Sunday 2nd November 2014
Nipped down as weather was okay and getting sick of decorating!! Got some raspberries, broccoli and stuff and while there weeded the area round the leeks. The spuds have been wiped out it would seem. Loads of weeds have sprung up so plenty of work to do.
Saturday 8th November 2014
Gap in decorating. Nipped down to the plot - got a couple of cabbages and more broccoli. It was anti-crime day with the police there so got a free shed alarm, loads of stickers and some smart water for nowt so a good day all in all (apart from it absolutely hammering it down!
Monday, 10 November 2014
Tuesday, 7 October 2014
October 2014
Wednesday 2nd October 2014
Nipped up with missus got beans, sweetcorn, raspberries in the dark!!
Sunday 5th October 2014
Did a couple of rushed hours on lotty before going to Paula and Darren's for a cuppa then off to Darley Dale. Did some more weeding and got a row of spinach planted as requested by her indoors.
The second phase broccoli is coming on - not sure whether that needs getting before the frost has it?
Tuesday 7th October 2014
Got some snowball onions to get in quick from Wilco at lunchtime £2
Sunday 12th October 2014
Did a little bit on the lotty, got some broccoli, got some raspberries. Got the IBC ready for winter. All good stuff.
Sunday 19th October 2014
Down lotty for a short while in afternoon after much decorating. Got raspberries, pulled up peas and secondary bean row. Bosskat pulled up the funny yellow courgette. Took three bags of cak to the recycling centre. Still not made me composting thang up yet!
Friday 31st October 2014
Been to lotty for first time in a fortnight (decorating!!) - weeds everywhere - seem to be the theme of allotments - little and often is the watchword I need to start getting into the habit of!
Nipped up with missus got beans, sweetcorn, raspberries in the dark!!
Sunday 5th October 2014
Did a couple of rushed hours on lotty before going to Paula and Darren's for a cuppa then off to Darley Dale. Did some more weeding and got a row of spinach planted as requested by her indoors.
The second phase broccoli is coming on - not sure whether that needs getting before the frost has it?
Tuesday 7th October 2014
Got some snowball onions to get in quick from Wilco at lunchtime £2
Sunday 12th October 2014
Did a little bit on the lotty, got some broccoli, got some raspberries. Got the IBC ready for winter. All good stuff.
Sunday 19th October 2014
Down lotty for a short while in afternoon after much decorating. Got raspberries, pulled up peas and secondary bean row. Bosskat pulled up the funny yellow courgette. Took three bags of cak to the recycling centre. Still not made me composting thang up yet!
Friday 31st October 2014
Been to lotty for first time in a fortnight (decorating!!) - weeds everywhere - seem to be the theme of allotments - little and often is the watchword I need to start getting into the habit of!
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
September 2014
Monday 1st September 2014
Went up to lotty after work. Missus harvested french and runner beans, radishes, raspberries, odd beetroot, few yellow courgettes. Weeded the radish and leek area. Made a little thing for drying the onions.
Wednesday 3rd September 2014
Going to collect a few pallets from work over a few weeks to make a muck store and a compost heap thang.
Sunday 7th September 2014
Only had a couple of hours due to working on Phil's bedroom. So took bags of weeds to tip. Missus pulled up dead pea row. I did a bit of a patching up of the shed - still a fair bit more to do! The new pea row is doing nicely. The second lot of beans are doing okay (hope frost don't get the peas and beans - fingers are crossed). Mowed round the plot. Put a few more hopeful spuds in.
Monday 8th September 2014
Went down for half an hour after walking the pooch. Got some raspberries, beans. Watered everything as it's been dry for a few days.
Tuesday 9th September 2014
Went down in the evening again after walking the pooch. Missus strimmed while I watered. Got some more raspberries and brought a sweetcorn home after taking all the netting off it. Did a bit more watering - trying to hurry things along before the frosts come!
Thursday 11th September 2014
Nipped down got the a few beans and raspberries. Did a load of watering. The hopeful spuds are coming along grand.
