Quick update

Well we had a busy few weeks, trying to dig over the plot for the plants I had growing in the greenhouse. We have also been taught a new digging technique which has made our life so much better. Its a bit like double digging and it allows you to get the weeds out. It does take a little longer BUT it means we have less weeding to do once the plants have been planted.

We have planted Cauliflowers, Brocolli, Spinach, onions, Butternet squash, Sweet Corn, few different types of Beans and loads of tomatoes.

The cauliflower and Brocolli are doing very well, Spinach has been eaten and a few bolted so I haveone left :-(

Onions are growing well BUT the Butternut Squash and Sweet corn are not doing very well.

I did plant 4 courgette plants but they have all bean eaten.

Morning Visit

Had a quick trip to the allotment this morning, did not stay long as it was very hot. Thanks to Steve's mum and dad coming at the weekend, we managed to dig up some more weeds and clear some space so I could plant a few veg that I have growing in the greenhouse. Today I planted some Spinach, hopefully the netting will keep the animals at away.

.This is a picture of Arthur making sure I am doing it all right, and trying really hard to take his hat of AGAIN!

Another little visitor

This young fellow was waiting for me when I arrived at the allotment the other day, he didnt hang around, not as friendly as the Robin.

friendly Visitor

While down the allotment I was joined by a friendly robin. I think because I was digging up the weeds he wanted to get to the lovely worms. He did not seem to be bothered about me being near him, at one point he was standing right night to my foot just waiting for a worm.Here are a few photo's I managed to get.

We have 2 Battery Chickens

On 10th May we collected two battery chickens, we have named them Charlie and Lola, as they are Arthur's chickens we thought we would name them after one of his favouirite cantoons. They are the same type as lily, our other chicken so its a real shock to see them against Lily.

This is Lola, she spent most of her first day in her new home inside. She finally came out on Monday morning.
12052008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lozza1.

Lola

This is Charlie, she spent most of her first day just sitting on the grass. I think she must have been sitting down for atleast 5 hours and did not move.
12052008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lozza1.

Early visit to the allotment

As the weather has finally warmed up we thought we would visit the allotment early in the morning so we don't end up digging when its really hot. While we was there I weeded the potatoes, I actually thought the area was just full of weeds but Steve pointed out to me some where not weeds

Here is a photo of the garlic ( nearest) and the onions ( in the distance) As you can see they are growing very well

This is the new fence for the Raspberries and Strawberries. Decided after weeding the strawberry bed to put them with the Raspberries. No idea if this is the right thing to do but I will just wait and see.

Strawberry Bed

The Strawberry bed was looking very sorry for its self, so many weeds I could not find the strawberrys. Decided to try and save the bed today.
This is the before photo

After photo
Still needs a bit of work but you can now see the strawberrys. Going to move the bed around a bit and have the strawberrys in rows so its easier to look after.

Prepering for Spuds

We planted a three rows of spuds a few weeks ago and we have now prepared the ground for the rest of the spuds. I will plant them in a few weeks. I read some where you should keep the soil warm and the best way to do this is to cover the soil.

Bargin of the year

so far

We picked up this item from a garden center earlier this year. They where closing for a few weeks for refurbishment. They were selling for £5 as the box was damaged but everything was half price so I got it for £2.50!!! I bought three. One of my nighbours asked me if I was staying the night, as it looks like a tent!! I replied, I really wish I could!!!!
I decided to grow some drawf broad beans. Had no luck last year so hoping for a better success rate this year. I left two plants in the greenhouse as a back up :-)

Managed to spend some time the allotment today and also took Steve's SLR digital camera so took a few pictures of the plot. Our main job was to clear the area where the second set of spuds would go in a few weeks. We also decided to give the plot a bit of tidy, moving bits of wood of the way and finding a better place for the hose.

Here is a photo of the rear end of the allotment Onions and Garlic are growing at the end. Before I planted the garlic, steve found a blog by Pippa Greenwood from the BBC Gardenings world web site. She mentioned about growing Garlic in a ridge. She recommends the ridge idea as garlic needs to expand and in clay soil this is very hard. So far my Garlic is doing well. Take a look at her blog http://www.gardenersworld.com/talk/blogs/post/pg-garlic-24012008/
and the front, spuds are growing this end this year. This year we are growing Pink Fur, Rocket, Wilja and Golden Wonders.Here are the Garlic, the onions are just behing them. The pots in the back are an expertiment, I planted some galic and Onions in pots. Garlic is doing well but the Onions are not doing so well.

This is the spuds area. I have four rows of each varitey.

Arthur is now 5 months old and is very interested in trees. I managed to get a free buggy from freecycle, was going to be used by one of the grand parents but it was a bit messy so I thought it would be great down the allotment. It means Arthur is not stuck in his car seat for to long and he can see more.Here is a photo in his thrown. he makes sure mummy and daddy are working hard

Inside the Greenhouse

09042008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lozza1.

A quick photo of some of the Veg growing in the new greenhouse. In the photo, you can see Toms, Butternet Squash, Spinach and Onions. I do have alot of Onions growing so I am now worried where I am going to plant them all.

