April 2015

April 2015

Am behind everyone else due to a number of factors.  Firstly no manure.  Secondly am waiting on the boy to get raised beds done. 

Friday 17th April 2015

1st batch of Raised beds delivered to allotment.  Three 4 x 10' 12" high beds.  one 2 x 12' foot bed.

Saturday 18th April 2015

Five scoops of well rotted manure from Col's farm delivered on Phil's tractor and trailer.  40 barrow loads transported to the plot.  Rest tipped near the secretary's plot! 

Sunday 19th April 2015

Down the plot early doors.  Took five barrows of soil out of the original raised bed / compost heap thing we inherited. 

Got that lot of soil into the 2 x 12' bed and got me onions in (Snowball and Stuttgarts) a good three months late but never mind. 

In the afternoon went back down with Phil and bosskat.  We got the mower going again after I let oil leak out of it!   We also did a bit of tidying up of the sticks outside  the shed as Harry Seed mentioned it in passing.   Also screwed in some bits of wood into the big raised bed as Harry mentioned last year so that job is ticked off too. 

Monday 20th April 2015

After tea and walking the pooch me and the missus went down and did a bit.  Bosskat strimmed while I digged a bit and weeded a bit ready for the last couple of raised beds to come in.  Rhubarb coming along nicely after I put a tub over it to force it!

Tuesday 21st April 2015

Went to AGM after work, walked up town and back.  It was okay but got a bit worried about potential banning of pallet style composting heaps.  Need to do a bit of work on mine to make it rat proof and get it a bit more upright!

Wednesday 22nd April 2015

Went down early doors to get 6 bags of ornamental tree bark up to the plot for the paths.  Had a look at plot number 2 that they want volunteers to clear.  Looks a fair bit of work but definitely doable. 

Plot number 2 that they want volunteers to clear

Friday 24th April 2015

Went after work and dug til dark.  am going to have the beds going this weekend or die trying!

Saturday 25th April 2015

Up early, loads of digging and moving stuff around - put three barrows of muck into the big raised bed.  Have dug under the raised beds that are there and dug the paths in between so should have sufficient soil all being well. 

Sunday 26th April 2015

On site early doors, brought peas, broad beans and a couple of cauliflowers (just because they were in same carton as peas.  

Bed 3

Bed 3 set up has a row of peas in the right in the picture above, two mini-rows of broad beans some big, some small, some seeds at the top of the picture to the left!  Two short rows of beetroots (bottom left) and radishes (bottom middle) that I'll sow another foot of at the end of May.  

Phil finally got tractor available so got the final three raised beds down and in position. 

Six 10x4' beds, two 3x3' beds, one 12x2' bed and one 10x3' bed - awesome!

Then and Now!

September 2013 when we took it on

Still a work in progress in April 2015

As it stands - 

The original back of a fag packet style plan!

Tuesday 28th April 2015

Before work, uncovered stuff and watered,  after work down to lotty on bike.  Covered up the peas and broad beans.  Got the first early spuds in.  

Bottom left: Swift, top left and top right: Home guard, bottom right Casa Blanca  all first earlies

Got three or four barrows of muck into the original big raised bed.  Got two barrows of top soil going the other way. Getting there slowly.  By 8.50 it was getting a bit dark so cycled back home the long way.  Am getting to the stage where I'll have that bit at the bottom free soon. 

Wednesday 29th April 2015

Usual uncovering in the morning - was raining and cold so didn't hang about.  After work I went down lotty on the bike again.  Worked on getting the 10x3'  in position and filled with soil.  Got the sieve down to make the soil absolutely ace.  Am going to put weed cover material on the unoccupied beds to warm em up and keep the weeds away in the short term until midmay I think.  Will also bag some muck up I think and possibly some soil. 

