A sparrow's meadow

Catch Up Time

2009-05-24T17:37:00.004Z

Hmmm - not getting to the plot three weeks on the trot in May is not a good idea. The weeds are taking over. In fact, I am going to have to tell my Scout Leader that we cannot do everything in May to accomodate his interests as it buggers up mine.

I did get my runners in yesterday as they have shot up. Today, I have been preparing ground for sweetcorn, squash, french beans and carrots/spring onions. Later, I shall be sowing carrots and spring onions and probably some beetroot too.

Some photos for yer:

This is my onions set that were set out in April.

Shallots planted out at the same time.

And my first broad bean pods!!!!

Ooh er

2009-05-07T21:20:00.003Z

Not done much lately. Bit of digging and planting out my last sowing of broad beans. Last weekend was my birthday so was busy dealing with that. Trouble is, not going to get much of the vast amount that needs doing over the next couple of weeks either. I have got a Scouts activity day on Saturday and a Scout Camp next weekend. So the weeds will grow and I shall have loads of half term catching up to do!

Oh, I did sow my runners at the weekend - in rootrainers. I have put the squash that I sowed in 16th April into pots - I started them in cells for the first time and they quickly ran out of room. Anway, they are snug in their pots and in the greenhouse. I also sowed some more (this time straight into pots) - replacing none appearers and the rest - I deliberately undersowed first time round, at the weekend. Tonight, I sowed swede and kohl rabi.

A very short

2009-04-22T16:30:00.001Z

Just a quick note to say that my Swifts are poking out the soil - hurrah!

Tatties and 'nips

2009-04-18T19:50:00.003Z

OK, not the right sort of 'nips but I have sown my parsnips. Not saved seed this year as I got a free packet of White Gems with Kitchen garden this week. I was not sure how good my saved seed was going to be this year as I have not stored it very well - never got round to it, so I am looking upon my free gift as a gift from the gardening Gods as it arrived the week I was due to sow. I shall gap fill with the saved seed in three weeks or so.

Also got my last row of tatties in today to and finished preparing a brassica bed. Still loads more to do though.

Frost forecast tonight so tenders bought in from the greenhouse.

Done a Dom

2009-04-16T22:26:00.003Z

I have sown loads of squash and my cucs - never done it this early before thus the headline. I have not sown all my seeds or all the plants I want (except for cucs if they all germinate and survive) but have treated it as a trial early sowing. If they germinate and survive, then I will still want more of most varieties but I see no harm in this (especially with the summer squash that can be prone to mildew).

Most of my potatoes are now in. I have dug a trench this evening for my final mixed row. I seem to have less of more varieties this year. The seed from the lottie Society was bigger (they have complained when the seed is small) which is a shame as research has shown (and logic in my opinion) makes no difference to final yield - after all the seed's job is done once the haulms break through!

I have prepared a bed for my parsnips which I hope to sow over the weekend. I have planted out my earliest successful sowing of broad beans and peas. I have also started preparing brassica beds and done my first sowing of early carrots (broadcast mixed with compost)

No sign yet of the spuds planted on 14 March - I worry about no-show spuds every year but then they always do. Contrary to my early mumblings though, I am worried that the seed I got from Focus was small and has run out of energy before it got to the surface.

Robins' return

2009-04-05T20:59:00.003Z

Yesterday I put in a row of Roosters and today a row of red Duke of York. For some reason, it has been very hard work these past two days.

My local robins have been about for the whole winter but today was the first day of the year that I have had close company whilst working. My plot spans the territories of two male robins and both joined me today. Where my potatoes are going this year spans the boundaries between their two territories so there may be handbags in the near future.

Tonight, I have sown two varieties of brussel sprout.

Further to marchin on...

2009-04-01T19:13:00.008Z

Here's the photos I promised:

Overwintering onions and garlic

Potatoes

Romanescu

According to Dom

2009-03-24T19:30:00.000Z

Tis the day to sow Cauliflower and Calabrese. So I have done - the Cauli is Snowball from Lidl and the Calabrese is just labelled Autumn by Wilko.

Marchin on...

2009-03-22T20:43:00.003Z

Yesterday I put in 10 Charlottes and about 21 Kestrel spuds and dug over my onion bed. I took a photo of my garlic and overwintering onions, 2 rows of potatoes and a head of romanescu. Trouble is, my eldest has lost my camera lead so the photos will have to wait.

Today, I picked said a romanescu cauliflower - it was lovely. I also pickled a bit more curly kale, leeks, parsnips and rhubarb.

I have sowed leeks.

Sowing today

2009-03-20T23:40:00.002Z

Have just sown seven varieties of tomato (Gardeners Delight, Costaluto, San Marzano, Red Pear, Golden Sunrise, Tigerella and Tlacolula) and some broad beans (Witkiem Manita) - also two (boring) types of Sweet Pepper I got cheap from Wilkos at the back end of last year.

Tatties!!!!