Sunday 14th September 2014
Nipped down for a couple of hours. Bosskat got a load of broccoli, beans, carrots and all sorts. I ripped out the brassicas that had gone too far which was a big shame - need to keep a better eye on stuff next August/September. Took a load of rubbish to the tip. Second row of peas are coming along strong - hopefully get some before the first frost!
Getting ready to review how far we've come with the plot.
This was it as of 14th September 2013:
This is how it looked last time I did a full plot shot in July 2014!!
Wednesday 17th September 2014
Did a couple of hours, patching up shed, watered everything, weeded the 2nd phase brassica plot and put smaller arches under the netting. Xmas Potato project coming on nicely.
Saturday 20th September 2014
After Lucy's football at Rangemore Fields near Burton I nipped down to make an area for some spring cabbages that the boss had bought (she thought they were cauli's but never mind). So weeded out the bit where the peas had been and guesstimated how much space would need. Put a bit of lime and a bit of chicken manure down to add a bit to soil.
Sunday 21st September 2014
Up early as usual, dog walked then waited for boss to get up before whizzing down to lotty to get the spring cabbages in at about 7:30/8:00am. Marked out where they were going, dug little holes for em then filled em with water three times (which is what the book says!). Then planted em and firmed down nicely. Later in day came up with me mum, dad and the family to show em where it was at. All good I think.
Thursday 24th September 2014
Have got four pallets from work to make a compost/muck heap thang. So carted them down in two trips to the lotty can't get em all in the car with the trolley cart so did it in two trips. While there I got a few raspberries for the misssus brekko. Also identified some of the brassicas as being cauliflowers!!
Sunday 28th September 2014
Went down to take the table back that I fetched for missus but she didnae want. Never mind. Got some raspberries and a couple of sweetcorn as requested but got told off for not bringing no beans - can't win! Missus went back later to grab a couple of cauli-flowers and was very impress wiv em!
Good stuff.
Monday 29th September 2014
Did a bit of mowing after work. Bit of weeding and a bit of harvesting with the missus. All good stuff.
Went up to lotty after work. Missus harvested french and runner beans, radishes, raspberries, odd beetroot, few yellow courgettes. Weeded the radish and leek area. Made a little thing for drying the onions.
Wednesday 3rd September 2014
Going to collect a few pallets from work over a few weeks to make a muck store and a compost heap thang.
Sunday 7th September 2014
Only had a couple of hours due to working on Phil's bedroom. So took bags of weeds to tip. Missus pulled up dead pea row. I did a bit of a patching up of the shed - still a fair bit more to do! The new pea row is doing nicely. The second lot of beans are doing okay (hope frost don't get the peas and beans - fingers are crossed). Mowed round the plot. Put a few more hopeful spuds in.
Monday 8th September 2014
Went down for half an hour after walking the pooch. Got some raspberries, beans. Watered everything as it's been dry for a few days.
Tuesday 9th September 2014
Went down in the evening again after walking the pooch. Missus strimmed while I watered. Got some more raspberries and brought a sweetcorn home after taking all the netting off it. Did a bit more watering - trying to hurry things along before the frosts come!
Thursday 11th September 2014
Nipped down got the a few beans and raspberries. Did a load of watering. The hopeful spuds are coming along grand.
Sunday 14th September 2014
Nipped down for a couple of hours. Bosskat got a load of broccoli, beans, carrots and all sorts. I ripped out the brassicas that had gone too far which was a big shame - need to keep a better eye on stuff next August/September. Took a load of rubbish to the tip. Second row of peas are coming along strong - hopefully get some before the first frost!
Getting ready to review how far we've come with the plot.
This was it as of 14th September 2013:
This is how it looked last time I did a full plot shot in July 2014!!
Wednesday 17th September 2014
Did a couple of hours, patching up shed, watered everything, weeded the 2nd phase brassica plot and put smaller arches under the netting. Xmas Potato project coming on nicely.
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| The plot as of 17/09/2014 |
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| Weeded 2nd Phase Brassica plot |
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| Xmas Spud Project |
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| Raspberries coming good! |
After Lucy's football at Rangemore Fields near Burton I nipped down to make an area for some spring cabbages that the boss had bought (she thought they were cauli's but never mind). So weeded out the bit where the peas had been and guesstimated how much space would need. Put a bit of lime and a bit of chicken manure down to add a bit to soil.
