Allotment diaries - Some progress

I'm really enjoying keeping a photo diary of the allotment's progress.  At times it feels like everything is happening so slowly, but when I look back, I'm amazed at how much has changed in such a short space of time.  It's a lovely reminder that every little job adds up.

The best part is knowing it's all down to my own hard work.  Mark just isn't into gardening or growing, and that's absolutely fine - I actually love that every decision is mine to make.

Having said that, he is really good when it comes to building things.  He'll tackle any construction projects I dream up, which is a huge help because I wouldn't have the first clue where to start!  I've already got a list of ideas for things I'd like him to build / fix up, so don't worry...I'll be keeping him busy, ha ha.

How it looked before

And now

I decided to keep the 'goalpost' as it will come in handy for growing beans another time.  At the moment I have tomatos growing there.  In the foreground I've recently put in some potatoes, which will be ready for Christmas.

In front of the tomatoes are sweet corn and four pumpkins, all growing nicely.  I'm also re-using the bed edging from my Roots plot.

Another section and how it looked before

And now

Here the path is about half done.  I'm laying weed membrane down for the path, but not between the beds.  I'm trying to concentrate on getting everything laid out while the weather is dry, so at the moment there is nothing planted in the raised beds.

The next area I plan to work on is around the pond.  I emptied all the water out a couple of weeks ago and have kept it covered ever since, just in case we had rain, (if only!)  I have already been scavaging for rocks, with help from Bonnie and Jacob, which I'll use to edge the pond.....Update on that once there is something to show.

In the meantime, I asked our AI friend If rain was expected, the answer?, not for a least another 10 days!

-X-

Allotment diaries - too hot!

 We are still in the midst of a heatwave, it's almost 10.30pm as I'm posting this and the temperature is still 33°C. - Apparantly it will start to cool down over the next four days, but in the meantime keeping everything watered on both the plots is keeping me busy.   I've been watering in the evening when the sun has gone down and giving everything a treble dose of water, hard work when you are not allowed to use hosepipes, but It's helping me get my steps in.

Mark made me a bench for inside the polly tunnel.

All my tomato plants from home are down there now, these are from the second lot of seeds I sowed, the first ones came to nothing.  I've still got to put them into larger containers but need to get some more compost, I only had enough left to pot on my peppers.

Before It got crazy hot I got two of my pallet collars beds in, that was harder than I thought It would be!  The other two can wait until It's cooler.  I've thrown the plastic covering back over the other section I cleared which should keep the weeds at bay until I can get around to setting beds out.

Well this is a sorry looking pond isn't it, lol.  I originally thought I would be able to get the muck and debris out without emptying all the water but there was just too much, and it smelled really bad so I emptied it one bucket at a time and the sun has dried up the remaining water.  It's a shame about the water lily, I've taken a cutting but it was really too big for the space anyway.

The rest of the mud in the bottom is all dried up now and I'll be able to sweep that out, but because the bath is so stained I'm thinking of putting a lining in, It'll be easier than trying to clean it up.

In case you were wondering, there was nothing at all living in the water, I did sweep around with a net on several occasions before I emptied it.

I've got some lovely looking apples growing on one of the trees, I got excited because I thought they might be russets, my favourites, now they have turned a little greener, but as long as they an eating variety I'll be happy.  

Also, I have wheat! No idea what to do with that, but It's looks pretty so I've left it for now.

-X-

Allotment diaries, some progress

How it looked before.

I worked hard clearing all the weeds, every one of them hoicked out by me, by hand.

And how it's looking now

The excess covering on the outside was burried in the soil to weight it down a bit and woodchip added all around the outside  The frame is pegged down all around.  It wasn't an expensie polly tunnel but hopefully we have done enough to ensure that It won't get blown away in the first storm we have, and that I can get a good few years out of it.

We put a weed membrane down inside and added woodchip  - (The woodchip is free for all allotment holders).

Mark is going to make me a small potting bench for the inside and my tomato plants will stand on trays along the side.

I've made progress on another section since last weekend but I'll save that for next time.

