allotment update

Hi all, I haven't been on here for while I have been very busy. The Allotment has come on since I was last on here. Lets recap, took over the plot just after Christmas. We inhertited a load of weeds and some sprouts.

We quickly got stuck in and very soon we had it cleared. We started some seeds off at home but these were not successful. Decided to buy the plants that were needed, the allotment shop was selling them very cheap. From April onwards we started to plant up the different beds. Started with Parsnips and Carrots, then we put in peas and very soon after we put in the spuds. Now remember this is our first year of having an allotment and was not too sure how to do the spuds but we got there in the end and they are coming up very nicely too.

Things were starting to gather pace now. We had planted runner beans, cabbages, sprouts, cauliflowers, lettiuce and had started seedlings of tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers not forgeting the onions and beetroots.

The raspberries that were on the plot are doing well and we have added strawberries to them.

I did have quite a lot of Parsnips so I thinned them out and transplanted them in to another bed, told my husband what I had done and asked him if he could go down and water the plot while I was at work and while the hot weather was on. Guess what, he thought my Parsnips were weeds so they didn't get watered, I don't have a lot of Parsnips now!!

All is well on the plot now so the next step was to put up a shed so we would have somewhere to store the tools and to shelter from the weather. This was fun (I don't think so) Delivery man couldn't find us so the shed was late being delivered.

My husband and son started to put the shed together. Guess what no drilled holes in the battens so the screws wouldn't go into the wood, allotment manager had a cordless drill so he lent us that and very soon the shed was beginning to look like a shed.

Come to put the roof on only to find that they had put one of the side panels on upside down. (only a man can do this). Anyway this blog is going on bit so lets get to the end. The shed is now up just needs protecting from the weather.

What a busy few months but its been worth it.

Week 9

Spent a good few hours at allotment today. We needed to move the rubbish at the top of the plot. This is where I would like a shed. The previous owner didn't leave this in a very good condition. Anyway we set to and we soon shifted all the rubbish. We also put up a sort of fence blocking the dirt tip that has built up over the years. I manage to sow my lettuce seeds. The soil is still too wet and very heavey to do much raking. Hope that this week we have some dry weather so next week I can prepare some more beds and start to sow more seeds. Below are some photos of the top of the plot one before and one after. Spot the differnce.

Week 8

Down to the allotment this week. A lot to do as we have not been down for a few weeks due to the weather. Very muddy due to the rain that we have been having. Husband and Son carried on with the heavy digging, they dug up more parsnips which were planted last year by previous owner. We had them roasted for sunday lunch, very tasty they were too. I did some weeding and prepared a small patch for my lettiuce. Have been reading my vegetable plotter and it says that we can start to plant our parsnips and carrots this month. Thats a job for next week weather permitting. Anyway thats all from me til next week.

week 7

It rained again so we didn't go down to the allotment. Stayed at home and looked after my seedlings.

Seedlings

Checked the seedling this week they are growing too qucikly and getting very leggy. Have thinned them out and put them somewhere cooler to try and slow them down. If that doesn't work then I will have to start again.

Week 6

Weather stopped all digging this week. Went to the park instead and enjoyed a couple of hours sledging with my grandson.

Week five

Hi all. Been down allotment today. The weather is great nice and sunny a little breezy and not too cold. Went to Homebase to get some more bark chippings for the path and while I was there I bought some big pots and compoost for my house plants, they need repotting. Put down the rest of the barkchipping on the path it now looks good and we have smoewhere to walk on. Got a bit more raking done and started to plan the beds out. I have got some frames left fromthe previous owner so I have decided that we will uses these together with bubble wrap and make them into 'clouches' so I can start some lettuices off. I understand that you can start parsnips this month aswell. We have just got a little more digging, not much, and then some more raking and it should be ready for March and begining of the planting season. I think we have done very well to get it to this stage in a little over a month. My seedlings are starting to germinate. I got so excited when I saw the little green shoots poking their heads above the soil, I know, simple things and all that. I just hope that we can make this work. Its going to take a lot of hard work and committment by us all. Our weekends or most of them will have to be spent at the allotment but we must not neglect the garden. I was looking at that today, the grass needs cutting and the flower beds need weeding. O well no rest for the wicked. See you next week.