Farm Terrace Allotments are still fighting for stay!

Posted on August 1, 2013 by clairesallotment

You may remember me mentioning this before. The local council want to build on their site, and it’s not just them. In another part of the country, Surrey to be precise they’re trying the same thing. I have great ties especially with this allotment site in Leatherhead, Surrey as it was where my Granddad had his plot. It was where I found out how much I loved gardening, and where it all started for me. If you can help Farm Terrace Allotments, please do. Is nothing safe anymore? Are we not allowed any green spaces to play? Moan over…for now anyway.

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Mark is abseiling off Battersea Power Station…and he has vertigo quite badly!

Posted on July 31, 2013 by clairesallotment

It’s not something that would bother me to do as I’ve abseiled off rock faces in Wales before, but for my hubby Mark (who spends all that time editing my videos) it’s a huge deal. He suffers from major vertigo, so this is going to be a real test for him. I know many of you have very kindly sponsored me before for my Race for Life walks, but I know he would really appreciate it if you would be willing to donate just a little towards him. It’s for the same charity Cancer Research, and for him, he knows many people, friends and family, who have been affected by Cancer. Here is his Just Giving page. He’ll be abseiling off Battersea Power Station on Saturday 31st August and his time slot is 4.30pm. So if you want to come along and cheer him on please do. The kids and I will be standing at the bottom waiting for him. Without Mark, the allotment videos wouldn’t happen, as I have no idea how to get them from the camera onto the computer. I can barely remember to press the record button. Thank you for supporting Mark.

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Wednesday 31st July 2013 – Wow I harvested a lot just now!

Posted on July 31, 2013 by clairesallotment

I popped in the greenhouse first thing this morning, firstly to water, secondly to tie up some tomatoes, and finally to see in there was anything ready to harvest. I was so excited that my first “Moneymaker” tomato  was ready to pick, and smells wonderful, also I picked about 30 cucamelons. I had to try one of course, and they so wonderful. A definite for next year I’m sure. I’ve not been down the allotment for a few days, so after telling the kids I’d be popping out for a bit, I pootled down to see what I could find. I needed to get some more onion, so came back with hopefully enough to keep us going til past the weekend. Another clove of garlic 2 rather wonder looking Spanish Squash and 3 “Golden Dawn” Courgettes. I noticed that one of my Atlantic Giant pumpkin had split, which I was very sad about. It must have been all the rain we’ve recently had, and it’s burst. It looks like there’s another one growing, so hopefully that one will be ok. Anyway, back home for a cup of tea. The Courgettes I’ve just picked, I may take bell ringing tonight, as I still have some in the fridge, and loads more growing on the plants. I expect I’ll have some takers for them.

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Look at my cucamelons – Claire’s Allotment part 218

Posted on July 26, 2013 by clairesallotment
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Friday 26th July 2013 – Just try getting to my birds next year, you rotten cat!

Posted on July 26, 2013 by clairesallotment

Well the bird house is protected by what can only be described as Fort Knox. There are spikes on the roof of the shed, and I’ve now screws the bird house to the shed with 3 long screws, and I’ve also placed some spiky bits at the bottom of the bird house. Good luck at trying to get to them now. I popped up the allotment to just get a piece of wood to put at the bottom of the bird house, but came back with 4 onions and 5 courgettes as well as the wood. I can’t just pop to my plot to get one thing, I have to fiddle.

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Thursday 25th July 2013 – My spikes are all up.

Posted on July 25, 2013 by clairesallotment

Well it’s been a busy day in the garden. I’ve taken down the trellis I had on the back fence, and replaced it with the spiky “Prikka Strips”. It says you can either screw, nail or glue them into place. I thought nails would be easier, but you can’t get them in properly, so screws are the better option. I’ve put them all over the back fence, and then I ordered extra to put on the shed roof to keep the cats away from my bird box. I’ve got a tiny amount left, so I’ll attach that to the bottom of the bird box, to hopefully prevent the cats from getting to the birds from the bottom. I just need to attach the box to the shed, and then I’ll be ready for next spring. They’re easy enough to put up, but I would suggest that you wear a pair of thick gloves as you have to lean on the spikes when you put the first couple of screws in, and they leave an imprint on your hands. When I’d finished I looked like I had the measles rash on my hands. Only time will tell if they work, but hopefully they’ll be of some deterrent. I’ve just got to put the little warning sign up, which I’ll do tomorrow.

