Saturday 29 February 2020

Reminiscing

Well we are all so fed up with the weather right now so when I found these pictures from last summer I thought it would be great to post them....just a reminder of what is soon to come for us all!!

Fruit trees...yum yum!

Busy buzzy beehives!

More fruit trees.... enjoying the sunshine!

My first ripe saskatoon!!


I was so close to digging this up...

but was so glad I gave it a chance when
I noticed this leaf growing!!


A lovely shot of the plot from the beehives.
I think my broken bench gives it some character!!

As is the way every summer I
had to find the greengage tree....


Oh look....there you are!

Thursday 27 February 2020

A Tidy up of the Greenhouse

So after sorting out my seeds I realised that I really needed to get down and sort out my dead jungle of a greenhouse.

I didn't manage to get the tomato plants sorted from last year....or the other stuff I'd had growing in there and to be honest it ended up a bit of a dumping ground over the summer. I also had some broken post and stuff so I used some more of my week off to get things sorted.

I didn't take Polly with me this time....after all I was lugging stuff in and out and clattering about so there really wasn't room for her and that.

It took me a couple of hours to go through everything but I have to say I was pleased with how everything was looking when I left.

Stacked seed trays ready for planting.

Clear benches ready for growing.

Somewhere clean to relax...a hat should
we get a decent summer and clean cloths
to wipe my hands on!!
So everything is ready for me to get going. I haven't sown any seeds yet...I know many have but I don't like to start things off at home as it's a lot of work carrying stuff down to the allotment and when I have started to early in the past then things have died with late frosts so now I am just patient. Things work different for different people in different ares but I have found that this is what works for me so I'm happy to stick with it.
The wind still keeps picking up to 40+ mph outside and the heavy rains still keep coming and flooding but fingers crossed it wont be for too much longer....as the days get longer I really start to go a little stir crazy when I cant get outside!!


Tuesday 25 February 2020

Seeds for 2020

So I had a week off last week and although it was a very busy week I did manage to get down the allotment for a few hours.

I didn't do anything on the actual ploy....very windy and very wet...but thats okay as my first visit was purely to sort out what seeds I had so I would know what I needed to order for this year.

My seeds are kept in my greenhouse in some wonderful seed storage containers I got for gifts a few years ago.

These seed tins are great...protect the seeds from frost,
light and little critters. I need two to be able to store
everything!! I love the fact that I can put the seeds
in to separate compartments!!

Polly came with me to the plot
as I didn't want to leave her home.
She was very happy sat in the
chair watching the birds!!

Just a quick pic outside the greenhouse..thought
it would be good to show you the location
in which I will put the polytunnel!

I have quite a few 'multi-pack' seeds.

These all came from the pound shop..great value
for money!!

They often give me the chance to grow something
 I usually wouldn't and I have  always had good
germination rate from them...great if you are
on a tighter budget or just want a little more
variety.

There are also a few flower seeds, I don't put
flowers in the allotment very much but do
like a good selection for at home!

I took pictures of the multi packs as it was so much easier than writing them all down but also in my trusty gardening book I have a list of all the other things I have for planting this year (I would show you a picture but things are scrawled in it very badly so I doubt you'd manage to decipher it!!). I am very well equipped this year and only need peas and runner beans....this is great as it means I can get a few more unusual bits which I like to do each year...this year even more so as with the poly tunnel I will be able to grow stuff which needs a little more warmth!!

So the newbies for this year are going to be; Crystal Apple (squash), Honey Bear (squash), Lady Di (runner bean), Jewel (aubergine) and soya bean.

Have you got any new things you are planting this year??

Sunday 9 February 2020

Storm Ciara comes to visit

Let me start by saying...I HATE THE WIND!! We all have those things that bother us and the wind is mine....It's an irrational fear...I know that but not one I can control unfortunately.

It's the possible destruction that comes with it that bothers me I think...I spend my time listening to it howl around thinking 'This, that and the other' could happen...silly really...its not going until it decides it's had enough but that doesn't stop the way I feel....I think I should live in a bubble where the wind cant penetrate and I can feel safe and secure....a fantasy I know....but hey ho.

I suppose it could be so much worse...living in the midlands when storms finally reach us they have lessened in strength greatly....for that I am grateful!!

I didn't always used to be this way....I think it started after I spent half an hours one year about 15 years ago when I had to spend half an hour hanging onto the carport roof....one of the end struts had rotted through at the bottom and it kept lifting...thinking about it logically I think nothing was really going to happen and me hanging from it probably didn't stop anything...but it was attached to electric cables so there I was....hanging waiting for the winds to ease....which of course they did....and the carport is still there now...all these years later....steadfastly attached to the ground.

Next doors fence (dividing out two gardens)
making a bid for freedom!

So right now...I'm sat at home...trying to ignore the howls outside...knowing that the winds will ease....my solar panels won't rip my roof off and my conservatory wont end up in Oz....at least I don't think that will happen....but irrationality does unfortunately not play nice with common sense!!

A little bit of temporary stability...
it has two chances of working??

The radio has told of trees down and fence panels going....fence panels both sides of me are an issue.....one side has gone completely....the other side the neighbour and I have tried to give some support too but when I last looked the middle stay had sheared through so I'm not confident it's going to hold.

Next door the other side haven't been
quite so lucky...this isn't the fence that
connects our gardens but the next one
over...eek!!

Oh well....I'm sure I'll still be here tomorrow....and you ...I live in the UK so I don't really have too much to grumble about when I listen about much of what is happening with the weather around the world.

Oh....I forgot in my temporary insanity....this is an allotment blog....took a stroll by the allotment this morning whilst battling the winds with the dog and everything there looks fine....Beehives


were still standing....shed still standing....greenhouse intact. I never leave stuff lying around so providing everyone else has got everything weighed down and shut down well things there should be good....but as the winds aren't supposed to ease until this evening I suppose tomorrow will be the best time to check it over again....for now I have done one I can done and I now sit the storm out and hope.

Stay safe everyone.