Up early as usual, dog walked then waited for boss to get up before whizzing down to lotty to get the spring cabbages in at about 7:30/8:00am. Marked out where they were going, dug little holes for em then filled em with water three times (which is what the book says!). Then planted em and firmed down nicely. Later in day came up with me mum, dad and the family to show em where it was at. All good I think.
Thursday 24th September 2014
Have got four pallets from work to make a compost/muck heap thang. So carted them down in two trips to the lotty can't get em all in the car with the trolley cart so did it in two trips. While there I got a few raspberries for the misssus brekko. Also identified some of the brassicas as being cauliflowers!!
Sunday 28th September 2014
Went down to take the table back that I fetched for missus but she didnae want. Never mind. Got some raspberries and a couple of sweetcorn as requested but got told off for not bringing no beans - can't win! Missus went back later to grab a couple of cauli-flowers and was very impress wiv em!
Monday 29th September 2014
Did a bit of mowing after work. Bit of weeding and a bit of harvesting with the missus. All good stuff.
Thursday, 7 August 2014
August 2014
6th August 2014
Cripes this is a bit late isn't it!! Been quite wet so far so hadn't been down lotty watering. After work on 6th we went down to clear the spuds out. Got quite a good haul overall although there was a little bit of canker in the row at the bottom. Cleared the area after and top-dressed with growmore fertiliser - hoping for a little bit of rain to wash it in. Could do with putting a bit of lime on as well.
7th August 2014
Went down before work to put the brassicas in position for planting tomorrow morning. Also to fasten down the netting on the peas that the missus didn't fasten the night before. When we got there yesterday there was a little bird trapped in the net so am a bit more careful in fastening it all down now. I cut the little bird out and it flew away fine so am really glad we went down when we did.
8th August 2014
In before work and various doctor's appointments finally got the brassicas in and netted up over where the potatoes were. This is an experiment we don't know how it will pan out.
9th August 2014 - 16th August - on summer hols in Wales.
Sunday 17th August 2014
Before going to the Royal Oak at Hurdlow we nipped down to harvest some stuff - loads of beans, yellow courgettes, couple of cabbages, broccoli, beetroot and radishes. Put em in wheelbarrow and into car. Good good.
Tuesday 19th August 2014
Our weather oracle said there would be a frost so we went to cover some stuff up. Got a few beans at same time. Bumped in Rhys coming to shoot rabbits on way out. All good stuff.
Wednesday 20th August 2014
Went down lotty after taking dog walk removed the frost protection. Waste of time. Never mind.
Went after work to harvest. Wheelbarrowed a ton of weeds down.
Tuesday 26th August 2014
Went after work more beans etcs taken away. Weeded the carrots and beetroot area.
Thursday 27th August 2014
Went after work, more beans etc. Pulled the onions up. Not done brill but not bad. Put some seed potatoes from earlier in the year in - will see if they have a go or not. When they show I might put some black fleece on top of the soil to keep whatever heat might be available.
Saturday 29th August 2014
Went up to lottie took the bags of weeds away, nothing really done on the lottie as such but have to take rubbish when the recycling centre is open.
Cripes this is a bit late isn't it!! Been quite wet so far so hadn't been down lotty watering. After work on 6th we went down to clear the spuds out. Got quite a good haul overall although there was a little bit of canker in the row at the bottom. Cleared the area after and top-dressed with growmore fertiliser - hoping for a little bit of rain to wash it in. Could do with putting a bit of lime on as well.
Went down before work to put the brassicas in position for planting tomorrow morning. Also to fasten down the netting on the peas that the missus didn't fasten the night before. When we got there yesterday there was a little bird trapped in the net so am a bit more careful in fastening it all down now. I cut the little bird out and it flew away fine so am really glad we went down when we did.
8th August 2014
In before work and various doctor's appointments finally got the brassicas in and netted up over where the potatoes were. This is an experiment we don't know how it will pan out.
9th August 2014 - 16th August - on summer hols in Wales.
