A bit of early planting

I started some Broad Beans off in toilet roll tubes at home, now they have tall stems & a good root system, it's time to plant them in the Greenhouse, while its relatively empty. 

So now in the greenhouse, which is unheated, approx 8" apart, supported by horizontal string between canes. 
The soil has been well weeded, some 'Grow Organic' added & a handful of Chicken Pellets too. 
The large green leafy thing is 'Mizuna' a type of salad leaf that has a peppery taste, so lovely in salads, added to a sandwich or a handful on top of a pizza (after cooking) is lovely.

Another job to do was to move the Spinach Beet, its a type of perpetual Spinach and should transfer OK. 
Had to move it because I need the patch where it was growing for Potatoes soon, will need to prepare and get it ready.
The green netting tunnel on the left has Kale growing, its been there over winter and now its warming up should be getting bigger soon. 

So another lovely day today, forecast is for rain all day tomorrow (Sunday) so glad we got down this afternoon to do a few jobs. 
We have started loads at home, Tomatoes, Peppers, Aubergines, Cucumbers, Cauliflowers, Broad Beans, Coriander & Basil. Will have to get some special seedling compost so I can start off some Chilles too.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian.

The Sun came out

Well what a week, rain, wind, rain, wind, heavy rain, strong wind, torrential rain, gale force wind! 
But luckily little damage to our Green house, only 3 perspex panels popped out, which I found on neighbours plot & fixed back, also a compost bin lid, found 2 plots away. 
But some faired much worse, one plot holder didn't glaze his Greenhouse and found the frame blown over all twisted and wrecked by the storm!

So back to today, as the sun came out it really felt like a spring day. After all the rain, some said the water in their wells was up to soil level, but I check mine and it was about 18" (45cm) below. 

But I finished digging over this patch I've been working on over the last week or so. 
Got all my spuds now and some will be going in here, so they are all chitting in the dining room.

I was recently voted onto our Allotment Association committee, today I did my 1st stint in the shop, its just an hour once a month and was great fun, meeting people I've know for years, but not always known their names, plus a newcomer who was after advise on what Potatoes to plant on his new plot, of course I could advise. 

But at least the weather was kind today after such a stormy week, still some weeding/clearing to do, but plenty of time, as its still too cold to plant anything out.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian.

Cold & Wet February

 Still very cold and wet, but at least not under water like some of the country, even some plots on our site have some localised flooding, but mine is OK. 

So as I said in my video walkabout last week, this patch is next for digging over and I spent an hour doing just that, will be using most of this patch for Potatoes this year.

Just a glimpse of red through the manure, means the Rhubarb is ready to burst forth, so as soon as it warms up there will be no stopping it.

Talking of Potatoes, I now have 4 out of the 5 varieties I'm growing this year, so my 'chitting station' is back out (also used for drying Onions on). 
From the top: 
1st early 'Winston' 
2nd Early 'Charlotte' & 'Nadine' 
Main crop 'Sante'. 
Still waiting for main crop 'Cara', should be here soon.

Next jobs to do, finish digging over that patch started today & prepare all spud beds with manure.

The 'Winstons' are ready to put in but wont until threat of frost has passed, probably sometime in March.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian 

February already

So it's February already, Jan was a bit of a wash out, very few days good enough for Allotment tasks. 
But today the rain stopped & the Sun came out, so I decided to seize the moment and do some digging! Here is one of the patches I will be planting 1st Early Potatoes, but first I will have to remove the weeds! 

A good few hours later and it's done. 
Well dug over from front to back & side to side, I removed 4 buckets full of weeds and had a bonfire to burn them on! 
There is plenty of space for 3 rows of 'Winston' first earlies that are 'chitting' away at home.

So as I said a good dry day for digging & burning. 
If you watch my YouTube video 'First Allotment Walkabout of 2014' you will see what my plans are & some tips & ideas for you. 

Thanks for reading/returning and don't forget to watch the video. Ian.

