Allotment plan for 2012

Have been meaning to get this sorted for a number of weeks. Its not a job that takes very long but needs doing so that next year isn't spent guessing where to plan things.
Its only a rough guide. Sometimes things have to move as either I've run out of space, or have extra space as something hasn't worked.
So the provisional plan for 2012 goes something like this:

Nothing should have been planted in the same location in the past 3 years. So far I haven't come across a huge number of plant diseases, but the whole plot is plagued by white fly (which I'm fairly sure will survive a nuclear winter) and flea beetles.

My aim is also to plant lots of summer annuals such as French Marigold, Calendula, Sweet Peas, Cornflowers etc. and dot them amongst the crops. Hopefully to attract in insect pollinators and also because they look lovely too. As I left most of them to seed this year I'm hopeful that I wont need to grow many from seed on purpose, but just move them from where ever they germinate. The same goes for the sunflowers (none of which were planted on purpose but all came from self seeding). These provided some windbreak for the plants this year as it is quite a windy site, and also good for attracting pollinators in.

Round where I plan on planting the peppers and aubergines I'm going to construct a roofless 'greenhouse' made from used squash bottles. Its an experiment and we'll see what happens...

A blog from the garden

Absolutely glorious morning here today. Have been itching to get out in the garden and tidy away the last of the summer toys that the kids had left out, and also sort and tidy the remaining peppers and chillies in pots.

The smallest of the peppers I really couldnt remember what they were. Fortunately one of the pots contained a label and the are Rainbow Mixed. I'm quite scared that some of the jalapeños have gone bright red. And the Cayenne de Chilli looks like it might be a bit punchy too. The Californian mixed are just turning from green to red. They can stay in their pots for a while longer.

On the racking there were pots of lupins, delphiniums and hollyhocks that had not made it into the ground earlier in the year. I managed to find a couple of gaps so most of them have a home now

They're obviously not at their best and had got quite pot bound, but they have a better chance of making it through the winter with a little more space to stretch their legs.

I had sown lavender seeds and 6 had made it through from germination to being pricked out. Sadly, due to neglect on my part, only one remains. 

I think I will bring it in for the winter so it stands more of a chance at getting watered occasionally.

My 'pretend' grass has had a good rake and the leaves bagged to make some lovely leaf mold.

One of the pepper plants which hadnt survived had this growing in it.

I'm not entirely sure what it is. Possibly a Yew seedling, or maybe one of the heathers that I have. Time will tell, unless there's anyone who can shed some light on it for me.

The remaining pots in the greenhouse have been packed away, and the cover removed for the winter again. The greenhouse has only been up for two seasons, but already the plastic is starting to degrade at the top.

This tree used to be a lovely specimen tree in my next door neighbours garden. When the new owner moved in about 10 years ago, he had the tree chopped down, but not before it had sent out new shoots under the fence into my garden. For years they did nothing but put out a couple of blossoms in the spring which never set. But last year and this fruit has appeared. I assumed it was an apple tree. The blossom is quite similar looking in my opinion to apple. Most of the fruit had fallen, and I hadnt really closely inspected it before as it was to the side of the greenhouse and not really accessible. The skin of the fruit seems quite sticky, but that could be sap from the neighbouring sycamore. But...it has a lovely 'perfume' to it and doesnt look like an apple. My inital suspicion was quince, and having asked on twitter and had a look on google images it would seem that Japanese quince is most likely. Have a recipe now on how to make quince jelly, so will get to that later this afternoon.

 The job now for now is stripping the ripe peppers from the plants and I think will probably roast them. The chillies I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with them yet. Carefully is probably the right way!

November potatoes and other harvesting

Am late harvesting main crop this year, due to a number of circumstances. Despite the grey foggy morning and looking at the rest of the calendar today was the only day in the foreseeable where it wasnt raining and I had nothing else more urgent to do.

I'd cut the tops off the potatoes over a month ago, but wasnt quite sure what to expect, and as there had been lots of rain was expecting to find slug damage to some of the tubers.

 Before

First row

2nd row 

(my glasses on top of the big potato to show size)

None of them have any signs of slug damage, and only a few have some patches of scab.

Was also pleasantly surprised to find cauliflowers that hadnt gone quite past their best.

Though some very very teeny!

Leeks are almost catching up having been planted out really late

And last of the rhubarb, probably a bit late picking it, but the frost hadn't got it yet. 

All the goodies in my trailer safely home (was it was heavy cycling back though)

Not nearly as many parsnips survived this year, mainly due to a dry spring and not being able to water them enough as they were germinating, but the few that have survived arent too bad. 

Slightly unconventional method of drying the potatoes for storage

Really is a whopper, 18cm and 900g. It has a sibling of equal size and weight. Both from the same plant. I need to find out what my neighbour was watering that end of his plot with as I'm sure they have benefited from whatever it was.

Everything is just about dug over now ready for the winter. I possibly need to spend another morning tidying things up, but then that should see me through to the spring. Must get the plot rotation sorted, and think about what I want to grow next year. 

End of the season

Have been really bad at keeping up to date with my blog.

The past few weeks have seen new asparagus and strawberry beds created. The squashes have all been harvested before the first frosts hit (all 59.9kg of them), the biggest one weighing in at an impressive 7.3kg.

Most of the plot is now winter dug.

The raspberries both in the garden and on the plot are still producing quite nicely and at least every other day I have a punnet to pick.

2 rows of main crop potatoes remain in the ground still, but there's still half a sack left in the kitchen from the first 2 rows.

Cauliflowers were a bit disappointing, but there have been enough for one meal and even though they didnt look especially lovely, they tasted fantastic.

I'm sure there is probably more to report, but will post some photos of things I've been up to in the past few weeks.

Old strawberry beds

New Strawberry beds - rotate 90 degrees and slightly bigger

First 2 short rows of main crop - probably Desiree

59.9kg of Butternut Squash

Start of October

Pic for end of October seems to have vanished, but the plot if now mostly cleared and only purple sprouting broccoli, sprouts and a few cauliflowers are still standing.

Need help identifying...

...this caterpillar. Its in the palm of my glove so only a couple of cm in length

A long over due update

It has been brought to my attention that my blog hasnt been updated since April. I have been posting photos on FB, but havent had a chance to really sit and write anything about the day to day happenings on the plot.

I've had a really good crop of tomatoes this year; sweetcorn has been great and the best red potatoes (though I could have sworn I've set white main crop); french beans; and the squashes are looking very impressive but not yet ready.

Unsuccessful this year were peas (damn pidgeons got them) onions (not enough water at the right time) and all of my brassicas (just dont think I'm meant to grow them)

I'm now setting about clearing the finished areas and digging over ready for the winter. I have some plans to move the strawberry beds and asparagus for next season but cant do that until the corn and tomatoes are completely finished.

Here's some photos of what I've been up to in the past week.