Raspberry's

Had a good day yesterday at the allotment dug over some of the plot and weeded a section, also went out to the local garden centre to get some raspberry bushes. I did go to the garden centre a couple weeks ago to price the bushes up, when I went yesterday to get some the prices had gone up or I looked at the wrong price. The bushes i purchased were Tulameen and Glen Clova so hopefully get a bit of fruit of them in the coming years.

I've already prepared some of the land for them to get planted later on today, well I've dug the some holes and put some compost in them. I need to soak them for 2 hours each before i plant them and build a frame for them to grow and train them,but I can build the frame a little later on over the coming months.

Weeding and chatting

Left work early today and went straight to the allotment, so by the time I left the allotment 5 hours had passed. I did a little chatting and weeding like you do,I also took up all the marrows that was remaining. I must have about 44 marrows to find space for at home don't know how I'm going to do that,some of the marrows may need to be thrown but I have a few to save.

So it looks like I have a lot of soup to make and freeze,will see how the marrows will store without freezing. I did get a section weeded not a lot but better than nothing, I'm hoping to go for most of the day tomorrow and get some more done. Also I'm going to the garden centre tomorrow to get some raspberry bushes for next years crop, its the first time I've tried fruit it isn't that I haven't got the space.

Leaf mould.

I must be sad I started last week collecting leafs so I can make some leaf mould,I did collect some from a field near our house but the worse thing was i was sweeping leafs up at 4am today. I think over the last couple of weeks I have collected about 10 bags,I know it may not make much but can collect more next year.

Getting dark now

I found it hard over the last few months to try and go to the allotment with all the decorating that's been going on,now that's it's finished I thought I would have loads of time to go and get things sorted. So my plan was to go once I've left work before coming home only problem they is no one at home to sort the dog out,so by the time I get sorted it's getting dark so I cant do anything. I went last night just to pick up some onions and check the plot over,by the time I did that it was pitch black. Looks like I will have to get to the allotment on Friday when I leave early and go over the weekend,also depends on the weather will have to check it out first. I don't moan all of the time honest.

Spuds and police

I've dug up another row of main crop potatoes leaving just 2 more rows to do,it's an other 50/50 split between what can be stored and eaten now. I haven't got a lot of spuds bagged up to last us just 1 bag at the moment, going to try some different potatoes next year so see how they do.

We had a visit from the local police about the thefts from the allotments which we have been having, some of the guys say it's a waste of time cos its all been reported before. The police are going to speak to the council to get the empty plots sorted out and get people onto them,also try and get some security measures on the allotment will let you know how it goes.

I went to take the last bit of rhubarb up and maybe make some puddings with it,but some of the guys said its to late to do it now it won't taste nice lucky it was all rotten.

Good potatoes

Quick update

Went to the allotment straight from work yesterday and did a bit of weeding, still loads to do its never ending hopefully get they in the end. No more produce has gone missing unless I've missed it, we have to police coming down on Saturday to have a chat about things going missing.The other guys have seen it all before report the thefts and nothing happens, but if we don't report it the police won't patrol the allotments.

I've managed to get some large pallets from work to try and sort the fencing around the plot,pictures will follow once I've started making it.

Tidy up

I gave one corner of the allotment a quick tidy up while i was making the leaf mould cage,couple of flower shots with a bee on one of the flowers.

Leaf mould cage.

Leaf Mould Cage.

Good few days.

Can't believe it I've been to the allotment 3 times this so this are looking up, well the decorating is just about finished now so it's all good. I taken up the last of my second early's and they ready to be taken home and consumed, I have also taken up my first row of main crop but 50% have holes in them so I can't store them well the ones with homes in anyway.

I also sorted another container out so I can catch the rain fall of the shed,it's another wheelie bin with a few adjustments well just an over flow pipe.The first bin is nearly full so I need to sort something else out, I am picking some more guttering up in a couple of weeks then I can put some on the other side of the shed and greenhouse.

I have also made a cage for me to make leaf mould and it's half full already, only because while at work I've been sweeping them up.I also took the daughters boyfriend with me one day to sweep some leaves up from a field, I'm hoping to get some more when I'm back at work and may go back to the fields for some more.

Won some vouchers

Did I mention that I have won a gift voucher from <a href="http://www.vegatablesee.net for doing a blog about my allotment , I don't know why you all don't do it to be in a chance of some free seeds and free web space. Cant wait to order my seeds and start to plant them next year, the problem now is what do I order so much choice. Thanks to the team at vegatableseeds

Just a quick update

Not much has happened on the allotment this weekend, I've been down and took up some more spuds still pulling up my second early's hopefully this week i will get all the spuds up. End of last week I put some Perspex up on the shed roof with the felt going missing, and it's still stuck down to the roof.I've condensed the cabbage patch to a smaller section with netting still over it, but it still doesn't stop them taking them 2 more had gone missing thursday night.

Now with most of the decorating done I can spend a little more time down at the plot sorting it out, I know I want it perfect but it won't be like that. I should be getting some pallets over the next few weeks so I now can build a fence.

Wheelbarrow

I got given a wheelbarrow from a chap from the allotment.

New roof

I've put a new covering on the shed roof I've used some perspex instead of felt.

The police came to the allotment to have a chat about the break-ins, I got given a alarm for the shed I couldn't say no because of me reporting it.

On a lighter note.

I got told today I have a ghost in my greenhouse so I had a look and the netting had fallen down and the tomato plant had shifted.

Someone has been on again.

Got a phone call from one of the chaps from the allotment saying the someone has been on and caused some damage,so I trotted off to the allotment to see what has been done. One chap had his window smashed on his shed other fellow had a door kicked in, and me i had some roofing felt pinched off the roof.

I've filled a form in to report it to the police but not sure if anyone else has done the same, we need to report it so something can be done about it.Some people are concerned if we keep reporting it the council may turn around and say we will close the site down because it's costing us to much to keep repairing everything.

Wow 2 day on a row.

Wow I've been to the allotment 3 times in 2 days not for long though but at least I've been, I managed to do a quick weed of all the larger weeds and put them in the skip. So it looks a little better now with the weeds and rubbish gone, i also got given a fence off a neighbour for the allotment so i can add to the other bit.I Did think the fence was in better condition but i was wrong, but i cant grumble if it was for free and it will fill a small part.

I also sorted the cabbage patch today by pulling up all the dead stalks and all the dead leaves, so now I can tell if any more are being pinched. I may have to give some of my marrows away because I've become over run with them,it saves them going onto the compost heap but will help me next year.