Friday 19th July 2013 – I think I’m nearly on top of it!

Posted on July 19, 2013 by clairesallotment

You know it’s a good feeling when you find yourself wandering round the allotment wondering what to do next. I’ve put several jobs by for the cooler weather, like finishing off the paths and wood chipping them, and thoroughly digging over the bed at the end. There’s only a certain amount you should do in this hot weather. But all the beds are clear of weeds, and I seem to be nearly up to date with everything. Still I’ve got loads to do in the garden at home so the fence can be replaced, but that’ll get sorted. I spent just over 2 hours on my plot this morning, harvesting more courgettes (they just keep growing), digging up a few more potatoes, and putting in my Celeriac “Prinz”. I should have done this a while ago, but other things took over, and to be honest they were quite happy in the greenhouse at home. I’ve planted them about 4 inches apart in 2 lovely straight lines (you know me), so hopefully they’ll get settled and then grow beautifully. I also took a huge gamble today. As the greenhouse is rather full I had no where to plant my melons (yes the innuendoes are coming thick and fast), so I’ve planted them in the allotment. Well with the weather we’ve been having (the hottest prolonged period for 7 years apparently) they should be fine outside. I do have a couple in the greenhouse, just incase. Well that’s about it really. I may pop in the garden to do more this afternoon, but it’s the weekend, so I’ve got loads of time.

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Thursday 18th July 2013 – Oh, a gentle wind is blowing, and no it’s not me!

Posted on July 19, 2013 by clairesallotment

Still really hot, but with a breeze blowing, somehow it seems cooler. I’m still working through the beetroot and spring onion bed, and to my delight I finished it, and now it looks much better. All the varieties are coming through well “Chioggia”, “Boltardy” and “Golden”. I actually found loads of beetroot growing and spring onions which I then transplanted into another patch on the allotment. I watered them in very well, and hopefully in a couple of days they’ll look a bit happier. They’ve got loads more room to grow, so that’s great for them. I’ve been digging up some potatoes “Apache”. A few of the plants are finished, so I’m digging them up as and when we need them. I also planted in the 3 black current bushed that a fellow allotment holder gave me. They’ve been sitting in pots waiting for me to find them a space. They’re not in the exact spot that I’d like them in, but it’ll do for the time being. Also exciting news that I picked a couple of my “Cuccino” cucumbers from the greenhouse. They’re really sweet, and crunchy. I’m very proud. Everything in the greenhouse is growing well, soon it’ll be like going into the jungle. The back garden at home is slowly getting cleared, I think little and often is the best solution. Setting the timer inside the house is always good, as you can then escape into the house if you get caught (Mark and my Mum know what I mean).

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Wednesday 17th July 2013 – Harvesting in full flow.

Posted on July 19, 2013 by clairesallotment

It just amazes me how much courgettes grow from one day to the next. You look at them one day and you think to yourself “Oh, they’re a little small, perhaps another couple of days, maybe 3”. Then the following day they’re fully grown! It must be the heat, and the water, but they’re on a role at the moment. I picked 3 more today and there are loads of small ones just waiting in the wings. I also weeded and water several more beds, and I started the bed that the beetroot and the spring onions are in. I’ve over looked this bed slightly, and the weeds have be allowed to get rather tall. I’ll soon have it back in shape. It’s still hot, so I’m not over exerting myself. Just before I left I decided to take another swig of water, but it was really warm, and therefore not very nice. I also harvested some more radish which Mark and I had for lunch. They’ve grown so well this year, so I’m really proud of them.

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Tuesday 16th July 2013 – Fell over one of my tyres today, don’t think anyone saw…I hope not anyway.

