Thursday 22nd May 2014 – I picked my first strawberry today!

Posted on May 22, 2014 by clairesallotment

We did have a little rain last night, so that was good, and as I’m writing this blog we’ve now got thunder, lightning, hail, rain and strong winds. But fortunately this morning was dry so I could get to the allotment for a couple of hours. It was time to start weeding the strawberry beds today. I have 2 beds, and managed to get one sorted today. The weeds have got a little out of control on these beds as I’ve not done anything with them so far this season. But because we had some rain last night the soil is a little easier to dig. But before I started with the weeding, I notice my first ripe strawberry. So, as I put them in last year and looked after them, it’s only fair that I get to try the first one. Oh it was so sweet, and slightly warm. Which made the taste so much better. There are loads more growing on the plants which I bought new last year. They take a year to settle before they start to produce a decent amount of fruit. We did have a few spit spots of rain this morning, but nothing to stop me working on the allotment. Lucky I came home when I did really, otherwise there would have been lots of bad words spoken by me if I’d have got wet.

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Wednesday 21st May 2014 – An afternoon in the greenhouse.

Posted on May 22, 2014 by clairesallotment

Again I’m having to reshuffle bits in the greenhouse as I’m potting on more seedlings. All the brassicas are on the garden table along with the Sweetcorn, and various other bits. But this afternoon I got another variety of Tomatoes potted on into 3 inch pots. So that’s the Green Zebra ones done as well. I took enough for myself, then sorted some out for my sister and some for our allotment plant sale. I’m getting a nice collection of plants for my sister now, and as it’s half term next week, I’ll have to pop them over to her. So that’ll make more room in the greenhouse. That’s enough for today I think. I’d better get cleaned up as I’m out tonight. Let’s hope we have some rain later.

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Wednesday 21st May 2014 – Only 1 more bed to turn over!

Posted on May 21, 2014 by clairesallotment

It’s getting very exciting on my plot, well I think it is. I managed to turn over another bed today, and then manure it. So that only leaves only 1 bed to turn over! But on that bed, half of it’s where I dump my manure and the other half is a bit over grown. So I’m hoping that it won’t be too tricky to sort out. At least it’ll be great soil underneath because of the 2 loads of manure that has been sitting on it since October. I also managed to wood chip more of the paths, and got in the rest of my Sprouting Broccoli. Make sure that when you plant out your brassicas that you protect them from birds and gastropods (slugs and snails). We’re supposed to get loads of rain tonight, which we really need. We’ve not had any rain for about a week now, so we really do need it. Let’s hope that what we have is enough, otherwise I’ll have to water again tomorrow. Oh and some really exciting news, even though my baby Great Tits fledged at the weekend, today I saw the parents flying in and out of the box. So I plugged it in to the TV, and low and behold there are a couple of eggs. Now I don’t know if they’re from the first batch that she laid, as only 2 out of the 10 hatched, or if they’re new ones. I’ll keep you updated on their progress.

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Tuesday 29th May 2014 – My Strimmer is in the mower hospital!!

Posted on May 20, 2014 by clairesallotment

I took my strimmer into a lovely man to see if he could fix my strimmer. I’ve had it since September 2007 I think, and this is the first time that it’s ever gone wrong. I hope he can fix it for me, otherwise I’ll have to buy and new one and read the instructions. I’m a bit lost without it, and it takes so much longer using the hand shears. He said he’d strip it down and see what’s wrong with it, then let me know how much it’ll cost to fix. If it’s more than buying a new one, then I’ll have to do that. Hopefully he can tell me in a couple of days. It was hard to leave it in a strange place with a strange man, but I’ll see it again soon…hopefully. So after a traumatic start to the morning, I then went down the allotment, and finished digging over the bed that I’d started yesterday. I then covered it in a layer of manure, and hopefully tomorrow I can plant out my Sprouting Broccoli in there. But we’ll have to see what the weather brings. I then started another bed, but after three and a half hours of digging, manure spreading and wood chipping paths, I’d had enough. I took my lunch down with me again and sat down for about half an hour. But enough was enough. You get to the point, where you’ve just had enough, and staying any longer would make it a chore. I don’t want that to happen, it should be fun. It was cooler today, with more cloud, so it was much more pleasant. Time now for a well earned cup of tea and maybe I can get in the greenhouse this afternoon to pot on some more tomatoes. But first some watering…..after the tea!

