tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81757058034119620472024-03-13T01:31:18.038+00:00Fork it ... a Gloucester allotmentmy version of events in converting an overgrown allotment..by Glosterwombleglosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-35792043435513002602009-07-24T12:05:00.005+00:002009-07-24T12:56:54.238+00:00Come rain or shine!<div><div><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361997634460517634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVu0doRA0XhNRai2Zvh1vFFKN-cqpiUyhSjwYELD2edjqhSbQBJqJ-lDMCKqSMJFSCR5os4381tJ8UYb-AwV6fOttLb15HHNd8IVuT9S8iHMhQkloVMTWFMuNHTMsHgGu6mIUmkV0Fhs/s400/all6.JPG" /> I was told by friends earlier in the year that we were supposed to be having a proper summer this year, I'm not qute sure what's happened. I know it's not been cold but my God the rain!! It seems to have been beautiful sunshine one minute and then we get a torrential downpour the next,. I'm getting very worried about the risk of blight as this warm and wet weather is perfect breeding conditions for fungal disease. I'm not so worried about the potatoes as we had fab earlies and I can rescue some main crops now if blight comes. What does drive me mad is trying to get my tomatoes to ripen in time. I grow all my toms outside so the chance of blight is higher, I am determined to have a greenhouse before next spring though.<br /><div> </div><div>The browny/rusty coloured plant in the picture above is a parsnip from last year which I have left on purpose to get the seeds, I'm amazed at how tall they grow!! It must be at least 5 foot tall. I'm not sure if the seed will be much good but they always say that parsnip seed must be as fresh as possible so I thought I'd have a go at saving my own.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362004377568782930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEoQdGUenA_L9DAIGtiHfO_NZLJ2RUOk9a1EfEO_wJu0gtu7v9nq8RRa1bzxOfWuKSJxP3wbN7hJ0zYjdcERD2wjAld4N5zLgZahGjPUTUrs96cv3Xbcv1AlOVU_axb0qw7C5gd44itc/s400/all5.JPG" /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361999710967589202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3L2dx8qVh02CRtKH9BwplCmw-eQ5kIz_mq8fUC8-W5L7w1YKbMYOlu-llvRzZpum5NV81fibp_1a-QJpEsQcYW6tUMO6AEXsMoiby9PPXFJ-yvVT3x_6tekY4jBgqMyPp07oWc_sYJM/s400/onionsjul09.JPG" /><br />We've started to harvest some of our onions, I think because of the weather being hot one moment then raining the next that they are confused and some have started going to seed. The ones that have started to do that must be used up first as they wont keep but the rest have been set out to dry and then will be tied into strings.<br /> We've also harvested our garlic which is the first time we've been succesful with garlic, I bought the garlic to plant from an ethnic supermarket down the road from us and it's worked really well.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362004355370805586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnroWMzzpqlip4hHJ7GJvgyHnyZvXlgAlVxVYvwgBeWTjjahORpSlTbPh5INXSIyHQAFOdLEhyphenhyphen6IjnJrCftIw_EH5cObLxhG0ZqRiAZdXVaowYf9Bo9hCpw2nVA9aE-jOCeOsmDcBhiY/s400/collyclose09.JPG" />I've also just harvested my first ever cauliflower!! Just the one!! But boy he was a whopper, almost the size of a football. I decided to use some for tea the first night we harvested it and then I blanched and froze the rest, I'm never sure about freezing things as they always seem to loose something in the taste and texture.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362004358573368834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUADs_iwad5hsQYd5MoIaWPRaRS5L8uToczsV1LP4X-VNfdqcNFGpewJWf0q8_RSWNEoS8Qb3YBqsl6W2enScLqJ4DZYXnPXcOH4c0GkcciCg-cbRjUhJTFFLDL58mnSG74nLEKBflBI/s400/pumpkinjul09.JPG" />We've also planted loads of pumpkins and squash this year, if you've never had roasted squash then you haven't lived! I love butternut squash as you get a really nice sweet and nutty taste when roasting it. This pumkin looks like it's going to be a big 'un, it's early days but it's going for it, I've just lifted it up and put some wood under it to stop it from just sitting on the damp ground and rotting.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362004365404521762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiV0dTEun3mKyEJ3lFwu-4CKHFsN4RYyghTIBf3Wg3z-wWUvRrmQmtwTubCY17mT6xioI2WTeSW4Cmd2xalYRavNG2HG-dPU2U0eGJzLH-MQLbmbacSqagoMzKzpPcHZ0giygEa0L9qIw/s400/sunflower09.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362004368030491874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPckK2broESWDnW8dSLRMX92dP1-Wu2gpFxdVTt_k9sH4cQ_U6U9Q2hb5b-hotKX5wCRiFn7SeT2hj45_Ojxa1gxORqUHe_xvypGn-sJBMyW2iSXmeXPQPJhfNdXgenDEaw7WhGcT1mq8/s400/verbenasunflowers.JPG" /><br /><div>And finally our 'cutting garden' side of the plot is starting to blossom like mad, the sunflowers were such a success last year that we decided to try some more, I think this lot are 'little leo'. 3 in a vase on their own look great, such a smiley flower!!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-48400115056780082872009-06-30T22:04:00.004+00:002009-07-01T21:15:10.134+00:00Summer time! (...and it's hot, hot, hot!)<div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353246235021874914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6kCbp-GM6ruQP9Ij2InONzeldx-kynXiZsrx30v8jWofPSjTUlWMyazGxcJRruLkO-XUnTDtEzbIXMqqD2D5CIAyT45zW_94tvC1bRIn35hI7KvNV2NRsE4zrwuF3bve0V_I5WhqrHc/s400/DSCN4845.JPG" /><span style="font-size:78%;">'D' strimming the plot</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><div align="left">So ... lots has happened since my last posting on here about the plot. Sadly we suffered more vandelism, I once again stomped my feet and said 'stuff the allotment' and was ready to jack it in for all of 5 minutes! I suppose it is part of having an open garden but it still hurts to find things trashed.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Anyway, we've bounced back and despite the heatwave that is making us wilt lots is growing well at the plot. Watering has been increased to try and help the plants cope with the incredible heat, most days it has reached 32 degrees this week!! </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">We're just about at the end of the broad bean season which has been great. I never used to like them but we tend to double pod them mostly now, it makes such a difference and removes any bitter taste. The new potatoes have been great, a really nice flavour from both the Belle de Fontenay and Carlingford varieties.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353590227838386130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eIjrpk37ZeSw8VW9MvcQcM-fVbQGl9cayZVeMT267d-Ed4cBFu_AomLcVelMDLiT2u1Ywhpxk0iyCr1PzPk_BS9Jf3wOFWcq1o7UGk5eB7VHrJWhcg0STeR_QjdHJnAfRGo59w5EGOk/s400/DSCN4843.JPG" /><span style="font-size:78%;">'Globe Artichokes'</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><br /><div align="left">A veg I have never eaten despite having a HUGE plant on the plot is Globe Artichoke, we planted it more for the look of the structural leaves than to eat! However it has produced loads of 'Globes' this year so it felt criminal not to have a go at cooking some. I never knew how to cook Globe artichokes but like most things a quick internet search gave instructions. Basically you just cut the stem off the base to make a flat base, snip the points of the scales with scissors, slice the top off (like a boiled egg) and then sit it in boiling water to half way up the globe and simmer for 20-40 mins depending on size of globe. When ready one of the scales should come away easily when pulled.<br /></div><div align="left">To eat it, pull each scale off one at a time and dip in butter or sauce and scrape the end with your teeth to eat the flesh, once all the scales are eaten then you eat the artichoke heart, firstly you remove the furry inner bit to expose the heart flesh at the base of the inner part of the globe this is a saucer shaped bit at the bottom, eat in the same way dipped in butter or sauce. Very simple to do and delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Most of the rest of the plot is doing well, most things are bigger than previous years and crops are generally producing well, we put lots of effort into digging in manure and preparing all the beds this year so it looks like our hard work is paying off, here's to a good summer!!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353599734261860130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsADPfLjop1R2_pOpF0nBFgHjNGy31Zk5mlC9fuajUaElVEkUjg1giL3x2NWoX7_gHIG7n9scLygiNDv1GbCjsSFDR-El1C4FQ2x69VlPDHtIl4iSVCytplBKE2_rh1TeTD8_nRvZlaJk/s400/DSCN4844.JPG" /></div></div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-14223655442639509162009-06-28T19:52:00.003+00:002009-06-28T20:57:37.901+00:00Long time no see!!I have been told off for not updating the blog by friends so this is a quick post to say hi to all!! The allotment is blooming away and feeding us well, I've been so busy with work that I haven't had the chance to update the blog. At the moment we're harvesting new potatoes, broad beans, red onions, peas, strawberries, raspberries, rocket, courgette and artichokes.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><br />I don't have any pics at the moment so here are a couple of the garden at home!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352470514075356146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1Q5Go98rpNzh7kXZDX2Ymrk5rZv87o6rpmVQNymxeR4T0h14kUBjmZHueSICu7q6Azr3chrmEhgGsorz26vvvVctR8PgjsM5u-nQgtZvm-7gNDuX_hOweNh16Ak1p99mSL8jCBT3Yjw/s400/DSCN4823.JPG" />After a marathon 5 hour session in the garden yesterday it is looking great, the pics don't do it justice as I ran out a few minutes ago to take the pics and its getting dark now.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352470513927834034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDworzgHBv2AXorNd3jYe7llClDmrhn0HGscyxLl9Nb7EXCIeZHYlKiVjxgX9oHShR1MV0l6oqaObSyxXSADF_2dFs1QJbXyMkVppL7B9jcr5gQdNvlOCX23NHICp0LE7KpLYma_nDDw/s400/DSCN4819.JPG" />The tomatoes are doing well, I've suffered from blight for the past couple of summers and not actually managed to harvest ripe tomatoes. This year I'm trying out the ring culture method of tom growing, it apparently gives more root structure and a stronger plant which can hopefully withstand disease more.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352470504154584706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYcSVX3EBZe8gji4_6YzOP2Ivo-um6f0AnedmtNKL8PTJFHsGSJkehgjjarwc53bVynA7jqRjdwKd9_CqON8RM01i002YRunEAi8_mkipqVQcq7yOQ0mVyc3hIe8w0aBbFnItEYxip5s/s400/DSCN4827.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>The other edibles that I'm growing at home are chilli plants (in window boxes), figs and tumbling tomatoes (in hanging baskets). These are all at the front of the house as it gets more sun then the back garden and the brick walls of the house radiate the suns heat. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352483493654435074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6ia7Ql3kQ3pAGejtFYcF4czrptLNDS5i27eobq0smfpJUE3G-Lt9SNNM4E4FW_e_5PPbitWzeGl8fw5kKWMFM-hrnNXgG9de9lnd6C86Da-6y8faqdyLwWBo_TaA_CCAX9RYbbEuZ8A/s400/DSCN4833.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352483491789748738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9wgUruXX1NL0nJncsnkU_lZ_5fPERGL0bChLJV_s7BwxTlir_b5p91TP9kINq40YFLOc2hJObdDC4Sz_LLZ6a4MlHhceo7R_AB8NAtk83Tn0BhJLAHAzPw-ehA0UVEc3EZvjmpQLAPo/s400/DSCN4829.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352483496018956466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpYE8j-NhdPUxsYVHkUhIzC12ZDgNeAIQc8oCztl2lWvfjiTPy4DnvuPWxd3EBa7UZQRhl5UoyUJUvHnMEuazaRK_gK_H1mjJwO-0jq686Y-puUZfzmM74wDQN7XWwxo7H_Wtg7QCQm8/s400/DSCN4834.JPG" />Tomorrow is an allotment day for us so I will take pictures and try to get back to my regular updates! </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-81423570803977885802009-03-23T22:05:00.006+00:002009-03-23T23:00:00.607+00:00Spring!