2009-03-14T18:19:00.004Z

Have done nothing but digging for the past month - except for pricking out chillis a couple of weeks ago - not that anybody would have noticed anyway. (Is there an award for the blog most ignored by everyone in webland?) I blame Dom's moon calender thingy which seems to have very little going on in it at the moment!!

Today though, as well as digging, I put in a mixed row of first earlies - 10 Swift and 10 Pentlan Javelin from Focus and 15 Homeguard from the lotty association. So the season has well and truly started - let's hope it's a good en.

2009-02-04T18:25:00.004Z

Sown Celeriac today. Thanks to Dom's calendar, I am well ahead this year than before. And I have a serious shortage if indoor growing space. I am hoping that my Dad has some room for seed trays in his greenhouse.

I sowed some peas (Meteor) in guttering yesterday. I can't fi the guttering in my small growhouse so they are outside. Hopefully, the seed won't rot during this cold spell.

Middle England Moaners

2009-02-02T17:25:00.001Z

People who moan about how our country 'grinds to a halt' at the first sign of snow and how it never used to be like this, and they cope so much better in Germany, Denmark, Sweden etc really get on my nerves - sorry - too much listening to Radio 5.

We get snow so rarely in this country, why should tax payers be asked to fork out millions on us being better prepared. The countries they always cite, have a lot more snow than us so it is financially worthwhile being better prepared. Also, the schools never used to close when I was a kid argument is because there weren't so many cars and property prices were slightly more sane. Teachers etc used to live near the schools they worked in, not like today where most drive considerable distances. It's the same where City centres grind to a halt. Traffic driving in from outside has concertinaed causing bottle necks. What's wrong with the country grinding to a halt for a day or two anyway?

PS - my school was open btw.

PPS - today was Broad Bean and Pea day so I sowed some Aquadulce Broad Beans

2009-01-31T19:05:00.000Z

I haven't been to the plot today - guinea pigs and footy got in the way. But as per Dom's instructions, I have sown some cabbage and put them in the prop - two types so I don't have do to much successional sowing - Greyhound for early summer and Wheelers Imperial for later summer. Never sown them this early before - I may do a second sowing March time too.

2009-01-25T13:44:00.002Z

Yesterday, following Dom's Lunar Calendar as an experiment, I sowed 3 types of Aubergine - Half Long Violette, Versaba and the standard Black Beauty. I also sowed 11 varieties of chilli and some from a mixed (Hot & Spicy) pack. The eleven named varieties are Habanero Peach, Habanero Orange, Hot Lemons, Cherry Bomb, Large Jalapeno, Scicilian, Thai, Thai Dragon, Grilling (unknow var), Numex Twilight, Cayenne.

Harvest up the allotment has been quite good this year - lots of Kale and Cabbage. My sprouts have once again been disappointing - I will grow good sprouts - the trench method has not stopped them blowing. I think I will have to get some wood to make good heavy duty stakes this year.

I have had less parsnips but some of them have been massive so swings and roundabouts. My leeks are small but I have loads.

It is looking like I might get some PSB this year - unlike last.

2009-01-18T18:18:00.000Z

Sorry for the long absence - have had problems fitting my life into my life - hopefully will be back soon.

PS - sorted out my strawberry bed today.

Update

2008-07-12T18:53:00.003Z

Time for an update. My squash are rampant - will definitely be bottle cloching them next year and will set them a couple of weeks earlier too so they get a head start. The only one that isn't is the butternut - both I set were very very sluggish then one died and the remaining one is still way behind the other squash. All the plants have set fruit - one of my Jack o'Lantern pumpkins is already the size of a grapefruit so I am very pleased as I have always struggled with squash. The summer squash are producing fruit too and I already know which marrow is going to the cossetted to hugeness!

Runners are nearly at the top of their 8 foot canes and are starting to set beans - so are my first sowing of French beans. My sweetcorn is doing very nicely as are the underplanted French beans - I gap filled those today.

I now have all my summer and winter brassicas in except for calabrese and swede - those shall go in soon.

Today, I put in my leeks. The ones sown at the plot were much bigger than the ones sown in trays at home so this is the way that I shall do most of them in future.

We are now digging potatoes - much better than last year but the shear size of the tops this year has stopped me getting in to do as much earthing up as I would have liked so not expecting massive yields. My spring broad beans are yielding nicely but have now peaked so hopefully the summer beans will be ready before they finish. I am also picking red russian kale which appears to have gone mad.

My maincrop carrots have started germinating this week - at last. No sign of the spring onions that were sown with them though.

Exposed

2008-06-16T19:24:00.005Z

This weekend, I exposed my squash (which had been under bottle cloches since planting out) to the elements. They had to come out as they had filled the bottles and where they were touching the side, the were getting sun bleached due to the condensation. They are good looking plants though and so far, I haven't lost one to the slugs or snails (last year I lost the lot and I normally lose over 50%) They are now big enough to withstand more than a combined attack so I am optimistic about geting some squash this year. I have also plated out my two competition marrow plants in lots of muck and compost. My four cucs have gone out and they have been bottle cloches because I normally lose quite few of these as well and they can be slow to get going.

