Much rain over the last few weeks. Only once have I been able to do anything useful, partially weeding the raspberry bed. The soil is too wet for any digging and turning over, so I'll have to hope we get a dry spell so I can finish off the beds and trim the paths (which are far too wide at the moment, and thus wasting valuable space).
The Kale and cabbages are doing quite nicely. The broad beans are coming on, the difference between those under the cloches (pic is from a week ago) and those without is notable. Those covered are close to twice the size of those exposed. Whether this bears any long term benefits remains to be seen. Even the uncovered plants are doing well, it has been wet and windy but also very mild. Several local cherry trees have come into blossom several months early.
Saw a lesser spotted woodpecker, very nice, a first for me.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Monday, 9 November 2009
Couch bed
Had a couple of hours fun, clearing the couch grass from the fruit area. It was nastily entangled in the gooseberry and redcurrant bushes. One gooseberry bush I had to dig out, as it was being strangled quite badly. I managed to get the couch roots out (hopefully) without damaging the bush's roots. I forked some blood, fish and bone into the hole and replanted it. Part of the bush was in fact a small, and separate, bush, so I planted this further forward.
I now have 4 gooseberry bushes, 2 medium and 2 small sized, a redcurrant and a blackcurrant. 3 plum trees, an apple tree and a smallish patch of strawberries. Next task is to weed the border of the fruit area and the raspberry canes. This may be difficult as raspberry are shallow rooted. I want to put more canes in the gaps also this month if they are going cheap anywhere.
There was about four horseradish roots in amongst the fruit, I hope I got them all up as they spread aggressively. Shame we're not planning to have beef any-time soon. Could have some with mackerel I suppose.
On the way home I glanced downstream, when crossing the bridge over the River Pool. I glimpsed a flash of electric blue and almost fell off my bike after braking sharply: the Kingfisher, after a lengthy absence. It's good to see him, I wonder if it's the same one? As if to further enhance this welcome sight, a host of other, more common admittedly, birds appeared as he sat on a small branch overhanging the river. A wren skulked in the undergrowth at the waters edge, a robin perched on a stone in the river. Then a grey wagtail bobbed about the rivers edge, hovering almost kestrel like, for a while above the flow. On the banks, house sparrows and blue and great tits were chattering as they searched for food, briefly joined by a goldfinch. High up in the tallest tree, the ever present crows, swaying in the breeze. This all took place in the space of about twenty seconds. Magical.
I now have 4 gooseberry bushes, 2 medium and 2 small sized, a redcurrant and a blackcurrant. 3 plum trees, an apple tree and a smallish patch of strawberries. Next task is to weed the border of the fruit area and the raspberry canes. This may be difficult as raspberry are shallow rooted. I want to put more canes in the gaps also this month if they are going cheap anywhere.
There was about four horseradish roots in amongst the fruit, I hope I got them all up as they spread aggressively. Shame we're not planning to have beef any-time soon. Could have some with mackerel I suppose.
On the way home I glanced downstream, when crossing the bridge over the River Pool. I glimpsed a flash of electric blue and almost fell off my bike after braking sharply: the Kingfisher, after a lengthy absence. It's good to see him, I wonder if it's the same one? As if to further enhance this welcome sight, a host of other, more common admittedly, birds appeared as he sat on a small branch overhanging the river. A wren skulked in the undergrowth at the waters edge, a robin perched on a stone in the river. Then a grey wagtail bobbed about the rivers edge, hovering almost kestrel like, for a while above the flow. On the banks, house sparrows and blue and great tits were chattering as they searched for food, briefly joined by a goldfinch. High up in the tallest tree, the ever present crows, swaying in the breeze. This all took place in the space of about twenty seconds. Magical.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
New shoots
The broad beans are showing shoots. I am pleasantly surprised at how quickly they have shown, as it has not been all that warm, except for the odd day. I will cloche these when they are all showing.
The Kale and some cabbages are looking quite good. I did a little digging and cleared the fruit patch again and some general tidying. Removed yellowing leaves from the brassicas and plastic which had blown onto my plot.
It is so quiet on the site on autumn weekdays. None of the summer tumult from the surrounding gardens and houses. The only thing to break the silence was a greenfinch calling from atop a bush. The milky sunshine and smell of bonfires in the air is most agreeable.
The Kale and some cabbages are looking quite good. I did a little digging and cleared the fruit patch again and some general tidying. Removed yellowing leaves from the brassicas and plastic which had blown onto my plot.
