quite pretty I suppose. I dont mind a few umkempt areas but it feels like they've taken over the whole plot! I cant wait till Louis gets settled in nursary and then I can go 2 or 3 times during the week. I feel guilty for spending sundays up there as it should be family time really, alough my Dad takes the children out on a sunday afternoon, but then there are loads of jobs I could do while I have the house to myself.