Dinner last night was lamb chops, new potatoes, peas, sauted courgette and shallots.
Unfortunately the allotment isn't big enough to keep livestock so the lamb came from New Zealand, but everything else was grown on the allotment and dug or picked less than 30 minutes before being eaten.
Very nice it was too!
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
The harvest begins
The strawberry plants were the first - several handfuls of berries, which is more than I expected from new plants.
Dug up the first two Catriona potato plants at the weekend, yielding 20 or so decent sized spuds and a few tiny pea-sized ones!
First early peas eaten as Mangetout, first two baby courgettes, and four big shallots. Tried unearthing two carrots but they were disappointingly small and forked. The others need time to grow.
Not a brilliant germination rate, but there are seven sweetcorn plants growing strongly. Planted more seeds in the positions of the 4x4 grid where nothing had appeared.
The weeds were starting to take over so have spent a lot of time clearing them up over the last week. Beetroot, Swede, Turnip, Rainbow Chard, Pea, and French Bean seedlings now have some space to grow.
Feltham First peas, and Broad Beans are now getting very large.
Dug up the first two Catriona potato plants at the weekend, yielding 20 or so decent sized spuds and a few tiny pea-sized ones!
First early peas eaten as Mangetout, first two baby courgettes, and four big shallots. Tried unearthing two carrots but they were disappointingly small and forked. The others need time to grow.
Not a brilliant germination rate, but there are seven sweetcorn plants growing strongly. Planted more seeds in the positions of the 4x4 grid where nothing had appeared.
The weeds were starting to take over so have spent a lot of time clearing them up over the last week. Beetroot, Swede, Turnip, Rainbow Chard, Pea, and French Bean seedlings now have some space to grow.
Feltham First peas, and Broad Beans are now getting very large.
Monday, 11 June 2007
Everything is growing
Unfortunately that includes the weeds!
The two courgette plants Mum and Dad gave me are doing well, expecting to eat the first courgettes in the next week or so.
James Grieve apples are bulking up
.
A few russets are visible, but nothing on the Howgate Wonder. The trees all look healthy with lots of new growth so looking forward to bigger crops next year. Anything this autumn is a bonus!
The Feltham First peas are flowering, as are the broad beans, so looking forward to a crop soon.
The second and third sowings of peas (Jaguar) are doing nicely, as are the french beans. Will be a while before they are ready to eat.
The two courgette plants Mum and Dad gave me are doing well, expecting to eat the first courgettes in the next week or so.
James Grieve apples are bulking up
.A few russets are visible, but nothing on the Howgate Wonder. The trees all look healthy with lots of new growth so looking forward to bigger crops next year. Anything this autumn is a bonus!
The Feltham First peas are flowering, as are the broad beans, so looking forward to a crop soon.
The second and third sowings of peas (Jaguar) are doing nicely, as are the french beans. Will be a while before they are ready to eat.
Saturday, 19 May 2007
End of the monsoon?
The rainy season seems to be over for the time being, but the allotment is in much better shape after a couple of weeks of regular rainfall.
"Feltham First" peas are growing very quickly, as are the broad beans next to them.
Several broad beans failed to germinate, so there is a second sowing to fill in the gaps, just breaking through the surface.
French beans have also been a little disappointing, although some have come up, so another row of "Tendercrop" went in today. The first sowing of "Jaguar" peas have started sprouting, sowed another row this afternoon.
Carrot and leek seedlings, transplanted from indoors a few weeks ago, are doing really well. Apparently carrots don't take kindly to being transplanted - fortunately no one told me or the carrot seedlings!
Second sowing of carrot and leek seeds are now sprouting, as are the purple sprouting broccoli and brussels sprouts in the seed bed next to them.
Potato plants are getting really big now:
"Feltham First" peas are growing very quickly, as are the broad beans next to them.
Several broad beans failed to germinate, so there is a second sowing to fill in the gaps, just breaking through the surface.
French beans have also been a little disappointing, although some have come up, so another row of "Tendercrop" went in today. The first sowing of "Jaguar" peas have started sprouting, sowed another row this afternoon.
Carrot and leek seedlings, transplanted from indoors a few weeks ago, are doing really well. Apparently carrots don't take kindly to being transplanted - fortunately no one told me or the carrot seedlings!