I have prepared some more ground for savoy cabbage, red cabbage and cavalo nero. I shall get those in next weekend and covered with debris netting. I will remember to take my camera too.

I dug about half my garlic on Sunday. This year, a lot of it has had very bad rust. The western most rows did not have any more green on so I thought they had better be lifted. These are the ones that got off to the better start despite being sown two weeks later than the rest. Despite the rust, they have grown to a fairly good size and are drying (except one or two that I have removed to use as wet garlic) in the plastic growhouse in the back garden:

A Challenge

2008-06-01T22:41:00.003Z

I have been challenged by my Mother in Law and Sister in Law to a marrow growing comp so any suggestions from the wider world will be gratefully received. I plan to give my one competition plant as much space as possible. Put in a good deal of cow muck and compost. Plant, possibly bottle cloche for a while. Feed lots of chicken poo and powdered seaweed, regularly water (not at all like me), bury the stem to encourage rooting, restrict to two fruits and in the final few weeks give it a final feed of cheap beer direct into the stem using a wick. If any of that is misguided or there are any better suggestions, please let me know - I must win!!!!!

I have now planted out (in the persistent drizzle) greyhound cabbage, red russian and dwarf curly kale, all year round cauliflower and romanescu. So a bit of an inroad into the brassicas has been made. Still have cavalo nero, red cabbage and ormskirk savoy to get out and have sown some calabrese, trevi cauliflower and swede.

Playing catch up!

2008-05-31T19:40:00.002Z

Right, ain't been here for ages and for those who are bothered, I apologise. OfSTED sort of screwed up all my plans. The weekend before SATs week is usually a free one - very little planning to do for assessments. However, the OfSTED call came on the Friday afternoon - inspector the following Wednesday and Thursday so no free time that weekend at all. Very little plotting done the following weekend either as that is recuperation weekend!

Also, don't think it rained more than once between the very wet and cold spring holiday fortnight and half term. And then half term started cold and wet. I was really starting to think that one of the Gods was really out to get me. I have managed to catch up a little bit though. My tomatoes went out this week - but I still have to find time to plant ones that my Dad and Mother in Law have given me. I have planted out French beans. I have built my runner bean rig and planted out runner beans. I have planted out most of my squash - the only ones that remain are the resown ones and the butternuts that are still pathetic little plants. I have also put out celery (a first) and celeriac. I have still got to get out loads of brassicas and sweetcorn (due to go out next weekend under the three week rule - pity I am on scout camp next weekend! Once the remaining stuff is out, I will be done and I can then maybe turn the back garden into something that does not resemble a junk yard and dog toilet!

Stitch in Time

2008-05-05T18:16:00.003Z

Phew - I have just finished sowing all the summer stuff - Runners, French (Green, Purple and Yellow), cucumbers, winter squash, summer squash, courgettes. I also potted on my Tomatoes, they needed it, but I am not doing sweetcorn until next week.

Yesterday I noticed that my potatoes are just starting the break through. My parsnips have started germinating, which is quicker than unsaved seed has done in the past. I may have one or two carrots coming through too.

I have also prepared ground for my peas to be planted out in next week. I will put out my last broad beans at the same time.

Jobs to do - brassica, tomato, chilli and squash ground to prepare.

Last of the spuds

2008-04-28T16:40:00.003Z

Whooo - got the last of my ten 9m rows of spuds in today. Decided to do it this afternoon during my PPA time. I looked at the weather on Saturday and it said showers all day Sunday and a nice afternoon today so I decided to make sure all my work was done yesterday to leave my PPA free. So, did all my planning and marking yesterday whilst the sun beat down outside - it did not rain until about 6.30pm yesterday. This afternoon I put the potatoes in and got rained and hailed on. Can't win. Well at least it's done and I can now concentrate on getting other things done.

My little one's plot has small calabrese seedlings and her carrots have just started to germinate. I think mine are just starting to poke up under their fleece too. At the weekend, I need to prepare a bed for my peas (onward and greenshaft - I am comparing the two as our plots are not suited to peas so I need a reliable one). I also need to prepare umpteen brassica beds and space for my calabrese. After that, it will be get space ready for my tomatoes and chillis.