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316508895712648386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUbhl6B5yXCOPjY5Sm1V4nJTpRQfLgCbnulwekClk3xurpgJrvJaIXPHaQNWcesMrF9SOiygqWD_ddmZz4gtRpBL65DQD2c9INB4tpit96l2A33F8LN7KeT4n8rGPJ9RGCGp7ZC2PVMM/s400/DSCN4482.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">First Asparagus spear</span></div><br />Believe it or not these are the hands of someone in their late thirties although you would be forgiven for thinking I am at least seventy by this picture!! Anyway, this (I am VERY proud to say!) is our first ever Asparagus. Sadly as this is the first year of planting we won't be able to eat it as it needs to build strength for the first couple of seasons. I'm chuffed though that it has come through as we planted it in the middle of all the VERY cold weather when it went down to -10c some nights, so I wasn't sure it had survived. I must plug <a href="http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/">'Victoriana Nursery Gardens' </a>again for their excellent mail order/internet order service.<br /><br />With Easter being at a more normal time this year ( very early last year) I decided to jump ahead for planting the first early potatoes. I've tried to stick to planting on the traditional day of 'Good Friday' in previous years but we will be travelling this year during Easter so I decided to do them now as it's been such good weather. I've chosen Belle de Fontenay again for my 'firsts' as they were very good for us last year, good result and taste.<br /><br />This year I have only put muck in the trenches, last year I also put shredded paper with the idea that it would help conserve water, I'm not sure if it made much difference so I'm only doing muck ... LOTS of muck!<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISUSru5QcXLzWdyVsejbgI4WBFQwB98AVCI8DwBwFCwYQtvr7y_8kEtkKic3YMXx81MPd7j7kWE_cGJWlVG1ISPIuGtYYRwqVbMPUfH7zh0EVcib9KAUw7v2cNhxeWUYn5QMn2M70UdM/s1600-h/DSCN4478.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316508909137206514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISUSru5QcXLzWdyVsejbgI4WBFQwB98AVCI8DwBwFCwYQtvr7y_8kEtkKic3YMXx81MPd7j7kWE_cGJWlVG1ISPIuGtYYRwqVbMPUfH7zh0EVcib9KAUw7v2cNhxeWUYn5QMn2M70UdM/s400/DSCN4478.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">Potato trench</span></div><div align="left"><br />After a good week of weather we've been able to get to the plot quite a few times to start the season off and whilst it's still early in the season it's starting to look ok. We've got loads of parsnips still from last year and the Purple Sprouting Broccoli is bloomin' GORGEOUS almost as nice as fresh asparagus tips.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfd3NfdLcmZKb8PMLL3VtnMAwAjB8I9bNKtW24T1kTwuv7udspLl-AvFiahMDWsY-jMp3PJyAkiHZbyFHui5FMRMIifPRHoRXFKYK4r93QuKUsJYgqppeimBNWodiH0ALIrOBIlzUqiY/s1600-h/DSCN4485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316508904347728962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfd3NfdLcmZKb8PMLL3VtnMAwAjB8I9bNKtW24T1kTwuv7udspLl-AvFiahMDWsY-jMp3PJyAkiHZbyFHui5FMRMIifPRHoRXFKYK4r93QuKUsJYgqppeimBNWodiH0ALIrOBIlzUqiY/s400/DSCN4485.JPG" border="0" /></a> I've also managed to get the first of the peas in which I started off in toilet roll tubes last Autumn at home. I've got several more lots just sown for successional sowing as this year I'm hoping for bumper crops of fresh peas!!! You can't beat the taste of peas eaten straight from the pod.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316517452857116674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEsPy-7si8vvFVFghTIl0s-FFfGWtLQBFUTDpaq92uvakc3yPD_H3fK3WDYfuJ71WX0Q2G2Ru-zo4TavNZEgLOOsS3G_QtSpvW0_KCBtqH42NOWc40Te_XAMPIj-U68U9RjcJrDYDK0o/s400/DSCN4458.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Peas against Hazel sticks</span><br /></p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-24986593652966085552009-02-02T06:36:00.001+00:002009-02-02T11:41:15.219+00:00Asparagus planting<div><u><span style="color:#0000ff;"></span></u><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298160816431760754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw94cojeBiP3AxhnyMYsKPE4s6GDOlh1SELNkVSCO5xiy9FZS3wByeelLSbBgvdqCszVNbcLzIuCn9vx7YcHircT2TXWC8ZWXLYfxeLwW65HLm-TjrW3G2K5qQvopo0ktaWfc312JsJE/s400/DSCN4297.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">'D' examining the new Asparagus bed and harvested carrots in foreground</span></div><br /><div></div><div>Well, after a very long break in the blog I'm back! Sorry to anyone who has been waiting for a post (especially the Suffolk contingency!!)<br /><div><br /><div></div><div>So, when we first took on the plot I didn't think we knew that it would last for as long as it has. Part of me wondered if it would be a flash in the pan but no, here we are in our 3rd year. One of the veg that I LOVE is asparagus but one downside of growing your own is the time needed for the plant to mature to the point of being harvestable (is that a word?) I've taken the plunge now and decided that if we're now in our 3rd year that we may well still have the plot in a couple of years so I went and bought some asparagus plants. </div><br /><div>I'm really excited at the prospect of cutting our own fresh asparagus, steamed and smothered in butter and grated parmesan....yuuuummmmmmmm!!!!!!</div><br /><div>I say I went and bought some plants when in reality I sat by our roaring log fire and perused a brilliant website for a nursery in Kent and ordered them. The nursery is called <a href="http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/">''Victoriana Nursery Gardens"</a> and is owned by the Shirley family. I first used the nursery a couple of years ago when I was on the search for a 'Brown Turkey' Fig tree, I was so impressed by their service then that when deciding to buy the asparagus, a crop that will be in the ground for many years, I decided they would be the place to get them from.</div><br /><div>I have to say that once again I'm really pleased by the service I received, a cardboard box arrived with my plants well packaged and masses of literature to read about them and other things. I couldn't resist buying some cauliflower plants from them at the same time as I'm normally rubbish at growing them so I thought I'd start off with some good plants. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298160816911765874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wacSVRugo5il-Ix3fBMbRvtyhdDTbUbqXL7brNwHfjVIxvdA0BLKbwpioc9-Yr6ZRtjfTWrarFVLk62tBIWB28H0eMWbwwX0YlH7_7fypcMene2Lb7RarDtrWkN-4s9aa4SEAfHSQeY/s400/DSCN4300.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Planting the Asparagus 'plugs'</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We went up to our rather soggy plot and dug over a spare bed and then 'D' planted the asparagus plants (well big plugs with roots!) whilst I put the cauliflowers in. Fingers crossed, I can smell the melted butter and parmesan now!!!!</div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-46999567716884063622008-11-09T15:43:00.010+00:002008-11-09T18:58:54.706+00:00Save the environment .... compost your kitchen waste!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266729017313800594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOHKQ4d_RMjSIQjTEkdHPzub1rNKVJYnHSXt4hrKEuIiYsOrAbTzumo1d_d7sJXQQZMjghTLUhgM78xXA6UoqnSOwmkqTlOWAMIZJvUkQi7z4LmpGkQ2jgZy1nnj9GaNqRF98QuG30tY/s400/DSCN4193.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">My 'compost cake' showing rotted and half rotted compost</span><br /><br /></p><p align="left"></p><div align="left"><br />Believe it or not but part of the fight against Global warming is home composting. We throw away an amazing amount of uncooked food waste in our kitchens which when put into landfill tips releases harmful greenhouse gasses as it tries to decompose buried under tonnes of rubbish. The answer is to save it and put it into a home composter to prevent that and also to provide beautifully rich compost to either pot up plants with or enrich flower/veg beds.</div><p align="left">The secret to successful composting is to make sure that you have a good mix of different types of waste. Things fall into different groups ...<br /></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">BROWNS</span> ... Woody garden cuttings twigs and sawdust, cardboard, egg boxes, toilet rolls, newspaper, shredded paper.</p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">GREENS</span> ... Old flowers and bedding plants, uncooked kitchen scraps, peelings, t-bags, grass cuttings, annual weeds.</p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">NEVER PUT IN</span> ... cooked food, meat, perennial weeds with roots, dairy products, diseased plants, cat/dog muck.</p><p align="left">The way to compost well is to make sure you have an ample mix of the above ingredients, keep it damp and just keep feeding the bin.</p><p align="left">It takes about 9-12 months for the ingredients to rot down properly. I find that the best way to access the usable compost is to remove the bin by lifting it up and revealing the bin contents as a <em>'compost cake',</em> you will find that the usable stuff is in the bottom 1/2 section and as you move up the layers become less rotted.<em> </em>I did this the other afternoon with the 2 bins at home, I took the top layers off and put them back into the bin to carry on rotting and then I sieved the usable stuff to produce the most fantastic compost for FREE!!!! About 6 big plastic sacks full! Go on, do your bit for the environment AND your garden!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266729401666940610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJjYkfTISR7JkF9i5y6p6P_s6tudAFXNyzCV03Xqpm8UPP8ZuHWsTzoM4HFgLgdzv7E7d_9EB0AINpLHXYtBmTPTQbxmaEeUrpjDDVzHsJgsoTcONSLbYsxJuqUbg7W9YzqBz2qPAM9k/s400/compostcake.jpg" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Compost cake (courtesy of wrap website)</span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> </div></span><p align="center"></p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-50316464809529331742008-11-03T18:45:00.000+00:002008-11-03T18:47:47.739+00:00All is well<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj480DbY4e6TUmB4EBIw6oKEV5Yv41MLAzHqEaAIYHUM_PFFk9bHJdIllQrDFID-1fpTXDehC9Cl-Eikwbjaw_vTjz3huIvaHnd7_skDyGHJ7TkOoOitzu23j3Efq4T7lqzisxusJAss3g/s1600-h/DSCN4188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264499418770940258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj480DbY4e6TUmB4EBIw6oKEV5Yv41MLAzHqEaAIYHUM_PFFk9bHJdIllQrDFID-1fpTXDehC9Cl-Eikwbjaw_vTjz3huIvaHnd7_skDyGHJ7TkOoOitzu23j3Efq4T7lqzisxusJAss3g/s400/DSCN4188.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well, after having not been up to the plot for weeks due to the weather/vandalism/lack of oomph and stuff, we finally got there to do a bit of tidying up. What with the vandalism and other issues it has been difficult to feel like going and sorting things out but once we got there and got going it reminded us both just how therapeutic it can be.<br /><div><div><div><div> </div><div>The weather has now taken a big turn for the worse and we've had several frosts now which has knocked back all tender plants, it is amazing how one day it can be all green and lush with things still in flower and then the next day it's all brown mush. The next couple of pics were taken a few days before the frosts arrived so we still have chrysanthemums, marigolds and sunflowers in flower.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264488852497497154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNx3dMhTVPuBUvhhmireZ-PBdUOxc7tdn9_Hsd7KyRYdb3dDcbwDn-SoZyqm4myNMGcHTppe74jMZ_dzLH5f6aLrMOmYp1YVZHtLdKgFKhYKd40fSfXlbNfIR60ALjN8nRdYF3HgdGB4/s400/DSCN4167.