The way we are planting this year

This year we are planting our veg and flowers seeds a certain way, normally I plant seeds individual in pots and I dont get much success, why I dont know.

This year I am just going to throw a load of seeds in to a pot, and then sort them out when they grow big enough. I done this a few times last year and I had great success so this year I am doing it to everything.

It might mean I have 50+ Parsnip seedlings but then I have loads of plants but also loads of veg. I can see some of it growing in bigger pots if I don't have room in the allotment but hey, dont matter.

We may be mad but we have a much better success rate.

we have planted

Changing my kitchen into a mini greenhouse/potting table paid off.

I managed to plant the following:-

Spinach - Long Standing
Butternut Squash - Hawk F1
Leeks - Musselburgh
SweetCorn - F1
Basil Dark Opal
Parsnips - White Gem - This should be planted directly to the ground but this is a test to see how they do being transplanted from a pot.
Organic Spinach - Palco

Also some flowers
Giant Sunflowers, Red Hot Pokers and Marigold Jesters.

When Steve returned he planted some herbs in a few pots he bought from Ikea. He planted
Lettuce Leaf Basil, Sweet Marjoram, Chives Garlic, Parsley and Basil Sweet

Kitchen is now a Mini- Greenhouse

25032008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lozza1.

We have alot of planting to do but I due to the bad weather I have not been able to do any of it. The weather has got better but its still a bit chilly plus I have my 5 month old son to look after. So I decided to transform the Kitchen into a mini potting area!!! Its nice and warm, can look after Arthur and watch television and plant all at the same time.

Just digging

At present we are trying to get the allotment ready for the growing season so this means loads of digging and getting rid of all the weeds.

We have digged over the area for the spuds, which are chitting lovely in the greenhouse. So just need to wait till easter and then we will plant them.

Today we are also planning to get rid of the rubbish we have collected. We have loads of carpet which I used as pathways but we have decided to get rid of the carpet and try other options.

Sunday Visit

We spent a few hours down the allotment today, Arthur was very well behaved and slepted in the car to allow us to get some work done. We managed to dig over the area for the spuds and also weed the onions.

We also noticed one of our neighbours had used some bark to make a few paths so we decided to do the same, someone has dumped aload of bark so you can help yourself. We managed to put a bit by the onions before Arthur woke up for his next feed.

When we got home I decided to get my spuds out in the greenhouse and start chitting them, hopefully this year they wont get blown over and get all mixed up, this happened to me last year.

Started Planting

I have started the planting for 2008 in my new Greenhouse.

I have planted the following and keeping my fingers crossed

Broccolli - autumn calabrese
Onions - onion Ailsa
Peppers ( sweet) Colour rainbow mix
Cauliflower - Andes
Toms - Orange Berry, Red Pear and Gartenperle ( Hanging Basket)
more onions - Buntons ShowStoppers

Not Impressed

15022008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lozza1.

Looks like Arthur does not like sharing his buggy with the ballom

View from the Bedroom

11022008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lozza1.

From the bedroom window

View from the ground

11022008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lozza1.

From the ground

The tree cutters are in!!

11022008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lozza1.

We thought it was time to give the Fur trees in our back garden a cut. Due to these trees we dont really get any sun which makes the garden really muddy and the washing does not get dry that quick.

Trying onions in pots

It seems the Warmans went a bit mad this year on buying over wintering onions. I think if we planted all of them I am sure the whole plot would nearlly be covered!!!

I have planted a few and they seem to be doing very well. I started weeding them today,as the onions where big enough to know they where onions and not weeds. Due to have loads over I have decided to see if they will grow in pots.

As it is a lovely day today I managed to spend about an hour at the allotment with Arthur. Planted two buckets of onions and three garlic.

Should be interested how they turn out.

The green house is up!

Here is a picture of the Greenhouse.

I can tell you it was no easy job. The instructions where just rubbish, some bits of the greenhouse just missed and two of the panels labelled wrong!!!

Cant wait to grow in the green house now

My Green Frame Polycarbonate Greenhouse is coming today!!!

I have decided the plastic greenhouse I have in the back garden is not working so I have decided to buy a proper greenhouse. Luckily I got some money for my birthday in November and Christmas.

The Chickens

Here's a photo of the chickens, Lily and Daisy. As you can see they are growing well.

They are relaxing on our garden table, having a little rest.

The big dig has started

well the only thing to do now is to get the ground ready for the growing season and this involves loads of digging and weeding. Due to not being down the allotment for a long time I have LOADS of weeds.

I am trying to dig over the area where I had my spuds growing last year, I am planning to plant some over-wintering onions there and some garlic. I think I have done the worst of it.

I have also ordered myself a proper green house. The plastic green one was not working out. Just waiting for a delivery date, I cant wait, hopefully should help a lot this year.

Spent about an hour doing a bit if digging today. I think the best way is to dig a bit once a day and I think you achieve more.

Hopefully I will be able to plant some more over-wintering onions. planted a few in oct which need weeding BUT I need to wait till they are bigger as I am not really sure which are onions and which are weeds :-)