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Post by Sleepy on Apr 5, 2007 15:50:30 GMT 1
I keep forgetting to buy the seeds for those! Its not too late is it? I think they would be brilliant for the birds. No, plenty of time  |
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Post by karenwl on Apr 6, 2007 9:25:09 GMT 1
Sweetleaf.
I have got some dwarf sunflower seeds left over if you would like them.
They are T&M Sunspot ive got 19 left you are welcome to them.
Karen
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 6, 2007 10:00:42 GMT 1
That would be lovely Karen, Ill PM you Thank you very much ;D
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 9, 2007 21:53:09 GMT 1
Today I tackled the manure heap, which is visible at the top of the west plot on the pics as a grassy mound. Lovely stuff it is now, with hardly any smell but ...and this is a big but, the original plot holder must have dumped it on a heaping pile of couch grass which appreciated its nutrient qualities to the max! I dug and I dug and sifted and dug some more, and pulled out three huge barrowloads of couch and I reckon I could get at least two more with perseverance..... as it was horrendous! I found many brandling worms within and chucked a few toward the robin who haunts my location generally when I dig, and was rewarded this evening by a serenade, at dusk. Up to now he has been surprisingly silent The heap is now flattened and soon will become part of the new Pumpkin bed, after some has been skimmed off for use elsewhere. I was on the lottie till it was pitch dark and actually ended up weeding a flower bed by torchlight, while I waited for OH to remember me, his idea of time-keeping is legendary amongst those who know him  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 10, 2007 7:37:38 GMT 1
Aah, couch grass! One of the few "weeds" I can't find anything positive to say - it's a nightmare! I have it everywhere and have decide it's actually impossible to eradicate unless you use toxic chemicals....so I've just had to get used to the way it compliments all my plants! I especially admire the way its straight leaves contrast with all the Oregano and Purple Sage...... I used to dig over my herb/flower garden every Spring and replant it totally but I've had no time this year so it's now a total mess. I admire your hardy spirit Sweetie! But I sympathise with your back ache too... Do you live far away from your lottie? I would have been jumping up and down with fury if my OH forgot me.  Mind you, by dark he'd have fallen asleep in a drunken stupor so I would have had to walk home anyway. |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 10, 2007 9:47:09 GMT 1
I dont live very far away, really but I wasnt in a fit state to walk, carrying all the tools plus drill case, hole borer for the water butts, etc. I took all that, and ran out of time to pinch Sleepys Idea for the water butts..... whereby the butts overflow into each other via artfully placed pipes! I saw them in his garden, next to his shed and it seemed a simple bit of work, maybe next time. |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 10, 2007 10:53:38 GMT 1
Sweetleaf. I have got some dwarf sunflower seeds left over if you would like them. They are T&M Sunspot ive got 19 left you are welcome to them. Karen They arrived safe and sound Karen, Im going to sow them todayThank you very, very much! |
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Post by alicat on Apr 11, 2007 0:01:28 GMT 1
Apparently there are no funds for chippings deliveries to allotments from the council, or Highways so Ive gotten in touch again with a company Plotty told me about last year, I spoke to a very nice lady who assured me that I was at the top of the list when the company works in our area ...Brilliant. ;D That's a shame but I will keep my fingers crossed that this other company comes up trumps for you. |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 15, 2007 23:14:29 GMT 1
Well today I mostly dug couch  I dug over the manure heap again and rediscovered the plot boundaries, I dug out the weeds that seem to cling to the edges of the plot and got half way down then I spot weeded the rest of the plot. I intended to plant my spuds but they really havent chitted as well as I hoped, so I have left that for another week. My broad beans have emerged, ( Bunyards Exhibition)and the peas, (Kelvedon Wonder) are healthy. I was pleased to see all the trees.. barring my two new Pear trees, are in bloom, lots of Victoria Plums later in the season if the weather doesnt spoil things. Strawberries are developing runners, fruit bushes budding, Leeks bulking up.  On top of that, it was a beautiful sunny day, the birds were singing, my flask was full, and the world was a lovely place to be. It was very sociable at the Lottie today, everyone seemed to have time to stop and chat, very nice indeed. Obviously, now I have a few aches and pains, but it was well worth it. ;D |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2007 8:59:44 GMT 1
The lack of rain down here is really making life difficult. Yourself?