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:78%;">Calabrese in the foreground with nasturtiums and the remainder of the borlotti beans drying on the canes behind</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264488996920889586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SJ7AuM2-RSrhcdu40EptJVwf_1FhExA5SbfyoD2YUOp48YojJu-ijj7haQs3Lf85qnnBJdfJddocitgVHYe8KlUA64xj8t_-drikIMLuC8JUKssZ-USM-4j0IUETsxtG4XBefQNZQjI/s400/DSCN4168.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div></div></div></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">'D' mowing the grass on plot 2 where all the Chrysanths and Sunflowers are</span></p><br /><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264489177017446402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2pXOewMcvX3fHCaoSWLNUm6vWE3tGxRqE6K7Xcrdz1v7qVdFwgB48fggYXp_vEwi60nWCYrDOC6ewahuUmEBaUxFS3w3ImthjSH9Su2VdI98RflDcDRdCNmw4Ddvl3W3rW5ifLEKrQE/s400/DSCN4171.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Rocket (gone to seed) producing the most beautiful flowers</span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264489420458647634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgR1_S0c0SWI3LNbndj88zQLHpIZnw6_9apZrKhQUlFJ9MM8EOYteDya_UW7tUdCMYqTxuDFZlMoCG2TpwhkVaVgbhEielv0w4kzmcT17oTfJLWf7GWIktlSL-s2Y4NbOhxsHyWB_79U/s400/DSCN4186.JPG" border="0" /></span></p><br /><p align="left">The plot is still producing masses of produce, Parsnips, courgette (marrow sized!), Curly Kale, Cabbage, Calabrese, Summer sprouting broccoli, Carrots, Swede, Squash and pumpkins. I actually like autumn and winter crops a bit more than spring ones I think, nothing can beat oven roasted root veg with a beef casserole and dumplings! The parsnips really have been amazing this year, I chitted the seeds at the beginning of the year (<a href="http://fork-in-hell.blogspot.com/2008/04/spring-has-sprung.html">see here</a>) and can only think that is why they germinated so well and have produced such HUGE sized roots. Sadly the carrots haven't been too great due to slug and carrot fly damage. The fly damage has been really bad this year and I am going to have to put up some sort of barrier next year to prevent it. Apparently they can only fly to 30 cm or so height so if you put a barrier of fleece around the outside of the bed at that height they won't get to them, sounds a bit far fetched but maybe worth having a go.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264489412643372706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUrj2SRdnuIsMTfwzOrCV-s5_j_cFMllN9oTQwtU2NEBndiFxwt2tn6rR0M4cBkcpOTIAiVdMtby8ie0Ac7abxhpe-5T4Dmo41o79DjLtD4-s4pV9vBX8-6ogF3a-ZDRaZzFF1HxDH2g/s400/DSCN4173.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="left">We also harvested the last of the Borlotti beans which I'm drying off to store so that they can be used in stews and soups later on. 'D' surprised me with an early birthday present before we went up to the plot, a pair of Felco secateurs which I had been after since I saw them at Chelsea flower show. They're not cheap and boy can you tell when you use them, they actually work well and cut things properly unlike the £10 ones we normally make do with and they should last a lifetime! The model is number 7 which has a rotating handle to eliminate stress on the hands when using them, the handle swiveling as you squeeze them together feels odd at first but it really does make them feel so easy to use. I can't believe I'm getting excited about secateurs ... I think I'm getting old!!!!!!</p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-10029490416254365762008-09-15T17:54:00.010+00:002008-09-15T18:48:56.767+00:00What a washout!I have now officially given up on summer!! Why can't we have a proper summer!!?<br /><br />I haven't put an update on here for a while as I've been mad busy with starting a new job, I've gone into lecturing which is complete change from standing up cutting hair all day and means as I learn the new ropes I haven't had as much time to update the blog ... sorry!!<br /><br /><br /><br />The onions dried nicely in the plastic greenhouses and I have trawled dozens of websites for plans and tips on how to tie them into strings. I feel really happy with the end result and I've hung them from the beams in the garden room next to the kitchen.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246309726648902258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gFxtDm3KxlJSDQ7p3DCNONBD2mGligYoL1mc6nU630U8KlnC5noYsB4Xoz59izmASAnBppQtUJoBksOm6sKtUnh_5hrIdXTysrfmzuRBH959shyphenhyphenUN5VfoMfqn2yqajcskTm-JNZYkuo/s400/DSCN3904.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />When I planted the seed potatoes I put loads of shredded paper, manure and rotted compost into the bottom of the trenches to help conserve moisture and give some food etc for the developing tubers. What I never expected was a gift wrapped spud to appear. Amongst the shredded paper I put in lots of xmas wrapping paper and obviously amongst it I accidentally put in some of the ribbon that the parcels had been decorated with. When I dug up some of the potatoes last week this one, perfectly wrapped with ribbon, came out. It had grown through the ribbon so it looks like I have actually tied ribbon around it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M3vitXFmK6wl4XzpTeEN8wMZxx64DehoC88aqJxMiTTUYMuisAq985GWGPYrD8yuVHnn0ZfWBOpRhMK-VWzARjhJcXPA_0INydrW8x3Ww40KKtXrBwV6Je2pvoCg7bgD3ay_5CwX-7M/s1600-h/DSCN3938.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246308370393595250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="417" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M3vitXFmK6wl4XzpTeEN8wMZxx64DehoC88aqJxMiTTUYMuisAq985GWGPYrD8yuVHnn0ZfWBOpRhMK-VWzARjhJcXPA_0INydrW8x3Ww40KKtXrBwV6Je2pvoCg7bgD3ay_5CwX-7M/s400/DSCN3938.JPG" width="300" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0yJ6AzPbYyWHgTNasq9nWHJz8WhyphenhyphenvnJpYQTEDGUFQRfVnLCS3aiDUOe4CIPoIz9gupQv5GP8UC0grDKBsZSL9uvuNMdEslitVj26dmEsC8t9YhrSP2DpNLEOOhSKQ8zT6oxt2PJmKUY/s1600-h/DSCN3935.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246308701916182194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 418px" height="381" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0yJ6AzPbYyWHgTNasq9nWHJz8WhyphenhyphenvnJpYQTEDGUFQRfVnLCS3aiDUOe4CIPoIz9gupQv5GP8UC0grDKBsZSL9uvuNMdEslitVj26dmEsC8t9YhrSP2DpNLEOOhSKQ8zT6oxt2PJmKUY/s400/DSCN3935.JPG" width="300" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>On a sad note I received a phone call from our plot neighbour to tell me that the plots had been vandalised, I went up yesterday to have a look for myself.</div><br /><div>Our shed has had the front kicked in to gain access and loads of stuff taken out and thrown around the plot. The pics below show the damage, the metal tin area on the right is the door still securely locked, the smashed in bit to the left was the front wall of the shed.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246310423217986978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8FRnScL9buOqvHqrfaiRdTPomEUeg5iYY6dn2V4uwTQwQoYykLz6lsxP7XI8WYtMeyNJBMBrojmmZ_JcojPQ6S7DlqaYqlQSOj-RzHX3k-gSmAi13-xNSVZl-ID6a6NWxRvL9OIAkf8/s400/DSCN3945.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246310153372718802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirt7O0zuzhHPAMUZOXWtMbjOhUshlb1PECbj5A2BIb4Lsgf2b4Xk_Ci4cfGOLM68Ex0ArCANDFMl3gxZnXJ4ZD0EqUoYVaIJn85Owa8Q_4svoANG4_0W9qceJTgYMETV0x0BTPCAxrWIk/s400/DSCN3946.JPG" border="0" />They also smashed the brassica cage and tore all of it's netting (the pic doesn't show the damage properly) And all of this was done by children who were apparently about 8 or 9 years old!!! One of the plot holders came in when it was happening and apprehended them. I'm so shocked that this amount of damage can be done by such young children! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246309971192730178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1mJtTQ6xbPsMsyAZfqAn3lmTxy0xYfgiJPCtFIOyZDynSG68CvjV-QNf7e4hHUDSJvZOfx92ghVvI9r3yOwqMCGWP-Rvx4ymml54kWtcSTSIskMaXsQESy_qzzx6XQ_jdu8gtE0uxX8/s400/DSCN3944.JPG" border="0" />But the people that really should hold there heads in shame are Gloucester city council, we have been on this site for nearly 2 years now and we have had constant reassurance that the site would be made more secure. We were told at the beginning of the year that £1000 was available to do works and we all agreed that a new gate with locks would help the site. Not only have we not had that but the lock on the current gate went walk abouts about 2 months ago and despite them saying it would be replaced the council and contractors have done nothing ... so now we suffer. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>They have also promised since we arrived that the trackways onto the plot ,that look as if they are breaking health and safety rules, would be dealt with. The next picture shows what the track looks like now. It has rained a lot but this happens after the slightest downpour, as you can see by the mud on the car we are constantly getting stuck in the track and often risk damaging cars and other people. The cul de sac we drive through as we come and go is also getting covered in mud and debris as we come and go, small kids beware!!! Sorry for the rant on here but it has got to the point of being ridiculous now despite an allotment officer having been appointed earlier in the year. A plot gives lots of pleasure and I'm not too down about things but the constant lack of sun and too much rain plus this damage and lack of support from Gloucester City Council has left us all feeling low!! Next update will be positive, I promise!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246310736078521570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3SVokuCL3z9jN1vOc26LY8tjRqlMLUmgBwL6BS1Vliqxul8U-oE0vG5EdTEOPgpnr3FpSoNjpy_OG1xp1gmE3cvLP5ZDAJhcoG8-4IbRaqEPvE7j7mBkssP2v9jyjcImAiAuA5zniYM/s400/DSCN3949.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-26891535634436138812008-08-04T18:57:00.002+00:002008-08-04T19:22:29.981+00:00Summer progress<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEBxMRtAxKB6uJyrtLtjnK6C3pFtF4SfoUf1loIQULDBCg_bEyaCjAhK517BHR3YkIgg1QAo0M8uWrdsMMeRb7cwMJgz2DWV4sCHbf-2lwsZBvzLlWDp-FqlXlqXMd7XMHJERCU51iPU/s1600-h/DSCN3877.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230739846972504242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEBxMRtAxKB6uJyrtLtjnK6C3pFtF4SfoUf1loIQULDBCg_bEyaCjAhK517BHR3YkIgg1QAo0M8uWrdsMMeRb7cwMJgz2DWV4sCHbf-2lwsZBvzLlWDp-FqlXlqXMd7XMHJERCU51iPU/s400/DSCN3877.JPG" border="0" /></a> Things are moving on quite nicely at the plot, I spent about 4 hours there today mowing and pottering about.<br /> The beans are producing MASSES, I planted half the amount of runner beans this year and we still seem to be inundated with them. The french beans are also going mad but I prefer them anyway so I'm happy to have lots of those and please don't anyone mention courgettes!<br /> I transplanted the different <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">brassicas</span> into the bed that the broad beans had been in and covered them with the cage. The ones you can see in the picture are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Calabrese</span>, Wok <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">broc</span> (summer sprouting stir fry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">broccoli</span>) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Romanesco</span>.<br /><br />I decided to harvest one bed of onions as they had all had foliage die back and looked ready. They aren't the biggest onions you'll ever see but they will keep us going for a while. I have stacked them inside one of the plastic greenhouses at home to finish drying off.