Sunday 17th August 2014
Before going to the Royal Oak at Hurdlow we nipped down to harvest some stuff - loads of beans, yellow courgettes, couple of cabbages, broccoli, beetroot and radishes. Put em in wheelbarrow and into car. Good good.
Tuesday 19th August 2014
Our weather oracle said there would be a frost so we went to cover some stuff up. Got a few beans at same time. Bumped in Rhys coming to shoot rabbits on way out. All good stuff.
Wednesday 20th August 2014
Went down lotty after taking dog walk removed the frost protection. Waste of time. Never mind.
Went after work to harvest. Wheelbarrowed a ton of weeds down.
Tuesday 26th August 2014
Went after work more beans etcs taken away. Weeded the carrots and beetroot area.
Thursday 27th August 2014
Went after work, more beans etc. Pulled the onions up. Not done brill but not bad. Put some seed potatoes from earlier in the year in - will see if they have a go or not. When they show I might put some black fleece on top of the soil to keep whatever heat might be available.
Saturday 29th August 2014
Went up to lottie took the bags of weeds away, nothing really done on the lottie as such but have to take rubbish when the recycling centre is open.
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
July 2014
2nd July 2014
Nipped down to Lotty before work to have a quick look and water stuff. All looking dandy really - the beans are looking a bit happier (I top-dressed 'em with growmore on Monday night!).
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| Slim Stemmed Broccoli |
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| Beans at the back looking happier |
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| Beans at the front happier still |
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| Carrots and beetroot coming through |
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| Peas looking happier too. |
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| Raspberries beginning to show |
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| Sweetcorn taking it's time. |
2nd July 2014 Evening
As was cycling to work and needed an early getaway on Thursday morning I went down and watered em some more. I also did a wee bit of weeding on the bean row (think am going to have to do a bit of weeding at each visit and just go from one bit to another each time to keep on top of it). Also put a loop on the gate as an additional make sure it stays closed safety net!
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| Gooseberries - are these ready or overipe? |
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| More raspberries showing! |
Saturday 5th July 2014
Three trips today. First went and got all the bags of weeds and took em to the tip. Second trip was to take the little cloche things off the brassicas and put netting over em. Also banged in a short row of leeks. Third trip was due to golf being curtailed by running out of balls. Got the mowing done and also sorted out the runner beans a bit.
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| Brassicas under netting - might offset a row down the middle - not sure? |
Sunday 6th July 2014
Plan for today is to get a dozen 8ft canes from David Neill's and get the runner and french beans that I planted as backups on em. Have still got space for em.
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| 2nd mini-row of beetroots starting to show |
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| The brassica plantation - all netted up now |
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| Six french beans, four runner beans and a partridge in a pear tree (must get a pear tree) |
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| Peapods suddenly springing out of nowhere! |
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| Plot looking good in the morning sun |
Wednesday 9th July 2014
After getting drenched cycling from work I was unpleasantly surprised to find Ashbourne bone dry so went down to water about 8:30pm - crikey it's getting dark by 9.30 now. Nights closing in already.
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| French beans and runner bean seedlings coming on nicely. |
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| Full moon high above the lotty |
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| CD-ROM bird scarers in position! |
Couldn't get down to water on Thursday night due to tent issues. So down on the lotty for 7.10am. Watered everything. Need to be thinking about removing the netting on the pumpkins as it's restricting the poor things something chronic. Most things are doing quite nicely. Next year am going to get rid of the big bean row and just get some big canes - I don't think the beans like going round the thicker wood.
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| Lots of pea pods appearing |
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| 2nd row of beetroot popping though nicely - need to be thinning em soon. |
Sunday 13th July 2014
Went down in morning. Weeded one of the brassica patched. Pulled all the unplanned spuds down the bottom to make way for radishes going in. Showed off the plot to me mum and dad about tea time. Then third and final visit to water. Did some other little jobs too.
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| New patch with raddises in it - still unused space to sort out!! |
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| Brassica more or less coming along okay. |
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| Peas and beans coming along nicely! |
Tuesday 15th July 2014
Went down and gave everything a good watering. We are desperate for a bit of rain. The IBC is still about half full but we could definitely do with a bit of rain. At home I've put about planted 30 odd pea seeds in pots when first row of spuds is out these will be going in. I've also done a tray of lettuces for transplanting in due course.