Punctured Day

2008-04-26T21:49:00.003Z

Well, today I was going to put my final two rows of spuds in but I have a dispute - not of my making with a neighbour across the road. He once (actually more than once) accused my son of stealing one of his son's Playstation Games. We heard from his son that the game had been found at their house but he has never acknowledged this and has continued to treat me and my family badly ever since. Anyway, the other day, yet another supermarket delivery van was blocking our road (we cannot get in and out when they do) and there was parking spaces by the side of the road so it could have pulled over. This happens time and time again and often makes me late. This time I was exit side of the van so I made a peaceful protest by parking my car in the middle of the road in front of it. I only visibly left it but monitored in constantly - the plan was to move it the minute the Asda man wanted to leave - I was only making a point. I was watching out the front room and when I saw him come out, I went to move my car. This neighbour got there before me and was slagging me off to the Asda man calling me a all the names under the sun. I did object to this (well you would) and the Asda man apologised. I moved my car, the Asda man left - end of matter. NOT!! My new front passenger tyre developed a puncture over night - this coincidentally happened when my son didn't steal the game too and when my partner tackled him about a similar allegation. The car was deliberately (according to the garage who changed it) punctured in two places in the wall so needed replacing as wall punctures cannot be mended. I am seething. I have better things to do and do not have the money to spare. This guy is a worthless human being who bullies and beats his kids and his wife. He has no friends, some members of his wife's family have told us that they all loather him but because I have no proof I am powerless.

Anyway, I did get one row of potatoes in this afternoon. I also carefully checked the wind direction and lit a fire - the wind then changed direction so I had to let it go out.

I do have PSB to harvest tomorrow and my spring cabbages are very nearly ready - I may cut one of those to go with my PSB.

2008-04-16T17:37:00.002Z

Didn't do much today but did sow 186 stations of parsnip seed saved from last year. Unlike counting out three seeds per station with bought seed, because I had so much, each station got a pinch. Supposedly, it should germinate better than bought seed as well (according to Icy and Real Seeds) so may have one hell of a thinning job coming up. When it was bought, it was White Gem.

Sowed them on 8th April last year but it was much hotter and drier.

Having looked at last years blog, I had got the last of my spuds in a year ago tomorrow. I still have about four rows to do this year and I am not doing them tomorrow!!!

Broadcast Rights

2008-04-13T16:57:00.002Z

On Wednesday my youngest daughter joined me up the plot to "see if Daddy has dug my bed yet" Needless to say, that became job number 0.5 as I finished what I was doing to dig her plot. It had spent the whole of last year covered with black plastic so was nice digging and the soil is lovely. On Thursday, she broadcast sowed some carrots and spring onions together and some calabrese. She wants to do parsnips next so she "helped" me dig the bed for my parsnips. I chose a different area because it would be easier digging but my first fork went straight into a bed of broken glass. Joy - as much time as it should have taken to dig the bed spent getting bits of glass out - and I will still be getting bits out for many years. Anyway, its now dug, has been raked twice and by next weekend, I should get my parsnips in (saved seed).

Have now got two more rows of potatoes in - Picasso and Kestrel. Have now got about three rows worth of potatoes left and will get those in over the next fortnight.

Sowed carrots yesterday. I have broadcast them down a foot wide row in between onions. I covered the seed with seed compost that I had wasted the day before by kicking a tray with ten different seed trays of brassica seed across the garden. I will be getting lots of brassica seedlings popping up where I hope to have carrots popping up. Might let them get big enough to have as micro-salad leaves.

Holibobs

2008-04-09T17:43:00.006Z

Have got four rows of spuds in - mixed row of Emerald Vale and Homeguard, Desiree, Maris Bard and Red Duke of York. I am trying the 1st, MC, 2nd, 1st, MC, 2nd sequence I was trialling last year but did not complete due to blight. Trouble is they are predicting a milder than average, wetter than average summer so blight may be an issue again.

I have now got all my onions in - including the Stuttgarter Giant that my Dad gave me. I have left gaps in the onions for carrots which I am going to broadcast sow this year to avoid thinning.

To brighten up my blog, here are some pics:

This is the pond I have not got. It is teeming with life. I have tadpoles and also look to have dragon fly larvae which I am especially pleased about.

On the left of this one are my overwintering onions (Radar) and on the right, my garlic. Strangely enough, the garlic in the middle of the picture is exactly the same variety as the garlic on the right and was sown earlier. The beer cans are for putting on the end of canes by the way. I have not drunk them then left the tins lying about.

Brrrrrrrrr - tis supposed to be April but it bodes well for the summer.

2008-04-06T20:13:00.003Z

Put in the first row of spuds today. Only about seven more to go. It started to snow as I was putting them in which is a first. Also, planted out my first lot of spring sown broad beans (Masterpiece Green Longpod) and have sown some more in the pots at home. My leeks are looking very sad. My chillis are a disaster - lost all my habaneros and my hot lemons (which I love) - too late to sow more I think. I have also lost all my Aubergines. My tomatoes are getting to the stage where they need pricking out as are most of the brassicas. The Evesham sprouts are a bit sluggish at germinating - I hope the seed is OK but it is far from being too late if not. My Gypsy peppers have now germinated and that is the last of the packet so it will be non-F1 (the Gypsies were a present) from Real Seeds for me next year.

Pulled me finger out...