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230739889100899362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRzthGVtMYd-D_7IwUejdwhm0wLwLoKVWJzRv0dN1TfNwDnbnegDRqwkR5ZEW2v2J4-FImdZ8VhbIl3El_VQyF_xz9IdCXaQ2NUdE5mPR0a-VDkLV6guilqBJNBZRlRr-YgZzmLkPhLo/s400/DSCN3880.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />One of the things we were keen to do this year was to grow our own flowers for cutting. We always spend loads of money buying flowers for the house or to take when going to friends that we really wanted to give this a go.<br /> 'D' planted loads of flowering plants on plot 2, the pics below show the sunflower bed, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">sweetpea</span> tripod with cosmos and in the foreground you can just see the chrysanthemums starting to bloom. As plot no.2 has been work in progress this year we only have a small selection of flowers but still it provides us with enough for the house. Next year will be even better as we will have finished digging the new beds and borders.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQoNBP_LFxA_6Gs1cyQUVTTb4UwGr87BQJLBiwr0kPKo6T6z8tGV_tTl5GqQGRmYIBMummclpX23uCmcXyP2ZekMVR1BTOsgo5NyrKdJ8lC1kyJNAguu_I0ZVg2LDc6epGaVzkcxhWQM/s1600-h/DSCN3878.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230739873287940994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQoNBP_LFxA_6Gs1cyQUVTTb4UwGr87BQJLBiwr0kPKo6T6z8tGV_tTl5GqQGRmYIBMummclpX23uCmcXyP2ZekMVR1BTOsgo5NyrKdJ8lC1kyJNAguu_I0ZVg2LDc6epGaVzkcxhWQM/s400/DSCN3878.JPG" border="0" /></a> The sunflowers have been fantastic, we've got several different varieties but I think the 'Velvet Queen' has got to be our favourite and mingled with the rust coloured <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">chrysanths</span> they look amazing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknHCLj2DFwemQ3XJUjryLSxNBUX_1u9hxyrncRb4Fr7vYKDyM9Jx5CGrPaC4D3Bns6u4_NqLdCCcQr7GGPsnuRjLa9kEV38GSkz0UI7WANWnpTJrBU2_zz4Q7oRWeLpt6u7xJWI2sx9k/s1600-h/DSCN3889.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230739903918698706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknHCLj2DFwemQ3XJUjryLSxNBUX_1u9hxyrncRb4Fr7vYKDyM9Jx5CGrPaC4D3Bns6u4_NqLdCCcQr7GGPsnuRjLa9kEV38GSkz0UI7WANWnpTJrBU2_zz4Q7oRWeLpt6u7xJWI2sx9k/s400/DSCN3889.JPG" border="0" /></a>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-43039589020620770372008-07-21T14:00:00.000+00:002008-07-21T16:29:40.345+00:00I am still alive!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QJieQKhXKJcJs_4ZAoYwTr4jR9i7pwTPziNIYlTZg6tbsHfpYkolrsGGGGdTYjZ49tiOst4wxASjStphVWgholRkFMia0AjCtM2-_axVngM3fZEfnr9wJbJEmIwlggCp7wI3uPT8-j4/s1600-h/DSCN3833.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225489348737645618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QJieQKhXKJcJs_4ZAoYwTr4jR9i7pwTPziNIYlTZg6tbsHfpYkolrsGGGGdTYjZ49tiOst4wxASjStphVWgholRkFMia0AjCtM2-_axVngM3fZEfnr9wJbJEmIwlggCp7wI3uPT8-j4/s400/DSCN3833.JPG" border="0" /></a> I wish I could say that due to the endless hours of sunshine we have spent hours at the allotment which has prevented me from posting on the blog, sadly we haven't had any sun at all!! We seem to have been really busy with stuff, we were expecting a royal visit from my father which sent us into a flurry of activity sprucing up the house and garden (so much so our neighbours thought we were preparing to sell and move!!) anyway he didn't manage his visit due to family problems, maybe another time (He lives in Sheffield and hasn't seen this house hence my mild panic!) <div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225489347911938194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBRPbGf-LkOC2Qzv7nSekv3oYKi_tIFdxsPlC04qPm4FpwvExYVJBiYQBMwm0s0FBv52LstqCQWLxL43YDkxO4WdiAJz-8M2xEkz42sTduyVEKexKRy_tb_MfepEs9AWN-9VxdmqMY_o/s400/DSCN3837.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225489355153366530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY-AumTsVG8HUOi-cJ08f-j2q583uI07e2pmKBA9yKcA9c4baW1C_v0eyLfh9sZzYvDPQW_ea1YLm9HbuTdNaBc18kOyWWyHTTaHOi3NZHO57g7jWlWgXsTtWABjRrSRFwZCNKjEPe5k/s400/DSCN3847.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>The plot has been turning out some fab produce, I'm such a sad git but I was so impressed by all that we got one night that I had to set up my own little harvest festival type display to show how much we got in one sessions picking!</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225486257016402338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmxfFC9H4L1WC-MfbclL3hv-x7mAUVS_JUF4nRnCCKWe1AKYp4BYWnX6aiHsgoLmMNBHK0kRl0OSKLikMNcwm4bJ0RifGp0rSDtQmjIZBEBWOL1Qhpq_k9QhNpQ5ek_fN_8D0IJJHQI0/s400/DSCN3798.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225486257142385906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qzPTUKoAgZB_v7rmjZPX8WQWtbfgPquJIAX89-xpotSw3vajVNmuLdMF2BBBXiVy4aBCnN63Uh9CiPJYN0D7hBP4bDwyPEABCbv8G-qO9e-UUHcsdl1g9D_7JDNrPyPrTTRw5sgtraY/s400/DSCN3801.JPG" border="0" /> The new pots have been quite good, not a huge amount but we've done much better than last year. I reckon the best were 'Belle de fontenay' and 'Winston' but I didn't really rate much the 'international Kidney' (Or Jersey Royal)<br /><div></div><br /><div>I've now dug up the remainder of the new potatoes so that the bed was available for the leeks that I had been growing on at home in tiny pots. This is an idea that Monty Don had on Gardener's World before he left. Three to five leeks are sown in small pots and grown on and then planted out as they are when the time comes, normally you dibber a hole for each individual leek but Monty reckoned if you just transplanted each pot as it is then you will get smaller more baby type leek. I've already got leeks planted at the plot in the traditional way so I thought this was worth a try, I'll keep you posted!</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225486905845264386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXA2JPOQWSkOyK49SrkLtv6I_6UAOnSeOY80Sqm17H9VlD_bLdE0622q8fmq5AuoQdz2Indj2UmqMKFLxoD8AQGtBuquDcrcL__VJXJh9c-VVJbJk3EekDKrN7kuDnWF5jZ0yhK6FOZU/s400/DSCN3805.JPG" border="0" />I also got rid of the Broad Bean plants as they had stopped producing and I have a nursery bed full of brassicas waiting for a more permanent home. Brassicas LOVE to follow on after legumes in the rotational plan as Legumes enrich the soil with nitrogen which will feed the brassicas well hopefully producing healthy and huge greens! I haven't transplanted them yet but I have Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Wok Broc (a summer sprouting Broccoli ideal for stir frying) Calabrese (what most people think of as broccoli) , Romanesco (weird spirally type cauliflower) and good old Savoy cabbage. How's that for your five a day!!!</div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-88608738539548593452008-06-20T13:27:00.005+00:002008-06-20T15:54:24.164+00:00Reclaimed pergola<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBRCdtHtn7xSZxCh6iK5eS41FguEoJ7gT6jwdKC9s2ZOOl2IcsDkiU_491xK_3CqV9ORHJZf4DeY-hge9L-cEU2d3Gpi5YeAhD6lcsUFIQQttY0grZJuoU2UoEMCCztKhVnIE0W31hkA/s1600-h/DSCN3630.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213961976734056450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBRCdtHtn7xSZxCh6iK5eS41FguEoJ7gT6jwdKC9s2ZOOl2IcsDkiU_491xK_3CqV9ORHJZf4DeY-hge9L-cEU2d3Gpi5YeAhD6lcsUFIQQttY0grZJuoU2UoEMCCztKhVnIE0W31hkA/s400/DSCN3630.JPG" border="0" /></a> I've been wanting to do this for ages and we finally managed it. Our neighbour at home gave us a load of old wood for use on the allotment and we have constructed a pergola to sit under and admire all our hard work. When I say 'we' built it I of course mean 'D' built it with good advice and foreman skills from me!!!<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I have said this before, and sometimes I sound like a broken record, but I do love allotment architecture that is made from old reclaimed and recycled materials, it is supposed to look a bit wonky and home-made, to me that is part of the charm and apart from a handful of nails it didn't cost a penny.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213961979836299778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9d1QjfqIaKFSl5AkMzmjoceqMbbRsEC2RiYOrpMY2OpP-Qu3Tfd5znl3ItNMODKV_waiUsNNudoOJ9tkW5DVWZ9g4f6g3rFXHwBBZ-XKZngIhkHpwSrHynKCf_DGXKfoTh_5ncO2tR0/s400/DSCN3625.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>I still need to tidy up bits around it but we have already started the beds alongside it, on the left hand side is a 'Golden Hop' (<span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/climbers/other-climbers/classid.1664/">Humulus lupulus Aureus</a></span>) which is a prolific climber. On the right hand side I have planted a climbing rose that I produced from a cutting at home. It's a rose called <a href="http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/roses/climber-rose/rambling-roses/climbers/rosa-veilchenblau/classid.77991/">Veilchenblau </a>which I found rambling through our hedge at home when we first moved in , I have tweeked it out and trained it over an arch and I have taken this cutting from it. It produces the most beautiful small violet blue roses and it really is a beautiful rose. The other plants are Origano, Lavender and a couple of 'Gentle Hermione' rose cuttings.</div><br /><div></div><div>The other rose cutting of 'Gentle Hermione' that I put up at the plot last year is blooming fantastically at the moment, much better than the parent plant that it came from at home.</div><div> I love taking rose cuttings because of all the plants I feel it is the one that feels like you are getting a lot for free by creating a new plant. They are so easy to do and I have done ll of mine by taking a stem approx. 18" long and literally just pushing it into a pot of compost and watering in. I don't use hormone powder or any other fancy tricks but I do quite a few so you cover for failures.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213983002062073874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit6A9tHY_RzCtT8Kq4JAIMYgRS0fNcj9lm_4kiiqZrzt8Suof7CEbs7rajeB5lwuHJNaCm-dmdUTciHVKGv6rAHfWVSYZpRZVjdc7R0qNLhqyHg_EIU-afWGHVTw-BpreQBS_dTxCJSM/s400/DSCN3619.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213961979317010946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7Xn-fV3CuNAqLqCa6ILLPtpAy7KhsKiA009EmFRk7WD_VZttUpWWnxyX1YttT6Iteaxo6E-kXbtKbyOfaM3VihCzE52wf3tMCa4EhS-Y111x_7RWUQZOT1qfW37M59eh37CNj3IR6Vs/s400/DSCN3622.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>Our broad beans have been great this year, we've had masses and we've had some really imaginative meals using them like Brod bean pesto and pasta and broad bean,lemon and feta linguine (sublime!) They are tarting to slow down a bit now but still loads to go and if anyone is wondering about double podding then the answer is yes, do it, it does make a big difference to the taste.</p><p>The next crop to come through for us I think will be the new potatoes which I'm disappointed with so far as everyone else seems to have been having theirs for weeks. I think I plant them incorrectly to be honest. I put them into trenches and the put the soil back over them in a ridge so they were earthed up from day 1 and I haven't really earthed them up since. So in effect I have planted them too deep so they have taken longer to grow and flower. Oh well, you learn something new every day I suppose!</p><p>The days are drawing out more and more as we head to the peak of the hill tomorrow, I wish this time of year would last for ever.</p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-69054650975425845502008-06-03T21:20:00.007+00:002008-06-03T22:43:44.414+00:00Allotments really do EAT time!