Friday 18th July 2014
Nipped down to lotty, took some breeze blocks with a view to sorting out the waterbutts at the back of the shed. which I did. Am linking the two of them together with one of the overflow pipes but it proved a little bit troublesome as one of the butts has a sealed lid! Never mind - am going to resin it up!
Saturday 19th July
Nipped down to get some peas. That's about it. Got the water overflow from right water butt to left water butt sorted out. Two pipes resined together is the answer - hopefully it should work.
Sunday 20th July 2014
No need to water as soil is still really well soaked (in fact it may have even rained again on Sunday and we missed it, perhaps? Anyway, took the netting off the runner beans which is something I should have done ages ago really - make a note for next year. Once netting was off I could weed down the middle which was well needed.
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| Beans happier for the extra bit of freedom - next year need to get netting off before flowers show I think. |
Monday 21st July 2014
Another dry day so after a wee bit of golf it was down to the lotty to water. All good stuff. Also did a bit of tying up on the runner beans that wanna go any way but where they shudda! And banged a load of slug pellets down all over the place.
Tuesday 22nd July 2014
After a bit of golf more watering. All good stuff - beans are coming along nicely.
Sunday 27th July 2014
After driving back from Wales and a bit of tea we went down lotty to water and to pull up rest of first row of potatoes. Thought they were all Rocket variety but found a few Duke Edward Reds in there too!
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| A trug of peas, courgette and spuds |
Have got a doctor's appointment at 9.40 so went down Lotty at 7.20 to get a last minute row of peas in. It said in the book that July was last chance for peas so I put a load in pots a few weeks ago and as soon as space was available with the first row of spuds out the way they got put in. Glad I went down nice and early as it only just got done!
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| Setting up a bean row with arch supports, cane and little stick things for peas to climb up. |
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| All netted up against the avian enemy. |
Went down about 8:30pm after playing golf at Horsley Lodge (very enjoyable). Watered everything and weeded the other patch of brassicas. All good stuff - filled up the two watering cans and went home about 9:45pm - pretty dang dark but there I wasn't last one out of car park!!
Wednesday 30th July 2014
Went down at 8:40ish after watering at home, strimming, mowing front lawn and the grass in front of the house. Put another 2 foot of radishes in, weeded the bottom end a bit, watered everywhere, dropped a can of coke, then got off home at 9.45, dark and last one off the allotment for a change!
Monday, 2 June 2014
June 2014
Plans:
- leeks to go in behind the onions
- saw a thing in America where a guy puts in basically a couple of post and runs a couple of supports of them to tomatoes. As I've got a million tomato plants at home I might just give that a go!
Sunday 1st June 2014
Back from hols. First job to get the site weeded. Then got pumpkin plants into the raised bed thing. I bought a couple of 3 metre net cloche things from Homebase before going on hols so used one of those.
Friday 6th June 2014
Popped up after work to get another row done. Got a row of 6 cauliflowers in - 3 Summer ones and 3 autumn ones that someone gave us. Also got my plot mowed and did a bit of the neighbours' bits as well.
Sunday 8th June 2014
Long old session down the lotty. What did we get done? 6 Sweetcorn plants gone into the metre square raised bed - it's been nettered as well (although pictures don't show it). A third of a row of beetroots gone ine and a third of a row of carrots gones in. Also netted the beans properly and put slug pellets down everywhere. Final job was to put some cabbages in - when I got home though I realised I've actually planted some summer brocolli - that's what happens when you don't label things up properly - what a fool!
Monday 9th June 2014 - battle commences
Thursday 12th June 2014
Been up to water stuff and there's nothing to water hardly. Caulis, cabbages, broccoli disappeared, peas been attacked but barely surviving same with french beans but whatever it is hasn't the same appetite for runner beans (or perhaps it's coming back for them at the weekend. Well p***ed off with it all. Not taken any pictures as it's too disheartening. Fence will have to be done. Will ask me dad if he can put his sledgehammer in the car on Sunday.
