A barrow full of bindweed and nettle roots from the top of the plot near the hedge. Better out than in I reckon!
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Thursday, 7 February 2013
A Job well planned ...
... is a job half done, as my great grandfather used to say. Always sounded very wise until someone told me he was teasing my grandfather for not just getting on with the job in the first place.
That's not to say planning the allotment year isn't one of the best bits. I didn't do it last year, and it showed.
But last night was great. Just me, Andi Clevely, Dr D.G Hessayon and the organic gardening catalogue website!
That's not to say any of these things will actually happen, but I'm excited. Excited about the thought of having an entire legume bed, sorting out my compost system, building a salad table, nurturing 2 different types of sprouting brocc, and interplanting them with summer cabbage. And my anti-slug plans ... well more of them later!
Anyway - I've commited to these in digital ink now - so you can mock me when they don't happen.
Happy planning!
That's not to say planning the allotment year isn't one of the best bits. I didn't do it last year, and it showed.
But last night was great. Just me, Andi Clevely, Dr D.G Hessayon and the organic gardening catalogue website!
That's not to say any of these things will actually happen, but I'm excited. Excited about the thought of having an entire legume bed, sorting out my compost system, building a salad table, nurturing 2 different types of sprouting brocc, and interplanting them with summer cabbage. And my anti-slug plans ... well more of them later!
Anyway - I've commited to these in digital ink now - so you can mock me when they don't happen.
Happy planning!
Friday, 1 February 2013
Green shoots
Some bulbs are poking through, the rhubarbs's back, and the leeks are still hanging in there. An encouraging start to the year.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Save the Dahlia!
Went up on Sunday to survey the wilderness. Actually not too bad, but a lot of very apparent jobs that need doing. Leeks diappointingly small. Dug up the Dahlia tuber anyway just in case it's still redeemable and did some research:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/dahlia/msg0913415430587.html
He's a very helpful man, but being a bad allotmenter of course I don't have a "one-gallon Ziploc bag filled with one-third vermiculite and 2 tablespoons of a fungicidal powder" ! ...and I couldn't see "eyes" on any of them. Still they're wrapped in newspaper and in a box in the loft, and I guess they may survive. I'l let you know.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/dahlia/msg0913415430587.html
He's a very helpful man, but being a bad allotmenter of course I don't have a "one-gallon Ziploc bag filled with one-third vermiculite and 2 tablespoons of a fungicidal powder" ! ...and I couldn't see "eyes" on any of them. Still they're wrapped in newspaper and in a box in the loft, and I guess they may survive. I'l let you know.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Happy New Year!
My name's Mark and I'm a Bad Allotmenter!
I love my allotment, but with 3 kids under 7 and a job that sometimes demands all my time for weeks on end, I haven't been doing a very good job with it recently. I've had it for 4 or 5 years now, and it's definitely in far better shape than it was when I took it over. There are fruit bushes across the bottom of the plot that are quite established (it's on the side of a hill) and some of the beds have wooden borders (not raised), but the messy area up by the hedge is full of bindweed and totally out of control, and I haven't been up there since November.
In fact I've just remembered that not only have I not pruned the bushes (an autumn job right?) but i totally forgot to dig up the dahlia tuber I was so excited about last year (until it got trashed by the slugs) so I guess that's a write off too. And there are some leeks I should be checking on ...
SEE! .... Bad Allotmenter!!
I'm hoping that writing this painfully honest account of how I do this year will spur me on to be better, and maybe even encourage me as I look back. Plus, if I end up with any readers they could help me with some tips on how to keep weeds under control, tackle my worst enemy - the slugs, and even use commas correctly!
Right .... I'll be in touch.
My name's Mark and I'm a Bad Allotmenter!
I love my allotment, but with 3 kids under 7 and a job that sometimes demands all my time for weeks on end, I haven't been doing a very good job with it recently. I've had it for 4 or 5 years now, and it's definitely in far better shape than it was when I took it over. There are fruit bushes across the bottom of the plot that are quite established (it's on the side of a hill) and some of the beds have wooden borders (not raised), but the messy area up by the hedge is full of bindweed and totally out of control, and I haven't been up there since November.
In fact I've just remembered that not only have I not pruned the bushes (an autumn job right?) but i totally forgot to dig up the dahlia tuber I was so excited about last year (until it got trashed by the slugs) so I guess that's a write off too. And there are some leeks I should be checking on ...
SEE! .... Bad Allotmenter!!
I'm hoping that writing this painfully honest account of how I do this year will spur me on to be better, and maybe even encourage me as I look back. Plus, if I end up with any readers they could help me with some tips on how to keep weeds under control, tackle my worst enemy - the slugs, and even use commas correctly!
Right .... I'll be in touch.
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