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtjDsVLV4-JYCwyRDVcP69zlNjL2hfbj35hfUFQp-t0hJ-BCQJ4zOl7nGgvgdozHD03hBFMhGTFbOIvbzjh8FkYC-1FzdfvK0ZPcfDP2ust-T7P8Q4M9DS-Y-SPuwrKzUA8G7j5B4nBM/s1600-h/2+june+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207773598716011954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtjDsVLV4-JYCwyRDVcP69zlNjL2hfbj35hfUFQp-t0hJ-BCQJ4zOl7nGgvgdozHD03hBFMhGTFbOIvbzjh8FkYC-1FzdfvK0ZPcfDP2ust-T7P8Q4M9DS-Y-SPuwrKzUA8G7j5B4nBM/s400/2+june+013.jpg" border="0" /></a> When I first thought about taking on an allotment I really didn't appreciate how much time it takes. Now obviously it is relative to the amount of space you have and how low or high maintenance your plot is. I don't say this to put off anyone from taking on a plot but it really is (I think) one of the factors that make people give up plots so quickly. Our plot has large areas of grass, the paths and the space where we park the car are grass and this take a lot of my time in mowing but I do like the look of the grass but I must admit it is tempting to do away with some of it.<br /><div></div><div>On the flip side of that though is the fact that when I'm at the plot on my own I disappear into a place of my own. Our allotment site is tucked away behind housing estates and next to a railway line which doesn't sound idylic but it is sufficently private enough that it's like a hidden oasis.</div><br /><div></div><div>One of the jobs I did in my 5 hour marathon session on Monday was putting in the leeks, a job that I find really nice to do. For leek planting virgins it couldn't be easier, you make a hole with a dibber, drop in a leek and pour in some water to settle it and that's it, no filling in with soil or anything else, it really must be the easiest veg ever to plant.</div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207773606135110658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr79ZcropxYmO_W-1ysazlUn1QvkAF8ExawjZ_wks8L1Rt5e73AOEvm3sttiwGMSdoH8FjbUxDBfeg6BFMxc6xU6fqPGy42iSqUfDA_-ov-rM10O99X_p_4Rtseb1_lnNbvbCXTUVr3ck/s400/2+june+014.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Leeks in holes, Gladioli in background</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">The parsnips that I chitted in the tupperware tub are doing <em>really</em> well, I spent ages hand weeding the bed as last year we fell behind with weeding and I really do want to keep things tidy. I also thinned the carrots which is why they look a bit bedraggled in the picture!!!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207773608914374562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU8HSSB1yXCcLlbDKKS3hSN2b4FrYH7tOzW6G4XABgf9pm6H5xsl1GchWJhGfZ2Sw5ACkYlfrytkFB3cjSvOL8ekktVEqbuuB9PjMYGhfgIdb0tTlX4EIk8jUuZ5mGdBtA3hay25xzew/s400/2+june+005.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Parsnips and Carrots</span></div><div align="left"><br />Generally things are looking great and we've just had our first crop of broad beans which were fab. Loads more to go in but it's filling up nicely!</div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207773599973352514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_mqSIY5NtW0EQ9RKAoTq13_wv-8K7i6MfazU_UJyNdhlTUQfPIe5_zJ6aVrxKpdgNKxs6bYQMu8N4kt9Lu6jwJjvt6QCcQC-nJ_zXFVAEIPmg4aOoPXTr0817vsbv3mwVy59wntPvl4/s400/2+june+011.jpg" border="0" />glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-51906957450692041552008-05-26T20:58:00.005+00:002008-05-26T23:01:31.351+00:00Catch up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXO8t7lkD7ra0rtGhgGW7MGhUWvmrh17n0TUttaE5rfyT1i4zgZkNXoOL5NPdClyjBDfCIPjjIt5GE0mS6aQCrHKPqTBuIA1BPw2TJH4mYhuleJCgxGlIAkTbdSSt2os_roH55yq2XF8/s1600-h/DSCN3450.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204808106888570914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXO8t7lkD7ra0rtGhgGW7MGhUWvmrh17n0TUttaE5rfyT1i4zgZkNXoOL5NPdClyjBDfCIPjjIt5GE0mS6aQCrHKPqTBuIA1BPw2TJH4mYhuleJCgxGlIAkTbdSSt2os_roH55yq2XF8/s400/DSCN3450.JPG" border="0" /></a> I think it shows that at this time of year we're all just so busy at the allotment that we don't have time to update our blogs, I subscribe to several and there has been a noticeable slowing down of postings as the spring leaps forward. It's the end of the month, bank holiday Monday and this is my first post since last bank hol at the beginning of May.<br /><div></div><div>We've been up at the plot loads and things are looking great (apart from the endless weeds!) Watering duties have increased and loads more plants have gone in. D has been putting in lots of ornamental stuff on plot 2 and I've finally got the climbing beans in (Borlotti, French and runners) put loads more brassicas in under the cage and also put a few of the army of courgettes in.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204808098298636306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA5BbfQPPmCDmpS8hcRpccZ6a1_l1rPiFXg1gndgLbMOYp2ZUC3Um6EbdQNSxe-Iktm-Kxj0HT9VgGeEfWuYdXbW512ScdJP6gok7nF7cxZvnnfzBkvoDm4rnTr36_powXGxN9pEcqYw/s400/DSCN3449.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p>A lot of our time has been taken up with other things including going to 2 top RHS flower shows... Malvern and Chelsea.</p><p>As I mentioned in my last post I volunteered to help run a stand at the Malvern Spring Garden show. I joined the "Gloucestershire Organic Gardening Group" (<a href="http://www.gogg.org.uk/joomla/">GOGG </a>) in February. They are a great group which holds regular monthly meetings and organise loads of different events including the potato weekend that I mentioned in a <a href="http://fork-in-hell.blogspot.com/2008/01/potato-madness.html">previous post </a>on here. As well as helping to man the stand, which was great fun, I also helped to set it up on the Wednesday evening with another member of the group, it was a really fantastic experience because when I arrived the BBC were filming right in front of our marquee and we saw loads of famous horticultural people inc. Carol Klein, Joe Swift, Rachael De Thame, Jekka McVicar etc. After we had set up our stand we were able to walk around the showground and see all the exhibits and show gardens. As most people had finished setting up the place was really empty and it was if we had been given VIP preview tickets, we were even present when the RHS judges presented the medals to the show gardens!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204808111183538258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdYiwtX-YShaMk2c8YhlcAsNOgabi_dgALIeyvEu3drch7Yztz6pJiqR8rp6SOu4TZ5-m0wpcnEsg9D8X2YlrsWcuHC4TJA3es_00EjqgZjuL8K6_jQ1IFzaflMQAUpFoz5JXC8M45ns/s400/DSCN3421.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Sue Jollans' (Gloucestershire designer) garden won Gold <em>and</em> 'Best in Show' at Malvern</span></p><p>I also decided that I wanted to go to the Chelsea flower show this year, I always love watching it on TV and always regret not going. We stayed with a great friend in London and went to the show on Friday afternoon. The weather was beautiful and we had a fab time, we even managed to witness Alan Titchmarsh filming a piece for the later BBC programme.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204808106888570930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZArIrJkJZdTw_gzJRgK1L8St9LwPFUy_95PL1ow9kvx0GOP_3pscrwcr9Su-YEsdbTHhWaThF92_JiWvwvd_V2UF6UCMwC4SKqBnP8HWE-61j5wI3rFzPwSIzNfvYTGWSB8UvIgnvmj0/s400/DSCN3462.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Alan Titchmarsh preparing for filming at Chelsea</span></p><p align="left">The show gardens are what Chelsea is most famous for and I have to say they really are amazing to see, it's hard to believe that they haven't been there for years. My favourite was Andy Sturgeons Cancer Research Garden which won a very deserved gold medal.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204808111183538242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZX5Fstxn05wp5LzC5-u7Yw3Qn87wdffvaBCue4lK6ODnb5o9TGJF7JBoFO71OwLSGe3M_Z7uElDcmg7JmApbEV-oKkvSRhPPwnpKEgrOTAYW-eNF5giMmPCR3KLE8FNY7I6BuA5jjTgw/s400/DSCN3481.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:78%;">Andy Sturgeon's Cancer Research garden Gold winner</span> </p><p align="left">As I finish writing this it is once again tipping it down, so much for bank holidays! I've just received a Golden Hop through the post from 'Crocus' and I'm dying to get to the plot to plant it let alone all the other plants that are preventing us from using our patio! Until next time ...</p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-75586436124944735062008-05-05T18:13:00.004+00:002008-05-05T19:16:04.258+00:00Bank Holiday weekendThings have been hotting up with sowing seeds, all the frost tender seeds have now been sown (indoors) Courgette, pumpkin, squash, (several dif varieties of each) Borlotti bean, french bean and runner bean. We really need to buy another heated propagator as we're battling to get things into it, germinated and out so the next thing can go in! Seedlings and young plants have taken over the windowsills, the lower patio and table and all 3 of our small greenhouses.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196963210177541170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvqPCGwXhqEnCxIuxPmqzMGkZKVL7NqpeJE_XkfB84Jzo_9yQyPy8g_Rj4BJEoh9-udFTg_YS_ejAfy0mTAJAyhQ3wiW2x9xUU_mIolgZlQKUYbCEVBDKdp8ARYkc-1Ft_ISp4Jq-eLA/s400/DSCN3412.JPG" border="0" />We managed to get up to the plot on Bank Holiday Monday, the weather was ok for a while but eventually rained us off around 4pm. We did however manage to build one of the brassica cages which I've been desperate to do. The idea is that it fits exactly over one of the beds and provides netting protection from pests but is easy to move off to get in and weed or harvest produce. We haven't finished stapling the netting to it yet, a quick hours job in the week maybe.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196963227357410402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqfaPxhJonY7LFEBvF6nxFdwKCnGCWVt_hmTM-9cH5wIsdjpuHH9P9dmKMRBL2IJKx5vtr58e-XQyiB7MwA-E8noqn1jiV7eENVXXB55Hf4R02tIC4WtstNhXW8fLGiiV0a-GtZ0PxPA/s400/DSCN3407.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">New brassica cage </span></div><p>The site was really busy with at least 7 plots being worked (that's busy for our site!) Sisters Heather and Hazel who are new to the site this year have thrown themselves into their plot with huge gusto and are slowly starting to put the rest of us to shame, today was no exception with the arrival of their latest addition 'Roger the Scarecrow' !<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196963218767475794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSYPJYA8SoHWFVQpYG92E6foyf4aHjpMumXrvfbhNz30LD1xSJgjkGknR-LPmFBpkvzDHZm-IMWiURM3r6lEyh6Be0cX6VrJF-ppP1lJcn6yU_zO7K0gw9ECbcHMM5Dw5xumV0vHXnHI/s400/DSCN3406.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Hazel, Roger and Heather</span></p><p align="left">Through out this last week I've been frantically sowing different seeds including starting the seed trial that I have been included in. I was chuffed to bits to be included in the 'Gardener's World Seed Trial 2008'. I'm really not sure how I did get involved in it but I received an official looking BBC package with the 2 varieties of toms that I will be trialling and the questionnaires to follow the progress. Exciting stuff! God I hope they grow ok!</p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196963214472508482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZsjQE0BNKTle7zGMlsX93Kph7W8y5v8v6pwnX9CWa817oqfr0xqKSxhm49kun9lKK_FEg-hBDCAGUc2BRffYo4RAyM4Bw1tcOL6GI5sy5fQONZ8Y1Yu9lvKjIJVyo4nbcgbA6fpIJ3c/s400/DSCN3410.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:78%;">Gardeners World Seed Trial 2008</span></div><p>I owe a rather belated thank you to Paul and Melanie at <a href="http://growingourown.co.uk/">'GROWING OUR OWN' </a>for awarding me with an award of excellence for this blog, thank you, thank you, thank you!! It's really nice that people enjoy your blog, I now have to pass on this award to another blog and after much deliberation I have decided to award it to a recently discovered blog <a href="http://plot61a.blogspot.com/">'PLOT 61a'</a>. Tim is developing a beautifully tended plot and enjoying the wildlife in the process, it's a great blog.