First real jobs of the year

Been working in the fruit cage today, ground in here not too wet, we cut back the autumn fruiting Raspberries (mostly Joan.J and Autumn Bliss).
Weeded and added some well rotted compost to the soil as a top dressing.

Took the netting off the pond, so we could cut back some of the grasses & oxygenating plants, as they are taking over. 
But the water was so clear, must be working. 
Hoping for loads of spawn this year and plenty of Frogs too.

If you look at last weeks blog, I showed the Broad Beans started in cardboard tubes, well look what a difference a week indoors makes! Will need to take outside to harden off. 
The ones on the left haven't come through yet but wont be long.

So it's been a lovely day today and it was lovely to get started properly on the plot, it's been so cold and wet lately. 
But as the sun came out and the birds were singing it felt like a summers day.

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian 

First Blog of 2014

Still cold and wet, so not much done on the plot this weekend. 
But at least the Onions have survived the winter, nearest, just poking through, the Spring Onions, next the Senshyu Whites and the Red Winter ones.

My no turn Compost doing well. 

Still topping up with kitchen waste (all veg) and muck/straw from our hen house. It's teaming with worms and breaking down nicely. 

The Rhubarb is showing now, this ones the later Victoria variety, the early Stockbridge Arrow hasn't broken through yet, but as it warms up it's sure to catch up. 
We put a good load of manure over them in the autumn so expecting a good crop again in the spring.

Back at home, I planted some 'Super Aquadulce' Broad Beans in toilet rolls a few weeks ago, put them in the greenhouse, but I think it was too cold, so within 2 days of bringing indoors they started to sprout, so I did another 16 in tubes (on the left) so when they get a bit taller I will harden them off in the greenhouse ready for planting outside.

So despite it being cold & wet things are starting to show signs of life.

This year I expect another bumper harvest, got my seeds, awaiting the spuds, so all systems go! 

Oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR :)

Thanks for reading/returning. Ian 

Last Blog of 2013

So on December 29th 2013, we visited our Allotment, to find the un-protected Cabbages have been eaten by Pigeons or Pheasants, a pane of glass had fallen out of the Greenhouse door and smashed, not surprising really, the glazing clips had rusted thin and not up to the job, I can blame the damage on the strong winds most of us have experienced over the last few weeks, luckily no flooding here though.

Oh well, I have been sampling the wines I have made from this years fruit and I can say the Beetroot Wine has come out favourite, doesn't taste of Beetroot, sweet, lovely colour and very nice. 

The others I made are also rather good, Rhubarb, Blackcurrant, Rhubarb/Raspberry, Beetroot/Rhubarb & Rhubarb/Pear.

Here is the Beetroot recipe so you can have a go:

Ingredients

3lb Uncooked Beetroot

12 pints Water

3lb Granulated Sugar

6 Cloves

3 Unpeeled Oranges (washed & sliced)

Teaspoon of Wine Yeast

All equipment must be clean, best to sterilise with baby bottle cleaner or boiled water, preferably both, rinse well with clean cold water. Even the Muslin/Jelly Bag must be clean best to soak in Boiling water. 
Use a Brown Demi-john or wrap a clear one with a black bin liner, restricting the light will keep your wine purple/red, if not it will go brown.

Method

Wash Beetroot well (do not peel). Cut into thin slices and put in a large pan, add water and bring to the boil, simmer for 40mins until Beetroot is tender.

Strain* off liquid into a 12 pint bowl (discard the Beetroot) put liquid back into the pan and add Sugar, Cloves and sliced Orange, heat gently for 15mins. Strain* the liquid back into bowl and leave to cool, best temp between 20-30 degrees then add yeast and cover with a cloth for 3 days, stir daily.

After 3 days, syphon into a Demijohn (topping up with cooled boiled water) and leave to ferment, using an air-lock check daily until bubble rate stops, rack the wine into a fresh Demijohn to clear the sediment, do this twice over the next 3-4 weeks, then bottle.

(* strain through Muslin cloth or a Jelly Bag, this way you will get a clearer wine)

Leave for 6 months, but drink within 2 years.

Good Luck and thanks for reading my Blog, see you in 2014. Ian