Clairesallotment's Blog

Wow!! The weather must have been listening yesterday as we woke up this morning to sun!! I know, I was wondering what this round shiny thing was in the sky. No rain so far today, I must admit it’s a weird feeling. I managed to get to the allotment this morning, joy of joy’s. However, the weeds have taken hold because of the rain, but never mind. I planted some kohl rabi, asparagus peas, tomatoes and kale. I also managed some strimming (then I ran out of fuel) and some weeding. I feel invigorated now. I made some more films also, what a busy morning.
I’m now getting ready for my trip to Gardeners’ World. I’ll be there on Saturday from beginning to end drifting between Gardeners’ World and the Good Food halls. If you see me come and say “Hi!” But before I get there I’m spending a few days with my grand parents in Manchester.

You know, I just get on with things and don’t ask for much, but, PLEASE can the summer return. I’m getting quite depressed with all the rain we’re having. I’ve not been able to get to the allotment again today because it’s been pouring. I just want to see some sun and put my shorts back on, and not have to walk to school in my wellies.
Just got out from the greenhouse and have managed to get the rest of the tomatoes in their final pots. I Also re potted some sunflowers, but had too many so I’m giving the rest to school as it’s “Bring a plant to school” tomorrow. They won’t be getting one, but at least 20. I’m sure they’ll find room for them somewhere.

Did I write June? Yes that is right. Looking at the weather outside, it looks more like October. Maybe the sun we had for 2 weeks a while back was our Summer, who knows. I certainly hope not, come back summer we miss you.
Moan done, back to business now. I’ve just come in from the greenhouse after locking myself away in there for the past hour away from the gales outside. I have my cup of tea and I was a happy little bunny. The kids knew where I was, so they can find me. I think they know by now if I’m not in the house, I’m in the garden somewhere.
I potted up some Holly hocks that are growing well, my 5 cucumber plants, which can grow outside, but to be honest, not in this weather. I’ve filled the garden table with more plants that need to go to the allotment, so no eating outside in the garden for a while…yeah like that’s going to happen any time soon! I also have re potted a load of tomatoes into their final pots. I’m growing some on the allotment, and some in the greenhouse. I find it better that way, because if the ones on the allotment get blight, then I’ve still got a load at home. Lunch now, and then I’ll start on something else.

Had a bit more of a sort out in the greenhouse this morning. I potted up the few celeriac that have grown, and had a bit of a tidy. I then went and finished having a tidy of the front garden. It’s now pouring with rain, but I’ve finished in the garden, so that’s ok.

It’s half term, therefore a little tricky to go to the allotment. However, I spent a lot of the morning in the greenhouse re potting my aubergines and chillies. I’m getting everything in their final pots, so there’s a bit of shuffling going on in the greenhouse. The garden table is full of plants that need to go to the allotment, so next week when the kids are back I’ll be very busy.

When the sun came out this afternoon I took the opportunity to grab a bit of time down the allotment. There were loads of people down on site, it was a hive of activity. I was going to do some filming, and got the camera set up and ready to go and then discovered that there was hardly any battery left, I couldn’t even do 1. So that’ll have to wait until hopefully Tuesday. Even still I managed to get a huge amount of weeding done, and am starting to put leaf mould round the plants when I’ve watered them, to hopefully retain moisture and keep the weeds down. The after 2 hours I went home and we had Fajitas for dinner, yum yum!!

In my garden I have a rather large Ceanothus bush, and every morning the bees have a feeding frenzy in it. I usually have loads buzzing around collecting nectar. You have to be careful when walking past not to disturb them. I managed to get some lovely photos of them in mid hunt for pollen, and thank goodness I didn’t get stung in the process.

In the South of the UK we are guaranteed not to get another frost until the autumn now, so that means that all the tender crops are safe to be planted out. I know I sowed some last week, but I checked the weather and the night temperatures looked good. I’ve just come in from sowing my Papaya seeds. I got them in Spain a few years ago, so if they still grow is anyones guess. I’ll give them ago, and let you know. To be honest I don’t hold out much hope for them, and what I’ll do with the plant when the summer is finished I’ll have to see. I also found a few french bean seeds that I had forgotten about, and they got sowed as well. I wasn’t down the allotment today as my son has an inset day from school, but my daughter is at school today. I think she said “That’s not fair” this morning, but the tables will be turned another time. A long weekend ahead, so hopefully `I’ll be able to get down the allotment sometime. It’s half term next week.

Another lovely morning on the allotment, in which I managed to get lots done. I’ve finished weeding another bed, and am half way through the next one. I planted a load more tomato plants, and have now run out of sticks that are about 5 ft long, so will have to rummage around at home to find some, otherwise I’ll have to buy some more. All the plants loving the sunshine, including the weeds unfortunately . I got more watered and strimmed more grass. My knees weren’t as dirty as they usually get, how I managed that I don’t know.

Another warm day, but it looks like we may have storms tonight. Hopefully it’ll break the humidity that we’re having. The clouds are starting to gather, so hopefully it’s not far away.
I popped to the allotment this morning, this time with a charged up ipod. Yesterday when I went down it was very low on power and only lasted about 10 minutes before it stopped. I got lots done today, I planted all of my normal sized sweetcorn, about 10 tomato plants, and 2 cabbages that I found hiding in the greenhouse. I also managed to strim a load more and have nearly finished another bed. The soil is starting to get quite hard now as we need some major rain. I’ve sorted more plants to put in tomorrow and it looks like it’ll be a bit cooler tomorrow as well.