To busy to post. The weather has been against me at the allotment but the seeds in the greenhouse are coming along. The garlic is doing very well in their youghut pots. They must go to the allotment soon. The new shed is doing a good job of keep the seed potatoes and onion sets from sprouting in the dark and cool conditions. I have to get the roots bed going at the allotment for the onions and garlic. The last of the Leeks are to be dug up to clear the space for lots manure for the Peas and Sweet Corn. The fight is over for the Sprouting Brocolli. The wind and Pigeons have put paid to a gallant show. I shall be growing these again but with better protection from the Pigeons.
In the back garden at home I have been able to make a start on moving the small upper garden terrace. I have moved enough of it to plant the last Hawthorn tree. I just have to move some of the better terrace soil onto the roof of the shed and that then ready for planting up.
Whilst clearing out the old shed out I found a big onion sack full of Daffodil bulbs. They have been left out in the light and have started sprouting so it time to find a home for several hundred bulbs.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Thursday, March 16, 2006
A new plan
I had this idea that I would double dig the final part of my allotment over the winter but it seems the weather and family commitment have conspired to keep me away from my spade and manure heap. As I type is there snow showers in the air so I can not dig today and spring will be on us soon. So I have decided that instead of double digging the final part of my plot before the poatoes go in I shall dig out the worst of the weeds from around the edge of the plot. When that is done and I come to dig the trenches for the spuds I shall line the trench with lot of manure. They will not mind and by the time I have ridged them up a couple if times and harverted the bounty the area will have been comprensively turned over.
It sounds like a great plan. Now if it would just stop snowing.
It sounds like a great plan. Now if it would just stop snowing.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
The Newhall Potato Men
Our Allotment Society does not have a shop but we know of an Allotment Society that does, Newal. The shop is a revelation. Firstly it is a shop! Most allotment shops are run from what looks like a bunker on the site. Secondly, Newal do not have any allotments anymore, but I do not know the reason for that, so it might not be true. Thirdly, it is only open on Saturday mornings. The revelation comes when step inside. The first room you step into is a little dim, there being no natural light except for the door you just come in. The air smells of earth. Pallets of compost and grow bags are stacked around the room. There is no heating so it can be relly cold, the sort that cuts to the bone. Off to the right is a door into the shop proper. In there it is all light and warm. There is a counter down the left side of the room behind which, up on the wall is the price list. On the other wall is shelving of things; little bottles of this and that, plastic pots, strings, ties, labels, tonic for plants and Jeyes fuild.
The chaps who run the shop are a bunch of characters; a small, slim, easy going fellow, a tall grumpy chap despite his demeanor can not help but help and middling sort a chap who is the runner and obviously serving his time before assending the ranks.
You have to get there early, especially at his time of year as they open extra early for the collection of seed potato, shallot and onion set orders that were placed before Christmas. Compost and fertiliser disppear with the steady flow of customers. Spend more than a few minutes inthe shop and some aged gardener will roll in, have a bit a banter with the chaps behind the counter, pay his dues then return to his car to supervise the loading.
They also sell powders and potions in small bags such old style fertilisers Blood, fish & bone or Onion fertilser, pelletised chicken manure, Lime etc. The things they sell are not bargain basment prices but they in no fuss bags filled from industrial size sacks so the price is a little less than Garden Centre prices. There is a knowledge of what is required. Bamboo canes are about 20mm 3/4inch thick not the 10mm 1/4inch items sold at garden centres. The chaps know what weight the canes are going to be under whilst holding up countless runner beans. The goods are normally the best quality for a reasonable price. For my part I would happily pay a little extra just to see them continue.
The chaps who run the shop are a bunch of characters; a small, slim, easy going fellow, a tall grumpy chap despite his demeanor can not help but help and middling sort a chap who is the runner and obviously serving his time before assending the ranks.
You have to get there early, especially at his time of year as they open extra early for the collection of seed potato, shallot and onion set orders that were placed before Christmas. Compost and fertiliser disppear with the steady flow of customers. Spend more than a few minutes inthe shop and some aged gardener will roll in, have a bit a banter with the chaps behind the counter, pay his dues then return to his car to supervise the loading.