Sunday 15th June 2014
Bought some fence stakes from Hangar 4 on Saturday morning but didn't have any time to get on with fence until Sunday morning. So down the lotty about 9am, did a couple of hours on it then back for brunch. Then Father's day lunch at the Ketch, then back to Lotty later on (on the bike no less!). Dug a spades depth down and a spades width all the way round the plot apart from the top bit where the IBC is - am pondering on just how to do that but am leaning towards the lip of the mesh going under pavers for that bit.
Monday 16th June 2014
After work, tea and taking dog a walk I got up to the lotty. Continuing work on doing the fence - should have done this at the start of the year but I thought we'd get away without a fence in year one. How wrong can you be!!
Anyway the fence is coming on. Firstly I decided I could go past the gooseberry bush (not a euphenism for anything) to get right to the top left corner (if the shed is at the top!). So I dug that bit out and got one of the longer stakes hammered in - the top starting coming to bits on the stake so am going to need a cunning solution to fix that something like a whopping big pip clip thing I reckon.
Then decided that the poles for the bean row and the pole that held up last years bean row needed to come out for the sake of making a decent job of it so that was done and a bit more dug out.
Next got a post in at the bottom left of the plot (if the shed is at the top), wasn't happy with the straightness (lack of) so moved it 4" more to the left and it's a bit better but not bang on.
As it was getting a bit dark and progress needed to be made I thought I could do the bottom edge of the plot so got four stakes - the width of the bottom left and bottom right stakes came to exactly 4.8m so using my darts maths I decided we'd have two stakes in between at 1.6m and 3.2m - treble 16 = 48. So I got those in and decided that was enough fencing for a Monday evening.
I watered stuff then got off for about 10pm - counted four rabbits as I went down to the car.
Tuesday 17th June 2014
After walking dog and what have you I got down the lotty for a bit after 8pm. Got stakes in up both sides. There one I want to redo and another one to go in for where I'm putting the gate (a couple of feet down from the Gooseberry bush). Am still pondering the top bit where the little herb raised bed thing is. Am kind of thinking that with that raised bed and paving slabs on the ground I probably don't need to worry so much about the mesh going down and under.
Wednesday 18th June 2014
Went down the lotty didn't get a great deal done as was really planning it all out on the hoof. Am glad I didn't get too much done as it didn't come to me how it will all go regarding the fencing until I got home. Anyway it's getting there. I dug a bit out round the IBC which is where the problem is - I still need to be able to get round the raspberry patch so the fence can't inhibit getting past the IBC so it needed a bit of clever thinking applying!
So have decided we'll go tight round the raspberry patch and then come in five foot onto the plot and then fence across as follows (I think the b of Raspberries is about where the post you can see above is):-
The IBC is sitting on pavers so am not going to be able to dig the fence down there - on saying that Rabbits can't dig through pavers either so what I might just do is fold the fence under more pavers on top of these pavers!!!
Tuesday 24th June 2014
After tea I walked to the lotty with the dog. Bosskat came in car to collect dog and drop off a 2 x 2' paving slab, 2 breeze blocks and the cart to trag them up to the plot. I then spent about the next forty minutes sorting out the gate to make sure no rodents can get in.
So in the constant quest for getting the plot up to acceptable standards I thought I'd get the peas weeded. To be honest, it's questionable as to whether we'll get anything from em as something had a go at them when we were unfenced.
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Am thinking of having a tub next to the metre squared that has sweetcorn in it to put some french beans in - not made me mind up totally but that's what I'm thinking of doing.
Thursday 26th June 2014
Went up to lotty - weeded the brassica bit and put in the slender stemmed broccolli in that me mum and dad bought me. There's some cabbages that survived the rodent attack so am trying to get them going again full on. You never know, if they don't recover I've got some coming on in modules. Watered everything too so all good stuff.
Sunday 29th June 2014
After being away most of weekend and Sunday lunch at the Ketch we nipped down the lotty to have a look. Watered most stuff and did a load of weeding. Have about four bags full to go to tip if it was ever open when I was about!