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196963231652377714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNbw0IvHKqXiJ_FM5HCu4C1f9Tc3rIlLbPz2R30SPvdxp3ZZ-gshjfDg2WfJS3aIAub63V-1zHneh7Yc7Cu8HXcFqs2ehaQXt3mnSeHUVIlOeZD-8E3Gm6U9qNZbBGxe0_8M-YTJsbPA/s400/excellentblogaward.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>I have a busy week ahead of me, I've volunteered to help in the organic marquee at the RHS Malvern Spring Gardening Show. This will involve helping to set up the stand on Wednesday night and then to man the stand on Sunday (with others) and then help take it down later. I will tell more after the event. I need lots of strength this week!</p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-29403681764997404052008-04-21T09:53:00.006+00:002008-04-21T10:47:42.865+00:00Rain, rain go away!Am I the only one wishing the weather would get better! When it's nice it's great but I keep having to run for cover when we get a sudden downpour. Last year at this time we were still in the process of creating the plot from the wasteland that we inherited, we are much further on in the season compared with then but it always feels like I'm chasing my own tail trying to get on with sowing seeds and digging new beds on plot 2. Don't get me wrong, I am loving it (mostly!) and the tantrums I had every time we tried to dig out a 20 foot long weed root are now much, much less (much to D's relief!). <div><br /><div>I've had a few MARATHON session up at the plot, last Monday I spent 7 hours digging and sorting things out and it was great. Man's best friend was with me and loved it too (I think), he tends to warn anyone who gets too close to the plot that it is his domain but if they did get too close he'd only lick them to death! He spent most of his time on the parcel shelf of the open boot in the car lapping up the spring sunshine<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191641251521011362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbxO1plIBDI0v_kXd2jCzhk2QeF-Cj0txJo4mLLyX7xDblX3SmxiZBSNa8Ddb7cyZdtQtlcIGcszhCyQOExaDMtRXPsQmW95tN-Ar_9QsD20DvS7_qXIXpBeJ0DHc87nnn6tZGN-hq3A/s400/DSCN3326.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>Tuesday and Wednesday saw me up at the plot after work for a couple of hours each time, I spent an hour or so putting up the 2 rows of bean canes ready for our bumper crops of runner, French and Borlotti beans. I'm not going to grow as many runners this year, we had SO many last year that I couldn't give them away quick enough and there is only so much runner bean chutney you can make (mind you it's bloomin lovely stuff).</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191642617320611506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPttkGES6JZKNDixg3csIhw70yXPM91nTJEV8zrxeHVjN7-XK_qtFYvE9cDIt6NEoKpp618cZ-lPBcErpgw4vRAAcrPX6OMp0eEwEcJ52zejVNOyyCe8J77ypD3fvMMp_L2JMbsNlXA6E/s400/DSCN3350.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191642617320611522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYvM2PUJPr29uz-QjduOiQUCo1b6UEVMebkPNEg6htgww0dRCawgJ5GftIdhu9gHo6xRp02s6Ixb7OnPfXY7Xm1Wza2J6QMfvKn-MEL7DhSxTrgOFju8BOBc74Nh2p5poAdHj4Kwdt-s/s400/DSCN3347.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p>On plot 2 I managed to get in the rest of the onion sets in, we now have 2 beds containing a mixture of Stuttgarter (120 sets) Red Karmen (54 sets) and Sturon (64 sets) giving us a grand total of 238 onions in total, a couple of weeks ago Monty Don said on 'Gardener's World' that onions were expected to be in short supply this year pushing the price up so make sure you plant loads, I think I've gone mad but we do use a lot of onion at home.</p><p>I've got loads of jobs to get on with, I'm about to build a portable brassica cage from wooden battens and netting which will cover an entire bed, it should make it a lot easier to weed the beds as it will be easy to lift on and off as opposed to the set up we have now where we stake netting into the ground all around the bed. The pricking out and sowing season is threatening to taking over most of our house at the moment, our window sills are completely covered in young plants, I could do with early retirement to cope with this growing your own malarkey!!!</p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-8376927072547585722008-04-13T18:51:00.006+00:002008-04-13T19:05:55.206+00:00Spring has sprung ...<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Md6wWGdfZ3rP9KVyZ_cH7x397Q3hmsFjt1poOzPHafP5Vmy5_L_Ouppaythb9ETlN2H27Sk3Q8_Cl8NFICvhVYevEnccj93Ur7RlGrgUOHNmf2N8VMBYNC_ay8aGNIrbC4VE42mT_5k/s1600-h/DSCN3306.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188805117831213986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Md6wWGdfZ3rP9KVyZ_cH7x397Q3hmsFjt1poOzPHafP5Vmy5_L_Ouppaythb9ETlN2H27Sk3Q8_Cl8NFICvhVYevEnccj93Ur7RlGrgUOHNmf2N8VMBYNC_ay8aGNIrbC4VE42mT_5k/s400/DSCN3306.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="left">April is living up to it's reputation as being a wet month, one minute we have a beautiful clear blue sky then 5 minutes later it's bloody pouring down!!<br /><br /></div><div align="left">I've just had the allotment mower serviced and last weekend we managed to take it to the plot on Sunday afternoon, as we left the house the sky became darker and darker, as I started the mower it proceeded to snow like mad, I carried on mowing looking like a walking snowman, 10 minutes later we had blazing sunshine again ... British weather!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oYX5McdlQ9A/SAI7emEO8zI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/2KeiwkxJAvE/s1600-h/DSCN3306.JPG"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oYX5McdlQ9A/SAI7emEO8zI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/2KeiwkxJAvE/s1600-h/DSCN3306.JPG"></a></div><div align="left"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188805783551144882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5xHN-8GskoOsCUhLzfci31hYOIpTxa6qH0rzOJSSrCWXHs2PHKG8l4D8PMT_4xe1bp6_9shelbaj1PDKHyvt1dc0EF1LKO-slc_nsBTYLHAOiZhXERsh_ACOaULNG9-IU0079dWn4to/s400/DSCN3299.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>On Monday I went up to the plot in the afternoon and ended up spending approx. 4 hours there. It was so peaceful and apart from one other person arriving for about an hour I had the entire site to myself.I have been trying out chitting parsnip seeds prior to sowing them, this process is very simple and hopefully eliminates the renowned poor germination rate of parsnips. An empty tupperware type container is used with a wet paper towel in the bottom, the seed are sprinkled onto the paper and the lid put on, this is then left in a warm place (airing cupboard, on top of radiator etc.) for the seeds to sprout, it takes about 5 days to a week. Once this has happened you sow the seed into a seed drill using a pair of tweezers to gently transfer them. I station sowed 3 seeds every 6-9", when they show on the surface they can be thinned out to leave the best one.It sounds quite fiddly but it really isn't and hopefully it means that you are guaranteed a perfect row of parsnips. I also put in a row of unchitted parsnip seed so it will be interesting to see if there is much difference between them. (Varieties, Tender and true and white gem)</p><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188805972529705922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6Hp3kOeGigq0yvnIJmiWq50mcivts9dqlpug051gprx4vD50Z_btCKh5VRi2F5SzXvG5ymkEna2Y5IUbssJ3ZWnbr64Qmb_UssAtCYeMeoOmgTZcKV_mWlbk8V427vven1xMXqeZDHA/s400/DSCN3312.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Chitting Parsnip seed ... 'White Gem'<br /></span><br /></p><p>One of the things I love about allotments is the make do and mend mentality, my shed is a prime example of that, it looks as if it has had another layer added every 10 years for the last 40 years and it leans slightly to one side, it's so ramshackle looking that when D's Mum and Dad were with us his Mum thought it was just a pile of old wood and metal waiting to be used for something, she didn't realise that it was a shed!! For ages I've been wanting to make the inside look a little better and I decided to staple all the old seed packets to the wall to almost wallpaper it, there are some lovely designs on the packets and it also becomes a visual reminder of what you have planted in previous seasons and years.</p><br /><br /><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188806496515716050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0NqiWZHZu56e_8NI8aMI-di6LZGNBz_6x0KwJbarZpi8S-vVID-XyZut3kwmeZCsiQ5jUBkNdmAwQ0pYhMyodRFsOiSxkyvbKKni0vWxwkQzfQBuvDhGQd9fhqJBomz2fAcLBeGXirs/s400/DSCN3317.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Seed packet wallpaper (and brewing tea!)<br /></span><br />The last couple of jobs were to sow some carrots 1 row each of Early Nantes 2, Fly away and Amsterdam forcing and then dig over one of the beds on the new plot to put onions in.</p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-71277911370975426842008-03-27T21:19:00.004+00:002008-03-27T21:36:41.549+00:00Likal ... Gloucester Community WebsiteI received a rather interesting email the other day from <a href="http://www.likal.com/uk/gloucester/">LIKAL </a>a community website saying that they hoped it was ok with me that they had taken a picture from my blog to promote Gloucestershire allotments!! I'm slightly stunned and quite chuffed to think they feel my plot and blog are that good. (D is more suspicous and wants to know who they are!)<br /><br />Anyway when you go onto their home page there is a thumbnail pic of my plot advertising allotments and then when you go onto the allotments page there is a bigger pic and a link to my blog saying ...." Gloucester Guy Blogs his Allotment experience - read and be inspired."<br /><br />How nice is that, if only they knew I haven't got a clue and make it up as I go along!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL34K3r7EtMxt4UEHFtSkTEmVD4TDzm36bhQybGSQ23KPglSSEaBLs5iTcRlFVyZ1Aq3tRxQ5OEI7tAXcH-Foouz_QOD80zdj2zWXMGd1gz7Nb65lBPhTCEDUiBczSff-1WIXoXzHxxyo/s1600-h/likal2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182535002977515682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL34K3r7EtMxt4UEHFtSkTEmVD4TDzm36bhQybGSQ23KPglSSEaBLs5iTcRlFVyZ1Aq3tRxQ5OEI7tAXcH-Foouz_QOD80zdj2zWXMGd1gz7Nb65lBPhTCEDUiBczSff-1WIXoXzHxxyo/s400/likal2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjNZ2s05t9AeHijnyxBE7Pxi9fALkQDDIHMIslL1RygqgONw8HEk1nA0h4ja2OnpOnr6-TAFSKgFYp59kBlZVtE676wZNQ5CJopQZBnpB5oVMwPtLeYRGtLSD6AFsohSqTQUwvCetgV0/s1600-h/likal+page.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182534242768304274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjNZ2s05t9AeHijnyxBE7Pxi9fALkQDDIHMIslL1RygqgONw8HEk1nA0h4ja2OnpOnr6-TAFSKgFYp59kBlZVtE676wZNQ5CJopQZBnpB5oVMwPtLeYRGtLSD6AFsohSqTQUwvCetgV0/s400/likal+page.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-15789466032903602242008-03-24T16:16:00.009+00:002008-03-27T21:18:44.123+00:00Easter weekend<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE3XfLWRd09Q4Bs4TpXzo2lFqAFusNVjijf7F1bo-vtStvPS4AUBMtmtwbSWYQxbizKZroOwU_v-HfHsLMUevCZQ3SAaLPl3M1woWNEt4BpLUrheH9pNQh6k6UqXC6i51ijidKQlPm3E/s1600-h/DSCN3252.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181348844679510066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE3XfLWRd09Q4Bs4TpXzo2lFqAFusNVjijf7F1bo-vtStvPS4AUBMtmtwbSWYQxbizKZroOwU_v-HfHsLMUevCZQ3SAaLPl3M1woWNEt4BpLUrheH9pNQh6k6UqXC6i51ijidKQlPm3E/s400/DSCN3252.