What I Did Today Archive 2008

[Mrs Dobby]

I've been working today, but Mr D has been down to the plot and been rather busy!

He got there early, and was supposed to be diggin over the last bed on plot 2 (actually its plot 13, but its our 2nd plot, a half one), but something told him to hang fire a bit, so he was trying to sort out one of the paths when he saw one of our neighbouring plotholders (who has the plot next to ours, plot 1 - our 1st plot is actually plot 2, but we refer to it as plot 1 cos it was the first one we took on - clear as mud eh?) whose plot wasnt worked much last year and hasnt been touched at all this year come on.

Lee went over to say Hi, to be told he was giving his plot up, complete with greenhouse and shed (and 2 rolls of fleece and lots of netting and lots of black plastic), which although sad news for the guy himself, is great news for us, cos we've been on the waiting list for that plot for a while, and now we've got it!!

So we've now got 2 full size plots together, with a total of an 8'x6' and a 10'x8' greenhouse, and a nice big shed, plus the half plot (that we'll be giving up once we've moved the courgettes, squashes, sweetcorn and onions and harvested the spuds!

That now brings the total greenhouses to 3 - if we include the 8'x6' in the back yard! Looks like we're in for a good years growing!

So, Mr D made a good start on clearing the first 4 beds on our new plot, which has good structure (beds are edged and paths are barked up - tho a bit weed infested!), which we are hoping to get something planted in over the next few days!

Whoohoo! Lots of growing room!

[Snadger]

Used my rain barrel water to water everything under glass that needed watering. Used a bout half a barrel of rainwater!
Moved all of my potted early potatoes out of the greenhouse hoping we will have no more frost and to make a bit of space!
I may have to have a furtle soon as there are plenty of tops but not sure whether their is anything at the bottom.
Noticed my full row of Winston earlies are showing through the surface in the bed.
Plan for the weekend is to get my pond sorted!

[shirlthegirl43]

Congrats Dobbies!!!

Well, I have slowly been emptying the 'heather bed' as it was and it is now nearly done. Might actually get the fresh compost in there tomorrow and get the lettuce plants (bought at the Sunday market as mine got munched by slugs) in there. Also been battling the old bramble patch to extend my veggie patch at the rear of the garden. Got another 5 foot or so dug. Determined not to rake, level and plant in any of it until I get the lot dug this year. Made the mistake of raking and planting up some last year and gave up on the digging and clearing.

All the seedlings are hardened off and ready to go in the ground as soon as it is ready for them. As I got a huge box of goodies from some very kind grapes I now have to have a re-think on what will get planted out where.

Yesterday we got my 3 old ponies moved to a lovely field right where my dad has his office (where I help him with emails and filing) so now I will have less driving about to do to check them. This should, hopefully, leave me a little more time for the garden.

[Norm]

Today I filled about 200 x3" pots with compost to transplant the brassicas into and had a BBQ and a couple of beers. What more can you ask for

[myrtus]

Today I plnted some annuals in one of my lottie beds. I already had the fine tilth - my version of it anyway, and marked out wobbly bits with sand in a bottle. I chucked in Godetia, Cosmos (2 kinds) big Marigolds, little french Marigolds, Nigella and Cornflowers. In the middle of the bed I built a wigwam for Sweet Peas which are coming on at home and nearly ready to plant out at the weekend.

Then I pulled up all the Purple Sprouting Broccoli that the pigeons had left me (OK for a stir fry), raked over and went off to my cousin's lottie to pick up some bags of cow poo to trench in for French Beans. (Should Beans follow Brassicas? Never mind, they are going to). Then I went home exhausted.

A Tired Myrtus

[Two_Sheds]

• dug out my leeks to make way for French beans
• turned out my Dalek, had a huge heap of perfect compost, teaming with tiger worms
• captured a cupful of worms to put in new compost bin
• used the compost to fill French bean trenches
• planted out my first 2 Blue Lakes, which were sown back in early March when it was still snowing
• squished green fly off my Roses, and picked off Black Spotty leaves (binned, not composted)
• praised my broad beans for producing so many pods - they'll be ready to pick next weekend
• tidied the shed
• cursed the folding wheelbarrow. Collapsing wheelbarrow would be a more accurate term for it

[heebiejeebie]

Put the old garden table into the allotment (next to the plastic planthouse) so there is somewhere to put plants that are ready for "proper" outdoors. It is full now so there is space in the PP for more sowing.

[Snadger]

Got my hole dug last night!

The hole to take my bath that is and henceforth my wildlife pond! Kept the topsoil seperate to make some potting compost and managed to get the bath in situ. The bath is white so covered it with black weed suppessant membrane and tucked in the edges.
Got a few strange looks as I was digging the grave sized hole!

I might see if I can tidy up the surrounds and make it look 'not like a bath' this weekend. I did contour the inside with clay I took from the hole and have a gentle slope out of one end leading to a plateau mid way then sloped down to the bottom. Hopefully any small creature that falls in by mistake will be able to make its way out.

