I don’t know about you, but I like little surprises. So when I arrived on my plot this morning I was greeted with a couple of wonderful surprises. I’m still having a good sort out of both my plots, with lots of trips to the tip with stuff. Last spring I sowed some cauliflowers “Romanesco” which grew beautifully, but didn’t seem to produce any cauliflowers at all last summer. So therefore I’d given up and was prepared for them not to do anything and I would give the plants to the chickens as a treat. Now I’ve not been up to the allotment for a couple of weeks, but today when I went up, there in front of me as bold as brass were several wonderful cauliflower heads. I’m not sure why they’ve suddenly decided to arrive now, but I suppose, better late than never.
Then also as I was looking around I saw some of my Broccoli “Lancer mixed” that is also ready to harvest. Now this I expect to be ready about this time. Actually I was expecting it to be ready about January, but still I’m very pleased to finally see it. I harvested a load and there is more on it’s way. So hopefully we’ll have plenty to keep us going for a while.
Now I know that many of you have been asking when I’m going to start this years videos again. We’ll to be honest I’m not sure. Don’t panic there will be more this year, but I’m just not sure exactly when. You see we’re in the process of moving house at the moment, and are relocating a distance away from where we live at the moment. This is why I’m having a good sort out of the allotment plots. We’re not staying in the same area so therefore I won’t be able to keep my allotment, but our new home has a lovely sized garden and therefore I’ll have my allotment plot in there instead. Once we arrive I’ll show you around, and you can join me in my journey turning what is, at the moment a load of grass into a wonderful allotment plot. When the time comes, I will do a goodbye video from my allotment here, so like me you can all say “Goodbye” to it. It’ll be sad after all these years, but then you can all join me in saying “Hello” to my new space. I’ll keep you posted, so don’t worry. I’ll still keep blogging when I go down the allotment and making the odd video about cooking my vegetables, but hopefully very soon I can start sowing some seeds for this year.
Clairesallotment's Blog 
Claire, changing plots is a sad thing as you say goodbye but starting a new and better plot is exciting. Having it nearer to where you live will be a great improvement and not having association rules to follow is an awesome relief. All the things that you have learned from the old allotment will make the hew plot plan ever so much more convenient. I for one am looking forward to seeing how it all comes together.
Have a great sort out and move planning day.
Nebraska Dave
Urban Farmer
Nebraska, USA
It’s just the last final fiddly bits to get sorted before we can set a date. Hope fully they’ll be sorted very soon as we want to move when the kids are on Easter Break.
Aww I never knew you were giving up your allotment Claire 😪😪
At least you have a nice big garden to convert, hope you managed to lift a few treasured plants before you leave??
Look forward to you showing us the new place!
Good luck with the house move x
I’m not disappearing, but a slightly different change of scenery. I’ve got lots of fruit bushes that I need to lift and take with me. I may have to come back one weekend to sort it out.
Hi Claire.
Im a newbie allotment grower and have been watching your youtube channel videos mainly from this time last year to get some advice and inspiration.
I really love your how to videos, to a novice green-grower like me, they are excellent.
Im a visual learner so they are brill…
I have a large plot which hasn’t been cultivated for some time and is filled with brambles, nettles, cooch grass (is that how you spell it)? along with your bog standard selection of perennial weeds., so Il have spent the last few days attacking the brambles for starters. Should get me fit…
My neighbours have chosen to use weed suppressant on their plots but all that appears to be doing is directing the brambles on to my patch!!!
Still I need to get fit again and loose a few pounds, I also love digging and dont like to be beaten.
Any tips on bramble extermination?
Im looking forward to seeing how you begin again on your new allotment garden when you move.
Hi there,
I’m so glad you find my videos helpful. Go onto my Claire’s Allotment blog and sign up to my newsletter. There’s also a free ebook called “How to get started”, and another ebook for 99p on “How to grow potatoes”. I’m working on the next one at the moment, but they’ll be plenty more over the course of the years to come.
What I would suggest is you strim your entire plot, then cover it with thick plastic or old carpet. Leave it for about a few weeks then turn over a small part to dig over, then uncover more and so on.
Brambles are awful, I’m afraid there’s no way round it. I would suggest you cut them back and then burn them. Stand by with a water hose, just incase. I burnt a load of mine and it really seemed to work. Once you’ve burnt the tops then take out the roots. Couch grass is also a nightmare. Make sure you remove as much as you possibly can and DON’T put it in your compost heap. The more you remove this year then the easier next year will be. I’m afraid the only way to remove them is to get down on your hands and knees, so invest in a decent pair of knee pads!
Hope this helps. Have fun,
Claire x