Sweetleafs Allotment Diary

[sweetleaf]

My parsnips are germinating, direct sown on the plot and watered by the weather, I didnt tell them they would be difficult and obviously they didnt know either. Spinach and beetroot also coming up although there are gaps in the rows. The flower bed is filling up too, although I dont see the bronze fennel Im sure its there somewhere Im having another big flower bed on plot2 for my sunflowers, and other plants Asters are a fave of mine and I have some seed for direct sowing which I need to get in ASAP!

[mickthecactus]

Finished digging the undug part last night.

I am so angry that all those people that put courgettes, tomatoes, beans in a month ago have got away with it!

Mine will be going in over the next week.

[sweetleaf]

They havent got away with it yet, Mick theres still time for a few surprises.... this is England after all! I may take a risk myself, the sweetcorn cant wait Im afraid. I shall put my courgettes out too, but Keep some cloches on standby just in case.

[sweetleaf]

Yesterday. I planted many of my sweet peas, saved some for the garden at home, earthed up six rows of potatoes, weeded the whole plot except for one fruit bed, created a very messy fruit cage, and dug a bean trench. OH brought the tractor up late in the afternoon and stripped the top layer of weeds off the other plot, it will still need digging over but it looks a lot better now, not before time either, I still have plenty to plant and time is racing away!

The stems on the garlic are thickening, I was tempted to dig one up to see whats going on beneath, but I managed to hold back......., the onions are swelling and pushing themselves up out of the soil too. I think the Leeks are a bust really, they never developed the way they were meant to, but then no-ones did this year, so it may have been a bad year or just bad plants.
Im planning to go back up there today, to faff about with the fruit cage, and perhaps construct another raised bed if I can fit it in. I wont be doing anything strenuous though, before anyone starts nagging at me. Heres a pic of the onion and garlic beds, on the other plot. Since this was taken there have been improvements made to the paths..... weed suppression fabric and chippings.

[mickthecactus]

Went to allotment with smallest grandson (5) Saturday and dug an area for him. Completely unaided he planted broad beans, some old potaoes I had left over and the thinnings from the mixed leaves and then he watered them in. He did a very good job.

In view of the weather forecast I sowed more carrots,beetroots, spinach, mixed leaves, french beans and courgettes then weeded and hoed. Cleared up all the old broccoli and Romanesco cauliflower stalks. Felt very pleased with my efforts.

Forgot to get sweet corn seeds so picked some up yesterday. As soon as I get a dry evening I will sow them as well. I need to plant the tomatoes out too.

[sweetleaf]

I was about 5 when I grew my first veg and it stuck with me for life! Its brilliant of you to take him with you, well done Mick ...... we could have an ace gardener on our hands in a few years!

[sweetleaf]

Today the bean frame was erected, and all the beans planted, late but not too late, I hope.
I picked Mange tout, pulled the last bit of Rhubarb, harvested radishes and mixed leaves, and the first garlic, which looks pretty good.

I lifted my Leeks (which were rubbish) and pulled the first onions. I put up a frame for the Butternuts, and planted them..... weeded for England (again) and generally sweated over the plot..... boy was it hot!

My marigolds have just begun to flower, Thanks 4P! ;D and tomorrow I hope, Ill move on to digging the plot next door, which will be a flower and veg garden, my brassica plants havent arrived yet, I shall be questioning that , as they were meant to arrive last week, I ordered some which are meant to be club root resistant...we will see!

[sweetleaf]

New bean frame, scaff poles.


View to the top end

Still a few weeds but it was sooo hot I couldnt do much.

[Sleepy]

Some nasty fog rolling in on that top photo Sweetie ;D

[sweetleaf]

I know, just noticed that, was hoping no-one else would!


Ive deleted it now Ill crop it and put it back.

[mickthecactus]

I have come to a decision that my allotment wil have to go next spring.

I will explain why at a later date.

[sweetleaf]

mickthecactus said:

I have come to a decision that my allotment wil have to go next spring.

I will explain why at a later date.

Oh....thats a real shame.

[karenwl]

Sorry to hear that Mick.

[mickthecactus]

I managed to visit my neglected plot last weekend and removed 3 ton of weeds and underneath were.......vegetables!

I even had about 30 parsnips which surprised me.

Still having a problem with germination because the plot is so exposed to wind and sun and we missed out on the recent rains. Courgettes, sweet corn and beans are up but more carrots and beetroot are struggling and no sign of cauli's and broccoli.

However, l have a million leeks as opposed to the three that came up last year. Will have to think of new leek meals.

[sweetleaf]

Dont know why the first image came out this way, but I kinda like it

















So thats what Ive been up to today Happy Sweetleaf!

[4pygmies]

COR! That is a practically perfect allotment in my book! (I have this book I wrote of practically perfect lotties..... ;D) It looks BRILLIANT. Eeeh, you're good, you are. Isn't that Emsey's & Deb's posh shed in the background? Or is it yours and I'm getting confused........That's shown them though hasn't it??


NOT Em & Debs! I meant the old fogies on the lottie....

[sweetleaf]

Dead right it has, now if I can only get the other plot to look the same. Can you see your Marigolds? Ive never seen them get that tall before but they do look gorgeous!


Ooops! yes, it is Deb and Ems posh shed, mine is wooden. ;D

[madonplants]

Looking good SL. Our tubs are doing OK, except for Jennifer's peas. The snails have got to 70% of them! Don't seem to have many slugs in our garden, but hundreds of snails! Come on thrushes where are you? I know they are snails, as I go out after dark and see them at it, so to speak! Last night I found about 20 between the peas' and the runner bean's tub, munching away.

Keith

[4pygmies]

They will grow tall each summer now they're established. Tough as old boots they are and twice as beautiful.

[emseypop]

lookin good sweetie! I love the flowers too! Cant see them when we look over from our plot, can you put them where your squashes are now, next year so i can have all of the benifit, and none of the work, mind you I bet those squashes will be a sight to behold soon enough

[sweetleaf]

Im expecting a lot from them considering what they are planted in, but I havent seen much from them yet! Nothing stopping you walking down my path Emsey if you want a look at the flowers, youll see plenty more, soon too.

[karenwl]

Looks good SL keep up the good work.

[mickthecactus]

Looks very good indeed. You mts be pleased. No watering problems!

[sweetleaf]

I was even more pleased when I sat down to dinner last night, potatoes peas spinach broad beans, carrots, all mine and all delicious, no sign of pests on any of it either. I was too full to eat the strawberries redcurrants and raspberries I picked for afters though, Ill have those today.(showing off now!)

[mickthecactus]

Potatoes already? Wow!