Allotment neglect

[zazen999]

I've been stealing an hour here and there; it's not just you two!!!

It's not the rain that keeps me away, it's all the barbecues I keep having this summer.

[Ok, I lied - it's the rain].

[SarzWix]

It's been exactly the same here, and we're struggling to keep on top of weeding our 2 plots as well. But... I am getting produce off them, and the weeds will wait til the weather is good enough!

You could invest in a pair of waterproof trousers and do an hour in the rain? Hoeing might be a bit pointless, but you can still grab handfuls of the big ones and pull them out To be honest, if I wasn't scared to death of slipping on the wet paths I'd be down there anyway The OH has been down today and managed to strim all the edges that looked dreadful, although he was soaked through by the time he got home...

[toastie]

Wouldn't beat yourself up about it and certainly wouldn't give up the plot. Regrettably with the best will in the world theres always reasons why a lot of us cannot spend all the time we'd like at the plot - at the moment my 'excuses' are various - the weather has been awful in recent weeks, have had to spend time emptying my partner's father's house following his recent death, due to a big fire in the area my mum and dad (aged 82) were evacuated for the day from their house, partner works away during the week, so its all down to me etc etc. Hopefully next week will be better with more visits.

[Hazel at the Hill]

You could invest in a pair of waterproof trousers and do an hour in the rain? ...

I should do that!

It was down to a light drizzle when I went past the Hill this evening and popped in the pick a handful of sweetpeas and some french beans for tea, but just brushing past the squash and rhubarb plants soaked my jeans...

[maytreefrannie]

Wayne, my children are grown and I don't have to travel to an allotment - just out the back door to the garden, and still there are plenty of weeds - I'm just about keeping them to 'an acceptable level' (EU speak) on the actual beds.

I can remember some summers when the children were younger when the weeds were a few feet high and all over the place and I hadn't got around to growing anything. Some years I managed it, some not.

Hugs to Hayden, the Boss of the House!

[di]

I've been stealing an hour here and there; it's not just you two!!!

It's not the rain that keeps me away, it's all the barbecues I keep having this summer.

[Ok, I lied - it's the rain].

We had a bonfire/barbie in the rain on Friday!
OK...had it not have been sunny & glorious beforehand,we may have decided otherwise,but Andi'd already started the fire,kiddies were excited about cooking sausages,I'd remembered the beers(& mine & the kiddies rainmacs...sorry Andi!),so a few showers weren't gonna upset our plans!
Chopping off blighted tattie leaves in the rain is far more pleasurable after a couple of beers!
I've decided this Summer's gonna be a good'n & I'll be blowed if a bit of thundery rain's gonna bloody spoil it!!!!

[Lottieval]

HeyWayne if you think rain is a problem you wanna live on this side of the country!

[Matt.]

I'm in a similar situation as you. I've managed to vist the plot only a once a week for 30 mins for the last four or five weeks. Family, work, other commitments etc.

To be honest the plot has been taking care of itself. Sure a few weeds have grow but 5 mins with a hoe sorts out the worst of it. The rest will just have to wait. First thing is to harvest any courgettes (always marrow size) and dig up a few spuds. Have a nosey at the rest of the plot and check progress of pumpkins and squashes etc and then head home. At least with all the rain you don't need to water...!

Just go for half an hour and harvest some of your crops at the least. It feels great and its obviously nice to eat the home grown produce. It won't be long until your litte one will be starting food and its great to think they'll be eating your home grown carrots etc.

Come Autumn it will all die back weeds included and you'll have loads of time to prepare it over winter. Just don't try and make it a year round thing. Its only the manic months of April and May when you're sowing and planting like mad that you've got to worry about

[HeyWayne]

It won't be long until your litte one will be starting food and its great to think they'll be eating your home grown carrots etc.

We're there already - he has one tooth, but loves to gum on sticks of celery, cucumber, carrot or pepper. Recently started giving him bread too (home made in the bread makerer - virtually no salt or sugar)

The food he's eating is getting progressively lumpier. He hasn't rejected a single thing we've given him so far.

I'm aiming to get to the plot tomorrow night hopefully as I'm out again tonight, and then we have people coming to look at LW's car. I'll bring back some spuds, broad beans, maybe some kohl rabi and carrots if they're big enough. Might even have some peas or runners - oh the excitement!

[SlugLobber]

Last year I got so fed up of the weather I ended up just being out in the garden in it. OK, it was messy, but I did what someone else suggested above and put the waterproof trousers on and ditched them at the back door. It was quite therapeutic!

[HeyWayne]

Oh a bit of rain never hurt anyone I agree, trouble is on my heavy clay I end up having to scrape half the allotment off my boots and then carry it back again.

I have a nubmer of Bean preparation jobs (fitting stair gates etc) to do around the house at the weekend, but I'm determined to set some time aside to get to the plot.

[louisesgarden]

HW next year will probaly be different again, you may have more time. I was so full of growing exciment for this year after moving house mid growing season last year, then to have been in that accident on my birthday, and having now to trust my non veg growing hubby to look after it ! as after 3 weeks i still cant work how to get up the steps to the garden on a set of crutches !!! But i will start again next year x

[Pumpkin Becki]

as after 3 weeks i still cant work how to get up the steps to the garden on a set of crutches !!! But i will start again next year x

I've been there myself. The trick is, take crutches in one hand, drop down onto step with knee of bad leg (assuming you've only got a half leg cast that is). Use free hand to steady yourself and use your good leg to propel yourself up the steps one at a time. I had two months on crutches (July and August 07), and needs must!!

[Incy]

HW next year will probaly be different again, you may have more time. I was so full of growing exciment for this year after moving house mid growing season last year, then to have been in that accident on my birthday, and having now to trust my non veg growing hubby to look after it ! as after 3 weeks i still cant work how to get up the steps to the garden on a set of crutches !!! But i will start again next year x

Aaww poor you!!! Do you have a lot of steps?
Having spent a long time on crutches myself, the way I did it is put the crutches either side of your feet and lift yourself up to the next step pulling crutches up behind you. Be very careful though if the steps are uneven or wet as you could slip. You may not be able to use this method if your arms aren't strong enough or the steps are too high though.
The other way to get up is on your behind going backwards. Not very elegant but much easier and safer. Wouldn't fancy it on a wet day though

[Pumpkin Becki]

, but I'm determined to set some time aside to get to the plot.

Wayney, I think you have to be proud of what you can do, not beat yourself up about what you can't. I've spread myself too thin this year, and something had to give. So I'm doing a bit here and a bit there when I can and enjoying the small harvest am I able to pick. The Lottie looks like a disaster, and I still haven't dug the stones out of the soil where my new lawn will go. Next year'll be different for me and things will change for you too. Hang in there dude, it'll be okay .