Clairesallotment's Blog

Another beautiful day. I mowed the grass again today, so when Mark gets home (I’ll let him have his dinner first) we can put up the Gazebo for the long weekend. Potted on more plants, including tomatoes, hollyhocks, and popcorn. I forgot to put a label in one of my seed trays, and have been wondering for a while what they might be. Firstly I thought they were tomatoes, but now the 2nd leaves have appeared I know they’re Aubergines. It’s Hot Cross Bun day tomorrow, so make sure you have them for breakfast, as well as any other time during the day that you feel peckish.

Spent another glorious afternoon in the greenhouse today. I’m about half way with all the potting on, gosh I planted a load of seeds. One bag of compost down, and 2 left to go. Hopefully it should last until I’ve potted everything on, I think each bag is 120litres, so I should have enough. It was very hot in the greenhouse today, so all the plants need to be watered on a regular basis, some had drooped a little, but once they’d had a drink they brightened up. I may leave the greenhouse door open tonight as it’s not going to be cold. I’ve moved the Okra from the kitchen window sill to the greenhouse, I hope they’ll be ok. If a frost is forecast I may bring them back in.

Popped to the allotment for a couple of hours this morning. Not as many people there as I would have thought for a Saturday, may be they’re down this afternoon. I managed to do the most tedious job ever, which is not weeding, but putting in about 6 rows of leeks. My goodness it takes so long! You look at the tray and think “Oh there aren’t many in here, shouldn’t take long”. An hour and a half it took me! But it’s done now and they just need to grow. Weeded yet more, but the ground is so hard as we haven’t had any decent rain for about 6 weeks now, that I managed to burst a huge blister on the palm of my hand. Ouch! I keep putting plasters on it, but they’re the wrong shape, any suggestions on a suitable plaster for the palm of your hand? I’ll go in the greenhouse later on this afternoon, and do more potting up.

My red onions arrived through the post to day, so I spent the afternoon cutting up toilet rolls and planting them all. There’s quite a few. I hope they’ll keep me going for a while. I also potted up my Courgettes, I think I’ve got about 6 of each, and various varieties, so I’ll have loads of Courgettes again. Every year, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like they always do really well.

Sneaked a couple of hours down the allotment this morning, and managed to get everything done that was on my list! Amazing, I’ve never done that before. I planted my broad bean plants, sowed the last few purple carrots, got all the mangetout and the rest of the peas in, another row of radish, and the rest of the chard. It was beautiful down there, the sun was shinning and not a cloud in the sky. Yes I had my shorts on, but the legs aren’t quite so pale as before, the tan is slowly returning. Make sure you don’t wear wellies and shorts other wise you’ll get welly marks, not very attractive. I did it one year, and had a line just under my knees….lovely. After a BBQ and eating outside I repotted my yellow courgettes and okra. I think I need a rest in the sun now, phew what a busy day.

Another glorious day. We are being spoilt, I’m sure it won’t last. Got my Butt Pump out for the first time today. It’s nothing rude, so stop all those rude thoughts. To be honest it’s a bit of a joke in our house. All it does is pump the water from the bath to the water butt outside, then I put that water on the garden. Sometimes it’s a bit hairy and bubbly, but the plants don’t seem to mind. I’ve had to re pot all my pumpkins as they’re getting too big for their 3 inch pots, but that a good thing, so hopefully I’ll have lovely large pumpkins in the Autumn. Most of the seeds in the greenhouse are growing well, the sweetcorn bursts through the soil like little green pencils, every time I look there seem to be more. I’ve potted on my Jumbly tomatoes that I got from Victoriana Nursery Gardens, I love no knowing what will grow. Hopefully I can sneak a couple of hours down the allotment tomorrow after ringing, got bits to put in.

Did more filming today with Sean. It was a beautiful day, lovely and warm and I even exposed my legs to the world. Sorry for blinding everyone with my white legs. Give them a few weeks and they’ll start to get a bit of colour on them. Everything in the greenhouse is growing so well, and the pumpkin plants are growing rapidly that I’ve had to start putting them in larger pots. Tulips are in bloom in the garden and the daffodils are at the end. But everything is taking shape for what I hope will be a fabulous summer.

I spent just under 3 hours down the allotment today. I’ve now planted all my onions, garlic and carrots. Goodness me there were a lot of them. I thought I’d planted all the onions when I suddenly saw another 50 in a tray on the back seat of the car. I forgot I put some there. I also planted another 2 rows of peas, but then hunger took over and I had to go home for some lunch. This week isn’t as busy as normal, so hopefully I’ll be down again a few more times this week. The kids break up on Friday so I’m up against the clock.

What a wonderful way to spend Mothers’ Day. I spent most of the afternoon in the greenhouse planting more seeds, and re-potting other bits. All the tomatoes that are re-potable (is that a word?) have been done. I’ve got a few that I planted later and they’re not quite ready yet, but give them a couple of weeks and they’ll be ready. I also re-potted my Kohl Rabi. I’ve kept a few spare ones for my sister with a few brief instructions. I’m sure she can cope, but I’m on the end of the phone if she needs me. I planted loads of seeds, are you ready for this?….Broccoli, Gagat Summer Squash, Mesclun Mix, more Butternut, Jack o Lantern, Sweet Dumpling, Table Queen and some Squash seeds that I got in Spain I think they’re called Cucurbita Moschata, they look very odd which is what made me buy them. There’s more to come… I also sowed some flowers Hollyhocks, Lupins, Campanula, and a variety of Poppies. I think I need to lie down now I’m exhausted. I hope all the mum’s are having a great day, and getting to do what they enjoy. I’m planning on going to the allotment tomorrow as I’ve got onions that need to go in, lots and lots of onions.

Did more filming today with Sean. The sun started to shine, but then the rain decided to come and play. Some of what we filmed will be on this Sunday’s programme, but the rest will be on future ones. The weekend is supposed to be dry. I need to mow my grass! Just a quick reminder to Fathers’ don’t forget that it’s Mothers’ day this Sunday. Breakfast in bed would be lovely, or at least a cup of tea. I plan to spend the day in the garden and greenhouse.