New Allotment

[veggiechicken]

Found some rather strange looking creatures lurking on one of the plots - reminded me of VC.

You cheeky thing!! On my birfday too
My money's on Swedes

[Sheneval]

My sincere apologies although I posted it before your birthday? or did I?

You are 100% correct as usual - nice to see the youngsters being put in their place

[Sheneval]

Lovely few hours in the sun at the allotment today - Jim picked me up in Troon as daughter had car and we arrived at the gate to find a load of fence wood had been left for me. After an hour or so it had all been separated from the posts and all the nails removed - half is ready for use to line the paths and make raised beds; half needs rotted sections to be cut out. Will go back up to collect the bits to be cut so that I can have them ready for tomorrow.

Saw 2 buzzards today - one flew directly overhead at tree height so could make out the markings on the underside of the wings - also had a robin visit as I was taking the nails out of the wood - itmust have thought there was a possibility of worms.

[Sheneval]

Cut out all the bad bits from the wood also cut 8 pieces to 1.2m as end for a raised bed and took it all back to the allotment where I tidied the edges of one bed in preparation for putting the edging in on Monday as tomorrow looks like being wet wet wet

[Sheneval]

Today started well Bright and sunny but started to rain about 1300 or so nevertheless I finished one side of the path edge and will do the other side of the bed tomorrow - still have to put in a little finishing triangle at the very end but will cut these together and put them in all at the same time

[Sheneval]

Managed to get to the allotment for just over 3 hours today and finish off the first bed's edging

Spent a fair portion of the time talking to and feeding a robin which seems to regard my plot as it's domain - another one arrived to share the goodies and was swiftly despatched by a flurry of wings.

[rary]

information please if you can Shen. have you any idea what is planted under the fleece in the field before the Prestwick roundabout. Passed it today and wondered what could be planted at this time of year?

Rary.

[Sheneval]

Hi rary - funny you should ask that question - just called my friend Jim and both of us were coming back from Dobbies the other day and were wondering the same thing.

One of my friends at the chess club was a farmer all his life till he retired - think he is up in Glasgow playing chess tonight but I'll phone him in the morning and let you know

[rary]

Thanks Shen,

I`ll keep my self busy I`m away to learn some poetry for a supper, that will keep my curiosity under control till tomorrow.

[Sheneval]

Rary - Robin who was a cattle farmer reckons that it will be brussels sprouts and on reflection I think that fits the bill - It is the only thing that would be covered at this time of year.

Jim texted me last night to suggest weeds and I texted back - 'if so, glad they're not on my plot'

Where are you located?

[Sheneval]

Another 2.5 hours on the allotment - collected another 7 loads of woodchip from the new pile and spread it on the paths round the edged bed created yesterday. Took the leafmould from the October 2012 bag up to the allotment and spread it over half+ of this bed - amazing how I shrinks when rotted down - could probably have done with another summer but still not too bad

No sign of robin today - a pity as I took up a jar of food which according to the label is suitable for his taste as I can't afford to give away any more of my precious worms to keep him happy

Also did some weeding and cleared some rubbish and stones down to the dump.

[rary]

Rary - Where are you located?

Thanks Shen, present location in the house

[Dorothy rouse]

Shen, your new bed looks super, (now that doesn't sound quite right ), my husband has now actually purchased some wood to make one for us, currently in garage, am going show him pic of yours to encourage, we have a number to do.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Looks fabulous, Shen - a proper job.

[Sheneval]

Hazel, Thanks - I'm very pleased - straight lines are not my speciality and as the ground was wet the pegs wanted to follow the lines of least resistance rather than the line of the rope between the bed ends and two of them had to be coaxed into line with a spade - however all's well that ends well

The latest lot of woodchip is definitely from deciduous trees and is much better quality than the previous lots - I'll post a pic of two of the different leaves - I'm sure someone will be able to identify them