Sunday 5 December 2010

Early Snow

Well the on set of winter and an early snow have scuppered some of my plans. At least I got some Jerusalem Artichokes out and planted the rest for next year. I really need to move my seed bed down and get some more compost/manure on the beds but with a bit more hard work early spring and expansion of some of the beds I reckon it will be an even better year next!

Monday 4 October 2010

Blogging from iphone

So I have started blogging from my phone! It means that I can blog on breaks at the allotment and the bus. Also it will be easy to upload photos. So enough of the teckkie stuff. I have missed out a bit this year but still had a great crop of spuds, and peas. With the cabbages, pak choi, and greens I am hoping to finish on a high. I managed to get down tonight and painted the shed with a beautiful sunset!

Monday 8 March 2010

Potatoes chitting

Got my seed Potatoes yesterday and have them all on top of the kitchen units chitting away. I have them on trays with newspaper and gone for some in egg boxes, stood in little cups cut from cardboards tubes, and some wrapped with paper like little nests.

1. Arran Pilot Seed Potatoes (First Early)


2. Charlotte seed potatoes (Second Early)


3. Kestral seed potatoes (As a Main Crop)

Currently still trying to get a large stone out of the potatoe bed at the moment. I hope my spuds won't be as hard to get out!

Tuesday 2 March 2010

Planted first Toms in the window

Still waiting for the snow to go away and for it to start warming up. Decided to plant three varities of Tomatoes in the propergator on the window sill. went for Money Maker,Roma vf, and a cherry varity Gardener's Delight. Great offer at Wilko's 3xpacket for £1.50. thought I would plant some more in a couple of weeks and then try them out in the ground later to compare. Still dreaming of a shed.

Monday 8 February 2010

Leeky pot


Last year I bought some young leeks grown packed together in a pot. I still have some to pick in the bed at the allotment. So I thought I would plant some myself in batches to see if I could get a good staggered crop. The first batch I have planted today and are on my window sill. I went for "Giant Winter" which seems apt for the weather at the moment! Will be looking at a second batch in about March depends on the weather will need to harden off. Anybody grow Welsh onions?

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Chitting Potatoes

I have cleared my potatoe bed and covered with some Black plastic to warm up the soil ready to get some manure.

Great advice from Allotment Vegetable Growing

"Chitting is simply placing the potatoes in a frost free place with indirect light and will produce short strong shoots, getting them away to a faster start. You can use egg cartons or seed trays to keep them in. Don't forget to label them so you don't get confused as to variety come planting time." -Allotment Vegetable Growing

Monday 1 February 2010

Cleaning the beds

Managed an afternoon on Saturday removing some of the old and dead plants ready for digging and manure. Need to start getting the first peas in pots on the window sill. Hoping that we start to warm up now!

Friday 22 January 2010

Seeds are in!


Really excited as the seeds are in and going down to the Allotment tomorrow to collect them. If its not raining too hard might put a couple of hours in tidying up the plot and marking up for the shed. Spend some of the weekend plant some early Leeks, radishes, and lettuce up in trays for the window sill. Also have a seed bed that needs looking at and I want to make a cover frame for it as it is a raised bed in the back garden.

Its great when there little things to get on with. Also thinking of growing mushrooms in the shed any body else tried this?

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Free Veg Planner from the RHS



Just found this handy RHS veg Planner that you can download for free:


Click Here to Download

Wednesday 13 January 2010


As the snow just does not want to go! I thought I would continue planning my plot. So here is my layout for 2010! I am gradually expanding the beds and introducing a shed, Asparagus bed and a Rhubarb patch. Might put a herb patch in too! (click image to load in large form)

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Trying to find cheeap cloches

Joined the Face Book Leeds Allotments group:

Has any body tried using plastic clear mixing bowls as cloches and got results?
I have bought some from Wilkos 79p each thought I would have a go at winter lettuce and rocket.
Did my 2010 layout of crops including finally deciding where to put the shed!

Monday 4 January 2010

A fresh start!


I thought I would document my allotment plot 28E which I have waited nearly 4 years to get. I am an allotmenteer at The Victory Gardens Allotments in Rawdon. I got my plot along with a number of others in June of 2009 when Victory Gardens Allotments reclaimed land that had been once allotments but then had been a school playing field (the school having moved. A very strange sight of multiple plots developed from scratch. As a group we hired a turf stripper and that Saturday was a real bonding session. on the other side of the path the seasoned plots where there to provide inspiration and with the help of Tony and Phil our fantasic seceretary I had by July most of my first beds in and crops growing. Sadly illness slowed things down in August and September. But with a new Year and new energy really looking forward to a good year!