2008-03-29T18:35:00.003Z

Got most of my maincrop onions in. Pricked out lettuce and put into cells. Taken some tomato seedlings out of the propagator and put them somewhere cooler and light (only one windowsill available) to slow down. Greyhound cabbage, Autumn Calabrese, Kohl Rabi and Seven Hills and Evesham Sprouts all sown and in the prop.

Tis really the season to be jolly, tra la la la laaaaa la la la laaaa....

2008-03-23T17:40:00.002Z

Not been here for ages.

Since my last blog, I have dug a fair amount of my potato bed, dug an area for sprouts and got my shallots in. I have at last started sowing. Chilis and aubergines were done a couple of weeks ago and have now been pricked out into cells. Tomatoes were sown today. I have 15 celeriac on the go and some lettuce was recently sown and now needs to be pricked out into cells. I am seriously short of windowsills and do not have a heated greenhouse so I am delaying most of my sowing until the weather improves. I have now finished this year's parsnips and have two waiting to go to seed. Sprouts are jsut about finished and I have to dig my few remaining leeks before they go over.

I am trying New Horizon peat free compost this year as I was disappointed with quality of the Focus one last year.

Not been up the plot this weekend as the weather has just been too bad. Hopefully, I will get my maincrop onions in next week. So far the weather forecast for next weekend is quite promising.

Help!!!!!

2008-01-27T21:00:00.000Z

Just don't seem to have time to do anything at the allotment at the moment and if this continues, I will not be ready come March. I am seriously considering borrowing a rotovator despite it being completely against my principles cos it chops up worms. Can't see any alternative at the moment - and before Wardy suggest it, if I could afford 200 square metres of weed suppressant, I would go no dig - but I can't!!!

Did dig up what would have been a massive parsnip today but it had forked quite early. As forking is not a genetic issue but a environmental one, this has become my first choice for next year's seed as has been transplanted to go to seed. One more and that will all be taken care of.

Not much doing but quite a bit picking

2008-01-20T17:46:00.000Z

News for January. Absolutely miles behind with my preparation. Too much rain, ground like a quagmire and I got off to a bad start. Think my potatoes will be clearing their ground this year.

Today I dug up numerous parsnips, numerous leeks, picked so sprouts, cut a sprout top and picked some mixed spicy winter salad leaves which are lovely - Will be growing loads of those next year.

Urgh!!!!!!!!

2007-12-08T23:06:00.000Z

The weather has been really crap today so haven't been to the plot. It takes a lot to make me want to stay inside all day - that's why I don't like winter - I like to be outside. But, pouring rain coupled with strong cold wind just about does it.

Conned by the weatherman

2007-12-02T19:33:00.000Z

It was supposed to pee down yesterday so not plotting for me. The sun shone. Managed to finish what I was doing so got an hour up there and dropped my bean rigs and harvested kale, parsnips and my first leaks of the year.

Today, when I was supposed to go to the plot, the weather has been shoite all day. Oh well!!!!!!

Urgh!!!!!!!! and Not so Urgh!!!!!!!!

2007-11-25T13:44:00.000Z

Yesterday:
Just been to the plot to plant my first lot of broadies. Tis cold! Tis wet! Tis very very mucky!!!! And I am skint and can't afford the footy

Today:
Now have four builders bags full of leaves - have calculated that each one holds approx 10 black bags worth. Also got give a load of manure whilst I was up there by someone who came to the gate adn has a horse. He has said I can have more soon too - organic and bedded on straw. Bonus!!!!!!

Harvested parsnips, Greyhound (last one ) and some blown sprouts.

What a difference a day makes
Twenty-four hours.......

Pointless?

2007-10-06T19:36:00.000Z

Part of me says that I really must keep up with this but then I pop in and booger all people have been in to have a look so I think what's the point. Anyway, still harvesting runners and frenchies. Last of the sweetcorn is ripening. Trying to get through the summer cabbages before the frost. Will then have a hungry gap as the slugs ate most of my kale during the wet weather. The end of the summer has been better than the beginning but the end of the summer, autumn and winter would have been better is the beginning hadn't been so crap.

My pond has nearly dried up and it is deep. Why can't the rain sort of be steady rather than none in April, nowt but rain in May, June and July and none again in August and September. I hope the past couple of years have been exceptions and not the new rules. What really hacks me off is people like Valmarg on A4A. who really don't give a toss about the environment. She can't have children and if she does they must really hate her. She claims to listen to Radio 4 but I think she must stuff pages torn out of the Daily Mail into her ears to filter out the truth before sue turns the radio on.

Ah well - here goes.

2007-08-04T18:14:00.000Z

Managed to harvest some beans this week - enough for me and my son to share for tonight's tea. Asked him whether he preferred the pencil pods or the flat pods and he said the flat ones. Cool boy - takes after his old man and prefers runners. Youngest daughter doesn't have a preference - she just loves veggies and other half and eldest prefer Frenchies.

