Hearty Soil

This weekend was the first time in 2012 where I was have done some proper work at the lottie. I have been doing a lot of thinking but not much doing. Time to put plans into action. To start I dug up the remaining four rows I spuds. The rows were part experiment part lack of time. Steve and I wondered what would happen if you put spuds in really early. I spuds I dug up gave part of the answer. Yes they will sprout if the weather is suitable. We have had a few cold snaps and frosts and that shows on the sprouting tuber. Some tubers were soft from the effects of the frost. Some of the sprouting haulms were burned by the frost even though they had not yet broken the surface.

The results are in the for "no Winter Digging". I cleared the lottie as in harvested the crops. In previous years I have dug the ground over. This year I did not dig the plot. I left the soil to its own devices which means I let the weeds grow. I had read that the weeds would hold the soils together and retain the nutrients. We have had some weather through the winter and true to form the soil has not been washed about. As I dug the spuds I found the soil to be very friable and packed with worms, always a good sign of health soil. But as it was pointed out I have a whole plot to weed before the growing season kicks in.

We have had a big theft where tools, barrows and logs meant missing in one go. It has galvanised us into locking the gate. The gate swings inwards but the roadway runs slightly up hill. With gate sagging with age and the up hill slope the it is necessary to lift the gate to open it. That is fine for the stronger allotmenteers but so so good for the more frail amongst us. It has been a long term goal to change the way the gate swings and fit adjustable hinges. The adjustable hinges will allow us the compensate for the gate sagging as it ages. I had the all the gate furniture, nuts, bolts, hinges and keeper from the summer. A few weeks ago I had drill the holes in the gate stiles for the eye bolt that forms half of the adjustable hinge. I removed the took the bolts out of the old hinge pins whilst Steve steadied the gate. With the top hinge removed the gate could be removed. Steve fitted the adjustable part of the hinge in the gate. I measured up the standing hinge pin, Piloted the holes and fitted the new bottom hinge pin with 75mm (3 inch) bolts. We sat the gate on the bottom pin and adjusted the hinges to make the catch end of the gate hit the gate post. We chocked up the catch end of the gate whilst I fitted the top hinge pin. That done we applied ourselves to catch and pin. It took a bit faffing about along with adjusting the hinges. Then we cranked all the bolts up to fix the fitting. We gave the gate a few swings to find swung beautifully. Even the puniest person will be able open the gate. The catch has a place for a lock. Steve is to find a lock and keys. I am to find a post to act a keeper to secure the gate open.

All in all a very satisfying weekend.