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Monday 19th May 2014 – More potting up done, I’m getting there slowly.

Posted on May 19, 2014 by clairesallotment

I had about an hour this afternoon before I needed to start dinner, so I went in the greenhouse and potted up a few more bits and pieces. The greenhouse wasn’t as hot as it gets during the day, as the sun has moved round. So it’s more pleasant in the greenhouse, and I’m able to stay in there for much longer. I managed to pot up my Cucamelons in 3 inch pots. I’ve got 12 little plants this year and they’re starting to look really good so hopefully they’ll be as prolific as they were last year. Then it was time to start on the tomatoes. I planted 3 varieties this year, and as time was limited before I had to put the oven on, I decided that I would only have time to pot up 1 variety so I opted for the “Big Red F1” variety. I have again 12 little plants. So they’ll stay in 2 inch pots until they’re too big and then I’ll move them on to a bigger pot. But I’ll let you know that when I do it. Time now to get in the bath, I got really dirty on the allotment and in the greenhouse today. I wore my shorts today, so I have rather grubby knees.

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Monday 19th May 2014 – According to the car, it was 25.5 today!!.

Posted on May 19, 2014 by clairesallotment

As we were due another glorious day, but with more of a breeze today. I decided the best thing to do was to spend as much time up the allotment as I could. I’ve now practically finished plot 2, as all the beds are dug over and filled, apart from the French Beans. These will be going in in the next couple of weeks.

Plot 2 looking fairly tidy...for now anyway.

Plot 2 looking fairly tidy…for now anyway.

So it was time to start spending more time on plot one. I’ve not taken a picture of that one to show you, as I’m a bit embarrassed by it at the moment. Half of it is ok, but the other half needs some major tidying. I’ll take a picture when it’s all finished. So I started on the bed with the Rhubarb in. I managed to get most of the bed sorted, and manured it. So I’m now taking up last years Sprouting Broccoli which has finished. I’ve got lots of Butternut Squash that need a home, so I think that’s where I’ll put them when it’s all cleared. I spent just under 4 hours digging today, and am now rather tired. I took my lunch with me, and 2 bottles of water. But I drunk all the water and ate all my lunch, so I then had to come home for a well earned cup of tea. I also planted in my “All Year Round Blend” of Cabbage, and watered various seeds that have started to grow. So it’s all go up my allotment now, which is brilliant. We are due some rain tomorrow, but it’ll be rather hit and miss. Hopefully I’ll be able to carry on what I’ve started, so in the words of Freddie Mercury “Don’t stop me now, I’m having such a good time, I’m having a ball!”

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Sunday 18th May 2014 – What can I get up to in my very hot greenhouse this afternoon?

Posted on May 18, 2014 by clairesallotment

Now that’s a question isn’t it. Well quite a lot actually. Apparently the temperature in the SE of the UK is hotter that Spain!!! That doesn’t happen very often. So with that in mind we had lunch outside in the garden, and most probably will have dinner outside to. The greenhouse is so hot today, even with the door and the window open fully, but there is a little breeze blowing through. It’s difficult to stay in there for any length of time. But so far I’ve managed to pot up my Celeriac seedlings and sown some more Lettuce “Lettony”. We’re going through all the lettuce that I’ve been planting so fast, but it does taste so much better that shop bought ones. I’ve got to go out soon, so am not sure if I can get anything else done in there today. Oh, and my last Great Tit baby fledged just after noon today, and I saw it go. It finally figured out that to get through the hole it can’t flap it’s wings. Poor little thing has been trying for a couple of days now to escape the box, but just couldn’t put 2 and 2 together. So off they go until spring next year. I’ll miss them now they’ve gone.

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I didn’t get lost this time?