Took the details of a couple of prospective new plot holders to put on the waiting list. They may be out of luck though as I think we already have three names and only two plots available!

First allotment association committee meeting at 2 pm today so my secretarial skills will be scrutinised!

[heebiejeebie]

Went down the lottie "just for a look, honest" and...

... rehydrated the coir brick "growing medium" that has been taking up space since I decided I didn't really need it for a raised bed last year.
... sowed seeds: mixed spicy salad leaves, basil, rocket, swede, caulis - sunset and grafitti (all gone now - didn't get many in the packets!), PSB, florence fennel, kohlrabi (in a big plastic box) and parsnips (in the coir in an even bigger plastic box).
... planted out 3 courgettes - zuboda, black beauty and one ball
... dug out the JAs that are coming up in the wrong place
... dug out a few volunteer potato plants that were growing from bits of peeling in the compost
... lifted the fleece over both lots of beans & peas, weeded and watered, replaced fleece
... potted on 4 aubergine seedlings and several moneymaker tomato seedlings.
... got the hippobag out and filled it with the junk that can't go on the bonfire in the autumn. Collection booked.

[JO,JO]

removed netting from emerged seedlings and replaced with cloches,refilled beer traps.sown some marigolds,replaced week pea plants with strong ones,also planted out some more french bean.repotted on chilli plant and tomatoes.sown chives and thyme in own pots.and sown some mizuna in herb trough,got garden furniture out of shed.

[Newbie]

Potted on 3 Red Robin Tomato plants, 2 Hot Mexican Chilli plants, a handful of basil seedlings and about a billion Ikarus Sunflower seedlings (not sure where i'm going to put them all when they're big!). Edged my 2 veg beds and my Rhubard patch which was beginning to look a bit swamped with grass - i really must get round to creating the raised edging on them. Ooh, also sowed my Purple & White Sprouting broccolli seeds (aquired through seed swap thread - thank you both!) and some Canton Dwarf Pak Choi.

[dexterdoglancashire]

I've spent 8 hours weeding the front and back gardens! Unfortunately, the back garden was a weed wilderness - nothing like the photo above with Dexter! I've let it go to ruin over the last 18 mtns since I got my lottie!
Everything aches - I ache in places I didn't know existed!
I've also just spent 2 hours in the greenhouse, topping up all the seed potatoes in buckets I've planted, and tying up my beans! Time for a rest..................lottie tomorrow methinks! Bernie aka DDL

[Snadger]

Quite a constructive day at the allotment today! Took some sand and the 'works' wheelbarrow in the landie and started making my own brand of John Innes compost.
Before this I had to light my woodburner on a glorious sunny day, just to heat a poker so I could pierce holes in the bottom of my buckets.

Seven shovels of topsoil to two shovels of sand and three sovels of coir based compost. To this I added one shovel full of well rotted screened horse muck and topped it off with a handfull of bonemeal before mixing it all up in the wheel barrow. Did two loads and had enough for ten plants in flower buckets! More to do tomorrow!

Went to an allotment comittee meeting on Jimmy's plot (with half the committee sitting on the edge of the leek trench!)which I had called to iron out a few points. A very constructive meeting ensued and I've just finished writing up the minutes whilst they are fresh in my mind.

Back to the plot after that and I managed to get a good bit of my arbour that I am constructing over the central pathway cut, assembled and erected.
Looks rather good, even if I do say so myself!

The view through the arbour is to my herb wheel with my potted apple tree in full bloom. I must take my camera tommorow and get a piccie as it looks rather impressive with the apple blossom framed by the arbour.

Noticed the tatties are coming through fast and furious now so as long as we have no more frosts everything should be hunky dory!

Still loads to do including a lot of sowing and planting out!

[allotmentlady]

Lots done

Well not been online due to falling asleep! I have been a busy bee this week. Planted out courgettes, blue gourds, butternut squash, runner beans, french beans, onion sets.....strawberries, INSIDE, rest of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and gherkins, also potted up pumpkins, cabbages, tomatoes, cobra runner beans...

First earlies are through and the plot is looking great. I am really pleased up to press........garlic, overwintering onions, broad beans are looking fantastic, oh and the shallots........going to take some pics later......my asaparagus is re shooting after being moved off my old allotment last year.

Last night spent 2 hours digging out lemon balm and weeds, so I can create a patio area for summer. I was knackered after finishing and even went to bed halfway through boxing!

Tonight, all being well with the weather I shall continue with the patio area after watering!

Now I am going to play some online games.........and chill........

[Kimbo]

Well thunderstorm stopped play but I did empty a raised bed (killed loads of ants) re potted 3 aubergines into bigger pots in the greenhouse. Planted into rigid container some caulis/cabbage/brussels (not sure which is which as labels fell off). Cut hedge on one side of footpath and got the chainsaw to the other side, got half way done and the heavens opened.

I hope to get some herbs started in the greenhouse later, as well as some french/runner beans and sow some beetroot if the rain stops long enough