Clairesallotment's Blog

Another warm day which is lovely. It actually feels like summer now. I managed to weeds my onion bed today, and then watered it thoroughly. They’re growing well, the white ones anyway, and the red ones are doing much better than last year, to be honest they couldn’t have done any worse. I managed to get another couple of paths sorted. It makes the plot look much tidier. I’ll have to get a few more tyres to put on top soon. I”ll get them from Kwik Fit where I had to go about 3 weeks ago for a couple of tyres for the car. After I’d finished I had to go to the supermarket and it was only when I got home and looked in the mirror I noticed that I had soil on my forehead. Ooh dear, well never mind.

I’ve decided that grass paths are too time consuming and wanted a simpler solution. I therefore have gone a brought some “Apollo Ground control” from Homebase. I spent the morning strimming paths and then laying the covering over the top. You can attach with special pegs to the ground, and then I put a thick layer of wood chippings over the top. We had a load of free chippings delivered to the site via a friend. I’ve done 3 paths so far, so lots more to do. I also managed to do a lot more weeding, so now the jerusalem artichokes can breathe fresh air.

It’s the longest day of the year today, so all down hill from now on (not really, but the days now start to get gradually shorter). It really felt like summer to, lovely and sunny, and really warm, so I had to wear my shorts again! I had a brilliant time on the allotment this morning. I managed to get in all my leeks. I did have a few left, but no where to plant them, so I’ll give them to the school and the gardening club can plant them. They’ll look lovely amongst the flowers. I also strimmed more and weeded another bed. I found my horseradish and globe artichokes as they’d been taken over by the grass. I think that was about all. I’ll see if I can get into the garden later to sort out a few more hanging baskets. TTFN.

Another glorious morning up the allotment. It was sunny and lovely and warm, so I had to put my shorts on. I have very dirty knees now, whether I’ll clean them before I do the school run I haven’t decided yet. I got loads done this morning. I planted out all my cauliflowers and my kale. I’ve run out of netting, so have zigzagged garden twine over them between sticks. It should work as the birds still can’t land by them. Only time will tell though. I did a load more weeding and in the process disturbed a huge red ants nest. They weren’t happy, so I left them alone, and will plant something there tomorrow. I also pick a huge amount of rhubarb. I have no idea how much I’ve got, but some of the stems are at least 2 feet long!! I’m going to make some rhubarb and orange marmalade with it and may be give it as Christmas gifts. I’ve made it before and it’s lovely.

Just a quick note to let you know that on Wednesday of last week my little coal tits fledged. They were their on Tuesday evening and the parents were busy flying in and out, then on Wednesday morning they were all gone. They must have fledge very early in the morning, and it’s been all quite since. When I go up to the end of the garden it’s very quiet, but at least I know that I gave them a safe place to grow up before they went out into the big wide world. Maybe they’ll come back next year and then it’ll start all over again.

Perfect allotment weather today, cloudy with the occasional sun. I’ve managed to plant all my asparagus pea plants, some have started to develop little red flowers already. I also managed to plant the rest of my kohl rabi too. Then it was more weeding and digging of another bed. Because we’ve had so much rain recently they soil is very easy to dig. The next 2 days look great, so I may be spending a little more time there than usual. I’ve got ready what I want to do tomorrow, but I must take my fuel can and buy more unleaded for the strimmer as I\ve run out.

Today I went to Gardeners’ World at the Birmingham NEC. I so look forward to my little trip every year. It was the first time I went on a saturday, I’d always avoided it because I thought it would be too busy, but I don’t think it was. It did pour with rain several times and everyone ran for cover inside, but that didn’t matter. I got soaked as I went back to the car to drop bits off once, but soon dried out. I managed to get most things I went to look for and then some extra bits as well. I arrived at 9am, and left just before 6pm. A long day, but worth it. I finally arrived home just after 8pm to lots of hugs and kisses from all. I took loads of photos which Mark will put into a little slide show as soon as he has a bit of free time.