Spring work

Spring work!

So a new year a new blank canvas!
I've started a few weeks back to dig the plot in preparation for this year's crops. So far I have planted garlic, shallots, potatoes and some broad beans.
I think the time to remove that black sheet hasn't arrived yet! I'll wait for the autumn I think unless I find some volunteers to help me dig it earlier.
The fruit bushes are in bloom, lots of redcurrant, blackcurrant and gooseberry flowers, let's hope the pollinators are out so they become lovely berries.
I've also been busy at home sowing lots of seeds!

30th June 2012: Harvest

Today I picked a trug full of redcurrants. Some aren't ripe yet, but will be if I leave them in the conservatory for a few days.
I also harvest the first chard leaves, and also noticed the courgettes are getting ready!
Yum!

23rd June 2012: Happy Summer not!

So it is the summer, that's what we're told. I guess it's one of those summer where there's no hope for growing tomatoes or any veg that require a lot of sun.
This week, with the help of Will's dad, the black weed suppressing fabric has been put down where I'm not growing anything. Photos can distort distances, so I thought I should say that the black sheet is 10m long by 4m wide, or if you only understand imperial 32.8x13.12 feet. it's folded a tiny bit on the long edge so it 'only' covers roughly 3.5m in width. We had a bit of wind on Friday so I was worried it would blow away but it appears the weights on it are doing the job.
Wildlife is also thriving on my plants. Lots of blackflies on my broad beans, meaning that a lot of ladybirds are feasting too. And then this chap on the tall plant that you can see on the back left side of my plot. How pretty is this? For info the plant is called a Mullein and the caterpillar is of the Mullein Moth :)

Jubilee weekend

So far I had time to go to the allotment twice this weekend. In between showers that is!
I have been planting and weeding.
On the planting side I have finished planting the rest of my tomatoes.
I also discovered that on top of bindweed, I also have couch grass, horsetail and speedwell. The worse spread are the couch grass and the bindweed, lots of weedkiller at the end of the growing season me think!
I also have a few plants as shown on the picture. It looks like carrot leaves and has pretty pink-ish blooms. Anyone knows what it is? If yes let me know... Ragweed maybe?

Bindweed!

The veg patch on 27th May

Ok I admit, I'm cheating with the picture. If you look at the plot from the other side it looks really overgrown and in need of TLC.

I haven't had time to come over the last 2 weekends due to us being invited to 2 weddings. So this weekend the weather was gorgeous and we went there. Of course one can expect weeds growing during that time, but I wasn't expecting to see so much bindweed. I reckon the previous has rotivated the plot and I'm paying for this.

So I focused on pulling the weeds where I've already planted, and used a weedkiller in the part I haven't planted. I used glyphosate, which is absorbed by the leaves, so I have to wait for the product to go down to the root and kill the plant before I can remove them.

I also planted my peas and more broad beans. I didn't get the time to plant my tomato plants, I didn't have time to clear some space for them. I also need to plant my courgettes and squahes, and also my runner beans and my chard.... Lots to do this week after work and if it doesn't rain

Saturday 14th April: the rain is here

Today is a rainy day. I guess it's a good thing, it's going to water my crops, I could also go out with my new allotment jacket, kindly offered to me by Sean, a work colleague. It's a good fit it should be waterproof enough to keep me dry.
I should be sowing my carrots, beetroots, parsnips and get my runner beans canes ready, which I should have done earlier, really. My cauliflower are ready to be planted in the soil too. With that rain, I can't do that today. I think tomorrow will be sunny, so we'll do this then.
In the meantime, this morning I sowed my courgette and squash. I went for 2 different courgettes, Rondo di Nizza and Cavilli F1 and 2 different squash, Uchiki Kuri and Yellow Scallop. The moon isn't right for them.
Tonight I'm invited for a dinner with friends, I prepared a chocolate mousse for it. Can't wait to eat this...

10th April: Easter Work and yet some rain

Le potager 10/04/2012

 So today has been sunny and we spent the morning in the allotment (well a couple of hours)
After a few days of rain/wet weather, grass has come out where we dug.
So we cleared this up and Will also dug a bit more on the far left corner.
The rhubarb is doing well, can't wait to pick some up.
Today I planted some lettuce and also a second row of broad beans. I didn't put any slug pellet or anything, we'll see.
The potatoes have been planted a week ago and the onions are doing well.
Below are more views of the 'Potager' as well as a few shots of my baby plants.
Note: I have tomatoes (Green Zebra) and chilli (Numex Twilight) to give away for any takers....

Close up on the middle

Hi Will!

The plants (tomato - chilli - cauliflower - mint)

More plants (Pak Choi - Lettuce - Chard)

More plants (Tomato - Chilli - Sweet Peas - Cavollo Nero)