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">D with his Mum and Dad</span><br /><br /><div align="left">Well, we had HUGE plans for Easter, then I saw the forecasts on <a href="http://www.metcheck.com/?CO=ALL">Metcheck </a>and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/">BBC weather </a>and didn't hold out much hope for our planned allotment bonanza. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Our main plans for this weekend (apart from the plot) was the arrival of D's Mum and Dad for the Easter break, they came on Friday morning and stayed until Monday and we had a fantastic weekend of too much wine, food and some allotment visiting!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The forecasts had promised snow and more but in the end although we had the odd flurry we luckily escaped with just freezing wind and the odd hail storm intermingled with sunny periods (see I have the technical talk now!) We took D's parents up to the plot on Friday to have a look, they'd never been to it before so it was great to be able to show them where we spend half of our life! I took up some broad beans that I'd grown in newspaper pots to fill in the gaps where the slugs/pigeons had taken some.</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181348853269444674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOXb3_KVlHKQNoCJ3XCeLqu1FsqXIyew6Em-AMENoCan3DkfPVQqcJ3dUoXfksUnhR2VfJAMr6HldX5jcTb_3WWnk_9TZYw04Nym7wxmExjyjkIcAUNdjLkZYve2Fz0nkTel0DovewkQ/s400/DSCN3258.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:78%;">Spuds in shredded paper and manured trenches</span></div><div align="center"><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Saturday we decided to get some spuds in, tradition has it that they go in on Good Friday as this was the first holiday for the working class man when he was able to get the spuds in and the veg patch started. I have decided to try a new method of planting preparation this year to see if it makes much difference to the crop. I dug out trenches and filled them with a layer of shredded paper and well rotted manure, then in went the spuds before being covered up with soil.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">As Easter is a bit earlier this year I decided to only put in my earlies (International Kidney, Belle de Fontenay and Winston) I'm going to give it a couple more weeks before I put in the maincrops as we could still have some bad frosts especially the way it's been lately!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181358199118280786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiai-jCNGaSber_CUxKAI0tFjXJLLA8TJOhS76V4iOYIC8fpWDfQe31e-cxBzNnDaqXvC5iND1eXH8Exu9-5tkLjzthfKZI-InRGsZFVB91wr7BdL8cvBTfHDZ276GFyAe6KTHlMhHofOk/s400/DSCN3260.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:78%;">Green Manure ... Phacalia Tancetifolia</span><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I then dug in the green manure, I planted Phacalia Tancetifolia, a plant which is sown as a green manure, in a vacant patch of ground to prevent goodness in the soil being leached out by the rain. Before it gets too big and flowers, you dig it back into the soil so that it breaks down in the ground and deposits back all the goodness it has taken from the soil and it also creates a blanket cover to stop weeds growing on empty ground.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181360398141536354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip75cYiqwFh1DjZbrL8l9aMGL3oNr6bNo9vpFcLrSqft26tREOXdHFsL72cwtXQT1Q9hRkiDMpmDLuLX8sZl6UGSlKAhI9cus_toyHz9E0PwWd8T6B4es8nF7zntJQmZuJ36XDLsk71oY/s400/DSCN3267.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-size:78%;">The mad Strimming Dad</span><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">D's dad came up with us on Sunday and strimmed some of the grass, our mower seems to have given up the ghost so we had to use the petrol strimmer in the meantime, we only thought there would be enough time to go around each bed to define it and keep the main bits down but he was like something possessed and just went for it and never stopped. We'll have to invite them down sooner next time!!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">On Monday I dug out the remaining leeks and prepared the bed for the French and Runner Beans, I dug the whole bed over to get rid of any perennial weed roots and then I dug trenches out where the bean poles will be going. Similar to the potato trenches I filled them with sheets of newspaper and composted manure, the idea with this is that it will help to retain the moisture in the soil during the hot summer, presuming we don't get flooded out like last year! Beans don't like to dry out when they are setting flowers otherwise they won't produce the bean pods, so hopefully this method should help keep them in peak condition.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I did a very quick video on Sunday afternoon just to show what it looks like now and maybe I'll do another in a month or two to see the progress, excuse the comedy wurzle impersonation at the beginning, I don't know what came over me, maybe too much exercise!!!!!!<br /></div><br /><div align="left"></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxgak6OKkJbMQ3FIsKAu4ERxsa5C1-K8cCjrkQHFBjorwuafDSivfcV0cECdCwS-ZXOm4u7AB33g3UddVSN' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"></div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-74313022910315336102008-03-11T22:24:00.003+00:002008-03-12T08:53:40.581+00:00Roses and beans.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176614462072737202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fF7rg4Zi76vYxrI31oQe0K990h_C5yhcMqhNsPyVRciCNbLBeShkoHbFWV8rO1OtbRsF6-i38AvwKZy1HUMr3LyyOSoUsCZkrUeVgG0Mlsi0CScmwprp0HJCshHTfBh-yFgZRCnvFyo/s400/blog+beans.JPG" border="0" />The broad beans that I sowed into some of my newspaper pots have developed really well. The above picture is about a fortnight old so they are now well established little plants and probably ready to go into the plot just as soon as I can get there! When they do go into the ground the entire pot will be planted and the newspaper will just rot away leaving the plant to romp away without any transplant shock.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtB4ltMph_6SANPyFEUwxVEy88ZWyL0QMCRqNnHxlMCH89XXKw-pwaWWLBmQjlCmmf-GtJpoCzZZmu7xe7nqSHkCrbO_373F2xndk9qlG1Dc21ypLEoMa-C2B7YsyBdtQB7uUB5yo1mo/s1600-h/DSCN3234.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176614453482802594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtB4ltMph_6SANPyFEUwxVEy88ZWyL0QMCRqNnHxlMCH89XXKw-pwaWWLBmQjlCmmf-GtJpoCzZZmu7xe7nqSHkCrbO_373F2xndk9qlG1Dc21ypLEoMa-C2B7YsyBdtQB7uUB5yo1mo/s400/DSCN3234.JPG" border="0" /></a> I went mad the other day and spent £2 on a new rose from Woolworths, I love allotments that have a mixture of ornamental and veg and places like Wilkos or woolies are great for these sorts of bargains, I'm going to take regular pics of this rose throughout the year to show how it does and see if cheap roses like this do any good. I have a large bed at the front of the plot which already has one rose in it (from a cutting I did last year) and a Globe artichoke which I love for it's architectural leaves. so I threw 'Woolie rose' in there (with lots of manure and TLC!)<br />You can also see in the above pic the autumn sown broad beans in the 2nd bed back. They're doing well despite a couple of casualties either from slugs or pigeons. Once I get up to the plot with my bean plants from home I'll fill in the gaps.<br /><br />Behind that bed is the remains of my leeks, these were a smaller crop than I wanted but due to me not potting on the seedlings earlier than I should have, I'm thinking of starting them in a seed bed at home this year rather than seed trays and then moving them up to the plot once they're tall enough.<br /><br />We haven't manage a trip up to the plot for a few weeks now, a combination of appalling weather and us spending time decorating at home. D's parents are coming to us for Easter and we stupidly told them that we would have a nicely decorated bedroom for them to stay in so we've been slogging our guts out to try and finish it. One of the joys of living in a house built in the 1800's is wonky walls and crumbling plaster, so normal decorating takes twice as long to do. I mustn't grumble really, this will be our third year in this house and we've been very lazy in our restoration approach, gardening just seems to get in the way!!<br /><br />Anyway, Easter is the BIG weekend for working at the allotment, last year was amazing weather at Easter but then this year it falls much earlier, so fingers crossed for a bit of sun. We plan to do lots there anyway and the first potatoes have GOT to be put in on Good Friday (it's gardening law!!)glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-5973664973995063852008-02-17T21:31:00.008+00:002008-02-17T23:01:23.830+00:00Newspaper pots<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9AuIhcqVe1CgKv2fJGIInBB5VunPUIjYHcI1mZ970U_1udfsQw0nUQAVNxOWByygDiCz3J5rLhFHMzSC2WZc083AztJZzOc65t69yM5p_pzNBD4TmTVg9XbPFdHFRNmgbHgMmqAnmjA/s1600-h/pots+by+fire.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168069157592947122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9AuIhcqVe1CgKv2fJGIInBB5VunPUIjYHcI1mZ970U_1udfsQw0nUQAVNxOWByygDiCz3J5rLhFHMzSC2WZc083AztJZzOc65t69yM5p_pzNBD4TmTVg9XbPFdHFRNmgbHgMmqAnmjA/s400/pots+by+fire.jpg" border="0" /></a> There is nothing nicer at this time of year than to be sat inside by a roaring log fire preparing for the forth coming growing season. I'm in full swing at the moment making newspaper pots for plug plants and seedlings.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center">An easy guide to making pots from newspaper.</div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168065889122834738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIr4lCds-AVTR1lOMegcIZnfr02MdjsUhnkkGOyZtGSAtjVVN8Lxa-5eYWpp0Eiu5-utEAC8IRSXgQPy5Ae-tTAGbFwI7juup3-mDIF2TERysj_mfUQSu295Bf8bs14leTqtrMuPtY70/s320/pot1.jpg" border="0" />1. Take a sheet of newspaper and cut in half, lay on surface and using the inside from a loo roll, roll the paper around it, with one end of the loo roll right up against the paper edge.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168065897712769346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GPAdsP84J2sba-qwXfHVGny_ibz-LZotsUCNvmII7T1Rtu29U0FfBN3GdSetWAhlU2OL1Bsta5uVkG-aFDvxysPwWlqpVwISaL-riRUY2h7lLqbJasyYqAastmQFfvteh7Bt65Gvfxo/s320/pot2.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168065902007736658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyJDxC9otZYKr5OW1QUuMlbf0BonacEXSek5r4-IxW8Reod688qGhx90uKAbS_Bqu31K51ThJ5EDQCCwQHBIJnROUZ0w3Hru7PQ0L4-yuZ97D6ewleL1qJklyxKZwKaIbmWcUrvpCZdM/s320/pot3.jpg" border="0" />2. At the other end push the paper into the loo roll, this is going to form the base of the pot.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168067284987205986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZfFSMPczK67yfQCZS55jPB9ENihp2h9vj9nadXiFOhianeJBJJudXi5zjnSgG0S2LVwuuLENLUnEhyxdR14DXWWAaEYry74v_u8O9GP6rLrwE1SboIbbZ5sQ9sgBMQaAjV8cA-yD2fI/s320/pot4.jpg" border="0" />3. Pull the loo roll out of the pot.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168067297872107890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTb8szCJxLLB4ETX26-0FfMh6eOSGmygat0Hj5LQRUGNpI1NTAPjTu60oVSLdMIocXUz0rJ7LU5lDfS3rsWrzRQ2Wrz8RJIvjGpNegbNQbfS6raz7_XOSV_NitxQPgnAh1tO85YU0LUg/s320/pot5.jpg" border="0" />4. Turn the paper edge over to form a 1cm fold at the other end to make the top of the pot.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168067306462042498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTkUs_0VX8bYZ6hyUJcUgkVB8W_BFLLOWfY_KFJCcfNYYOthvWQeiYnOamtcTcgR7PHZtabu8kXCZdekIi7UBx5DBtGtdYs_CZ5kIO0FK1WYbD3ZiKjkiGocZrrbicT3GGRoWH9YNg1E/s320/pot6.jpg" border="0" />5. The top of the pot with the 1 cm turned over lip.