Come in number 7, Your time is up!
Have got another plot - number 7. It's been left in a bit of a state by the previous owner(s) but it's not too bad and I'll have it in reasonable shape in due course. There's two plots in between our first plot number 13 and the new one (you can see our shed and IBC in background of one of the pictures).
My thinking is that I can put anything that takes a bit of room up, such as pumpkins or butternut squash into this one. I'm going to fence it after learning the hard way last year so that will be one of the first jobs. Am also going to get some things in the ground to be starting as a priority too as we're a good month or two behind schedule really in planting but can't be helped.
It's got some potatoes in it already and possibly some sweetcorn - it's also littered with plant labels that make no sense and old nails and charcoal. Charli at work has told me that charcoal isn't a bad thing so probably not such a big deal.
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| This was it on 22nd May |
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| This was it on 31st May after 2.5 bags of weeding done. |
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| 3rd June - more weeding and two rows of potatoes in - well late but you gotta try!! |
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| Two rows of spuds - sort of continued a line from some that were already in. Scope for another couple of rows too. |
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| 9:40pm 4th June- half of fence perimeter dug out for rabbit proof fence - 2 mini rows using up last of broad bean seeds. |
Also started off some climbing french beans (Blue Lake) and more runner beans (Scarlet Emporer) to go in the top of the plot once have got all the weeds at the top cleared.
Started the fencing project off on 4th June at about 8:15pm and had half of the digging done by about 9:30. Much quicker when you've already done one fence. Have got to decide where gate is going to go - am debating having two gates one at top and one at bottom but that might be a bit over-indulgent!
I noticed one of our neighbours (Bernie) has put two pumpkins out on mounds so I might put a couple of ours out soon as I've got it fenced.
Weekend of Saturday 6th June
Tons of digging and fence stakes being hammered into the ground. Bean row went up on plot 13. Watered everything to within an inch of drowning. In fairness everything is coming along great guns.
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| Bean row all sorted - some peas going to go on other side of bean row. |
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| Ready to hang mesh - one patch left to weed and then it's ready |
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| Don't know what this is! - a flowering onion that wants pulling is what it is!! |
Monday 8th June 2015
Went after work - put the peas that have been in the greenhouse for too long into the same bed as the one with the runner beans. Did a ton of weeding on plot 7. Put a short row of turnips in that will need some serious thinning doing. Watered everything to within an inch again!
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| Plot 7 all but weeded one more night should do! |
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| Second mini row of peas gone in. |
Tuesday 9th June 2015
After work went up. More weeding, moving slabs to accommodate two old wooden chairs the missus acquired. Tomorrow am getting a bit of help to hang a fence on the posts and then after that away we go! Took the butternut squashes and solo pumpkin out of the big raised bed thing on plot 13 as they didn't seem to be doing very well - the roots really hadn't took hold so have put them in mounds on plot 7 with plenty of muck under them and we'll see how they do. Ton of watering done as usual.
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| Weeding is not pretty much done. Big mole hills near top are for pumpkins/butternut squash |
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| The bit of wood sitting on top of the two poles should be just right to brace for gate post. |
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| Two chairs for a moments respite! |
Wednesday 11th June 2015
Had dentist appointment so back home a bit earlier than normal. So after tea and dog walk was down the lotty about 6:30. Waiting on Ben to come and give me a hand with hanging the fence so got everything watered early doors. Then got the fence up. Have banged an extra post in to allow for a future gate at the bottom of the plot if I want one. Missus thinks it's a bit self-indulgent I reckon.
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| Make a note - might be a gate there one day! |
Thursday 11th June 2015
Sent missus to get some plug plants so we can make up for lost time. Got to plot about 8pm and in two hours managed to get about 20 odd brassicas in, after digging over, fertilising, putting a bit of lime on - even got it netted up using the big one I made from fastening two of the 99p shop nets together!!
Also watered everything throughout on both plots and did a bit more weeding! All good stuff - am out tomorrow night so not much going to be happening now until Sunday.
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| mini brassicas patch also put a pumpkin and a butternut squash in from home |
Bosskat got me carrots, leeks, celeriac and even some marigolds as they will ward off carrotfly apparently. Have also got to get the bean row in. Have some left over runner beans from Wyaston and some french beans, have some I've grown from seed too in the green house so hopefully get that lot done on Sunday.
Weekend of Saturday 13rd June 2015
Still playing catchup! Weather not helping. Chucked it down all day Saturday so took the opportunity to get all the weeds took down to the tip and on the return journey picked up loads of blocks that someone keeps leaving in the free stuff area.
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| Nothing that can't be sorted with bailing twine |
Have got 6 mega heavy blocks and two regular breeze blocks to use for putting water butts or something on. We'll see. Anyway, on Saturday I also got all the stuff for bean row in place - two bags of manure, poles (which have had it really but such is life - might cut 6" off the top off em and see if that improves things next year).
