February 2015

Greenhouse Project
Have chopped lilac tree back,  Dug the turf off the area the slabs are going to go down. Now umming and aahing about whether putting a frame down then sand then slabs over the top will be sufficient as a base for the greenhouse to sit on.   The greenhouse is going to be my nursery for stuff for the allotment so cannot wait to get the bugger going really.

Used one of those big builders bags of sand to fill it and slabs on top to finish it off.

Wee dog in motion. 

Got some cheapie seeds from 99p shop - will see if any good.  Getting to the time for getting the heated propogator down  - that'll get me right out of good books!!!

Tuesday 17th February 2015
Was off work for Shrovetide, Phil decided he wasn't going uptown on the Tuesday so we bored on with the Greenhouse.

Wednesday 25th February 2015

Moved the strawberries out of the coldframe and put em into the Greenhouse.  The first plants to find their way there - they will eventually find their way to the allotment. 

Thursday 26th February 2015

Went up the attic to get the heated propogator and the normal propogators down.  All ready to rock.  Switched em on before set off to work on Friday so should be nicely up to temperature.

January 2015

Crikey - no post for December which was unbelievably busy so am late getting back in to the game.

Sunday 11th January 2015
Went down to the Allotment with the wee lad about 11am.  Rerouted rainfall from top of shed so it now goes into the two 220 litre water butts at the side of the shed.   Got a compost heap sorted at the bottom of the plot (away from where you'd sit outside the shed).  Took the bean row down - am going to have to move it down the plot so you can get round the inside of the plot without having to straddle the fence every time like you did last year.

Saturday 24th January 2015
Got seed potatoes chitting away - got Swift, Home Guard and Casa Blanca as the first earlies and Maris Peer as second earlies  - might need just a few more to finish off and have three good rows.

In afternoon got busy lopping down some of the lilac tree to get a bit more light for the greenhouse when we finally get it in position. This is not strictly allotment but the greenhouse will be the starting point for getting a lot of stuff going to the allotment.

Sunday 25th January 2015
Shifted all the mini slabs off the area where the greenhouse is going moved, got the metre squared moved out.  A step closer to having the greenhouse going.

November 2014

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!

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!

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.

The plot as of 17/09/2014

Weeded 2nd Phase Brassica plot

Xmas Spud Project

Raspberries coming good!

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.

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.

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!).

Slim Stemmed Broccoli 

Beans at the back looking happier

Beans at the front happier still

Carrots and beetroot coming through

Peas looking happier too.

Raspberries beginning to show

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!

Gooseberries - are these ready or overipe?

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.

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.

2nd mini-row of beetroots starting to show

The brassica plantation - all netted up now

Six french beans, four runner beans and a partridge in a pear tree (must get a pear tree)

Peapods suddenly springing out of nowhere!

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.

French beans and runner bean seedlings coming on nicely. 

Full moon high above the lotty

CD-ROM bird scarers in position!

Friday 11th July 2014
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.

Lots of pea pods appearing

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.

New patch with raddises in it - still unused space to sort out!!

Brassica more or less coming along okay. 

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.

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!

A trug of peas, courgette and spuds 

Monday 28th July 2014
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!

Setting up a bean row with arch supports, cane and little stick things for peas to climb up.

All netted up against the avian enemy. 

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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!