Not updated for a while

Sorry, I have not updated the blog lately.  But then,  I've not done a great deal at the allotment either.  I wish I'd done a bit of weeding though!!!

The weeds have really come out in force over the last week.  I've got the big ones out,  but I'm not too fussed about the little ones - they can stay as long as they don't grow too big!

I've built two cloches from water pipe and fleece and planted my cabbages and brussels sprouts in them.

I have also planted one row of King Edward potatoes.

It is nice to see some things growing well.  Especially the garlic and onions and the redcurrants.

Spuds and Peas

I've been to the plot today and built a bean frame from bamboo canes. I planted some baby mange tout plants and sowed some peas.

I have planted my 1st early and 2nd early potatoes.

Westland chicken poo was on a buy-one-get-one-free offer at The Range, so I bought four 3kg boxes.  I have scattered two boxes around the plot and have saved two for later.

The rain came down like stair-rods for a while so I sheltered in the shed and made a curtain for the window from weed suppressant fabric and twine. I have left it open for the time being as my maincrop spuds are still chitting.

Signs of Life!

A quick update after a brief visit to the plot this afternoon.

My rhubarb is coming along quite nicely, some of the garlic has sprouted and the plum tree and raspberry and redcurrant bushes have buds on them now.

At home, the cabbages and sprouts are growing and some of the leeks have sprouted.

Test Results.

I took three soil samples from my plot this morning (one from each main bed) and tested each for:

• Acidity (pH)
• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)

Acidity, phosphorus and potassium levels are all acceptable.  Nitrogen levels were low in all three samples so I will fertilise the soil with some chicken manure.

Elephant Garlic Planted

I planted a row of elephant garlic this morning. The cloves are huge. I can't wait to see what the bulbs are like!

I also took some soil samples home with me for testing. I'll carry out the tests and put the results up here.

Onions In

I spent a couple of hours at the allotment this morning and planted my onions and garlic.

I know that it's too late for garlic - but better late than never!

I have a row of Solent White garlic and a row of Cristo garlic.

I have two rows of Stuttgarter Giant onions, one row of F1 Centurion onions and a row of Red Baron onions.

Finally Got Some Rotavation!

Me and Dan hired a rotavator this morning and went straight to the plot.

After a couple of hours of rotavating, raking, sweeping and hoeing the plot was transformed.

There were hardly any roots in the ground and any I did find were well and truly dead. Thanks Round-Up!

I bought some more seed potatoes and have got them chitting in the shed. I bought 20 King Edwards and 10 Maris Peer.

Chitting & Sowing

I have finally started my potatoes chitting toady. I have ten Duke of York as my firat early, ten Bonnie as my second early and 30 Cara as my maincrop. Now I've placed them out for chitting, I'm not sure I've got enough.

I have also sown my leeks, cabbages and brussels in seed trays and left them to germinate at home.

The Snow Has Melted & The Weeds Are Gone!

I've not been able to much at the allotment over the last week or two due the snow.

Well, it's all melted away now, so I decided to pop down the plot and see whether the weed-killer had done it's job.

It had! There are still a few tough weeds still alive, but I'll blast them over the weekend.

When the temperature has risen and the ground is a bit softer I'll run it over with a rotavator.

Happy New Year!

I spent about three hours at the allotment today.

I lifted the weed suppressant fabric. There are still a few weeds there, but they are generally looking very weak. I blasted them all with a good dose of "Roundup" weed-killer.

I'll allow a week or two for it to work its magic and then decide whether to crack on with digging or to give it another dose.

In The Gutter

Due to the allotment mains water supply being turned off over the Winter, I have decided to invest in a 100 litre water butt and some guttering for the shed.

Heavy watering should be confined to the Summer (when the mains water is on), so this 100 litre butt should be enough to see me through.

I'm beginning to run out of jobs now, so I will have to start digging soon!

Plan Update

I have modified my plan to allow for three main beds (for crop rotation) and netting for my brassicas.

I have also included the work that has been done on the plot already.

My next job will be to fit gutters to the shed and run them into a water-butt.

See the virtual tour of my planned plot below.

Mind Me Plums!

I received some garden centre gift vouchers for Christmas and spent some of them on a plum tree (Edwards variety). I have planted it in the middle of the utility area.

Dan came down the allotment today and helped me finish painting the compost bin.

Merry Christmas!

I managed to get down the plot for a while today to do a few small jobs.

I have built the sides for the compost heap from some pallets I acquired. I have given them a coat of green wood preserve.

Due to the drizzle, they were taking too long to dry so they will have to wait until next time for the second coat.

I built a small work bench inside the shed. I used some of the wood that was left over from building my wooden edges.

I also painted my plot number on the side of the shed.

I think I'll have a day off tomorrow (on account of it being Christmas Day) and will probably get back to it on Boxing Day.

Early Christmas Present.

My Christmas present arrived at home late yesterday. It wasn't gift-wrapped, but I'd have guessed what it was anyway.

I wasted no time this morning getting it loaded onto the roof-rack and down to the allotment.

It took me about three hours to build (I was working alone) and another hour to paint it with wood preserve. It all went together very easily, with all parts present.

Next jobs will be to build a work bench and put up some shelves inside the shed and build a compost bin.

Rhubarb & Compost!

I've not done a great deal on the plot this weekend. The shed will be the next big job and I haven't got it yet!

I did nip down there yesterday and planted three rhubarb crowns (two Victoria and one Timperly early).

Wooden Edges. DONE!

Dan and I returned to the allotments this morning and finished off the wooden edges.

I bought another small roll of weed suppressant fabric for the 45cm wide path that will run alongside the 'Link-a-Bord' cloche. We then spread more bark chippings to complete the path.

The plot is completely marked out by the wooden boards now.

The next jobs will be to erect the shed and build the compost bin. And then - let the digging commence!

Link-a-Bord Raised Bed Built

After finishing work early today, I made my way to the allotments with about £60 worth of 'Link-a-Bord' plastic raised bed gear that arrived earlier in the week.

You buy it by the meter with all the joints etc and it all slots together very quickly.

It took me about 30 minutes to build a 7m x 1m raised bed.

This raised bed will form the base of my choche and by the Summer will be filled with fat, juicy tomatoes and spicy chillies!