A new plot

My current allotment is a Council run allotment and I must admit that they don't look after the site very well. It's been a difficult year for all growers this year with the rain and to top it all off it was my first year. It wasn't very successful as the site flooded for most of the summer.

Anyway I have come to the top of the list on a nearby association run allotment and have been to visit a plot. It obviously needs a lot of work as it was abandoned half way through the summer and is a lot bigger than my current oasis.

I must be mad but I have said YES.

I never take the easy rout in life #bringiton

May 12th

The weather was mighty fine today so spent the afternoon at the Lotty. Lots of weeds to sort out after all the rain. Decided to cover the paths in weed control fabric. Have done most of it today just a bit more to do tomorrow.

I need to get the plot fully planted but still frosts expected. I have sweet corn, swedes, runner beans, French beans and Brussels all growing in my mini greenhouse at home.

The mixed salad leaves, radishes, beet root and rocket are growing at speed in the poly tunnel.

I planted 2 goose berry bushes today. These should start cropping in 2 years hopefully.

Another warm March day

Well the weather this weekend had been glorious. Been busy at the Lotty. I have dug 2 of my beds and got lots of the stones out although there is still lots left in.

To My delight when I arrived 2 old guys had rebuilt my wind damaged shed and they have done a really good job. Thanks guys you are great. I just had to put all my stuff back in and tidy round a little.

I planted some of my leeks today. They look ok hope they last. The tomatoes, cucumber, courgette and strawberrys are all coming on in my little greenhouse at home I may take them to the Lotty soon but am worried there there is not much water in my butts.

My peas have started growing. I didn't even notice until I had visitors on the plot and they looked in my pound land covers. I may have to buy some more of these they have proved to be really good.

The clocks went forward today so I am planning on going to the lottie after work a few nights. My next job will be to paint my shed.

Mad March

It's been a glorious weekend and been really busy down the Lotty.

Yesterday I planted my potatoes. I decided that I would plant them in bags so that i could find them all when they are ready for harvest. I found the bags in Home Bargains for 99p each.

Today I have been busy again. My lovely dad helped me to put up my poly tunnel. Can't wait to start growing in it. I bought it off eBay for £45 so if it doesn't last it won't be a travesty. We decided to bury the poles which meant that the cover was a little big. We dug a trench and buried the sides but it does seem a little baggy. I hope it doesn't blow away.

No pictures today but hope to be down there in the week so will take plenty then.

February fun

A great weekend the weather played ball. Spring has definitely spring.

Moved the shed back a little today so that there is room for the polytunel. My nephew Kieran came to help me but it wasn't long before all the gentleman plot holders we assisting us.

Built a few more raised beds and did a general tidy up. My daughter Hollie came to help in the afternoon and I think she really enjoyed herself.

The onions sets that I planted last week have already got roots.

Only a short blog today but I am off work tomorrow so may pop down for a few hours before picking the kids up from school

A nice February day at the Lotty

I spent the afternoon at the lottie accompanied by my 6 year old who was trying out her new bulldog spade set that she got for her birthday. Using the wood that a local fencing company gave me for free I built my first raised bed and I must say that I am very happy with it. I am now on a mission to obtain some more. A few more poly tunnels have gone up so I must start to think about putting up mine. I was trying to wait for better weather but it has been so unpredictable so far. I have ordered a few more packets of seeds from Marshalls and can't wait for them to arrive. I have ordered beans. I didn't think that I was going to grow bean as they seem so difficult but they can't be that hard as everyone grows beans. I'll try a few and see what happens. Can't wait for some green to appear on the Lotty but the other plot holders keep warning me that it will all come at once and that I must be ready. IM READY

Frozen Lotty

Another frozen day and no work at the Lotty. I popped down to check it and there was not a sole about. Still frozen from last weeks snow. The garlic bulbs have sprouted and the rhubarb has little shoots, apart from that I couldn't see the soil. This weather must be doing it good.

February Snow

It looks like the allotment will be a wash out or "snow out" this weekend as there is still plenty of snow on the ground and not much work can be done. It's cold very cold so I may just pop down to make sure everything looks ok and chat to the other folk braving the weather.

The Shed

I keep forgetting to take photos if my progress but I taken a few of my beloved shed.

Lots of Seeds

I have not posted since November I forgot that I had created this blog & been busy over Christmas. The Lotty is all fenced now and the rabbits shouldn't be able to get in not that they will get any dinner yet. I have dug beds and am ready to put up my poly tunnel. It's a good job that I waited as I think it would have blown away in all the winds that we had. My lovely shed got a bit of damage from the winds and was blown off the breeze block base. The other guys on the allotment said that they will help put it back on but I didn't like to accept as I don't know them all that well. There is one guy who is about 90 who is great. He gave the kids a old drawer each so that they can plant their own crops .

I'm trying to decide what to plant. I have lots of seed packets and I want to grow everything but space is limited and I don't think I have enough room. I bought some seeds from Aldi yesterday 20p per packet bargain!