A few Raspberries

Seemed there was no need to spend £15 on raspberry canes as they have been coming to me from all roads and directions. Mystery ones, Tom's ones Grainne's ones and Sally's ones. Had so many that the neat row (see dia.below) was last night surpassed by the quick, stick them in the ground method, no dung or nothing. So I will see what happens there.

So along with MORE digging I planted 43 cauliflower seeds last night in the new improved extended spring evenings.

This is was an attempt to make up for my trip away with the halions at the weekend to Scotland for some biking action. The bruises are healing nicely thanks.

Raspberry Plan

Greenhouse insitu

Last Spring

Spring, this year

Progress

Here are a couple of self encouraging photos. The first shows things as of Saturday there. It was a useful day consisting of a couple of hours digging and sitting down drinking some tea.

The other photo is one that I found the other day that had been taken last year. It shows the areas that were dug over and the amount of weedy areas that I am dealing with this year.

The green house got itself a spot there on Friday. Thanks to Dad who helped me gather up a few old blocks from around the house and get a pretty level base constructed for my new tropical paradise. See picy.

As time moves towards the end of March, I am becoming aware of the fact that I haven't really planted that much yet. The reason being that I think I have become mildly obsessed with getting all the ground looking nice and brown and weed free. Things like the early potatoes, the tomato seeds and most of the other seeds would need potted up or planted. It might be a good idea for me to redirect my energies .

Where a week goes.

Well its all happening down in Eden. The council have been in clearing old plots out to create room for more diggers. So that should lead to a small indent on the allotment waiting list.

As for myself, the last post or so has encompassed two weekends. The first was reasonably productive with MORE digging done, but last weekend there, being a bit of a non event. Too much out on the town-ness! But thankfully the evenings are starting to loose their grip and I have been able to pop down for an hour after work which is a great tonic to a day in an office.

Got the garlic planted last Thursday and attempted to get some raspberry canes in. Got 5 though the post in a paper bag. That was strange. Sally, next plot, gave me a few and last night I was down and 3 or 4 had been heeled into the middle of the allotment. So thanks in advance of knowing who they are from.

I am becoming conscious (not just in general) of the things that are needing planted or seeds potted up. Maybe if I stopped all this incessant typing and did some work! No, its all the digging that is the bulk of the work at the moment. Reaching the point call perseverance, but it'll all be fine.

Respect to the RHS

A few links from the RHS that relate to what I am aiming to grow this year.

Tomatoes
Fleece
Chillies
Transplanting
Summer Veg
Knowing your Onions!

A different Approach

So, Saturday was another day of digging. After last Saturday's difficult session I was a bit wary of the effort involved. But after a start with the spade I thought this is not really happening so, though frustration, out came the fork and started loosening the root bound soil. After a few different tacks, I found that good progress was being made. Within I couple of hours I had cleared a larger areas than expected and decided the fork was the way forward.

I think it was the fact that weeds such as nettle, bindweed and couch grass have been growing in these areas for about 6 years and have totally over run the soil.

The only consolation is the fact that nettles are an indicator of good soil.

Also laid out the Winston early potatoes to chit.