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigahTppxvJmYzF5OdqHdE05CrcanxOJ-D62Xr-gI0XZOn1i1wl4r6BZrahDjgVjQuJobnwHE9Rg7Lf5egmCoKngU6j6NLC8CfhXtuhSB42DBWtQIj3hj4AkSkl5nm89JGORxNhVWFLXU/s1600-h/pot7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168068036606482834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigahTppxvJmYzF5OdqHdE05CrcanxOJ-D62Xr-gI0XZOn1i1wl4r6BZrahDjgVjQuJobnwHE9Rg7Lf5egmCoKngU6j6NLC8CfhXtuhSB42DBWtQIj3hj4AkSkl5nm89JGORxNhVWFLXU/s320/pot7.jpg" border="0" /></a>6. To make the base of the pot get a cylindrical object (I use an aerosol spray) and push it inside the pot and bash down the turned in paper you did in step 2 to form the base.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdjZ48GZjg7y-PWwlGqoH2iyQjhjLxTuxU7w-wrSiHQ2_aST55LcyO-Yf2bEA4kQ9P_wAoVkibrA34Klfa0NXqLnxTk3_6084_TP3jj61WrwY3GFVr8hawBlSGAI2YFPFbRB6FJAMJfM/s1600-h/pot8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168068045196417442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdjZ48GZjg7y-PWwlGqoH2iyQjhjLxTuxU7w-wrSiHQ2_aST55LcyO-Yf2bEA4kQ9P_wAoVkibrA34Klfa0NXqLnxTk3_6084_TP3jj61WrwY3GFVr8hawBlSGAI2YFPFbRB6FJAMJfM/s320/pot8.jpg" border="0" /></a> The finished pot! </div><br /><div align="left">These pots are really useful, they replace the need to buy small plastic pots and can be used in exactly the same way as peat pots. Fill them with compost, sow seed into them, when the plant is ready to be planted outside you plant the entire pot as it will rot away naturally allowing the plant to grow without having had any transplant shock! I use these for all sorts, when I buy small plug plants (<a href="http://fork-in-hell.blogspot.com/2007/03/impatiens.html">Busy Lizzies last year</a>) I use these to grow them on before planting into the garden, I've also used them for Tomatoes, Peas, Runner beans, French beans etc. The added bonus is that they are very eco friendly as you are recycling old paper and not using Peat pots! Happy pot making!!!!!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">(p.s. if your pots grow mould on the outside whilst your seedlings are developing don't panic, mine always do this with no harm to the seedling plant.)</div><div align="left"></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-77353442318485097212008-02-17T20:34:00.000+00:002008-02-17T23:02:44.723+00:00Wilko's Cheap Onion sets<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90B5W0DZuGZn31lXbpv7nfZCeI3nlEBd_pq_yGdGkEa9a-sjdKcYEhcK5BKuYON0Rjn6x9doPzWlncfxFZhqqJxf6jqnaCkNWvhCZjSTQyD_Rw3v4ECnlRRvVRPCpv_sq_fEUU0rVfe0/s1600-h/onion+sets.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168055533956684018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90B5W0DZuGZn31lXbpv7nfZCeI3nlEBd_pq_yGdGkEa9a-sjdKcYEhcK5BKuYON0Rjn6x9doPzWlncfxFZhqqJxf6jqnaCkNWvhCZjSTQyD_Rw3v4ECnlRRvVRPCpv_sq_fEUU0rVfe0/s400/onion+sets.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I find the lure of the seed catalogues very hard to avoid but this year I decided not to buy my onion sets from Marshalls or other seed company. I might regret the decision to buy them from Wilkinsons but price wise they could not be beaten! I went to a couple of cheap pound type shops and ended up buying a bag of white onions (stuttgarter) and red onions (red karmen) from Wilkinsons @ £1 each and some Sturon from the '99p store' this is a big saving on the seed companies who charge between £2 an nearly £5 depending on variety.</div><div>At the moment they're sat waiting for warmer weather before they go into the plot, our plot neighbour (Will) starts them off in little pots in the greenhouse so that they have a head start, might be worth a try.</div><br /><div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-25069625004029113992008-01-29T22:51:00.000+00:002008-01-29T23:09:55.849+00:00Starling aerobatics<p>Below is a video of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">spectacle</span> we are subject to every evening as the local flock of starlings performs it's aerobatics. It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen, they cover the roads, houses and cars in muck but for us it is a small price to pay to watch this natural phenomenon.(Excuse the quality and VERY anoying clicking it's from a digital camera)</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxU7prxIlidGo6sYR3FUs2kOcVpGTwK_PWRJFYX15iUoKkSgRpo0Rcg2Daoru2L5Zwmb0ve4d09xUZiwEGB7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-69610505608212854062008-01-26T23:25:00.000+00:002008-01-26T23:25:22.451+00:00Keeping a note<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9alxxcKenCaXFWX9Xw9vvUv3dnrqCyIctHzBGy7zYvWnugc1p848L_8KQ_Xt6c73yg5YcmLnc-rtVr83xhMizAl_8Bx0fKbEzBp0aI_JTLFXtEZhCWfXs5WIX9yKCwNgrR9VjIGJ0oI/s1600-h/DSCN3147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159929401791707522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9alxxcKenCaXFWX9Xw9vvUv3dnrqCyIctHzBGy7zYvWnugc1p848L_8KQ_Xt6c73yg5YcmLnc-rtVr83xhMizAl_8Bx0fKbEzBp0aI_JTLFXtEZhCWfXs5WIX9yKCwNgrR9VjIGJ0oI/s400/DSCN3147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I started this blog for two reasons, the first reason was to keep a record for myself, I wanted to be able to keep a digital record of my allotment from day one before we had done anything and it was an overgrown meadow, to have somewhere that I could have notes and records plus photos of the progression. The other reason was that I wanted to make my notes and musings available to others, to offer other people my experience and mistakes so that my experience may help them ( that sounds big headed and it's not meant to!) I gained so much information and help from other peoples blogs before I took on our plot and I still refer to lots of blogs to see what others are doing, so I wanted to do the same and offer up my experience.</div><br /><div>I've also kept notes in an old journal in which I draw a plan and keep copious pages of notes and diary entries, as much as this blog is a fantastic way to record stuff there is something very satisfying about putting pen/pencil to paper and doing little scribbles and notes which by the end of the year has produced (in my mind) a thing of beauty. My journal from last year ended up with scribbling, things crossed out and others added when we decided to add a new crop, it has left a mish mash of a plan, sometimes splattered with mud when we were at the plot, I can look at it and remember at a second what went where and it instantly brings back memories of the previous growing year, the successes and the failures. Technology is great but sometimes good old pen and paper can serve much better.</div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-51061585930017894512008-01-21T20:22:00.000+00:002008-01-28T21:50:53.026+00:00One potato, two potato, three potato, MORE!!!!!!! Lots more!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sFUFHEL8h8Dil0Ddq-gSRTucZxrNpJOOoTxOmt1DGLUyCqyDU9r2xVSSwKywjQBCdEIXlbVT_1K13UiyOda0GCLX3fvIRQjtELiaRvZuQNT_ZhIipo8uAH-b5FS6z32BOn-MbkPeu8E/s1600-h/DSCN3170.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqj0P9c5V8BvX5A5X16OWFvTSFAd8QR-jU2oK6y7BjbSb2jY5e0a6uoDgft3sfHZlKyetbJHbryC1DJSj1Lvjeya7yisHgesFCB_likfKApPiw66WKnvOFKx1S31-NhbdBGfLQ8DprQKg/s1600-h/mr++potato.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158393375585208850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqj0P9c5V8BvX5A5X16OWFvTSFAd8QR-jU2oK6y7BjbSb2jY5e0a6uoDgft3sfHZlKyetbJHbryC1DJSj1Lvjeya7yisHgesFCB_likfKApPiw66WKnvOFKx1S31-NhbdBGfLQ8DprQKg/s400/mr++potato.gif" border="0" /></a>Ever heard of a potato day? Well basically it's an idea that has gained huge following in the last few years as growing your own has become more popular. Potato days (or in this instance an entire weekend!!) are events where a nursery sell around 100-200 different varieties of potato by the tuber or by weight. Obviously there are lots of different types of spuds available to the home gardener and this is a brilliant way to be able to buy just a couple of a variety to try out rather than having to buy an entire sack.<br /><br />Our local potato day was held at <a href="http://www.dundrynurseries.co.uk/">Dundry's nursery </a>between Gloucester and Cheltenham a fab small nursery that is a rare small nursery that seems dedicated to the gardener and very unlike one of those huge 'garden centres' that seems set on selling you perfumed candles and has an overpriced bistro cafe.<br /><br />We went on Saturday afternoon not long before they closed and we were greeted by a HUGE selection of spuds in one of their glasshouses, I'd worked out before hand roughly what I wanted but I still ended up buying more than I had planned, the list as follows...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Earlies</span><br /><br />Belle de Fontenay (10)<br />International Kidney (Jersey Royals 10)<br />Winston (10)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Main Crop</span><br /><br />Cara (10)<br />Pentland Squire (5)<br />Picasso (5)<br /><br />Chitting is the process that now follows, this is the process of allowing the spuds to sprout in a cool place before planting them, some people disagree that this does any good but others swear that this helps produce quicker and better plants. One of the best ways to put spuds out to chit is to put one per section of an egg box and then put them into a shed, greenhouse or garage to form shoots, then plant them out in March (sheltered areas) or April in more exposed areas.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158396390652250674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDVz7OuHogX66ZqwkE7kNH9Pdr601KHkOsdu-wcE-Pw-dIqEDfrq3yGTr8MQre4b4RRelxmh6UMaIpgIfZYVEbqwTXsltkeW3et0yqUnBkHNupqHzSbKv4noxpUGZqECJvrwAG3gSKSA/s400/DSCN3170.JPG" border="0" />Potatoes in egg boxes ready for chitting</span><br /></div><div align="left"></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8175705803411962047.post-74331180659429996882008-01-12T20:04:00.000+00:002008-01-12T20:52:09.150+00:00Seed Swap Heaven<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHns80gapWoFCjnqHh1jXLHtUbpWVBQSGuF7-vi9eKipMQbGrRuc2EFJRD387dE8w0NfvaJ_ZXRyEKNl043DmKxJAtKJS4Z27H9IzA5pZNbDIl6nuzT7Z1OiAl86Jpeq_Ui2X4FyuRbQ/s1600-h/seedswap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154694502505253378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHns80gapWoFCjnqHh1jXLHtUbpWVBQSGuF7-vi9eKipMQbGrRuc2EFJRD387dE8w0NfvaJ_ZXRyEKNl043DmKxJAtKJS4Z27H9IzA5pZNbDIl6nuzT7Z1OiAl86Jpeq_Ui2X4FyuRbQ/s400/seedswap.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> Box of seeds on dining table<br /></span><br /><div align="left">I've just been involved in a seed swap 'pass the parcel' through the fab website <a href="http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/">Allotments 4 all</a>. I'd seen several 'pass the parcel' swaps being set up through the forum over the last year or so that I have been a member but I'd never been involved with one.</div><br /><div align="left">The basic idea is that a dozen or so members are involved in a parcel of seeds being posted to each other, one person sets it up and posts a parcel of seed packets to the first person on the list who takes out a selection of what they would like and then adds unwanted seeds from their own seed collection. By the time it arrived to me it was a small box packed to bursting point with an amazing collection of seeds. I had a really fab time sorting through the massive selection and selected quite a few varieties of seeds that I probably wouldn't have gone out and bought and it gave me the chance to go through my own collection of seeds and pass onto the parcel those seeds that I know I wont sow or I just have too many of. Such a simple idea but a really good one!! </div></div>glosterwomblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967824493114417111noreply@blogger.com6