Bank Holiday Monday

A good day today.  Runner beans planted (see above picture)  Again, tried another technique this year and dug trench, filled with manure and then planted seeds.  I normally grow in pots first...  I'm looking forward to seeing results

 

 

It's been quite dry recently so here is my number one son watering the potato's...  He quite enjoyed it really.

 

 

All my onion sets are in now - just need to watch them grow.  Planted them in long rows with compost in to start them off.

 

 

In the afternoon number one child had had enough so number 2 came down instead.  Here is is pretending to do some weeding...

Main crop in (at last)

Today was about getting my Main Crop potatos in.  I have gone for Desiree this year hoping for a good crop.

I have planted them slightly differently than usual - putting manure on top of the trench before earthing them up.  The picture shows before I earthed them.  I have got two long rows of these so looking for a lot!

My earlies in the bags and boxes have started to show - around 2 inches of leaf so far.  Gave them a good water today as they were looking dry.  The earlies in the bed are still not showing at all yet. 

Am interested this year in the difference between the earlies in the bags and the earlies in the main bed - will there be a difference in growing time and also quality?  Hoping that the ones in the bags are ready earlier and then can have the 3 rows.  I'll let people know!

Other things done today:

• Planted 30 sweetcorn seeds - left in shed
• 1 row of turnips and 1 row of beetroot planted outside
• Spring cabbages, Sprouts, Broccoli, Courgettes, Leeks and Butternut Squash seeds all started.

Will hopefully be back again tomorrow.  A bit more landscaping needed and preparing things for the Greenhouse build.  Also have some more fencing to do.

All in all a lovely day down at the plot, was sunny and warm which is slightly unusual for a bank holiday!

April and hoping that spring is here...

Potato day today. I know good Friday is the traditional time to plant your spuds but it was cold and I was on holiday. So I got my earlies in today.  3 rows and 4 bags. Am trying some in potato bags this year to see what will happen

• Other things done today
• Planted more onion sets
• Weeded strawberry beds
• Planted broad beans
• Dug over the wet beds
• All in all a good day.

Also, checked on my new Apple trees from Aldi which I got a few weeks ago.  They seem to be doing fine.  Need to train them along some wire and posts to make sure that they are under control

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. 

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.

Half term jobs

It's a lovely day today.  And the allotment unfortunately was looking a little unloved - need more time and more effort I think to get it all done!

Was down for a couple of hours today - the picture on the left will give you an idea of what I was doing for most of the time!  I have tidied up one of corners and dug up about a tonne of bindweed and also one/two of teh smaller rose bushes.  (don't tell the wife).

Then moved things around as hopefully I will be putting up the shed this week.  Also dug up one of the beds (think onions will go there next year) and also picked the last of the beetroot.  Will either make some beetroot and potato soup or some beetroot and apple chutney with it.

Other jobs to do - weed the soft fruit area and net it properly, Put shed up!, dig over 3 beds, have fire...