Posted on July 16, 2013 by clairesallotment

There I was merrily watering away, when instead of stepping in the centre of a car tyre, I decided to step on the outside, and then found myself sitting on my bottom in the middle of my allotment. I don’t think anyone saw, and I got up really fast, and did that thing where you pretend nothing just happened. There was a bit of water left in the watering can when it happened, but as I fell to the ground I managed to water the plants. I am a woman after all, and can multi task! I finished more than I expected to do, so that was great, especially in the heat. I pulled up some rhubarb and some radish (which Mark and I had for lunch).  I’ve got a load of ironing to do, but during the day its just too hot, so hopefully when the kids have gone to bed, I can decide what to watch on the TV and get some done. Hopefully it’ll be cooler then. Mark’s out, so I have control of the remote. He, he.

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Monday 15th July 2013 – Stagnant water smells!

Posted on July 16, 2013 by clairesallotment

Another hot and glorious day today, so after the really hot weekend it was time to water again. This time however, I decided that I should clear out the water butt that I have on one of my plots. It has bamboo canes, plastic bottles and as I found at the bottom a brick! How that got in there is anyone’s guess. The tap was being used by another plot holder, so it was the perfect time to empty the butt. The further I got down to the bottom of the butt the more it smelt. Hopefully the plants didn’t mind. They didn’t say anything, and I hope they don’t die on me. I reached the bottom of my butt, and the butt by the tap was empty also (we always ask people to fill them up if they’ve used the water in the butt. Most people do, but others just don’t). So I had to ask the person who was using the tap (same person as when I arrived) if I could just fill up my butt. He very graciously said I could, so I plugged in my hose and off I went. Once it was full,  I let him know I’d finished. As it was still very hot I decided the best thing to do was to weed a bed then water. I thought this would be the less strenuous thing to do, but in the heat everything is hard. I arrived home for lunch and was told by my husband that “I was glowing”. It’s a polite way of saying “Sweating like a pig!” Still I got a lot done, and then later in the afternoon I tried to sort out more of the back garden.

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Sunday 14th July 2013 – We’re being spoilt this weekend by the weather.

Posted on July 14, 2013 by clairesallotment

I’ve just popped in for a cool down, as it’s only slightly cooler than it was yesterday, but about 1 degree. I took George’s old bed to the tip this morning, but have other rubbish in the car that needs to go also. But the car will be like an oven, so it’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Still I’ve have fun in the garden today. I’ve been sorting more of it out for the fence men. I’m getting there, but it’s taking a long time. I’ve nearly finished one side, don’t think I’ll finish that today. I won’t push myself, especially in this heat. Then it’ll be time for the other side, which looks easier, but the flower beds are in the way, so that’ll be fun. As I’ve been wearing flip flops (or thongs in Australia) this weekend, I’ve had to sun cream my feet. I know it sounds silly, but they burn easily, as they very rarely see the sun. I can’t have burnt feet, that would be awkward. I sowed some more lettuce this morning also “Winter Blend”. We keep using the lettuce I grow, but still that’s the idea. I’ll finish my tea and then carry on.

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Saturday 13th July 2013 – Hottest day of the year so far!

Posted on July 13, 2013 by clairesallotment

Well we got up to 31 degrees today, which was firstly incredibly hot, and secondly amazing. It’s just like being in Spain, but we don’t have a pool and my parents do. Not long til we go on holiday, I’m so looking forward to it, you’ve no idea. I spent the afternoon in the garden sorting more of the back garden out so it’s ready for when the men come to do the fencing. I’ve filled up my garden waste bin again, so am now filling up black bags. Lots of the plants have been a bit tricky to remove, and they’ve twisted themselves round and round each other, but I’ll sort them out. I did get rather hot as I’m sure you can imagine, and didn’t look or smell very lady like. You’ll be pleased to know I’ve had a bath, and smell like freshly cut flowers. Mark however, spent the afternoon sorting out George’s bedroom. He’s got a new bed, and we’ve had to change round his wardrobe and book case to fit it in. They’re both in place and sorted, but the bed will have to wait until tomorrow, so he’ll have to sleep on the sofa bed downstairs tonight. I’m not having him in with us, as he talks in his sleep, and keeps fidgeting. I also talk in my sleep, I believe I served someone a sausage roll once…don’t ask!

