Wednesday, April 27, 2005

False sense of security

Can't help thinking that I have kind of managed to sort get a little bit on top of things down at weed world. But there is this lingering feeling about a mass of weeds are all hiding under the surface ready to rise up in a eco revolution! So will have to be prepared.

But things are coming together. Got 4 rows of peas in and covered with some perspex to stop the cheeky birds. There were also 2 rows of onions set. This was all done on Thursday of last week 21th.

Seedlings wise the artichokes are up and looking great. This is along with the red cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce and the beginnings of the tomatoes. Planted a load of French beans and pumpkins last week. Still waiting on the peppers.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Quick Catch-up

Pumpkins planted on Monday in 75mm pots.
Strawberries planted last weekend.
Glass purchased for green ghouse £30
Amazing cold frame delivered. Thanks Joe my bro, its a great job. (photo to follow)
Not enough sorted yet.

I am getting worried at the moment (as worried as one might get about casual allotmenting) that because April has been such a rainy month, that I have got badly behind in my planting . French beans, onions and peas should be in by now.

Hopefully there is a change for the better in the weather soon.

Scary Roots

Was planting these asparagus crowns on Tuesday night and couldn't help thinking they reminded me of something unpleasant. Well, just there, when I was looking at the photo again, it suddenly struck me they have a bit of a resemblance to the alien in Alien when it attaches itself to the guys face. Eeeck! Wondered why I didn't really feel comfortable planting them. Or maybe it was just cause I wasn't sure if I was doing it right.

Friday, April 15, 2005

Aspiring to Asparagus

An order of 12 asparagus crowns arrived on wed. from Jane's Lane Nursery from eBay. Thought they were very reasonable. I had some for dinner the other night and thought, this is the way forward. Aim to plant them this weekend and hope to have myself some tender green spears next year. Oh I can wait!

Got those great looking red and blackcurrent bushes in last night. Just hope it wasn't too late to plant them as they are in leaf. I put them in front of the green house as a wind break.

Thursday, April 14, 2005


A few illustrator illustrations


Tuesday, April 12, 2005

It's getting there

So in went the spuds on Saturday. My method of creating a raised bed and popping the tubers into a trowel dug hole with some dung, may not have been as labour saving as digging a few drills. Hope I left enough space between rows to allow easy earthing over if required.

Yet more raspberry canes arrived, thanks to Joe, and for the offer of some red and black current bushes. Most appreciated.

Work over the week and at the weekend got the floor of the greenhouse in order, irises planted by Morag, general digging done, some lettuce and freesias planted and started on some drills. It has been rather wet of late.

Monday, April 04, 2005

Flagging

No, it's not really how I would describe my mental state in relation to the allotment, its just that I managed to get hold of a few concrete flagstones at the weekend. Thanks to Chris for all the help with heavin around those 3' X2's. There not light sure.

Saturday afternoon was so sunny that the big bad cutter's wharf monster kidnapped me and made me drink pints in the sunshine, also those flags had near kilt me, so there were no spuds planted.

Sunday managed get most of the unbroken glass into the greenhouse with the help of my wonderful assistant Morag. Then later that evening we done some exciting seed planting. Got the:
Tomatoes
Leeks
Artichokes
Some carrots
Cauliflower
and Red Cabbage

sown in their trays and under glass. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Friday, April 01, 2005


Morag found one of those disposable cameras the other week and it happened to contain shots of some of our first visits to the allotment. Here's a college of what it was like....
in the beginning