And this is the shed being tidied, and the end result. Big improvement.
Weeded a few more paths...........
As is usual this time of year we picked a load of produce. The potatoes have been very good this year.
We decided it was time to empty the shed, brush it out, and put everything back tidy. Although, while we were down the allotment we weeded some more of the paths. This is how the shed looked prior to tidying. And this is the shed being tidied, and the end result. Big improvement. Weeded a few more paths........... As is usual this time of year we picked a load of produce. The potatoes have been very good this year.
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Having only been down the allotment nine times in the last two months- after going down three or four times a week during Lockdown - we went down today having been down there for four hours yesterday. We had managed to get on top of it yesterday so we felt the momentum was with us. I dug over the right-hand side of the compost bin and the compost is looking nice and crumbly, although it needs another couple of months to further decompose. In order to cut back the fruit trees against the cemetery wall I had to move the lengths of wood in the eating area. This tidied up the eating area immensely so I think the wood has now got a new home. Had a little visitor. Probably thinks we're on his plot! This could well be one of our best years for potatoes. This is just one plant. We really should go down and do some proper work. The weather for the last week or more has been erratic to say the least but there is some serious weeding to be done.
We had spent the morning pruning the wisteria and had accrued eight large bags of cuttings, so the compost heap is rapidly filling up. We also did some picking while we were down there. After doing a considerable amount of weeding just three days ago, thanks to the weather there is still loads to do. Mostly mares-tail unfortunately. The onions have been picked and the bottom two beds tidied. Beetroot and onions. Even though we picked a lot of stuff only three days ago we pickd another load today. At least it's not just the weeds that are growing well. As can be seen here, a lot of weeding now required. But there's also a lot of produce to be picked. The asparagus ferns are in full bloom. The sweetcorn has reached it's maximum height now I think. The squirrels lie in waiting for the cobs......... Potatoes and carrots are doing well. The onions have lay down flat so they're gong to have to be picked at some point. And this is what we picked today. Following more unseasonable weather we went down today just to pick some more produce - basically, whatever is ready. Since we had the warmest and driest May on record, the last five weeks have been pretty abysmal. Just what we want when Lockdown is gradually being eased.
Following on from my previous blog regarding a prolonged period of rain preventing us from visiting the allotment; we've gone down today to water everything following four days of plus-thirty degrees sunshine. Ipomoea has it's first flower. The carrots are finally picking up. The potatoes are looking wonderful - hope the spuds match the foliage for growth! And finally here's a couple of general shots across part of the allotment. All of a sudden there appears to be loads of plants and seedlings to put in down the allotment. Firstly though, surrounded the celery with membrane to help blanching. Planted several courgettes near the pumpkins and next to the sweetcorn. Planted some squashes in a row between the tomatoes. Planted dozens of wallflowers ready for next year. Potatoes are looking extremely good now. High hopes for a good crop this year. Watered the onions again but a few seem to have perished. It's definitely too dry in the two beds near the cemetery wall so we're not bothering at all with the bottom bed this year - apart from the artichokes - and we'll have to have a think for next year. The roses are looking good again this year. Cut back the comfrey in the comfrey bed and replenished the comfrey water-butt as the liquid feed needs topping up. With two days still left in May it's been declared the driest, warmest and sunniest May on record. We went down after 5:00PM to do some digging, weeding and planting; it's just too warm earlier in the day. Potatoes are doing well............ ............but the onions aren't happy. Dug five channels in the top bed for the celery. Had to get rid of more mares-tail first though! Also planted some tomatoes. Broad beans seem to enjoy this weather. "Spot the carrot!" We also put some more wallflowers in. The artichokes seem to like the dry bed at the bottom of the plot. Mind you, the Goji berry is most definitely NOT happy. Becky bought Sophie down to help us with watering. We've only had 7% of the average rainfall this month so far and the temperatures and sunshine have been more like June/July than May. The onions look somewhat fried! But never mind.......... Sophie to the rescue, watering the artichokes. Potatoes seem to be doing OK in this heat. We recently planted a couple of pumpkins; they'll definitely need watering. Picked some rhubarb just before we left. |
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