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Friday 12th July 2013 – Does it really take that long to thoroughly water my plots?

Posted on July 12, 2013 by clairesallotment

I couldn’t pop to the allotment til this afternoon today, as I was helping Georges’ year with their end of year play. They’re doing really well, and they had their dress rehearsal in front of the whole school today. I’m helping them with their diction, and various other things to do with staging. I’m not sure if they’re fed up of me yet, because I keep saying to them “Louder and slow down!!” But they’ve been great, and I know they’ll do really well for their 2 performances in front of the parents. So this afternoon once I’d had some lunch I pottered down to water, as this weekend is going to be a scorcher!! Finally!! It took me an hour and a half to give everything a good water. I’m not using a sprayer on the hose, so therefore I can get the water directly where it is needed and it won’t evaporate straight off the top of the soil. The plot furthest away from the tap I used the hose, but then used the butt for the other one, as Malcolm needed to use the tap. I’m a good girl, and don’t hog the tap like some people do. Once it was all thoroughly soaked I came home and had to do the school run, as George’s school report came out today, and they won’t give them to the kids, only a grown up. His SAT’s result were in the envelope too, and I’m so proud of him, he’s done brilliantly. He got 7 level 5’s and 2 upper level 4’s. They expect them to get mid level 4 at the end of year 6. He’s worked his little smelly socks off, and we’re so proud.  I’ve finished tidying the front garden, and it’s now all neat and tidy, and ready for Del to do the fencing. Now I’ve got to sort out the back garden. This will be fun, as there’s so much to do. I’ve also taken the outlet pipe out of the washing machine, so I can syphon off the water for the garden. I’ve not done that for several years, but the bath water just isn’t enough to keep the garden happy. Well that’s it for the day. If you live down south, be careful in the hot sun over the weekend, and make sure you use suncream.

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Thursday 11th July 2013 – I had a delivery this morning.

Posted on July 11, 2013 by clairesallotment

Usually Mark get deliveries, but this morning it was my turn. The postman (in his van) turned up with a parcel for ME!! It was the bottles of Seaweed Fertiliser that I’d ordered over the weekend. I’d ordered two bottles, but the very lovely people sent me a free bottle because I put a link about them on my blog, so thank you very much David, I really appreciate it. I took one bottle to the allotment today, and fed those plants that I’d only watered yesterday. I also managed to weed another couple of beds. I’m getting a very rough/sensitive part on my right palm. It’s where the handle on the trowel touches my palm. So far it’s not become a blister and burst, as this can be rather painful. I did get bitten this morning by a red ant, just above my left wrist. It really hurt, and for ages afterwards. It doesn’t seem to have become swollen, but is sensitive to touch. I harvested some red potatoes “Apache”, which we had for dinner, and oh my, they tasted soooooo good. I love this time of year when everything on the plate (except the meat) is from my allotment. Then this afternoon I tidied more of the front garden. We’re having the fence replaced soon, so I need to make sure the plants are trimmed back, and they can get to the fencing. I find it quite upsetting to trim back the plants that have become established, but I know they’ll grow back. It’s like cutting off your arm. I’m sure I’ll cope.

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Wednesday 10th July 2013 – Harvesting time.

Posted on July 11, 2013 by clairesallotment

Having been too knackered yesterday to go to the allotment, I pootled down today to see what mischief I could get up to. Lots as it seems, harvesting time is just beginning, and I was able to harvest my first yellow courgettes “Golden Dawn III F1”, they look so beautiful, and I’m so proud of them. Some sugar snap peas “Quartz”, which I keep eating when I’m down on my plot,  and a few radish “Jutrzenka”. I also weeded another bed, but as we’ve not had any rain for a while, the soil is getting very hard. It doesn’t look like we’ll have any substantial amount of rain for a while, so I’m expecting a hose pipe ban soon, even though we had a wet winter and spring. When ever they mention about having one, the rain them comes. So far it looks like we’re going to get a proper hot summer, but there is still time for it to go tits upwards, excuse the phrase.

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