They also sell powders and potions in small bags such old style fertilisers Blood, fish & bone or Onion fertilser, pelletised chicken manure, Lime etc. The things they sell are not bargain basment prices but they in no fuss bags filled from industrial size sacks so the price is a little less than Garden Centre prices. There is a knowledge of what is required. Bamboo canes are about 20mm 3/4inch thick not the 10mm 1/4inch items sold at garden centres. The chaps know what weight the canes are going to be under whilst holding up countless runner beans. The goods are normally the best quality for a reasonable price. For my part I would happily pay a little extra just to see them continue.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Colder by night
It is been a frustrating week. I am definitely hampered by having to work for a living even if the nights are getting longer and I am still the Secretary of the Allotment Society. The thermometer has rarely got over 4 degrees C for the last few weeks which means digging at the allotment is out of the question. However this means I have been able to get on with the shed although not H's Birthday weekend. I took my Dad to the Newall Potato men. Their place is a throw back to the fifties. I tell you more about them another time. My order of Cara and international Kidney were waiting for me. My Rockets from last year are chitting away. I only have to dig the manure in and I have cracked it.
The shed door went on and the floor went down this weekend. Well, most of the floor. I have had twelve one metre lengths of decking hanging about the garden since I put laid the decking in the new patio area three years ago. I knew they would come in and now, with a little trimming, form the great part of the shed floor. I have only had to buy a couple of metres to finish off the floor. That goes in tonight. Four cuts and sixteen screws and the shed is serviceable. I have a few bits to do on the back panel and the ceiling needs covering but the major job is done. I can now move the stuff that has been collecting in the garage into the shed. I have all summer to finish the twiddly bits on the outside and organise the shelving on the inside ready for my harvest.
It was H's birthday last weekend so my parents came down for the weekend. Some of our old friends from Manchester came too. It was a lovely weekend. Dad gave me hand to plant the Willow that arrived during the week which from my hedge. H and I had a ceremoniously planting the two of the Hazel and one of the Hawthorn in the garden as well. I managed to move the fruit bushes into tubs to make them portable, since the new trees would certainly compete with them..
I went up to the allotment 04.03.06 and found the ground frozen solid to a depth of half an inch. It did not stop me digging up a Leek or two to go into today's dinner, stew. This time next year I hope to be eating stew made with all my own root vegetables. We are nearly out of potatoes [Cara]. The Rocket have stated chitting so there is a lesson learnt. Plant your earlies early and harvest them early. Leave main crop to be lates and harvest them accordingly. I had this idea that I would plant some earlies late in the season as catch crop. It worked to a degree. I got a crop but it was hit hard by blight, also they have not kept that well and are chitting for England. I won't be leaving the spuds in the ground this year. As soon as they a ready they will be out of the ground and hopefully out of the clutches of the Blight. I lost the equivalent of four bags of spuds to blight. You live and learn. The Garlic has been potted up and is getting away. I think I will start sowing small amount of seeds next week in the greenhouse. Better get back to work.
The shed door went on and the floor went down this weekend. Well, most of the floor. I have had twelve one metre lengths of decking hanging about the garden since I put laid the decking in the new patio area three years ago. I knew they would come in and now, with a little trimming, form the great part of the shed floor. I have only had to buy a couple of metres to finish off the floor. That goes in tonight. Four cuts and sixteen screws and the shed is serviceable. I have a few bits to do on the back panel and the ceiling needs covering but the major job is done. I can now move the stuff that has been collecting in the garage into the shed. I have all summer to finish the twiddly bits on the outside and organise the shelving on the inside ready for my harvest.
It was H's birthday last weekend so my parents came down for the weekend. Some of our old friends from Manchester came too. It was a lovely weekend. Dad gave me hand to plant the Willow that arrived during the week which from my hedge. H and I had a ceremoniously planting the two of the Hazel and one of the Hawthorn in the garden as well. I managed to move the fruit bushes into tubs to make them portable, since the new trees would certainly compete with them..
I went up to the allotment 04.03.06 and found the ground frozen solid to a depth of half an inch. It did not stop me digging up a Leek or two to go into today's dinner, stew. This time next year I hope to be eating stew made with all my own root vegetables. We are nearly out of potatoes [Cara]. The Rocket have stated chitting so there is a lesson learnt. Plant your earlies early and harvest them early. Leave main crop to be lates and harvest them accordingly. I had this idea that I would plant some earlies late in the season as catch crop. It worked to a degree. I got a crop but it was hit hard by blight, also they have not kept that well and are chitting for England. I won't be leaving the spuds in the ground this year. As soon as they a ready they will be out of the ground and hopefully out of the clutches of the Blight. I lost the equivalent of four bags of spuds to blight. You live and learn. The Garlic has been potted up and is getting away. I think I will start sowing small amount of seeds next week in the greenhouse. Better get back to work.
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