It is so quiet on the site on autumn weekdays. None of the summer tumult from the surrounding gardens and houses. The only thing to break the silence was a greenfinch calling from atop a bush. The milky sunshine and smell of bonfires in the air is most agreeable.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Autumn beans
Lovely autumn day, warm in the sun.
Put in three rows (60 seeds) of Aquadulce Claudi broad beans today in the bed where the potatoes were. Dug the bed over again, the soil is good and easy to work. Hope they overwinter OK and beat the black fly. I will do another 3 rows in the spring of a different variety and compare.
Also weeded and cleaned up the brassica bed, removed the yellow leaves from the plants and weeded, gently, around. There are some Brussel sprout plants, don't know if they'll get decent sprouts on but we'll see.
Bit more general tidying and weeding/digging.
Must get some garlic in soon.
I want a shed.
Put in three rows (60 seeds) of Aquadulce Claudi broad beans today in the bed where the potatoes were. Dug the bed over again, the soil is good and easy to work. Hope they overwinter OK and beat the black fly. I will do another 3 rows in the spring of a different variety and compare.
Also weeded and cleaned up the brassica bed, removed the yellow leaves from the plants and weeded, gently, around. There are some Brussel sprout plants, don't know if they'll get decent sprouts on but we'll see.
Bit more general tidying and weeding/digging.
Must get some garlic in soon.
I want a shed.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
My-land clearance
Started the autumn dig today. On the way to the plot saw the Kestrel, He was sitting on a lampost for awhile then suddenly a corvid vigilante group arrived, comprised of crows and magpies, and these birds spent a few minutes chasing the Kestrel around until he'd had enough and flew off.
The potato bed was easy to dig, nice friable soil and the weed roots pulled out quite easily. Lots of them though, mainly couch grass and some mares-tail.
The onion bed wasn't so easy, it was quite hard to dig. Loads of weeds, two full barrows and a couple of trugs came out and a barrow full of couch roots left to wither on the path.
Looks better now. Enjoyed the dig in light drizzle, don't know why I prefer this to hot summer days.
Witloof has done quite well. I will do several rows next year, should the forcing go well.
Pulled another 5lbs or so of onions out when digging, nice and firm, though a bit damp due to the drizzle.
The potato bed was easy to dig, nice friable soil and the weed roots pulled out quite easily. Lots of them though, mainly couch grass and some mares-tail.
The onion bed wasn't so easy, it was quite hard to dig. Loads of weeds, two full barrows and a couple of trugs came out and a barrow full of couch roots left to wither on the path.
Looks better now. Enjoyed the dig in light drizzle, don't know why I prefer this to hot summer days.
Witloof has done quite well. I will do several rows next year, should the forcing go well.
Pulled another 5lbs or so of onions out when digging, nice and firm, though a bit damp due to the drizzle.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Chutney
As I had been blessed with the special gherkins, and received some apples from a friend's garden, I decided to make chutney.
Recipe
850g of special gherkin
800g tomatoes
1kg apples
500g onions
400g sultanas, raisins, few prunes, bit of dried lemon and the odd currant
600ml white wine vinagar, plus 200ml water
400g sugar (mix of white and muscovado)
I'll see how it tastes in a couple of months, may have to adjust next year!
As it was adapted from the Glutney recipe from HFW's River Cottage Year, I'm sure it'll work but I'm bound to have adjusted it in entirely the wrong direction.
Recipe
850g of special gherkin
800g tomatoes
1kg apples
500g onions
400g sultanas, raisins, few prunes, bit of dried lemon and the odd currant
600ml white wine vinagar, plus 200ml water
400g sugar (mix of white and muscovado)
I'll see how it tastes in a couple of months, may have to adjust next year!
As it was adapted from the Glutney recipe from HFW's River Cottage Year, I'm sure it'll work but I'm bound to have adjusted it in entirely the wrong direction.
Lord preserve us
It being the autumn (this was several weeks ago in mid-September), though I'd dothe annual jelly preservation and some sloe booze.
Sloes abundant this year after next to nothing last year, so I collected a carrier bag full. Half filled 1.5 l parfait jars with Sloes and 8oz sugar and added a litre of gin in one jar and vodka in the other. This, after allowing the sloes and sugar to mascerate for a few days. This drew the purplish juices out more quickly, aided by several shakes of the jar per day.
Last weekend I made another batch of Sloe gin using the same process but this time with a standard 70cl bottles worth o'booze.