Second sowing of carrot and leek seeds are now sprouting, as are the purple sprouting broccoli and brussels sprouts in the seed bed next to them.
Potato plants are getting really big now:
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
Rain at last!
Mum and Dad gave me a whole bag full of plants at the weekend. While I was planting them yesterday afternoon the heavens opened. What a result, no need to water them in now!
The shed guttering appears to be working successfully - the water butt is about 1/3 full. Another good thing is that the shed appears to be waterproof as I sheltered inside it during the worst of the storm.
The shed guttering appears to be working successfully - the water butt is about 1/3 full. Another good thing is that the shed appears to be waterproof as I sheltered inside it during the worst of the storm.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
More Digging
I'm getting fed up of digging, but the end is in site. Five out of six vegetable beds done, and the sixth partly complete. Still going to be an area of grass left which might be used for flowers if I get around to clearing it this year!
Fruit trees and bushes are mostly looking healthy. Apple, blackcurrant, and strawberry plants are in flower, and there are small gooseberries on the two bushes already.
Started on construction of strawberry and brassica cages to keep out birds, and Cabbage White butterflies respectively. Need some more netting to finish the job.
Fruit trees and bushes are mostly looking healthy. Apple, blackcurrant, and strawberry plants are in flower, and there are small gooseberries on the two bushes already.
Started on construction of strawberry and brassica cages to keep out birds, and Cabbage White butterflies respectively. Need some more netting to finish the job.
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Lots more planting
A belated progress report from last weekend. Spent a total of five hours on the plot on Sunday.
First job was to attach guttering to the shed, and point the downspout at the new water butt. Not a total success - following tests with a watering can it looks like the brackets need spacers behind them as most of the water over-shoots the gutter.
Made a start on clearing the ditch. Just about everybody who has come over for a chat has mentioned that it is my responsibility to keep the ditch clear, so I thought it was time to do something before the nettles, bindweed and brambles took over. About 2/3 done, the rest can wait for another day.
Then, on to the fun stuff...
Two apple trees planted as cordons, leaving space for a third in the row. They are Egremont Russet - late fruiting and a good keeper, and James Grieve - mid-season fruiting but doesn't keep so not one often seen in the shops. The plan is to add an early variety to provide a long season of fresh apples.
When in Wilkinsons on Saturday morning, I picked up red- and a black-currant bushes. Unspecified variety, but for £1 each it's worth a try!
Lots of weeding; the pieces of Couch Grass rhizome missed while digging are all sprouting, Bindweed is exploding into life, and the very unwelcome Marestail is sending shoots up. All under control for the moment.
Both Catriona and Desiree potatoes are showing leaves now. The Feltham First peas have stalled after a sustained attack by something that left bite marks all around the leaves - Flea Beetle according to one of the other allotmenteers. Sowed some Jaguar pea seeds which will hopefully miss the breeding cycle of the beetles.
First job was to attach guttering to the shed, and point the downspout at the new water butt. Not a total success - following tests with a watering can it looks like the brackets need spacers behind them as most of the water over-shoots the gutter.
Made a start on clearing the ditch. Just about everybody who has come over for a chat has mentioned that it is my responsibility to keep the ditch clear, so I thought it was time to do something before the nettles, bindweed and brambles took over. About 2/3 done, the rest can wait for another day.
Then, on to the fun stuff...
Two apple trees planted as cordons, leaving space for a third in the row. They are Egremont Russet - late fruiting and a good keeper, and James Grieve - mid-season fruiting but doesn't keep so not one often seen in the shops. The plan is to add an early variety to provide a long season of fresh apples.
When in Wilkinsons on Saturday morning, I picked up red- and a black-currant bushes. Unspecified variety, but for £1 each it's worth a try!
Lots of weeding; the pieces of Couch Grass rhizome missed while digging are all sprouting, Bindweed is exploding into life, and the very unwelcome Marestail is sending shoots up. All under control for the moment.
Both Catriona and Desiree potatoes are showing leaves now. The Feltham First peas have stalled after a sustained attack by something that left bite marks all around the leaves - Flea Beetle according to one of the other allotmenteers. Sowed some Jaguar pea seeds which will hopefully miss the breeding cycle of the beetles.
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