On the Sunday I got cracking early doors, first on site - hammered the poles in as far as poss bearing in mind they're knackered, dug out a trench in between and lined with newspaper and then threw in some manure. Got canes up, got 14 plants in before ran out of canes - will get some more from somewhere. Got celeriac into a spot and then started on a million little carrots - I didn't know you could do carrots as plug plants but apparently you can. Put another butternut squash in the ground and put what my mum says is a foxglove into one of the corners. Did a bit of weeding but as we've had so much rain I thought it wouldn't be worth watering either plot apart from the new stuff that's gone in.
Last but not least Phil give me a hand to get an acquired she onto the site - it's a quite bizarre 8.5ft x 3ft with double doors at the front and flowers painted on the side. Think nephew Ben is going to give me a hand again to get the bugger up.
Monday 15th June 2015
Up the lotty after work. Top nephew Ben comes up with his toolkit. An hour later the reclaimed shed is up - well pleased. Have used the industrial weight blocks and 2 breeze blocks for the base to level it and raise it off the ground. - bloomin marvellous - just need to hope it doesn't cause any grief with the committee.
Not only that but he's gone and done me a proper gate as well - cooking with gas now!
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| Think if it had a couple of optics and some beer I could make a go of the Weeder's Arms Public Shed |
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| Not exactly standard colours - paintbrush beckons |
Tuesday 16th June 2015
On way to work I popped in and measured for internal shelves at each end of the new shed. 32" - it's dinky but it's going to be ace too!!
Had to leave work at 5.10 in order to get to a meeting about putting a Gypsy site next to the allotments. Needless to say it was railroaded through and rubberstamped by Derbyshire Dales so we got up and stomped out after an hour and a half of bull$hit.
After a bite to eat was back at the lotty. Did a load of watering and also painted a little bit of the new shed after the tin fell to bits and spread paint everywhere. I managed to save some in a plastic tub and made a start on painting the shed so at least the committee know it's not staying blue with flowers on it forever!!! The missus came down and had a sit in it - can tell she's impressed with the view. Am thinking of having a bit of a overhangy bit over the doors so you can sit in there if it rains with no danger of getting wet.
Thursday 18th June 2015
Went up to plot after walking the dog and tea. Got the overalls and wellies on - sweating cobs but strimmed and mowed the grassy areas then set about painting the new shed. I couldn't get Old English Green - nowhere seems to stock it so got Wild Thyme which looked similiar but is actually quite a bit lighter. Am not too worried, our shed is not the lightest on the allotments by a long chalk so should be okay. Have left a little bit bottom right corner for the missus to do and also because there were a load of little spiders on it. Have got a lot of time for fly-munching spiders, a lot of time indeed. After that I watered everything and got off home about 9.45pm. Need to get on though we're almost at the shorted day.
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| In this picture it looks bluer than it actually is - it's more of a olive green. |
Saturday 20th June 2015
Lotty - first trip took some bits and measured up for shelves in Plot 7 Shed. Next trip to lotty I took some shelves that I'd cut to size and fitted them with a bit of help from Phil's impact driver. Also banged up the guttering and fixed the downpipe on the butt on plot number 13 to boot. All going grand.
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| Shelving up and have some brackets for t'other side too! |
Sunday 21st June 2015
Tidying, planting (leeks and spring onions in plot 7), (spring onions and carrots in plot 13). Finished off bean row on plot 7. Brought ma and pa for a tour of the lotty on the way back from the ketch. Did a bit more weeding while I was there and also put some string up to get the sweet peas on plot 7 going (the ojnes on plot 13 are doing better already.
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| Shed painted, bean row finished off. |
Monday 22nd June 2015
It rained today - ace! Save me a job. Went to an emergency planning meeting about the gypsy site at the town hall - got there five minutes early and only just got a chair!! It went really well I thought and I have high hopes that the Town Council will get the desirable result for Ashbourne people. It finished in an hour and so went up lotty for a look round. Netted the leeks and onions to keep the damned pigeons out. Saw a hawk on the power lines - couldn't really get a picture of it which was a shame.
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| The beggar flew off before I could get a decent pic |
Tuesday 23rd June 2015
Up to lotty after dog walk and tea. Carried a couple of big posts up that am going to put in group to hold the shed down when we get big winds in Winter - have seen all sorts of stuff get blown over while we've been allotment-holders. Did a few jobs had been meaning to do - painted back of shed that I'd not got to. Banged a load of slug pellets down. Watered everything.
Wednesday 24th June 2015
Cam up on bike a bit late after clearing space in the greenhouse. So got there and did a half hour of weeding first and then watered throughout as usual, Have seen partridges fly out of plot 7 on a number of occasion judging by the amount of birdmuck left behind it seems it's a regular thing.
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Partridge muck I reckons
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