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Wednesday 24th July 2013 – Gooseberries are very painful!

Posted on July 24, 2013 by clairesallotment

Well my hands and lower arms are covered in scratches. It looks like I’ve been attacked by a cat or something with claws, but I’ve not, it was just my Gooseberry bush. Those thorns are really long and sharp. Does anyone know if there’s a painless gooseberry, or any idea on how I can get injured less? I’ve done 1 bush and still have the other to do. Any suggestions would be good. Maybe I should get hold of those gloves that you use when handling birds of prey? Anyway, besides that I also harvested 5 yellow courgettes, some more radish, and a few Tayberries….oh and my first bulb of garlic. We’ve run out at home, they’re not quite ready, but they’ll do. I also cleared a load more of the fruit bed and under all the tall long grass I sound a Goji berry bush that was still thriving. They’re amazing plants, and they really need no attention once they’re established. As far as the thunder storms we were expecting on Monday evening, well, they were very pathetic. We had a few rumbles about 10pm, then a brief down pour at about 4am, followed by a few faint rumbles and some lightening that was so far away. Then on Tuesday about 11am another brief down pour and and a few rumbles. Rather pointless really, and it didn’t do much for the humidity. Still never mind, maybe next time. The garden at home is all ready for the fencing men. They’re coming on Wednesday at 7.45am!! Better make sure I’m dressed, otherwise that’ll be a bit of a shock for them. I’ll make lots of cake this weekend to keep them and the kids going. They’ve both broken up for the summer now. George has finished primary school so as of September Mark and I will have both our kids at secondary school. Now it’s the expensive time to buy uniform!!

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Monday 22nd July 2013 – Awaiting the storms!

Posted on July 22, 2013 by clairesallotment

I was woken up this morning at 6am by some distant rumbles of thunder. It only lasted about half an hour, and then was gone. We had no rain, but apparently it’s due later. Today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far, and the hottest we’ve had in the South East for 7 years. Only time will tell by the end of the day if that’s going to happen. I got to the allotment just after 9am this morning, and even at that time it was very hot. I decided to start sorting out the fruit bed, which I’ve done nothing with at all this year. The grass and weeds are really tall, so I was expecting it to be a slow process. After only 10 minutes of weeding, sweat was streaming down my face. But like a trooper I ploughed on and managed to get enough done. By 11am I’d drunk all my water, and it was rather warm, so I made my way home. The car is in for a service today, so I had to walk, but it’s not far, and only takes about 10 minutes. When I got home, I took my trainers and socks off, and went and stood in the paddling pool. It was absolute bliss, and well deserved. I also picked 3 more yellow courgettes, and a bag full of gooseberries. There are more to pick, but as my bag was full, I couldn’t fit any more in. I must take a pot down tomorrow to put some more in. We’re supposed to have storms any time from later afternoon and through the night. They’ll be very isolated, but apparently if we get one, they’ll be heavy down pours and hail!! Still we do need the rain. I’ll let you know tomorrow if we’ve been lucky.

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Sunday 21st July 2013 – Tidying the back garden is just like playing the board game Dungeons and Dragons.

Posted on July 21, 2013 by clairesallotment

Well today started a little on the overcast side, but as the day progressed the sun came out and the sun shone brightly. First of all this morning I made a little video about my tomato tree. You need quiet when you’re recording, and I thought sunday morning would be the perfect time, let’s just say I managed to squeeze it in. Then this afternoon I managed to tidy more of the back garden. You trim down a certain amount and then have to tidy that section away, then water. It does take a long time, but then you know how meticulous I can be. If you don’t time it right the spiders find you attractive and you have to try again later. This is just like playing George’s new board game “Dungeons and Dragons”. How may times did I try and fight some ugly thing, and fail miserably. To be honest I lost count. Anyway after playing enough out in the garden and fighting weird monsters, I sat down on a garden chair, hiding behind some washing drying in the sun, and dipped my feet in the paddling pool. The perfect end to the perfect day.

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Planting out tomato trees – Claire’s Allotment part 217

Posted on July 21, 2013 by clairesallotment
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