Busy time of the year

Long time since last Blog. 

But we have been very busy:

I made a new boundary fence out of pallets, dug over most of the plot & had a manure delivery.

But while I was digging the trenches for the Potatoes today, this cheeky Robin took to my spade handle each time I stopped!

Main crop 'Picasso' 15" (38cm) apart in rows 30" (75cm) between. 

I dug a trench a spade deep, put the soil in a mound along one side, put manure in the bottom of the trench & watered the soil & manure, once soaked in, I placed the 'chitted' potatoes along the bottom of the trench & then using a rake pulled the soil back over, to cover them. 

2 Weeks ago I planted 3 rows of 'Casablanca' 1st early & 3 rows of 'Charlotte' 2nd early, the same way as above except, 12" (30cm) apart in rows 24" (60cm) between.

The 'Casablanca' are already poking through. 

As I said, we have been busy preparing the beds. 

In this one we have: 

Asparagus, 

Garlic, 

Shallots, 

Sweet Peas, 

Spinach, 

Spring Onions & Radish.

Here we have: 

Strawberries, 

Broad Beans 

& Peas so far.

In this patch we have Leeks that were put in months ago.

We weeded & fed with chicken pellets.

This Pear tree we put in last year, has lots of blossom and even some tiny pears forming.

The tree is still small, about 4' tall, but has loads of fruit forming.

It will be our 1st Pear tree, so excited to see how many we get.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo
 

A long time gone but lots done.

We've harvested such a lot this year & as you can see our 1st perfect Carrots, the way we grew them this year worked keeping them well above the flight path of the dreaded Carrot Root Fly!

Maris Piper spuds, these have been our best cropping spud this year, these were the last lot dug up about 20lb from 1 row!

This years Rhubarb. We made many crumbles and tarts, but I always make a few batches of wine so this is the 1st lot a Stockbridge Arrow & Victoria mix. Will see next summer what its like.

And the Blackcurrants were a heavy cropper too this year so I used 3lb to make a batch of wine, family call it alcoholic Ribena!

Another bumber harvest, the small bucket is full of apples and we have harvested loads of them this year. Our sweetcorn has been a big success too.

Another truck full of produce, the large leaves are Chard and lovely chopped up in a Stir-Fry.

So back to today, Jo & I have been busy digging out weeds & clumps of grass and getting it ready for planting next spring.

The Leeks I put in a few months ago are still small but are growing, Jo weeded carefully around the patch. 

The temperature is dropping and even a frost is in the forecast, today was chilly but the sun was out too, so not a bad day for weeding our patch. But there is still plenty to do.

The Cara spuds have also been good this year, dug up these today, some we had as mash for dinner tonight.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo
 

Planting, Harvesting and Bees a plenty

A massive bunch of Sweetpeas, Jo said it was like she was a bride again walking home with this massive bouquet.

Broad Beans & Courgettes again! 

Another trug full of Peas, it took us an hour to pod, blanche & bag these ready to freeze. 

Tonight we had the cheapest meal so far:

Cauliflower Cheese, with Mangetout, Broad Beans & New Potatoes. 

All our own veg :)

I dug over this patch removed as many weeds including self seeded poppies as I could, added lime and planted 12 Romanesco Cauliflowers.

Dug over this patch too, as above. Planted 6 Brussel Sprouts.

Both netted to protect from birds, especially Pheasants we get on our plot, who are partial to young plants!

Today's harvest:

Rhubarb, Cauliflower, Potatoes, Courgette, Mint, Raspberries, Loganberries, Strawberries & Sweetpeas.

And finally the Bees, we have so many Poppies on our plot and they are full of nectar collecting Bees, this one (not a good photo sorry) had pollen sacks on its legs so full !

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo
 

Harvest after Harvest

For the last few weeks, its gone a bit mad, everytime we visit there is so much to pick, dig or cut. 

2lb of Strawberries everytime!

So far, Jam & Ice Cream has been made and a handful on our breakfast too. 

Our plot is like a Poppy field with veg too!

Yet more Strawberries, Raspberries and Charlotte potatoes.

A trug full of Peas & Sweetpeas 

Blanched Peas ready for the freezer.

The sky darkened and rain was on its way so we headed home.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo.

Did someone once say 'what are we going to do with all these Courgettes' I think they wrote a book!

 

Plenty to harvest & still planting

A nice harvest to start this Blog off. 

Rhubarb, Strawberries & Sweetpeas too. 

The little pots are some flowers for our garden at home.

We finally took out the Kale that had gone to seed, but we waited until the flowers had finished as it was always buzzing with busy Bees.

Planted 3 outdoor Cucumbers, 1st time we have tried these so will see how they get on.

I got busy in the week, digging over this patch, but had to pull up so many weeds first, but is now ready for more Beans to go in.

The Runner Beans are doing well, there are a few flowers, so the beans will follow soon.

Everytime we visit, which is most evenings when we water things, we also pick about a pound of Strawberries. 

So its been a busy few weeks and we hope to do a test dig very soon of the Charlotte potatoes. 

Thanks for reading/returning.

Ian & Jo
 

Sunny Allotment, hottest day so far too

We expect a bumper harvest of Gooseberies soon, this bush is laden with them, some have already fallen to the ground!

I planted out more Sweetcorn, another 12 to add to the 9 I put in last time.

I made another pea frame, this time 7ft long! As we had almost 100 more pea seedlings to plant out. 

I used some twigs and sticks to protect them from Pheasant attack!

The Strawberries are ripening, we picked these two and ate them and they were so tasty and sweet. 

Jo put straw beneath to stop the fruit bruising on the bare soil.

I have been cutting the grass on the path again, all done by hand with shears, I will reach the end soon, then will have to start all over again!

Some of the many flowers we grow, for the Bees of course.

These are California Poppies.

Lupins.

In the background is a massive Horseradish plant.

And Chives, in the background are Foxgloves too.

We grow Chives to eat as well, they are lovely in a salad, Jo has chopped some onto cream cheese sub rolls for her lunch tomorrow. 

The Rhubarb has gone mad again!

The Pheasant. 

He was strutting about our plot today without a care in the world, like he owned the place, as you can see I got quite close.

Yes hottest day so far and we had to take regular breaks in the shade, had lunch there too, so we could get lots done. 

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian & Jo