New Shed
Finally got myself a shed down on the plot!
I’ve been after a shed for over 12 months and in true allotmenting spirit I didn’t want to spend any/much cash on one. So a big thanks to my good mate Simon for brokering a freebie deal for me - one of his garden maintenance customers wanted rid of the shed and I was only too willing to take it. Next job is to attach a gutter - I managed to acquire a suitable piece this morning out of a local skip. Then another water butt needs to be found. I’ve got one on the plot that needs repairing - it’s got a crack that leaks right at the bottom …attempted to fix it last year but it still leaked!
Beyond Repair
Not much life left in these!
How Do My Broad Beans Grow?
Not too bad I think. I’ll be planting them out when the frosty mornings end. This photo was taken 10 days ago - they’re looking stronger now.
There Are Plenty Of These
I’ve got lots of these under the soil surface:
Some have been there before I took on the plot at the start of 2007, and others have returned since I dug a lot out last year. Novice mistake last year …don’t let weeds grow back !
Ground looks better without the grass like weed though:
A Little Bit of Sunshine
Down on the plot for about an hour this afternoon to do some weed digging. The ground is a bit on the wet side really but needs must (or should be weed must!). A few fellow plotters cracking on with things too.
Lovely afternoon after all the rain we’ve had - decided to take a couple of snaps to mark the occasion.
About to ride home in this one:
Hope to back on Wednesday.
New Water Butt
Managed to win a water butt on ebay from a chap in Wallasey for £3.28. One of the must-do jobs for this season is to somehow fix a gutter to my side of the gutterless greenhouse. Whilst I’m currently capturing some rain water in the old tin bath there’s alot of precious rainwater going begging (there is no mains water on tap on the site).
Yes, I know there are a lot of weeds around!
Garlic Is Sprouting
The Solent White garlic is starting to sprout.
I ordered four bulbs from Suttons and then split the bulbs into the individual cloves (which you then plant just below the surface) and I’m now wondering if I’ll end up with too much.
Little Cucumbers
Great to see something growing. The cucumber plants seem to be doing alright at the moment. Suspect I’ve not pruned the tomato plants correctly ‘cos they look a little bushy and I don’t think that they should. Aubergine plants are a lovely purple colour and look healthy enough.
Outside, the pea and mange-tout seeds just haven’t appeared for whatever reason. Maybe I planted them a bit too deep? Next time I’ll start the seeds off in a length of gutter in the greenhouse and then plant them on.
Made another bed in the front section and just need to dig it over again to get a few more weeds out. Need some more timber to mark out a few more beds.
Next door (plot 68) neighbour Simon was dropping off a load of paving slabs to use on his plot as new paths. Nice to bump into Liz, Chris and family too for a chat at the level crossing on the walk home.
Inside The Greenhouse
Here are my very first (ever) tomato plants inside the main greenhouse. Remember that I’ve only got a half share in the big greenhouse - my neighbours, Simon and Sabina have the other side.
Seemingly, the tomatoes are doing okay so far. No flowering yet - I wonder when that will happen? Aubergine plants (2 of) are looking okay and are a wonderful deep purple colour. Can’t remember the last time we ate aubergine so we’ll be scouring the recipe books out in a few weeks.
I’ve also got about 5 cucumber plants in too. Now I’ve been wondering if they are doing okay because some of their leaves have turned brown but they’re all growing so I’m not sure what the problem is - if at all.
Attack Of The Weeds
What with one thing and another I just haven’t had chance to get down to plot 69 since last Wednesday. As the photo shows the (presumed) chickweed has enjoyed the recently, unseasonally warm and sunny weather. The onions appear to be growing but the 6 broadbean plants that Dave gave me don’t seem to fairing so well (sorry Dave!).
Rose (the person) paid me a by-chance visit this afternoon and also thought that the weed is chickweed and she suggested that I simply hoe the weed out - so that’s an important job for over the weekend. Need to get some seeds in too! Sometimes I fret that I’m not ready and veg isn’t yet planted - but when I visit the plot and spy on my neighbours I feel (slightly) re-assured. It doesn’t help that my left-hand neighbours, Frank and Dave, manage their triple plot with army like precision - well, that’s how it seems through my novice eyes.
Over in the fruit cage the red currant bush and the raspberry canes appear to be doing well. If they and other bushes give fruit then we’ll be picking lots of it.
Looking forward to the weekends weeding and planting session already. Also looking forward to taking a few more snaps of more veg (seeds) being planted - it’ll be an education in pictures for our 2 young girls as the seeds turn into veg that they can eat. Actually, I’m toying with idea of setting up another flickr account, along the lines of this one that I’ve just setup for my to-be developed site about Hoylake. I’ll see how the time goes.
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Seed Shopping
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