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Whats been keeping me busy

 You may remember a while ago that I mentioned that I'd been offered an allotment plot.  I did end up declining that particular plot as it was very overgrown and would have taken a lot of work to get it up and running.

However, a few weeks ago I was talking to a lady down at the Roots allotment and she mentioned that she had taken on a council run allotment near to where I live.  Turns out that she didn't even go on a waiting list, someone she knows told her about one that was available.  I mentioned about the one I was offered and she said she would ask about plot next to hers as she was pretty sure It was free. 

I didn't think anything would come of it but a couple days later she messaged to say yes, the plot next to her was available and she had passed my name on to one of the committe members.

I went down on the off chance on the last Bank Holiday and luckily there was someone there to show me around.  I was shown and given the choice of three plots, two of which would have been a bit of a challenge but the one I had gone to see wasn't too bad.  It has a shed and some tools that the previous occupants had left, there is a makeshift pond, (a bath sunk into the ground, lol), a plum tree and two apple trees, (which hopefully produce edible fruit) along with some fruit bushes and various herbs.

So... dispite what I said before I now have an allotment.  I will continue with my Roots plot until late Autumn because I have things planted, but once everything has been harvested I will be giving it up. 

I signed the paperwork for it and paid my annual fee on June 1st and have been down there for a few hours most days to make a start.  I'll share progress photos as I go along, I know some of you may not be interested in reading about my allotment journey but this is what has my interest at the moment and I hope that at least some of you will like to follow and see what I'm doing.

Something else before I go.  

I have wanted to change the name of my blog for a while now and seeing as I'm starting a new adventure now seemed as good a time as any. 

You may have already noticed my new blog name in my header - 

Needles, Greens and Everyday Things

As I'm still going to be sharing my knitting and stitching, (when I have any), and life in general I thought this covered all things, lol. 

Ok, I think that's all the news I have for now, I'll be back soon and share some of the progress I've made on the allotment.

-X-

The weekend

I had planned on having a relaxing weekend but It didn't turn out that way.   Mark was at work yesterday and I thought I'd give myself the day off as I'd been busy all week, but then I went out into the garden, and we all know that is a sure fire way of time getting away with you.  

I ended up running the mower around to pick up all the debris from the wind, then I potted on all my tomatoes.  The shed has needed a tidy up for weeks so I did that aswell and the green house got a sweep and a tidy up too.  Later on I popped down the allotment to harvest a few things.

I saved a few roses from the garden, the wind has been blowing the petals everywhere.

This is my harvest from the allotment, I'm so chuffed with my cabbages this year.  I shared the cabbage and broad beans with my sister as Mark doesen't like either.

A few strawberries too, there are more to come, just not ripened yet.

Oh and I made myself a curry for tea and some banana and toffee muffins.  I'll definitly make those muffins again, they were very moreish.  I use a basic banana bread recipie that I have modified and made my own over the years, this time I used fudge peices instead of chocloate chips - so good.

Not the day off I was planning but it was productive.

Sunday Is my upstairs cleaning and bed change day and then Stevie came round with Freddie for a few hours.  He is growing so quickly.

Perhaps I can schedule a day off in the week, that would be nice.

Hope you are all well and have enjoyed your weekend.

-X-

An allotment update

 I've had my name down with a local Allotment Society since last year and they called me a couple weeks ago saying that there was one available and did I want to go and have a look.

It was actually a half plot, which would be enough for me, and this is what It looked like.

I'm on a couple allotment groups on fb so I know that compared to some this isn't too bad.  What you can't see from the photos is that the previous occupant had dug holes and piled up the dirt so the ground wasn't level.  It was mostly grass that would have to be cleared but the top end was really overgrown and again had been banked up, nothing grown just some tulip bulbs planted randomly around.

I seriously thought about it, weighing up the pros and cons for a week before I called back and refused it It would have been way cheaper than the Roots one I have now butthere were quite a few drawbacks.   It had no shed or storage, I would have to buy compost, manure, extra tools and some water storage, plus a shed, which is a big expense.  The Guy that showed me round said that he didn't blame me for not taking it on, (which made me realise I'd made the right decission), and that I could stay on the list and see if something more suitable came up in the future.   