Monday 30th June 2014
Walked Lily to Lotty and bosskat picked her up. Did a load more weeding, dug out the remaining little bit of grass that used to be across the middle. Also watered everything and generally tidied up as am having the plot re-inspected today!
- leeks to go in behind the onions
- saw a thing in America where a guy puts in basically a couple of post and runs a couple of supports of them to tomatoes. As I've got a million tomato plants at home I might just give that a go!
Sunday 1st June 2014
Back from hols. First job to get the site weeded. Then got pumpkin plants into the raised bed thing. I bought a couple of 3 metre net cloche things from Homebase before going on hols so used one of those.
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| Pumpkins in the big raised bed - am hoping they'll have enough space. |
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| Peas are coming along slowly - had to weed after pic taken |
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| Going to have to replace some of the french beans as something's had. em. |
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| Purple broccoli under cover. I put ends on this as well to keep bloomin rabbits out. |
Friday 6th June 2014
Popped up after work to get another row done. Got a row of 6 cauliflowers in - 3 Summer ones and 3 autumn ones that someone gave us. Also got my plot mowed and did a bit of the neighbours' bits as well.
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| Row of cauliflowers to right of the purple broccoli's |
Sunday 8th June 2014
Long old session down the lotty. What did we get done? 6 Sweetcorn plants gone into the metre square raised bed - it's been nettered as well (although pictures don't show it). A third of a row of beetroots gone ine and a third of a row of carrots gones in. Also netted the beans properly and put slug pellets down everywhere. Final job was to put some cabbages in - when I got home though I realised I've actually planted some summer brocolli - that's what happens when you don't label things up properly - what a fool!
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| Sweetcorn in the old metre square. |
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| Third of a row of carrots and beetroot - in the root section of the plot! |
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| A row of mainly summer broccoli with two cabbages - must label things propery in future! |
Monday 9th June 2014 - battle commences
The pests have cast the first stone - something has had most of me cauliflowers under those cloche things. I think the barriers at front and rear are just a bit too big to be effective. Anyway got the row of cabbages done, have left one cabbage in the row of broccoli as something had had most of the broccoli in the little pots - next year will have some shelves with a net over for protection I think for growing stuff in pots. Also definitely going to have a fence round the plot.
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| Netting all round the beans that we did on Sunday. |
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| The beetroot and carrot bed - will need thinning when they poke their heads up - can see a worrying hole in the netting. |
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| Golden Acre Cabbages to the left, mainly summer broccoli to the right! |
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| Sweetcorn - netted up! |
Thursday 12th June 2014
Been up to water stuff and there's nothing to water hardly. Caulis, cabbages, broccoli disappeared, peas been attacked but barely surviving same with french beans but whatever it is hasn't the same appetite for runner beans (or perhaps it's coming back for them at the weekend. Well p***ed off with it all. Not taken any pictures as it's too disheartening. Fence will have to be done. Will ask me dad if he can put his sledgehammer in the car on Sunday.
Sunday 15th June 2014
Bought some fence stakes from Hangar 4 on Saturday morning but didn't have any time to get on with fence until Sunday morning. So down the lotty about 9am, did a couple of hours on it then back for brunch. Then Father's day lunch at the Ketch, then back to Lotty later on (on the bike no less!). Dug a spades depth down and a spades width all the way round the plot apart from the top bit where the IBC is - am pondering on just how to do that but am leaning towards the lip of the mesh going under pavers for that bit.
Monday 16th June 2014
After work, tea and taking dog a walk I got up to the lotty. Continuing work on doing the fence - should have done this at the start of the year but I thought we'd get away without a fence in year one. How wrong can you be!!
Anyway the fence is coming on. Firstly I decided I could go past the gooseberry bush (not a euphenism for anything) to get right to the top left corner (if the shed is at the top!). So I dug that bit out and got one of the longer stakes hammered in - the top starting coming to bits on the stake so am going to need a cunning solution to fix that something like a whopping big pip clip thing I reckon.