Had an exploratory dig for King Eds and have some potatoes - small but there are some which is a relief with them being blighted so early.

Staked my full sized Brussels - one old boy on our site said that the weather we have had means they will all be blown anyway. Cannot believe that is true - not if the weather keeps up as it is at the moment. Anybody got any opinions on this?

Things are definitely beginning to pick up.

Sorry

2007-07-30T22:23:00.000Z

...I haven't posted for a while but lottying is just too damn frustrating at the moment for little to no reward so can't be arsed.

Would you like broad beans with that?

2007-06-17T17:46:00.000Z

One of the best gluts of the year is upon us. For the third week in a row, I have come home with a sack full of beans. For two weeks before that I was having small harvest. Can do loads with Fava beans though - handy as cos of the rain all week, some have got a little big so need something bit different doing to them. Am going to make Fava bean puree later.

Now have thirty tomato plants in, 6 sweet peppers, dwarf borlottis, French beans, and what Runners I have in at the plot. I have station sown more runners to make up for the pitiful germination rate I had at home. Did I say I have about 16 hot chillis at the plot so should not run out this year.

And, having just pulled an overwintering onion - I can say that I was self-sufficient in onions last year as I put six smallish maincrop onions from last year in the Lentil soup I made yesterday.

Too much school

2007-06-07T21:30:00.000Z

Cuh - half term is only a week long. Think we work kids too hard and should give em more holidays meself.

Anyways - during the too short half term, I got in most of the rest of my brassicas - red cabbage, calabrese, kohl rabi, sprouts, swedes and a couple of curly kale that had evaded the snails at home. They are looking fine and dandy - watered in with nettle tea. Have also got 5 pepper plants in, sown some french beans around my chillies and planted out 2 Buttercup, 2 Hubbard and 1 Jack o'Lantern squash, half my toms and what runners have germinated (they have been rubbish this year). Got more winter and summer squash to do this weekend. Everything is looking good so far. Oh yeah, forgot - got about 25 sweetcorn in and sown a load more.

There was summat else I wanted to put but have forgotten what it was.

^&£$ it!!!!! :o(

2007-05-14T21:14:00.000Z

Picture it...

Saturday evening, t'ad been on me mind all day. Did a web search for Norths Lincoln Horticultural Society to find out when their sale was on cos that was where I got me riduculously cheap rootrainers from last year and, yes, you've guessed it - that bloody morning!!!!!!! Oh well, plan B - "borrow" the rootrainer that the Woodland Trust sent me at school a couple of weeks ago with a load of Sliver Birch seed mixed in compost!!!! D'ya think anybody'll notice? Or I could gate crash the NLHS shop and pretend I am a member.

Oooh er!!!

2007-05-09T20:22:00.000Z

Ain't been here for a while - but then again, been a bit quiet on the plot with me concentrating on ground preparation.

Last of my broad beans in up there - planning went a bit wrong cos calculations have shown that the sweetcorn will take more space than thought so had to do some digging to get the broadies in. Also have one runner area dug and an area for some Nantes and Autumn King carrots once I get the soil fine enough.

Parsnips are up but germination has been a bit patchy with whole areas that seem devoid. Carrot germination has also been patchy. Must have been the dry weather. Got half of my runners (two varieties) sown at the weekend. The other half will be sown when the others go in the ground.

Tonight I sowed half my sweetcorn (Double Standard) Will sow the other half when I get some more rootrainers.

Bin AWOL

2007-04-17T22:02:00.000Z

I have been walking in Derbyshire for a week but have been back for three days without bloggin'. Naughty me!!!!!

Anyway, got the last of my seven rows of tatties in as planned. Sowed the rest of my Marfona two per station and the same with my King Eds. Hate small seed as they throw all my planning out of key. If they had all been the same size as my Pentland Crown, Desiree, Arran Pilot, Home Guard and Kestrels, the planned seven rows would have been perfect. As it is, I have a rows worth of Kind Eds that I am going to have to give to my mate and cos they were so small, my yield will be down. Had to give up on the paper as I ran out so the ones without paper, got more grass - will probably be better. I have covered the rest of the solanum bed as I am going to virtually no dig my tomatoes - the previous tenant did nothing with this part of the lotty so I am just going to dig a hole where each tom plant will go, fill it with compost, grass cuttings and leaf mould, put the soil back and then cover with cardboard. The toms can then go through the cardboard.

Sowed my first sowing of squash tonight - that is:
Summer:
Black Beauty Courgette
All Green Bush Courgette
Sebring Courgette
Pattinson Patty Pan (well looking forward to these)

Winter:
Butternut (variety a mystery)
Anna Schwartz Hubbard
Burgess Buttercup
Thelma Sanders Sweet Potato
Jack o' Lantern Pumpkin
Sunnysideup Roadside Specials

Also:
Marketmore Cucumbers.

Have also sowed giant Sunflowers as that is the competition up the lotty this year.