 I've spent a lot of time on my Roots plot these last two weeks getting it ready for planting and thinking that I definitly made the right choice.  I think I've said before that with Roots all the tools, compost, manure and wood chips are there for you to use freely, plus seeds packs twice a year and regular plug plant parties and coffee meet ups.  They might be more expensive but you have to take into account what you get for that money as oposed to buying it all yourself.   Plus, everyone is so friendly and helpful, sharing plants and even offering to water If you are away or can't get to your plot.  I didn't get the feeling there was much community spirit at the Allotment Society one, I think you would be pretty much on you own.

Anyway, the decission has been made and I think It was the right one, for now.

This Is how my space looks at the moment.

Strawberries are growing well, but the rhubarb hasn't been too good this year though, I had to remove a flower head so perhaps that's why, I have noticed that a lot on other plots had flower heads this year too.

I'm very very happy with my cabbages.  I planted four and have already taken some of the outer leaves to eat.

I planted out my broad beans this week.  Only three plants survived the pigeons from the Autumn ones, so far the Spring ones haven't been touched.

I planned on having tomatoes in this section behind the seat but when I was clearing the weeds this week I discovered several raspberry plants, so I'll leave those and put tomatoes elsewhere.  There were also lots of poppy plants, presents from the birds or blown on the wind?   I've planted sweetpeas around the trellis since I took this photo.

I origionaly shared two plots with my daughter Joanne but she Is too busy with the children and other things at the moment so now I'm going it alone with just this one.

Mark has been down there with me today and made a bigger brassica cage for me and I've got many more things at home almost ready to go in, including some cauliflowers and more seeds to sow.

 The rest of May is going to be a busy time and hopefully there will be less bare soil next time I update.

-X-

Productive day

Monday is washing day here, and luckily the weather is glorious, blue sky's and not a sign of the torrential rain we had on Saturday, so the clothes have been blowing gently on the line.

While the washing machine was doing it's thing I did the usual Monday morning re-set of the house and whizzed the mower over the grass to pick up all the leaves and acorns that have fallen in the last couple days.  This time of year is the hardest I find, having an oak tree in the garden means that the garden is only ever tidy for half an hour after you've finished making it tidy and this year is a mast year so there will be an abundance of acorns, (the squirrels will be happy).  Last year was a bust year, so no acorns.

Mast and bust years happen every 5-10 years but not necessarily on a regular basis, it's dependant on a number of things that could trigger either mast or bust.  What's fascinating is that if it's going to happen then it will happen right across the UK and nearly every single oak tree will produce a bumper crop in the same year, (or not, if it's a bust year).  Isn't nature wonderful?

I braved the rain on Saturday and harvested a few things, some of the rainbow carrots and our first swede which we ate yesterday.

And I've popped down again for an hour today to have a quick tidy after the weekend rain.

Pumpkins picked, all the greenery had died off so hopefully they will continue to turn more orange in the conservatory.

Cleared out the tomato plants at home, eventually these should turn red and I'll probably make another batch or two of pasta sauce.

So that was my Monday, all the washing is dry, folded and put away and I think my day is finished to today. 

I'll leave with a beautiful rainbow photo I took while down the allotment a couple weeks ago. 

-X-

This week

 The week started with an expense, something tripped out all the electrics in the laundry room last Sunday and it was traced back to the tumble dryer, so that's tumbled it's last load, ugh.    I had considered doing without one because I never dry things straight out of the washing machine, but I do like to finish things things off for ten minutes or so after they have been line dried as it softens things up and makes for easier ironing, so I sucked up the expense and a new one should be here in a few days.

It's been a bit of a nothing week, just catching up on the washing and ironing after being away, all the boring things.  I managed to get the garden tidy again just before the rain started on Wednesday and popped to the allotment on Thursday afternoon to collect any pickings.  Of course I ended up staying to clear a few things that have gone over, but, I did good with time management and only stayed just over an hour.