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| Dug this bit last night - it's beginning to come together in my head now! |
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| Bean poles out for a straighter (although not bang on straight) fence |
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| The netting on the bean row is pushing it out but it's not far off straight |
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| The one at the end isn't as straight up as I'd like but it's very, very solid as it's a good 2 foot down so, you know. |
Tuesday 17th June 2014
After walking dog and what have you I got down the lotty for a bit after 8pm. Got stakes in up both sides. There one I want to redo and another one to go in for where I'm putting the gate (a couple of feet down from the Gooseberry bush). Am still pondering the top bit where the little herb raised bed thing is. Am kind of thinking that with that raised bed and paving slabs on the ground I probably don't need to worry so much about the mesh going down and under.
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| Down the left side it's not really as straight as I'd like it but it will do - just going to redo one stake. |
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| Was getting a bit dark by 10pm but I think that just to the right of gooseberry bush is where the gate will go. |
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| Posts down the right hand edge are much straighter! |
Wednesday 18th June 2014
Went down the lotty didn't get a great deal done as was really planning it all out on the hoof. Am glad I didn't get too much done as it didn't come to me how it will all go regarding the fencing until I got home. Anyway it's getting there. I dug a bit out round the IBC which is where the problem is - I still need to be able to get round the raspberry patch so the fence can't inhibit getting past the IBC so it needed a bit of clever thinking applying!
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| Above: problem is that I don't want getting round the IBC to be any harder. |
So have decided we'll go tight round the raspberry patch and then come in five foot onto the plot and then fence across as follows (I think the b of Raspberries is about where the post you can see above is):-
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| Above: This is the current gap between IBC and Raspberry Patch |
Saturday 21st June 2014
Up to lotty for about 8am did a bit of prep and then nephew Ben turned up to help hang the fence as he's a bit of an expert at it. Think it took him an hour and we were all done.
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| This is the bit that took all the thinking about |
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| Two slabs down on top of fence so rabbits can't get under/ |
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| Fenced all the way round just waiting on Ben who's doing me a new gate. |
Actual final fencing pretty much as below. Am debating whether or not to to enclose the area around the mini herb area. We'll see.
Thinned beetroot to 4" gaps, need to get another mini row of them buggers in soon.
Monday 23rd June 2014
Letter from allotment committee about our plot being overgrown. Not going to comment on that. Went to lotty about 8pm, came off 10:20pm - mowed, strimmed, tidied and nephew Ben came and put a gate on and it's grand. Got work to do so that nowt can come under the gate but we can do that. Watered everything
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| Beetroot coming on nicely. |
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| Fence looking good |
After tea I walked to the lotty with the dog. Bosskat came in car to collect dog and drop off a 2 x 2' paving slab, 2 breeze blocks and the cart to trag them up to the plot. I then spent about the next forty minutes sorting out the gate to make sure no rodents can get in.
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| This is the underground final defence. Wire mesh |
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| Under the 2' x 2' slab there is another breeze block just in case |
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| The gate - bloody marvellous job done by young Ben. |
So in the constant quest for getting the plot up to acceptable standards I thought I'd get the peas weeded. To be honest, it's questionable as to whether we'll get anything from em as something had a go at them when we were unfenced.
Am thinking of having a tub next to the metre squared that has sweetcorn in it to put some french beans in - not made me mind up totally but that's what I'm thinking of doing.
Thursday 26th June 2014
Went up to lotty - weeded the brassica bit and put in the slender stemmed broccolli in that me mum and dad bought me. There's some cabbages that survived the rodent attack so am trying to get them going again full on. You never know, if they don't recover I've got some coming on in modules. Watered everything too so all good stuff.
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| The gubbins on em |
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| Slim Stem Broccoli and Golden Acre Cabbage |
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| Something the rabbits missed - a mini punnet of Strawbs!! |
Sunday 29th June 2014
After being away most of weekend and Sunday lunch at the Ketch we nipped down the lotty to have a look. Watered most stuff and did a load of weeding. Have about four bags full to go to tip if it was ever open when I was about!
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| Added another mini row of beetroots which will need thinning in due course. |
Monday 30th June 2014
Walked Lily to Lotty and bosskat picked her up. Did a load more weeding, dug out the remaining little bit of grass that used to be across the middle. Also watered everything and generally tidied up as am having the plot re-inspected today!
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