Clairesallotment's Blog

Well it’s just before 9pm and I’ve just got back from Birmingham! What is normally just over a 2 hour trip took me 3 hours, everything was going very well apart from the rain until I got on the M25! Oh, it turned into a car park. What fun that was, still I had some good music on the i-pod to listen to and I say loud and out of tune. But less of the traffic, more of Gardeners’ World. It was great fun, I didn’t spend as much money as I thought I would. I got to interview Carol Klein, what a lovely lady she is, and also others from their stands. I took loads of photos, which I’ll make a slide show of. I even held a tarantula, for about 2 seconds, and someone took 2 photos to prove it. I’m exhausted now, so won’t be awake for long. Night Night.

Well I’m all packed and ready to go up to Birmingham. I’m going to the NEC to see Gardeners’ World on Friday, so if you see me say “Hi”.

A glorious day today, a few clouds, but no sign of rain. It feels like June again, make the most of it as there’s more rain to come. Popped to the allotment this morning and planted a few cabbages I had left, they’re a little on the small side, so I hope they cope ok. I also planted all my Dwarf French Beans, a few Flowers I had left, and the obligatory weeding. Nearly everything is in, but I’ve got 2 beds left to fill, so I’ll put tomatoes in those, I might get to do them tomorrow morning, but I’m working in the afternoon, so I can’t get too dirty. I also sowed another pot of Coriander and Mixed Lettuce at home, so hopefully they’ll start to come through soon. I’ve got more to show you, so I’ll have to make more videos next week.

Popped to the allotment this afternoon, and got very excited (doesn’t take much I know) because I saw that 3 of my Mangetout were ready! I picked them and ate them straight away. Oh, they were so fresh and crisp. There are loads of flowers, so in a couple of weeks I’ll have more than I know what to do with. I also dug up my first carrot. It wasn’t particularly long, about 5 inches and 1 inch across the top. So no massive one, but a good size. I put in some more Runner Beans, Climbing French Beans, 2 Tomatoes, 4 Broad Beans and 1 Cabbage that I found. After the rain we had everything’s growing very well. I’ll be there again tomorrow, it’s supposed to be a lovely day.

I only managed just over an hour at the allotment today, but in that short time I managed to get in some Runner and French Beans, a few more Broad Beans, as well as a few Hollyhock plants that were in the tray of plants. They’ve gone where I planted the Daffodils, so hopefully they’ll be happy, and attract loads of Bumble Bees. Oh, and about 4 Tomato plants, that I squeeze on the tray. I’ve still got a few tyres free, so I put one Tomato plant in each tyre. After the rain, everything seems to be very happy, including the weeds, which I’m not happy about. Anyway that was about it. I don’t know when I’ll get down next, most probably Friday, as the next 2 days are very frantic.

Woke up this morning….sounds like the beginning of a Blues song…. and it was still raining! Yipee! All night it had been spitting down. By the time it stopped mid morning we’d had about 2 inches of rain. The allotment is going to love that, but so are the weeds. Finally some decent wet weather. It’s stopped raining now, and I’ve also been in the greenhouse potting on more Chillies. Kids (well George) goes back to school tomorrow. Emily is on a school trip and doesn’t come back til Friday. So I’ll be down the allotment tomorrow planting in my Beans. They’ve been sitting on the garden table for a week now acclimatising. I think they’re ok.

Today started a little cold, but I think anything would be compared to yesterday’s weather. I started potting on some Chillies. I’m having to put them in 3 inch pots as I’ve run out of 6 in pots. I’m sure they won’t mind. I’m only using the pots that will fit in the yoghurt pot holders that I was allowed to take from the supermarket. I got quite a few done, and then in the middle of the afternoon it started to rain. What a joy it was, not only that it was raining, but that I was gardening in the greenhouse and not getting wet. It’s still raining now, maybe we’re finally getting a decent bit of rain!

Another glorious day, apparently it was 26 or 27 today. I spent as much time as possible in the greenhouse potting up the last few Aubergine plants that I messed yesterday, and potted up my Cucumbers. They’ve already got flowers forming on them, so that’s a good sign. I couldn’t stay in the greenhouse for too long as it was very hot, so I kept on popping in and out. Watering is non stop at the moment, and I had a little water left in the butt, so I watered the grass. It’s looking very dry, and turning brown. I can’t remember when I last cut it, but it’s growing very slowly as it’s not had much rain. I’ll have to cut it again soon, as there are a few long bits popping up.

Hi there,
I’m taking part in a 5k Race for Life on Sunday 26th June 2011 in Richmond, London. I’ll be walking it with a friend, as running is not my thing. Race for Life helps raise money for Cancer Research. If you would like to sponsor me that would be fantastic. Please click on this link… http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/clairestay2103
… and it’ll take you straight through to my page.
Thank you very much.
Claire.

I’ve got my shorts on today! Yes I know that it’s a bit scary, but I’m not going any where except in the garden, and I’m sure the plants won’t mind. I’ve been in the greenhouse this afternoon potting on all my Aubergines, all the Okra and my 2 Fairy Light Chillies. They’re now in 6 inch pots, which is where they’ll stay, so let’s hope they grow beautifully and produce loads of fruit. I’ve got all the rest of the Chillies and Tomatoes to tackle, which could take a while as there are quite a few.