Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Leek it out!

We had thought the first vegetables to be sown were going to be the aubergines, but I had seen across social media that a few folks had sown their onions and leeks, they talk of it as though it was a Boxing Day tradition, not that I can find anything to back this up. Anyway, although we would have had some seeds coming, due in the new year, On an expedition to the shops yesterday we picked up some Leek seeds. 400 to a packet which if you had a 100% strike rate would mean a lot of leek, We have sown half now and left the other half for a month or so's time in case this fails.

The first tray that came to hand, and much like building a dry stone wall they say you use the stone which you pick up, rather than putting them back and finding another.

What to do and the size of the seeds

Seeds were going to be 9 to a square, but you saw the size of the seeds on the last photo, and where as it started off with that good intention it became much more free range by the last few squares.

Covered, hopefully to keep them warm.


Sunday, December 27, 2020

Day 36 - potting on and turning the compost

 Storm Bella came through last night, and the sight we were expecting this morning as went to the allotment, well, we hoped for the best but thought of the worst. The worst thing that happened... The star went slightly crooked on our improvised tree, Oh! and a bucket toppled over. No gloating though, as have seen some photographs of flooding across the country, then again if we got flooded, it would need to be biblical, as we are on a hill.

No major duties today, our lass potted on her violas, I moved the compost from one bin to another, to give it some air, and break it up. I write like I know what am doing, not one bit, as our lass had already chopped up some of the chunks I left in it last month. They do say it gets warm, ours wasn't steaming, but it seems to be heading in the right direction.

From seed  tray to individual pots, Violas move along.

Our lass put some teak on the potting table, as even in the greenhouse it was starting to catch the mould.

We really do need to sort the greenhouse roof, as this is for catching the water.

Time to turn the compost, been a month, so adding to the pile in the empty bay


Door off, and some might be worth sifting through next time.

All done, another job mediocrely done.(as the Simpsons would say)


Friday, December 25, 2020

How we spent our Christmas Day at the allotment

 

Simple, but enough of what our lass says about me, we had a good time looking at the wild birds and drinking champagne, we also glimpsed a woodpecker and much to our surprise the improvised Christmas tree is still standing.

Christmas continues down the allotment, with added snow.

We went to the allotment yesterday, to add the final touches to our improvised Christmas tree, whilst at the allotment we found another leak in the shed, which our lass tried to resolve but instead ended up cutting her finger, which meant for an improvised covering which was applied to the cut, to stop the bleeding. But at least we had our first snow at the allotment to enjoy, even though only for a short while as it was uncomfortably freezing.

Greeted by a dusting of snow

The view from the shed

Well it did the job

With the final touches, baubles and a star.


Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Christmas down the allotment.

Our lass is full of great ideas, and said we could make a Christmas tree from some off cuts of wood, so we did. We also saw the first signs of re emergence from the rhubarb, and the tomato experiment had another casualty. To complete the festivities our lass brought down some snowflakes she had made. The idea was thanks to ikea I think, but our lass made them better.

Just needs some baubles and a topper,

Snow flakes over a cuppa

The first signs of new life from our rhubarb

We are down to 5 seedlings and the frosts haven't really hit yet, the one bottom right is my best bet I think but we will see.

Gateway to our happy place


Thursday, December 17, 2020

Day 35 - Fire, mulch and sunny views.

 As with a lot of the times we go to the allotment, we go with one job in mind and end up doing another.

I took this first photograph thinking all this would be covered in mulch

But to my surprise our lass let me play with fire, I love fire, our lass doesn't like the smell of smoke, but it helped clear some old wood and stuff which needed burning.

I then went for the leaf mould, I collected our lass did the spreading.

You don't see the elevation on this road way, but the leaves were right into the distance where the telegraph pole is.
Then another lane, then left up another hill, our lass will be laughing now, saying how I am really laying it on thick. but it must be at least three miles there and back (okay maybe half a mile)

The grey cylinders made a good template to keep the leaves off the rhubarb.

Hopefully that will keep the weeds away and the goodness in,

Four bins full of leaf mould, paving slabs moved, box full of nets and hose pipe, just the two tubs to sort and this area is getting sorted.

Another bed mulched

Big oak at the back of us, gives us shade in the summer mornings so we don't heat up to quickly. It was great to see some blue skies and sunshine.
Views from our allotment, over the tees valley.

Sunshine over the greenhouses
A late stay, meant we got to try the light out., photograph doesn't quite do it justice.



Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Just a flying visit today in the rain.

 Today was a flying visit to the allotment, the rain continues to come down, so we had hoped just to check things out, deposit some more towards the compost heap, and our lass was going to leave some cuttings that have been growing.

The rain had worked its way into the shed, so a running repair was done with some spare felt.

Tomato seedlings are hanging in there, and have been joined by our lasses own Philadelphus (mock orange) cuttings.

Wet on the inside meant....

A repair needed on the outside, will report back next time.

Still hanging in there, lets see what any frost will do to them, it is just an experiment to see if they last a winter.
Our lasses cuttings join the seedlings.



View from the garden shed.

 Just about all the jobs are jobbed, Well I say that, but we do need to sort the green house roof, but we will do that when there is some good weather.... We do however nip down to check everything is in it's place and also ensure the wildlife is being looked after. For the moment I am resting the wildlife camera, as it seems to get steamed up in the cold, damp conditions. It doesn't however mean we don't get wildlife shots. The Photographs below were taking with my mobile phone but is a typical view from the garden shed window when the birds come for their feast.





Thursday, December 10, 2020

Day 34 - Last of the raspberries arrive and just one more thing before we go.

 Today was slightly different, normally we get to the allotment and what we planned to do is superseded by another job because we see manure, leaf mould or wood chip on the way to our allotment. This then means that job takes priority and we then get on with what we originally went to do. This was the reverse today, our lass finally got to plant some raspberry canes which have took a second time of asking for them to arrive. I collected the wildlife camera (disappointed as the damp weather has foggied the lense) and our lass put some feed out for the birds. It was a cold day, so it was back off to the warm. 

Just as we were leaving a car which had been parked had left, which revealed a pile of fresh bark chippings. Which meant from impromptu return to the allotment. I grabbed the spade and barrow and our lass her trusty rake. We now have a fresh layer on the pathway, which makes it look neater and helps level out the bumps and hollows in the path.

Out next big job is the our lasses green house roof, first of all we need to find a way to fix it, also needs a calm and clear day, guess we can count them using two fingers between now and next spring.

Last of the canes in, gritted for drainage, lets hope they fruit in the future.

Before

After


A little bark chipping between the compost and the blueberries/logan berries

Looking sharper, it was starting to get muddy especially with sorting the compost bins out.

Our lass said I had earned my Kit Kat

Noticed the fungi on the bottom of an old tree stump we have

Next job, answers on a postcard, on how to fix?



Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Watching the onions growing, is like watching the Grand National horserace

They say a picture says a thousand words, for this we have some photographs with a few words underneath

A bargain buy is what started it all, but as we put them in the ground we already had one faller, one set was a dud we were left with 49

After a few trips to the allotments it seemed the onion sets were being moved around, most likely reason is that as the onions send up shoots birds confuse them for worms and come down for them, a bit a surprise i would suggest if they try to chomp on them. At this stage down to 45


We have since uncovered the onions as you can see from the photographs below and they have had a little TLC with grit and compost, but not everyone of them has germinated it seems, we currently have 37 still in the running.