Monday 13th Septmeber 2010

Posted on September 13, 2010 by clairesallotment

It’s that time of year when all the hard work starts again. Time to dig each bed as it gets cleared of veg, weed and manure. I dug up the last of the potatoes today, picked my one and only pumpkin which was very small and nothing to write home about, big enough to carve though. Picked the last of the courgettes and pulled a few swede. I’ve hand weeded so much today, that I’ve got a sore right palm. I think if I went on any longer I’d get a blister, I’ve done it before. I also picked a sweetcorn and had it for my lunch. It was very yummy, and all I added was salt and pepper.

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4 Responses to Monday 13th Septmeber 2010

carmen says:

September 13, 2010 at 7:04 pm

Hello Claire, should I remove my various pepper plants from the beds and put them in post in greenhouse? Guess what! back in July I was told to forget about my mangetout because they got eaten by slugs. But I did not have the heart to pull them all up (this has been my first year growing stuff on allotment). So I left them to grow as they wished amongst the poppies… and I was so happy on Saturday… each little plant had about 5 pods and I sat there with a big green, munching some of them and gave the rest to my elderly neighbours, who loved them 🙂

Reply
- clairesallotment says:
  
  September 14, 2010 at 5:01 pm
  
  If you’re able to move them into the greenhouse do, but be very carful when moving them. Dig up as much soil around them as possible, and try very hard not to disturb the roots. Put them in pots that are suitable for their root size, you may need 12 inch pots, it depends how much the roots have spread. Water them in once they’re in pots. Glad the mangetout rebounded, some of my peas self seeded and I had a few late plants. I ate the peas before they even reached the car.
  
  Reply
emma says:

September 13, 2010 at 8:05 pm

Hi Claire, love your blogs and videos. Its my first allotment only had it 3weeks. I was wondering when I can compost/manure my beds ready for spring, Ive been told by others on my site to wait until spring but Im not sure at all just to dig over and leave them (they are very heavy clay as well).Nothing has been growing there for years and years not even many weeds! I would be glad of your input claire:)

Reply
- clairesallotment says:
  
  September 14, 2010 at 4:56 pm
  
  Hi Emma,
  Welcome to the world of the allotment grower. Hopefully you’ll have loads of fun. What I do and what I’d suggest is that as soon as you’ve dug a bed, cover it in at least 2 inches of manure. You don’t need to get a tape measure, but a good thick layer will be needed. Make sure the manure is well rotted, it should be dark brown if not black. Don’t use fresh manure. Just leave the well rotted manure of the top of the soil, and the worms’ll take a fair bit down, but you’ll have to dig the rest in in the Spring before you plant. Have fun, and any other questions just ask. Claire
  
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