What I did today 2012-2014

[out in the cold]

Helped set up an Allotment Association.

Got elected to the committee

[Feral007]

Spent some time this evening doing a Blue Peter type trick of turning toilet roll tubes into square pots, with bottoms and sowed some Sweetpeas into them. 16 toilet roll "pots" fit one half size seed tray perfectly.
Lots more tubes to fold - that's this evening's entertainment sorted!
............ Wonder how many times I went to the toilet to generate such a stack of toilet roll tubes

I was having a little think in the little house the other day. Normally I buy one sort of toilet paper. But the kids shopped for it last time and bought another sort. As I put the new tubes in the bin, I thought that I hadn't ever taken a lot of notice of the texture and pliability of the inner tube.
People are so fussy about the paper - it's the tube that's important people!

[veggiechicken]

People are so fussy about the paper - it's the tube that's important people!

So true - you can't recycle the paper

[Currysniffa]

So today I've started my season off by sowing my chillies (Jalapeño & Fresno ), sweet peppers ( Jimmy Nardello's & Sweet Banana), Japanese Pepper (don't no the name as they were sent to me form Germany). Also sowed my leeks ( Carlton F1) I'm looking forward to getting the tomatoes and brassicas on there way soon.

[Noosner]

Finally got myself onto the waiting list for an allotment. I'm told it is likely to be 2-3 years before I get one though

That might seem a long time, Penellype, but it doesn't sound too bad for a waiting list. Ours over in Ilkley is 8 years. My allotment isn't really my allotment, but my Dad's (he finally got one aged 86) and can't be passed on to me until my name gets to the top of the list. I've told him he's got to go on living till he's at least 94 (he's 90 now). He said he's going to try

[Penellype]

That might seem a long time, Penellype, but it doesn't sound too bad for a waiting list. Ours over in Ilkley is 8 years. My allotment isn't really my allotment, but my Dad's (he finally got one aged 86) and can't be passed on to me until my name gets to the top of the list. I've told him he's got to go on living till he's at least 94 (he's 90 now). He said he's going to try

8 years sounds horrific. I was rather surprised that they estimated only 2-3 years. The waiting list is 17 and there are 20 allotments.

Today I spent 5 hours putting together my new cold frame. I just hope it survives the gales that are being forecast for Friday and next week.

[Currysniffa]

I've started some garlic off in module's today. 48 in total. I've already got some in the ground down the lottie that I planted back in the autumn. All ready used last years up so growing more this year!

[Hayley]

Promised myself I'd do some housework this morning and do some pottering about outside this afternoon but after a few hours of housework it started raining and hasn't stopped since. I did manage to pot up another blackburrant & raspberry bush I picked up from the pound shop yesterday. I've learnt to only purchase ones with visable green living shoots after purchasing loads of dead ones last year. I probably have enough fruit bushes now.

[hellybore]

Picked up my new allotment key today. The powers that be have decided that too many keys are floating about in the community, and there have been a lot of thefts, so they have given us a nice shiny new padlock.
Took another lot of kitchen scraps and seaweed down to the plot. Dug up some j artichokes and oca and picked some chard. Weighted plastic sheets down with bricks again - naughty badgers keep poking about underneath and making a mess of my neat work.

[Penellype]

Managed to sneak out before the rain and prune the autumn fruiting raspberries. Also cut down some perennials.

[Feral007]

Checking water levels today, and maybe watering a few precious plants before I go to work for a few days.
The nut trees are transplanted into bigger pots with water crystals and they seem happy enough atm.

[marcofez]

Went today before the rain. Then it started tipping down!!
Still a few Brussels, Kale, PSB, Chard and salad left on the plot. Also autumn planted onions.
The Globe artichokes are growing well with this mild weather, but frost is forecast
Cheered myself up today by going up to the garden centre and buying 6 bags of multicompost and my selection of spuds.
Lady Christl
Kestrel
Picasso
Charlotte
Pink Fir Apple

[AllInContainers]

Planted 12 Chinese Artichokes which had already sprouted and had roots developing. I did have 20 of them, but instructions said 15" apart, which means I could fit 3 in each of 3 troughs(though I am taking a chance at smaller spacing) and another 3 in separate pots. I think that's a sensible place to stop, based on how much else I need to get out there this year.

I also repotted my Feverfew as it was getting a little tight for space, ripped out my geraniums so I could reuse the trough planter, and sorted out all my polystyrene bits and crocks so I can reuse them as pot drainage again this year. I also managed to get my medlar tree in a bigger pot - still got heaps more trees and bushes to sort yet. It was nice to ge able to get out there and do something productive, even if my fingers and toes are chilled to the bone.

In an hour or so I'll be going shopping with my neighbour for potting compost, rooting compond, window prop's, and slow release feed. Then at least I'll be in a position to do a bit more work tomorrow - weather permitting. Need to try and get a bit of blood back flowing my extremities again first though.

[Martin H]

I went down the allotment, it was that wet and muddy I almost came straight back again. But I got the spade and fork out and gave it a go, actually it wasn't that bad and I got some digging done - bringing another bed back into cultivation ready for the spring. Took some pics then bought some compost and re-sowed some alpine strawberries.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Well my plans for today got "Scuppered" but in a nice way!

Ended with me giving my "Gardening Buddy" a lift, erecting his little greenhouse!

Was actually nice to get outside n do something productive! But bloody cold!











Just remember "Matey" mine wants sorting this summer!

Complete with lighting n a power source for his "Proppie's" a job well done I is thinking!