27th Feb: The crop

So here we are, the tomato have germinated. This year, I'm growing Gardener's Delight and Alicante, but also some Green Zebra, whose seeds I collected myself from a tomato I bought in France last summer. According to various websites, Green Zebra are not hybrids, so I should be ok with them. If anyone wishes to give it a go and re-home one of my green zebra, let me know!

26th Feb: first planting and more clearing out

So today I've planted my broad beans, directly into the soil. My tomatoes and lemongrass has also germinated, I'm now awaiting for the chilli (Numex Twillight from my own chillies)
More carpet has been dug out. It looks like we may be at the end of it, unless there's another beginning somewhere. We'll find out soon!

Note the pile of carpet that came out of this area

Nice view!

The line where I sowed my broad bean can be seen here

Rhubarb!

another nice view

What a mess!

25th Feb: more digging and more clearing out

Today I went on my own to the plot. Will's dad has been busy during the week and did more digging for me. I started clearing out the plot and cutting the grass around, I think a strimmer might be a wise purchase!
Tomorrow I'm going back, with Will's dad and the plan is to sow my broad beans straight into the soil, while Andrew do more digging for me.
Few few photos below to see the progress

19th Feb: starting the hard work...

This morning the sun was shinning and Andrew, Will's dad, and I were in the allotment. We discovered fruit bushes that were hidden in overgrown grass (2 gooseberry bushes, and a currant) and also 2 rhubarbs!
We also discovered some carpets, if you didn't know it was possible to grow carpet, this is the proof! And it also can layer on 3 to 4 levels.
Have a look at the pictures below of you don't believe me. That's it for today, it's now time for a nice roast lunch cooked by Will's mum Sara. Oh and did I forgot to mention that Will wasn't with us in the allotment today? He fell off his bike leaving work n Friday, his bike slipped on diesel that was probably left by a bus. Not nice..

The plot!

Carpet that is under the grass (more to unveil behind!)

Bushes

Rhubarb!

18th Feb: first sowing

That's it, the sowing season has started.
Today: tomato and chilli.

Seeds on windowsill

13th Feb: The contract has been sent out

That's it, I've signed the contract that we received on Friday. It's been sent 1st class back to the council so in theory I shall be able to start on the plot at the weekend.
At the weekend it was Seedy Sunday in the town hall. I swapped all the seed I wouldn't use to some I may use. I also bought some horseradish roots and a book on organic gardening... I was advised not to plant the horseradish in the soil but in a pot instead, as it apparently spread like mad, a piece of advice I will probably listen.

5th Feb 2012. I'm back... on a new plot

Happy me! After being thrown away from my previous allotment as the landowner allegedly 'sold' the land, I received a letter from the council letting us know that a plot is available for us on one of the council allotments, if we want it.
Below are pictures we took this afternoon, from opposite angles. The plot is 111sqm and goes from the path that can be seen behind the compost heap to the front of the photo, and as far as the bush that can be seen below the second house from the left. There's a square of bare soil, where we'll start first... can't wait to get stuck in!

the new plot!

view from the bush, I think it's a blackcurrant bush. it's ours up to the bank