Thursday 30th April

Hell's teeth, last day of April already.  Whizzed up to lotty in the motor to uncover everything.  Stuff is looking okay.  Onions are showing their heads, peas seems happy enough.  Broad beans are happy I think they're resilient to leave uncovered but am not going to risk em after all this time!  Jobs for tonight - bag that muck, finish off the 10x3'.   Had to go to a farm sale preview with Phil so didn't get chance to do much.  Did some more work on the 10x3' and got things covered up and that was about it. 

Friday 1st May 2015

Blimey, first of May.  Had a half hour free so, did a bit more digging and filling of the 10x3'. Uncovered the peas and broad beans (they look alright, so far).  Watered everything (even the spuds). 

Had a look at plot 102 - if it's available I'm having it. If not, such is life. 

Plot 102 has become available and don't need a lot of work, really.

  

March 2015

1st March 2015
Went to the lotty, cut the raspberry canes down (a month late really but can't be helped!).

Stuff to do in March according to the Trap Ground Allotment society:

March

• It should be safe to plant parsnip seeds
• Start successional sowing of chard, beetroot and spinach
• Plant strawberries and raspberries
• If you've sown early lettuce, they probably need thinning now
• Lift all remaining leeks from last year to give you time to dig over the land for new planting
• Plant sunflower seeds in pots in your cold frame
• Cover rhubarb crowns to "force" them
• Cut back autumn raspberries to the ground
• Plant out onion sets
• Sow cauliflower, summer cabbage and sprouts for summer transplanting
• If warm enough, sow leeks in a seed bed or in pots
• Dig, dig, dig to get your plot ready for spring planting

Homemade clock.

Canes cut to the ground

The plot all looking a bit empty!

Weekend of 7th March 2015
At DCFC vs Birmingham so no time on Saturday and crappy weather on Sunday put paid to anything on the plot.  Going to go down next weekend and get started got a load of stuff going in the greenhouse.

Tuesday 10th March 2015
Heated propogator started to do some business.

Dwarf french beans to the left, Tomato Plum Rosa to the right...

Sat 14^th March 2015

Greenhouse – sowed some broadbeans (Bunyards Exhibiton)in loo roll tubes.    Very environmentally sound way to do it.  Sowed some Little Gem lettuces  - will need to do another dozen in about three weeks’ time I reckon.  Also did the missus’ hanging baskets with Dizzy Lizzies. Have put some chillis and some minibel tomatoes into the heated propagator too.  Not much happening  in the greenhouse.  I can see the sunflowers beginning to poke their heads through and also the Cornflowers are making an appearance but think it’s perhaps still a little bit too cool.

Allotment – tidied up plot some more, dug over about a quarter to a third.   Have got a plan for a new layout that should work a treat. It will result in shorter rows but I see it working as follows. As you come in through the gate you have a row to your left.  The path then turns at a right-angle just before the raspberries and goes all the way down to the bottom of the plot.  Where the metre squared frame is at the end of the rapsberries there will be a load of additional metre squareds all the way to the bottom of the plot.   

Some digging done

Plan is to have path go down to bottom of the plot after you turn right at the raspberries!

Grey is where path will go, metre squared frames down to bottom on the left of the path.

Sun 15^th March 2015

Mum and Dad over for mum’s day lunch at Ketch.  Very nice.  Brought me some seeds as well – admittedly they should have been used by 2009 but will give em a try anyway!  Some coloured Sunflowers that look interesting.

Tuesday 17th March 2015
Planted some coloured eclipse sunflowers in the Greenhouse as had a bit of time free and some American Giant Sunflowers - can't remember if I put a seed label in the pot for them.

Wednesday 18th March 2015
After work I put a tray of Ailsa Craig tomatoes into the heated propogator.  For some reason the Alicante tomatoes are not doing a darned thing.  Wierd. Put the Alicantes on the window.

Saturday 21st March 2015
Hard to believe it's a month since we were in that London.  Went and did a bit at the lotty.  Dug a bit more.  Did some measuring.  Have also got a load of duct and water piping ready for doing some class netting this next year.

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.