A change in the weather

Tonight we had a lot of fun down on the plot. We were a bit disappointed, as the weather had been awful all day but we wanted to go down. However, on our way back down the M6, the sun came out (insert appropriate comment on the sun shining on the righteous) and we managed to get down. It was quite busy, and we met some of our new members, who appear to have a huge amount of children. It was a lovely evening, and we managed to get all the lobelia planted along our path and in front of the herb patch (which, incidentally is getting a bit too successful for its own good!) We were very excited to see the large amount of tomatoes which have developed, some are even turning yellow so were are hopefully not too far away from harvesting them. The potatoes are officially out of control and totally doing their own thing, but Si has rigged up a fence contraption to try and stop them harassing the onions too much. We also appear to have got a lot more carrots than we thought, so that's good.

The most interesting news is that someone had been into our greenhouse to leave an entry form for the annual competition. (We think our greenhouse is visited quite a lot when we are not there, bit we're not sure why or by whom). Any initial thoughts of entering were dashed when we actually read the rules, as I think we both realised that other competitors would obviously be operating at a far more advanced and in-depth level than we could ever muster enthusiasm for. However, we are thinking of going to see it, so I may manage a victoria sponge to show willing, and Si is currently deciding whether to enter a "dressed doll" or piece of crochet. It's a toughie.

A Harvest of Salad

Just went down to sort out the greenhouse as it has been a difficult couple of weeks and the Tomatoes need a bit of TLC. Did a lot of watering and feeding with various additives for the soil. I think we've got some more magnesium deficiency and we may have a problem with leaf roll virus, although it could be that they needed a good lot of water. They looked a lot better when I left anyway.
It's a good job I had to tend to the greenhouse as the rain was really coming down. I didn't need to do the rest of the plot. Instead I picked some lettuces and brought them home quickly, before I was wet through to the bone. I took a photo of them once they were in the dry:

PHEW

That's it, really. Just PHEW!

All Fine

Been down after my morning shift today and I can report that everything's fine on the plot. Not as much can be said for the signage at manchester airport which has blown down and blocked the motorway causing massive tailbacks on the M60.
I sured up the greenhouse which was creaking a little but absorbing the wind well. I had to harvest the next two cucumbers as they will start to ruin the rest of the crop. Not that they're small. So that'll be numbers five and six from the same plant!

 

Worries

Today, I was awoken by major winds. They were so strong, I had to phone Si at work to task him to go on his way home to check the greenhouse, in case the tomatoes and cucumbers are spread over the rest of the allotments. (One of our cars is currently out of action, so this wasn't extreme laziness on my part, I couldn't get there myself!) We are currently awaiting the news... 

General updates

The blogs are getting a bit less frequent, as a lot has settled down on the front patch now, so it would mainly be lists of things we have eaten, which I think would get a bit tedious after a while. In brief, we have eaten truly astonishing amounts of lettuce, the cucumberiest tasting cucumbers we have ever had, many radishes and some extremely peppery rocket (it takes about 5 seconds to kick in, and then blows your head off). 

In other news, we are waiting for the potatoes and tomatoes to be ready, and in the slightly longer term, still awaiting beetroot, spring onions and normal onions. We are also turning our attention to the back section, but we've had a lot of rain recently, so the digging has been a bit of a non-starter. We are also doing very well on the flower front, with nearly everything in bloom. 

One of the most exciting recent events was the arrival of a bench. We now have somewhere to sit and something to balance our sandwiches on, which is very useful. We also have an excellent plastic box, which we can keep nearly everything in/ This means we have reclaimed the en suite (which was temporarily a shed) and most of the car boot. 

Due the all the rain, which was usually accompanied by a lot of sun, everything has gone a bit insane. The mint is a small production factory all on its own, and we are now very pleased we listened to all the people who told us to plant it in the ground in pots to keep it under control. We ended up buying quite a lot of mint, as a lot of our plants looked like they were going to die at one point or other, but it turns out they are surprisingly robust and recovered pretty quickly. Mojito, anyone?

The greenhouse plants also enjoyed the sun. The cucumber reaches the roof and the tomatoes are not far behind, and have started to fruit. The chilli is in full bloom and will hopefully begin giving us chillis fairly soon. 

