Seed planting and the changable weather!

Being a teacher, it's the beginning of the holidays, and if last week was anything to go by, I was looking forward to having a good few days of warm weather to dig, rotavate and get the potato's in!  Hah!  Snow, or at least sleet is forecast for tomorrow so that should be interesting!

I have been busy recently though.  Have continued to dig up new areas, taking out a couple of paths to fit more potatoes in and also to try and keep on top of the weeds and grass situation. 

The broad beans went in last week, along with some early salad and all the onions and shallots have been planted.  Hoping they do well this season.  I just have two  small beds to sort out now and then it is all ready - this year looks like we will use almost all of the plot for the first time which will be good. 

At home today I planted up some seeds to get going while we are away - Have got some runner beans, french beans, a seed tray of leeks, some courgettes and some pumpkins.  Will get some cabbages and sprouts going as well soon.  Am using newspaper pots again as they did a good job last year and make planting out much easier.

Have started some earlies in old tyres and compost - trying to get a good crop at different times this year.

Altogether I am quite happy with where I am at the moment.  Now to keep it going all year!

My Allotment plan for the year

 These are the plans for my allotment this year.  It is not quite to scale but gives an idea of what I am planning to do over the next few months.

Obviously things like Leeks etc will be planned in as well (normally where the early potato's are) but we will see...

This weekend I went seed buying and, on onions and seeds spent £24.  I am also going to keep a list of what I spend on the allotment and also what we get off it and therefore have saved.  Will set up a google docs spreadsheet and record it as I would love to see if we break even!  (I suspect that I spend more than I save and I will not be taking into account hours worked either!)

I have planted some onion sets today and also have started getting prepared for seed planting.  Will again post a list of what I have planted and when to check for timings etc.

A Spring Weekend

It was a lovely weekend here and (for at least some of the time) I spent it down at the plot with the family.  Still mainly digging the plot over, cleared another bed this weekend and made another slightly larger. 

This week I plan to start some of my seeds off.  Will blog about that later hopefully

Muddy but happy

 Back at the allotment today for a bit more tidying and digging.  A lovely afternoon, cold and a bit breezy but bright sunshine so that was nice.  My 2 big boys enjoyed getting muddy - the grass down by the shed looks more like glastonbury at the moment!

Finished doing some digging around the Purple Sprouting Broccoli - waiting for it to sprout at the moment - hopefully it will as it looks good.  Also began to sort out the stawberries ready for a move to a new home.

All in all things are looking good at the moment - hoping for another good season.  Still eating the potato's and cabbages from last year (1 cabbage left) and hopefully tonight will sit down and plan what seeds etc we need. 

The start of a new year

It being Feb half-term, it has given me a little time to get a few things done at the Allotment ready for the 'new' planting year.   The whole family had a trip down today to do some tidying and some weeding / digging.  the beds are getting there now.  The bottom corner is like a rice paddy at the moment, but at least we have a shed we can shelter in. 

Have begun to plan for planting.  Need to sit down and go through all my seeds to see what I have and what we need to buy.  Have got potato's chitting - trying some new ones this year so that hopefully will be good.  I will also endeavour to keep this blog up to date - last year started of well but then faded a little around May time.  Must do better.

November Sunshine

Was a lovely day to be at the allotment today.  Went down for an hour or so with the boys and had a nice time.

Finished weeding the seed bed, and started digging another one over.  More to do but it was just nice to be down there after a couple of weeks of not making it.

The mild weather though does mean that my outside tomato plant is still producing a few tomato's, there are even some new flowers.  Although there are frosts forecast this week I think so that will probably kill it off.

Not much else really going on at the moment - as people know it's quite a quiet time.  Slowly getting the allotment sorted ready for next spring.  Looking forward to looking through seed catalogues soon!

Painting with the boys

Back down at the Allotment today to finish the shed off.  Took the boys and the father in-law as well. 

The boys enjoyed painting the shed green - will do another coat soon.  I put the window in (didn't smash it which I was impressed with) and also began sorting out the inside - hung the tools up etc.  Will need to buy a small gas stove to make some tea / coffee with and some shelving.

Also spent time sorting out the outside have flattened of the ground and need to buy some gravel and weed suppressor to finish it off.  Will look nice when it is done.  Will also get a few paving slabs to put on it for some pots etc.

So, that's prob it for half-term this year.  It has been a busy time at the allotment.  Have more to do so will hope for good weather at the weekends for the next few weeks.  Then it is seed buying and preparing for next years sowing.