Earlies in..

Yesterday was my first proper day down at the allotment for a while. It was a lovely sunny spring day which helped a lot.

Got a lot done as well. Started with the new potatoes and got two rows in. Two more to go in today hopefully. Then the fruit area. Tidied it up a bit and also planted some raspberry canes, 2 new blackcurrant bushes and a new gooseberry bush. Hopefully going to get a lot of fruit this year.

My last job was to start getting the onions in. Did about 100 and still got another 100 or so to go. 

In terms of stuff already in, the rhubarb I planted from seed last year is looking good and the shallots have started sprouting. Harvested the leeks as well. Today need to make a load of leek and potato soup.

Slowly, Slowly....

As the title says really.  Spent a bit of time down at the plot this weekend - need longer really but trying to fit everything in.  Also went shopping and got our Earlies (which are now chitting) some onion sets and some shallots.  And stocked up on the seeds as well.  This weeks job is to plant up some of the tomato and cucumber seeds.

At the plot it was basically digging.  I did get some leeks to bring home - still got around 20 down there!  Also planted out the shallots in one of the beds that is ready!

Photo update from Sat 21

Photos show the new paved area, the start of my digging around the fruit bed and the replanting of one of my gooseberry bushes.

Path finished

Today I finished the path at the allotment. Photos will follow. I also planted out some garlic, not too hopefull aa it should have gone out in November really. Started digging over the fruit bed area and moved one of the gooseberry bushes and de-weeded it as well.

All in all a lovely day to be outside and at the plot. I was joined my my 2 eldest as well and they enjoyed breaking up some of the crazy paving with a hammer. In fact, they enjoyed it a little too much...

Will post photos later this week

Hard Landscaping

This afternoon was mainly hard landscaping at the allotment.  I am trying to sort out the bottom right corner as it regularly gets wet and boggy.  I am using the crazy paving I found at home under the front garden to have a solid path or area.  Also created a small cold frame just with bricks and an old window at the moment - It might be the first of a few in that area.

As well as the paved area I also spent some time moving strawberries from one bed to another - the current bed has got a bit of a couch grass problem and needs digging over.  Hoping to get down there tomorrow as well to finish off the path.

A little tidy

Popped down for an hour or so to do a little tidy and take a load of rubbish to the tip.

Quite muddy down there at the moment so not too much to do in terms of the beds but am trying to sort out the messy corners..

Anyway it was just nice to be outside today

First visit of the year

Well it's been a long time since my last visit, and my last post... But today I popped down for 30 mins to basically see what needed doing and to get some cabbage and leeks.

My list of jobs is as follows.

Getting rid of the rubbish...

Finishing the path

Putting a new lock on the shed

When a bit drier digging over the fruit bush bed

Planting some new fruit bushes and raspberry canes

That should do for the next few months...

Hoping to get down next week to at least do the tidy up.

Allotment show

Well Sunday is our allotment show and for the first time I am having a go at entering a few vegetables.

I'm going for the onions,  shallots, runner beans and a plate of 4 vegetables. I might also put a cabbage in.  Tomorrow is going to be preparation day.  I've never done onions before so hopefully YouTube will help.

I'll post pictures of the vegetables tomorrow.

Potatoes...

Have dug up my main crop now as am back at school next week and wanted to get them sorted before.

If I am being honest it's a bit of a disappointing year for the main crop, although there were a lot of potatoes a fair few have been eaten by things,  either slugs or red ants.  We have got a few though so not all lost.

Next year I think I will try and do more in raised beds as the new potatoes did really well... Not everything can go well and our onion harvest has been amazing large this year.

The images show the potatoes before storage and the bed they came from.

Chutney making - blackberry and apple

BlackBerry and apple chutney.

3lb apples
1 lb onions
Some ginger
1tsp pepper corns
1lb sugar
350ml vinegar
1.5lb blackberries
Pinch of paprika
1 chilli
Pinch of mustard seeds

Hopefully will be nice.  Made 3 large jars and a little to have now. Will store it for a few months before using it.

A week away

Popped down this evening after getting back from holiday.  Everything seems ok. Picked 2 courgettes that have turned into marrows.

Potatoes need digging up and path needs finishing.

Creating the paths

Using Crazy paving for new paths at the allotment. Today I started the process and will finish it after my holiday.  Got a lot more of the stones left.

Also took some photos of the leeks as well.

New paths

Am about to start construction of a new path at the allotment using the stone that I found in the front garden.  Will keep you updated with photos as it progresses

Harvest time

A few images of todays harvest. Also 3 courgettes. Lots more onions to come.

Plot update

Not been down much as doing holiday club at church

However got down today in the showers and picked one courgette,  the rest of the shallots and some onions to dry out in the greenhouse.

Also dug out my non fruiting raspberry canes and going to improve my fruit area...

The front garden

Not been at the plot in the last few days, but will go for a while tomorrow. However I have been working in the front garden to get it ready for next season, the plan is to create 3 small vegetable beds to compliment the allotment. We'll use the plot for the big crops but do some smaller ones and ones that require a little more care here.  However, it has been harder work than I would have hoped. Moving gravel first and then under that there was about an inch of soil and then an old crazy paving type of path.... 

Almost there with the clearing...

Start of the holidays

Today was the second day of the holidays and I got down to the plot for a couple of hours.  This holiday I am doing a lot of work both at the allotment and also at home in the front garden.  We are digging up a lot of the bed at the front and will use some of the slabs and stone at the plot.

Today though I did the following:

Tidied up the broad beans! they are finished now.  They did ok but not as well as I had hoped.

Picked some runner beans.  Only have 3 plants this year, also not a good year for them.

Dug up some more new potatoes.  Have a few plants left then a bit of a wait for the main crop. Done well this year, will plant more new ones next year...

Picked a tub full of black currants. They've done ok although been a little taken over by the weeds.  Next year am going to work on the fruit bed.

Picked a few more shallots, they have been excellent this year. Might do more next year

One large courgette from the plot as well.

So a good day. I also started work on the path by the side of the plot to make sure that it is getting neater.  Using some bricks etc as well.  We're getting there this year and the plot is looking better. Not perfect but definitely an improvement on last year.

First courgette

Today picked the first courgette from the allotment, we have had a few from our plants at home...

Didn't do much down at the plot today - took a load of bricks down for a new path and took a load of rubbish to the tip. That's about it really. The black currants are about ready, so looking forward to getting those later this week.

Strawberry and Rhubarb jam

My first jam made today... Strawberry and Rhubarb.

1kg rhubarb

1kg strawberries

1.5kg sugar 

1 juice of lemon

Cooked the rhubarb in some water first, cut up in cm chunks. After about 15 mins added strawberries and cooked again for 10-15 mins. When fruit all soft added sugar and lemon juice and simmered until hit setting point.

Will taste in morning!

Planting out some Rhubarb

It was a wet day today and I tried to dodge the showers, unsuccessfully as it turns out.  I had hoped to get a few jobs done but as it was I gave up... However I did plant out 4 of my Rhubarb plants that I have grown from seed, I still have a few more plants to put out as well.

My last leeks are also ready to go,  to be planted where I dug up the last of my new potatoes. They have done well this year.  

A few images though just to show what it is like.