Lots of photos to follow, including Si getting artistic with the camera, so expect lots of close ups of potatoes and the like.

Staying in this weekend as I think the rain will be taking care of the allotment for us...

B x

Plot Cam 15

The new bench arrives	Beccy and I pose for a catalogue shot
The bench is immediately put to good use	Mint factory in full swing
Yew Tree Allotment site	Beccy poses with the Tomatoes, Cumcumbers and Capsicum
The tomatoes are fruiting!
Potato trenches, these are the maincrop (maris piper)
Our Dahlias are looking lovely	A forest of beetroot!

Plot Cam 14

Inside the Greenhouse
Si watering in the maincrop potatoes
The middle bed	The herb garden
Plot Cam!

When to Sow, Plant, or Harvest...

So Beccy has created a handy-look-up table for sowing/planting/harvesting. I was tasked to take it from Excel and put it here, no mean feat, let me assure you.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Artichokes (Globe)

P

P

P

H

H

Artichokes (Jerusalem)

H

P/H

P

P

P

H

H

H

Asparagus

P

P

P/H

H

Aubergines

S

S

P

P

H

H

H

H

Beetroot

S

S

S

S

S/H

S/H

S/H

H

H

Broad beans

S

S

S/P

S/P

P/H

H

H

H

S

S

S

Broccoli

H

H

H

S/H

S/P

S/P

S/P/H

H

H

H

H

H

Brussel Sprouts

H

H

S/H

S/P

S/P

P

P

H

H

H

Carrots

S/H

S/H

S/H

S

S/H

S/H

S/H

H

H

H

H

H

Cauliflowers

S/H

H

P/H

S/P

S/P/H

P/H

P/H

P/H

H

S/H

S/H

S/H

Celeriac

H

H

S/H

S/P/H

P

P

P

H

H

H

H

Chicory

S

S/P

S/P/H

S/H

S/H

H

H

Chillis

S

S

S

P

P

H

H

H

H

Courgettes

S

S/P

S/P

H

H

H

H

Cucumbers

S

S

S/P

P

P/H

H

H

H

H

Endive (broad leaved)

S

S

S

Endive (frizzy)

S

S

S

S

S

S

Fennel

S

S/P

S/P/H

S/P/H

H

H

French beans

S

S

S/P/H

S/P/H

H

H

H

Garlic

P

P

H

H

H

P

P

P

Kale

H

H

H

S/H

S/H

S/P

P

P

H

H

H

H

Leeks

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/P/H

P

P

H

H

H

H

H

H

Lettuces

S

S

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/H

H

H

Marrows

S

S/P

S/P

H

H

H

H

Melons

S

S

S/P

H

H

H

H

Okra

S

S

P

P

H

H

H

Onions

P

H

H

H

H

P/H

P

P

Parsnips

H

S/H

S/H

S

S

H

H

H

H

Peas

S

S

S

S/H

S/H

H

H

H

Peppers

S

S

S

P

P

H

H

H

H

Potatoes

P

P

P

H

H

H

H

H

H

Pumpkins

S

S/P

S/P

H

H

H

H

Radishes

H

S

S

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/H

H

H

H

Rhubarb

P

P

P

P

H

H

H

P

P

P

Runner beans

S

S

S/P/H

S/P/H

H

H

H

Shallots

P

H

H

H

H

P/H

P

P

Spinach

S

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/H

H

Spinach (perpetual)

S

S/P/H

S/P/H

S/H

H

H

H

H

Spring onions

S/P

S/P

S/P

S/P

S/P

S/P

Swedes

S

S

H

H

H

H

Sweetcorn

S

S/P

S/P

H

H

H

H

Sweetcorn (baby)

S

S

Swiss Chard

H

H

H

S/H

S/P/H

S/P/H

S/H

S/H

H

H

H

H

Tomatoes

S

S

S

P

P

H

H

H

H

Turnips

S

S

S

S/H

S/H

S/H

S/H

H

H

H

H

RED

Sow

YELLOW

Plant

BLUE

Harvest

ORANGE

S/P/

PURPLE

S/H

GREEN

P/H

BROWN

S/P/H