Finally, trying to beat the pea curse on my plot so bought some guttering today and sowed Hurst Greenshaft peas.

No sign of my carrots, parsnips or spring onions yet. Have baby pods on by November sowing of Broad Beans.

My MIL has sown the marrows that we are all going to grow as part of a internecine competition, which I will undoubtedly win due to my undoubted prowess with all things courgette - where is the wink smiley when you need it??????

Short one tonight

2007-04-07T20:10:00.000Z

Sowed a row of Parano and a row of Nantes 2 carrots with a row of White Lisbon Spring Onions in between today. Had to water two rather lumpy beds today, leave for an hour then rake to get the tilth I wanted - the second bed is for my parsnips which will be going in tomorrow along with some beetroot.

Oh aye, and the Imps at the moment couldn't hit a barn door - not that they bother trying. Loads of good build up then no delivery.

Barking up the wrong tree?

2007-04-06T19:21:00.000Z

Well, seem to have had a bit of flack for this elsewhere but experimenting with my potato row spacing this year. As it is now April, tis not too early to get maincrop spuds. Maincrops need wide row spacing so had a thought - to save space initially, I am planting in sequence 1st, MC, 1st, MC, 2nd, MC, 2nd, MC on the basis that most of the 1sts and 2nds will be out as the MCs are doing the last of their bulking up. This way they will have an empty row between each one. It will also allow them to dry out quicker thus being less attractive to blight spores. If it don't work - I won't do it next year.

To that end, got a row of King Eds and a row of Arran Pilot in.

Oooh owww oooch

2007-04-01T18:02:00.000Z

Last Friday (23rd March) a Scout elbowed me hard in the ribs. Raking the grass on Friday, really aggravated it and I haven't been able to do any heavy work this weekend :o( Not good timing - my Arran Pilots are now developing leaves at the end of their chits. Also, met teatree for a drink yesterday which numbed the pain a bit but did mean no (or little) plotting. Have been today and got my Feb sowing of Aquadulces in the ground. Also put the weed fabric back round my strawbs and hand weeded my onions and garlic. Since I came home, I have sowed another 60 broadies (Witkiem and Mastergreen Longpod). Hopefully going to get my tomatoes in later - and anything else that occurs to me - or to you ;o)

PS - just had a big helping of PSB for me tea - lurvvely :o)

WoooooooooooHooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

2007-03-29T16:55:00.000Z

WoooooooooooHooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! WoooooooooooHooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! WoooooooooooHooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! Should have known it - they painted new white lines on the school field on Monday - they came to mow it today (need rolly eyes smiley!!!!) Anyway, fetched grass rake from plot - and did some hand weeding. Got "Big Hands" in my boot. Got black plastic bags. Tomorrow pm, before I come home for PPA, gonna rake the field and fill me bags!!!!!

PS - me shallots are starting to show signs of life.

Blogging for bloggings sake!!!!!

2007-03-27T19:47:00.000Z

Gotta keep up the pace - seems somebody out there is keeping track!!!!

Curly Kale, Pablo, Forellenschloss and Bresson Rouge have all germinated - just waiting for Grandpa Admire now but as he such an old geezer, he may be a bit behind the others.

Broadies on my shed still looking mighty fine. Had something dig in one of my leeky washing up bowls - which are at the top of the growhouse so not want of the cats looking for a leak. Hope I haven't got rats again!!!!! The leeks outside are a bit sluggish but the ones inside (that are now out) germinated very well - did not sow as thinly as I thought so will be pricking out from there into the other two washing up bowls containing the outside sluggish leeks.

Gotta sow some toms at the weekend - and probably a ton of other stuff.

Need a ton more grass clippings - anybody got any??????

Keep up boys and girls!!!!

2007-03-24T16:56:00.000Z

Following on from yesterday am, yesterday pm I got another 5m row of Home Guard in. Have Arran Pilots up me passage (ph-nar ph-nar) desperately trying to get out. As Icy puts it, the chits are so long, they will soon be developing potatoes.

After the calabrese poked its head above the parapet with 100% germination, the red cabbage followed (100%) again along with Kohl Rabi (also 100%) and the All Year Round Cauli (good germination). The sprouts and swede are coming up in dribs and drabs (older seed) and I have resown where nothing has shown just in case it doesn't. This year I am using the windowsill propagators more as they have handy modules that come in sixes. Sowing a bigger variety of things in smaller unit sizes. For instance - not a huge call for red cabbage, so only have six of them whereas have 12 each of the sprouts, cauli, calabrese etc.

Today, I have sown sweet peppers, some curly kale (only six at this stage, more to follow) and four types of lettuce - Grandpa Admire's, Pablo, Forellenschloss and Bresson Rouge. Trying to grow varieties of salad that aren't available in the shops - although Little Gem, Salad Bowl etc will probably find themtselves up at the plot at some point.