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 16, 2007 9:03:15 GMT 1
My water butts are almost empty, and the tap isnt fixed so yes, Mick I think its definitely time for rain, I hear there is a chance sometime this week |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2007 9:41:20 GMT 1
Not according to the Beeb forecast. Just the wind swinging more Northerly bring temps. down.
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 16, 2007 9:47:48 GMT 1
'Ello Mick |
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 16, 2007 9:49:26 GMT 1
Oh dear! I shall be testing my muscles again then, I hate carrying cans, but theres no choice, with no tap on the standpipe theres nowhere to connect a hose anyway, it just pours out like a geyser, (there is a stopcock on the back) another example of council disregard, its been broken almost a year  |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2007 10:01:43 GMT 1
Morning Sleepy.
Are you able to use a hose then if fixed SL? That's an absolute no no on my site. Can or nothing.
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 16, 2007 10:40:06 GMT 1
Only ever used a hose once Mick, the tap has been broken ever since, if there is a specific hosepipe ban in the area then it is respected. Theres another tap a few plots down which is permanently attached to a hose in the summer, (barring the ban), making it useless to others, but I havent complained, its not worth the aggro. |
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 16, 2007 10:43:46 GMT 1
We used to have a rule on our allotments that you couldn't use a hose to water your allotment. But you could use a hose to fill a water butt.
So many of us used to locate an open toped waterbut near to our site and run a hose into it. Then plunge 2 watering cans into it and water with those. We adjusted the tap flow to ensure that the butts remained close to full.
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 16, 2007 10:48:36 GMT 1
I "donated" one of my butts last year, artfully placed so the geyser filled it , too close and the flow went over it and not in it, I suppose Ill have to put it back this year too. |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2007 15:13:46 GMT 1
Just looked at the Met Office forecast updated today. No rainfall of any note down here for the rest of the month.
Sigh..........................
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 16, 2007 15:15:45 GMT 1
Time to flex those muscles then Mick, think of the calorie consumption, it wil keep you fit ;D
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 16, 2007 15:17:34 GMT 1
Sweetleaf. I have got some dwarf sunflower seeds left over if you would like them. They are T&M Sunspot ive got 19 left you are welcome to them. Karen They arrived safe and sound Karen, Im going to sow them todayThank you very, very much! 16 0f 19 up already Karen ;D |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2007 15:46:25 GMT 1
SL I'm already knackered from the weekend exertions though. Played football for a while Sat a.m. then dug potato trenches. Repotted a huge Pieris yesterday, heaved numerous bags of compost around etc. I need a rest!!
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 16, 2007 15:56:46 GMT 1
You and me both, then Mick I ache like an achey thing at the moment, I could do with an all day bath! My shoulders and back got the worst of it, but my ankle is sore too dunno why..... I wish we could dig irrigation channels like they do abroad........hey why cant we? lengths of guttering laid next to the row with holes in it at strategic points, hmmm.... |
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 16, 2007 15:59:58 GMT 1
Planting in depressions or at the bottom of trenches also helps.
My problem is the undug area e.g. where the sprouting broccoli is, is becoming very hard to dig over now. Because my plot is rather stony it tends to set like concrete.
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Post by sweetleaf on Apr 16, 2007 16:05:00 GMT 1
You could cover the bits that have no plants,with tarp or plastic, moisture would draw up from below and not evaporate, easing digging, cant help where you actually have planted though |
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Mind you, by dark he'd have fallen asleep in a drunken stupor so I would have had to walk home anyway.
I dug over the manure heap again and rediscovered the plot boundaries, I dug out the weeds that seem to cling to the edges of the plot and got half way down then I spot weeded the rest of the plot.
