Plum Tree
Planted our new victoria plum tree yesterday. As it’s blowing a gale (again!) today, I hope it’s still standing. Doesn’t look much does it?
More Weeding
I’m happy enough with what I call the back square - I’ve dug loads of couch grass and ground elder out!
I’ll be plonking my onion sets in very soon. I’ve ordered more this year - last years crop lasted until about November I think. We seem to get through loads of onions at home so a bigger harvest this year can’t do any harm!
Question On Garlic
My garlic seems to be growing but the tips of the leaves are brown. As there’s still sometime to go before it’s ready to be harvested (I planted it in November I think it was) is is right that the leaves are already going brown?
Chitting Potatoes
Got my spuds chitting in readiness for planting at the end of the month or so. Estima and Maris Piper this year. Not sure if I’ve got enough …might get some more. Here’s a few of them huddled together. Monty Don reckons it’s worth doing …chitting was mentioned during last Friday evenings Gardeners World.
As any Hoylake local will know, it’s been as windy as only Hoylake can be last few days. Off to the plot later to see if my new shed is still there/in one piece.
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:
Wind and Beans
Wind and beans are often used together to good effect in schoolboy humour - but no such jokes in this post!
Wind: Well, as per usual for Hoylake recently, it’s been blowing like crazy again in the last few days. It’s curtailed my running, bashed the trellis in our back garden and re-salted our windows again. Having said that, I didn’t spot much damage on my way down to the plot on Saturday afternoon, unlike last Jan when we had the strongest winds for many years (allegedly). Had a bit of a fire to burn some weeds and did a bit of weeding too. Had to cut my visit short to fit in some hospital visiting unfortunately.
Beans: Moved my trays of broad beans from the garage into the utility room the other day ‘cos nothing much was happening …well, nothing was happening actually. Now starting to see a few sprouting through the compost at last.
Want to crack on with more weeding this week! And I’ve got some packets of seeds to use too including leeks - they need sowing in the next week or so according to the packet. My Mum bought me a packet of melon seeds for Christmas and I think I need to get cracking with those soon as well.
Wirral Groups: Access To Allotments
It’s apparent that the demand for local allotment plots continues to rise. It was mentioned at our own AGM that just our site has in excess of 35 people on the waiting list.
A local group has contacted me, asking to give their efforts to improve the availability of Wirral allotments a mention:
The Access To Allotments Action Group (find their web page here) has this stated aim:
…to press for the provision of suitable and sufficient allotments for the residents of Wirral.
On the groups web page you’ll find out more about their current activities, past actions and contact details too. So do pay them a visit here if you’d like to find out more.
-
Seed Shopping
-
-