Posted on May 18, 2014 by clairesallotment

Well I nearly did, but I kept to the roads this time when I was out training for my Shine Night Walk. Today I needed to walk for at least 1 hour 30 minutes. So after bell ringing off I went in a different direction. It’s another scorcher of a day, so my bottle of water only just lasted. I actually walked for 1 hour and 38 minutes and I managed to walk 4.56 miles according to the app that I’ve got on my phone. So I’m nearly a fifth of the way there. Still a long way to go. But it’s good fun walking round the roads, you get to look at peoples houses and front gardens, and decided which road you’d like to live in. Loads of people were out today, I did come across one lady who was power walking, and she was swaying her hips and bottom to and fro. I think I’d wobble too much if I did that, so I’ll keep to my fast walking pace. When I got home I downed a pint of water, and then had a bit of a sit down. I think I’d earned it.

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The perfect way to spend a sunny Saturday.

Posted on May 17, 2014 by clairesallotment

As the weather was going to be gorgeous, I thought why not go for a family day out to a National Trust place. Having looked through the book, I decided that as we only had the morning and the first part of the afternoon free, that it would be best to visit somewhere fairly close. So Claremont Landscape Gardens was the answer. Now I’ve taken the kids here a couple of times before, but Mark hasn’t. It’s not far from where we live and only takes about 25 minutes to drive. As we were walking round by the pond we saw loads of fluffy ducklings. Oh they were so lovely, but their parents made sure you didn’t get too close. As we wandered round the kids found a tree stump, it was huge, and hollow inside, so climbing in it just had to be done.

Emily resting in the tree stump.

Emily resting in the tree stump.

As we walked round we saw some of the most amazing views. There is an amphitheatre carved into a hill, and George timed himself as he ran from the bottom to the top. Apparently it took him 50 odd seconds. It’s much quicker coming down, because you just roll, which of course George had to try. There is also a grotto by the lake, which you’re unable to go into, but if you could it would be the most wonderful hiding place.

The Amphitheatre carved into the hill.

The Amphitheatre carved into the hill.

They also had men and women rein-acting a Jacobite Rebellion. They were either dressed as a Highland Soldier or a Redcoat Soldier. They had bayonets, swords and rifles, and had set up camp with tents in their own little area. They fired their guns, which were really loud and the birds in the nearby trees fled. There was lots of shouting, but nobody got injured.

A pair of men in their costumes. We thought the guy on the left looked like Si from the Hairy Bikers.

A pair of men in their costumes. We thought the guy on the left looked like Si from the Hairy Bikers.

As we were looking round their camp, we were all allowed to try out holding their guns. Even George was allowed, and they put a bayonet on the end of the gun. Wow they were very long and heavy, and really quite uncomfortable to hold. Apparently if you want to buy one they cost about £400!!! I think we’ll pass on that one. The man who let us have a go on them, told us all about the battle, and how to load the guns, it’s a long process and very fiddly. Emily preferred to have a go with the sword, to be honest I don’t blame her.

George having trouble with his gun, I don't think his arms are long enough.

George having trouble with his gun, I don’t think his arms are long enough.

Mark looks the part, a little like Arnie….

"I'll be back!"

“I’ll be back!”

Maybe I should borrow this to protect my veggies?

Hands off my melons!!

Hands off my melons!!

Then we went for lunch and then came home. Such a great day, and thoroughly enjoyable. Must go as it’s time to start the BBQ.

 

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Friday 16th May 2014 – I had an hour to spare.

Posted on May 16, 2014 by clairesallotment

Now I was working this morning, and after I’d had my lunch there wasn’t much time to spend up the allotment, but spending a little time is better than spending no time at all. So I had one job left that I’d not managed to get done the day before and that was to get my Leeks in. So armed with a broom handle and a tray of Leeks I set to work. You’re most probably wondering what I’m using the broom handle for, well I shall enlighten you. I’ve been hunting around for ages to find a larger dibber. I have a small plastic one, but it doesn’t make holes that are big enough for the leeks. So having practically given up finding something, I suddenly saw a wooden broom handle for £2.99 in my local garden centre. It’s the perfect width (it’s all about the width) for making holes for my leeks. And it has a soft part up the top to put my palm on when I’m pushing it in. So that’s what I did today for an hour. So, make the hole about 4 inches deep, pop the leek in, and then fill the whole up with water. So that’s one variety done, just the other lot to go, but they were planted later, so they’re not quite ready yet.

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