 Lots of tomatoes and still plenty more to pick, I might end up just clearing the lot next week and let them finish ripening at home.  I made a couple jars of tomato, basil and garlic sauce for the freezer with this lot on Saturday morning.

I really haven't taken a lot of notice of the pepper plants but when I looked last week there were quite a lot. Google tells me that they should ripen off the plant if they were big enough so I've taken a chance and picked them.  There should be a mixture of yellow, red and orange, at least I hope there will be because we don't really like green peppers 😒 I pulled the few carrots as they were poking out the ground, plenty more to come and we should have some for Christmas too.

Still picking runner beans although there won't be many more now, I have a freezer full and they should last well into next year as I'm the only one that eats them.

While I was cleaning the conservatory this week I had to move all my TBR books and while putting them back I arranged them by colour.  I think they look easier on the eye but when Mark called and I told him what I'd been up to I could hear him rolling his eyes, lol.  That's the trouble with being at home all the time, you do find these little slightly mad things to do, (all my CD's are alphabetised too, yes I do still own CD's which I do still play along with my records).   

I should perhaps stop buying books to add to this shelf, lol.

I also enrolled in a new Pilates class this week that started on Tuesday morning.  The lady who does it actually lives in my street, although I didn't know that until I got to the class.  When I finished my physio Pilates was recommended, so I thought I give it a go.  I've paid for seven weeks and enjoyed the first class, I could tell I'd worked some underused muscles the next morning, even after one session, so hopefully it will strengthen those hip and glutes over time so that I don't have a repeat of bursitis and tendinitis. 

Remember my little visitor?  

I finally found out the he does have a home a few streets away.  A couple weeks ago I put a note on his collar with my phone number and someone called me the next day.  His name is Kovu, (from a character in the Lion King, so his owner said).  The next time he turned up he was sporting a new red collar with a tag saying he was microchipped and a contact number.  I was so glad to find out that he wasn't lost or had been abandoned, I don't feel guilty about not feeding him now I know he is looked after, lol.  

He still comes, has a fuss and a walk around the house then usually goes again, but on Wednesday he made himself comfortable and slept here all afternoon, that's the longest he's ever stayed.  I did tell his owner that he comes in but I don't encourage him by feeding him, and nor would I do that.  He doesn't come every day, I might not see him again for a week but he obviously feels this is a safe place to be and I haven't got the heart to shoo him off.

Nothing planned for this week, although perhaps if I'm desperate for something to do I could always colour code the rest of my books  🤪

-X-

Still no rain here

Its been another warm and sunny day, we certainly can't moan about the British Summer this year but all the heat has taken it's toll on the garden.  My garden soil is mostly clay and there are big cracks all over, It hasn't been the best for weather for hydrangeas either, mine are already quite faded and the leaves are very dry and of course the grass in not green anymore, it's a lovely shade of brown.

We still have some lovely colour though.

The aster seeds I sowed were a couple years out of date but they still produced some lovely flowers

The climbing rose by my back door was attacked by saw fly in June, I thought it was a goner so cut it right back, It survived my hacking and has come back lovely and healthy and is almost as high as the back door again.

Not all things have done well.  I planted three raspberry canes but only one has survived.

I popped to the allotment this afternoon to water, I didn't expect there to be much to bring back but there were loads of runner beans and quite a few tomato's both of which I've given to my sister, also picked the last few courgettes and a few more beetroot which I'll have a go at pickling tomorrow.

I was surprised to see so many peppers on my pepper plants.  I didn't do well with peppers last year so apart from watering I haven't really paid any attention to these.

Joanne is taking the kids on holiday tomorrow so I have a lodger for the week.

Her name is Pickle, she's so cute and really friendly, I don't usually like rodent type pets but I'm ok with hamsters, lol.

It's Bank Holiday tomorrow.  Mark Is still in Scotland so I'm going to have a day sorting through my craft supplies in the hope of being able to clear out some things that I know I won't use, wish me luck on that one, ha ha.

-X-