Spring deffo here

2007-03-23T13:30:00.000Z

This morning I got a 5m row of Home Guard in (only 5m I here you say - but it is in the most difficult of this years tattie area having developed a nice covering of weeds over this mild winter, and I also dug out a compost heap). Bit experimental - trench dug, lined with shredded paper, potatoes in (33cm apart) another layer of shredded paper, a generous layer of grass clippings and then a generous layer of home-made compost (tis why I dug out my compost bin) Finally, a thin covering of soil. Hopefully that should get them through any dry spells alright. Will let you know how they do.

2007-03-20T22:50:00.000Z

Calabrese poked their heads above the compost today - sharp little buggers they are. Only been in since Saturday night. They are now sitting on a coolish windowsill in the hope that they will not get as leggy as the Greyhound that were sown about 4 weeks ago.

2007-03-17T18:28:00.000Z

Dig, dig, dig, dig, diggin - dig a little bed for me. Jeez me back hurts - more roots like below but the soil is looking good and at least I have done more than I had done last year. Now I just need to pull me finger out and start sowing some things to go in the lurrvely beds I have dug. Just had a look at Max's blog though and it looks like he has a bigger couch problem on his than I have on mine. And that rock will take some moving.

This evening I shall be sowing sprouts (Evesham and Seven Hills), dwarf curly kale, cauliflower (All Year Round), Kohl Rabi, Red Cabbage and Calabrese - finger well and truly pulled out.

2007-03-16T17:50:00.000Z

Right - for Andy this the cheeky blighter. Got all me onion sets in, decided there wasn't enough so bought some more so have about 360 onions, 160 garlics, and 15 shallots (slight imbalance methinks). Now concentrating on digging bits that have not been dug in the two years I have had me plot. Tis a bugger. Tree roots, raspberry roots, bramble roots and bastard couch thistle roots. Need space for me parsnips (White Gem) and me cabbage (Greyhound) so that is what I will be doing this weekend. Just taken me last leeks out - spring onions me OH called them. Kale is going over but the sprouty bits are delish. PSB is heading up nicely so may have some of that Sunday.

2007-03-08T21:11:00.000Z

Ooooooooooooh!!!! T'as been dry for a few days now and the sun has shone. Think I might get up the plot tomorrow and get my onion sets in. Bit more action on the plot equals a bit more action on the blog.

2007-01-20T22:14:00.000Z

Ok, not really being read, but I suppose that is not really the point so here goes...

...went up to look at the damage caused by the wind. Not as bad as feared. My shed was where I put it - not like my neighbours that had been lifted up, carried and plonked down again 10m further down the plot - would have been good to watch methinks. Tried to help him put is back today but it is too flimsy a structure so needs four - one on all corners. I had a lot of plastic blown about and a wandering compost bin. Also lost some sheet mulch of my strawberry bed which will be a bit of a bugger to put back as it will need to be lined up so the plants poke out the holes. My cloche over my peas and overwintering lettuce also needs rebuilding but it will have to wait till the winds are gone.

Dug my last five parsnips which is sad cos they have been a revelation. Can't stand supermarket parsnips and as this was all I really ever had, just though I hated them. I grew them for my partner cos she loves them but I have found that I love the ones I grow too. Nothing like supermarket ones so I think they must really suffer from being out the ground too long. Fresh out the ground and cooked, they are totally different so I will be growing load more tomorrow. I also harvested cauliflower, kale and sprouts (and sprout tops - yummy).

Despite the weather, I also managed some digging cos I had an area that has been covered with plastic since September so it was quite dry.

All in all, a lovely sunny refreshing day up at the plot.

2007-01-13T23:40:00.000Z

'tas been quite on here the past few weeks but then not much lottying has been going on and what has been going on ain't been worth reporting. Digging and harvesting the usual winter veg. Did demolish my raspberry bed last week as it is on the south side of my plot (not my doing) so casts shade where shade is not wanted. I will get round to moving what is left in the ground to the north side at some point!!! The winds have played havoc - blown the window out my shed, black plastic where it is not wanted and constantly having to reassemble to cloche protecting peas and overwintering lettuce. Broadies are looking a but big due to the mild weather so may have to fleece them if a cold snap is promised.

2006-12-09T23:23:00.000Z

Oh well - here goes.

Went up to the lotty today and transferred my Broad Beans from their pots to their bed - did not fill the bed so will now sow the beans that Delilah sent me in the empty pots to fill in the spare space. Dropped my bean rigs so that is the old season well and truly over but it felt alright doing it on the day that I put the first bean crop of 2007 in. My overwintering onions vary from about 0cm to about 10cm so they seem to be coming on alright. No sign of my garlic yet after 4 weeks but not panicking - one has pushed itself out so must be putting on root growth. Also transferred 18 strwaberry plants from their nursery bed to their final position - only about 40 to go. Only harvested Kale today.

New Blog

2006-11-24T21:40:00.000Z

I will post something soon - promise

PS - can I put smileys in this blog?