Weekend Jobs

Didn't get a lot den this weekend, my dad was up so we were busy.  However we did get down to the plot and got a few jobs done.  We picked another 3lb of strawberries, some broad beans and some more potatoes. Almost finished the earlies but have a few more plants to dig up.

The main crop are flowering and the rain yesterday and last night would have helped them. Shallots are looking really good, some of the sets have split into 8/9 bulbs.  Also picked some more garlic and it is drying in the greenhouse. Need to work out where it is going to be stored.

At home the courgette plants are growing well, flowers have appeared and they are massive leaves!  The tomatoes in the greenhouse are flowering and some small fruits have appeared.  The Kale has almost finished and I might try and get some more going now so we can have it all autumn. The rhubarb is almost finished, probably one more harvest - will do some rhubarb chutney and rhubarb and strawberry jam.

I have bottled by Rhubarb vodka, it tastes ok and might be something I try again, esp for presents for people.  Am also going to try and do some black currant gin as well.

A good weekend really!

The Strawberry picking continues

Haven't blogged much recently but here is a quick update on the plot and the plot at home!

Have picked aroun 7 1/2 pounds of strawberries over the last 4 days

Broad beans have started and are nice

New potatoes still going strong. Have had 7/8 meals worth and lots of potato salad

Garlic being harvested. So far harvested around 15 bulbs with another 20 or so at the plot

Have also been doing a bit of tidying and weeding.

At home the tomato plants are flowering well and hopefully first fruits will appear soon. The Kale is still going strong and we have planted some more salad to catch up.  All looking good!

More produce.

Only popped into the plot today due to child care and the small matter of the cricket and the World Cup.  Did manage to pick a bit though, and use it for tea!

I picked

• 400g of Strawberries
• 1.5kg of new potatoes
• 5 garlic bulbs - these are drying out in the greenhouse.
• 6 rhubarb sticks

Quite happy with that really.  Made a strawberry and Rhubarb crunchy pudding which was nice.

A few pics from today as well.

Quick picture update

Some pictures from this week.

Eating the produce

Not much to post really, but for my records today we had potatoes and Kale from home.  Planted out the Kale about 6 weeks ago and it is now good.  2nd bag of spuds - enough for 1 meal for 5 of us.  The ones at the plot are looking good....

A brighter afternoon

After yesterday's deluge I popped down with my eldest to see how wet things were.  It wasn't too bad. Planted out a few more leeks and some more cabbages as well.

No pics but here are the first potatoes of the year.

Rhubarb Vodka

The start of my Rhubarb vodka.  Following Nigella's recipe http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/rhubarb-vodka-2034.

Will keep people updated.

A wet Saturday morning

Popped down to the plot this morning to do some tidying up and planting out some of my Leeks. ( I think I planted out about 30 and must have another 70 or so that germinated...)

I got some tidying up done, cutting the grass and clearing out some weeds.  But then the rain came so cutting and weeding became a little more tricky.  So I started putting some of the leeks out.  Completed 4 rows of about 8/10 in a row by the onions and courgettes.  Hopefully will have some more out tomorrow as well.

At home the tomatoes are doing well.  I also have got the first of the new potatoes from a bag.  They were not massive so will wait another few weeks before I go for another bag.  Salad still doing very well, have 1 pot about finished and another 2 troughs have seeded and ready for picking.  Today I put another one out so will have some more in a few weeks.

@ Home

As well as the allotment this year I have been doing a fair bit at the new garden in my new house.  As I have said before we have a greenhouse which is great but I have a bit of a surplus of plants this year...

However, it has enabled me to do a few firsts.  I have planted some Rhubarb from seed and today I planted them on in their own pots.  I have also got about 15 tomato plants on the go!   However, having a bit of space in the actual garden has allowed me to plant some crops at home as well, so the following pictures show the state of my garden here and my greenhouse.

Back from Holiday

Realised that May was not a good month for my blog - only one post.  So hopefully June will be better.  As it is the first, I thought I better start as I mean to go on.

Today I went to the plot for a couple of hours instead of Church.  I don't often do that but it is nice to spend 2 hours down on a Sunday morning.  I basically tidied up and then planted out more stuff.  The cabbages from before have been a little eaten - I need to get some netting - and one set of the Runner beans have also been nibbled a little too much...  However, everything else is looking good and strawberries and broad beans will be ready soon.

So today I planted out (at the allotment)

• 10 Courgette plants
• 15 French beans - with plastic bottle cloches
• 6 Sprouts

I also did a fair bit at the house garden but will put that  in another post