After leaving it to mix for a few months, plant to strain and bottle just before Christmas. Have a sloe drunk on most and keep a bottle over (ha!) 'til next year and thus start a process of having fine aged Sloe booze. We'll see.
Collect loads of Rosehips and made Rosehipand apple jelly again. Got a much firmer set this after really boiling hard. Made 7 x 1/2 lb jars. Also made Rosehip syrup, it is supposed good for colds (stopping).
I've always like Haws and the Hawthorn tree in general:
The wintry haw is burning out of season, crab of the thorn, a small light for small people
(Seamus Heaney)
Made some Haw Jelly, though it'd be good to have with pigeon or pheasant, it feels right, especially for pigeon. I only did a bit as it's an experiment. Got about a jar and half. Lovely deep translucent red. Should brighten up the wintry plate out of season.
The wintry haw is burning out of season, crab of the thorn, a small light for small people
(Seamus Heaney)
Made some Haw Jelly, though it'd be good to have with pigeon or pheasant, it feels right, especially for pigeon. I only did a bit as it's an experiment. Got about a jar and half. Lovely deep translucent red. Should brighten up the wintry plate out of season.
Beans
The french-beans would have yielded haricots for drying. They appeared to have dried but as they wre on dwarf plants and left too close to the ground they were damp and soft and thus had started to rot rather than dry. If they'd been (oh!) 'normal' size they'd probably have dried.
Runner beans had cropped heavily despite the set back the black-fly caused. A few were still green but the beans had swollen and the pods were tough and leathery. These were harvested and shelled and then used in a rabbit stew and were really nice.It's a shame the beans lose the beatiful purple and black patterning, although brown is a fine and noble colour for autumnal stews.
The majority of beans had dried on the plants and so I'll try and dry them off for storage and later use in casseroles. There will also be enough for next year's seed.
Yield: not bad, consider they would have fruited much more had they been picked. Cheap Lidl pack for £1, better than previous years £2.50 garden centre one.
Runner beans had cropped heavily despite the set back the black-fly caused. A few were still green but the beans had swollen and the pods were tough and leathery. These were harvested and shelled and then used in a rabbit stew and were really nice.It's a shame the beans lose the beatiful purple and black patterning, although brown is a fine and noble colour for autumnal stews.
The majority of beans had dried on the plants and so I'll try and dry them off for storage and later use in casseroles. There will also be enough for next year's seed.
Yield: not bad, consider they would have fruited much more had they been picked. Cheap Lidl pack for £1, better than previous years £2.50 garden centre one.
Kale
A welcome success and one I'll be growing loads of. It's delicious, it looks great and is incredible hardy. Odd leaf has been nibbled or a bit discoloured but quite good on the whole. The cabbages have been savaged.
Cucubits
Cucubits
No squash, slugged.
Cornichons: my plan for home pickled cornichons for eating with pâtés et terrines du maison, all came to nowt. Didn't pick them and as a result I was left with these strange things:
Two of the three giant 25 cm gherkins. These two have gone into the chutney, the third I'm keeping as a pet.
Onion
Onions & Shallots & Garlic
Conventional wisdom says shallots come out in early July and onions a month later. However bourgeois garden lore needs breaking....
Some onions had gone thick-necked as they'd gone to seed, and a fair number had rotted or had some slug damage. Luckily the dryish September meant a number had developed a good papery skin and survived.
Red onions had suffered the most and I only really got a small amount, though the sets were only about 40p in the sale at poundstretcher. The shallots did OK, plenty of bulbs though quite small and surprisingly few had softened considering how long past harvest they'd been left.
The white onions were OK and though a number had split skins and will needed using soon, the other should keep and last us a fair few weeks. Garlic, rotted. I'll over-winter it this time.
The onions to be kept, rather than for immediate use.
Overall yield: 45 medium white onions (inc few small-medium), 28 red onions(mix of small to medium) and about 80 shallots (on the small size).
Harvest Boon
Any way after the post-mortem, I wanted to salvage what I could from the plot and I wasn't disappointed. Pretty good return considering, though I really I wished I collected the plums as they were abundant, I was told.
First (of course): Spuds. I love digging up potatoes more than any other vegetable. There's nothing like opening up the earth to reveal golden (or ruby) skinned balls of tattie deliciousness. It is is the closest thing to striking gold on the allotment. Strange really, considering most people would probably consider them to be the least interesting the crops that can be grown. But then I love crows. And I love spuds.
King Edwards: mighty disappointment, lots of potatoes but tiny, salad sized things and only afew large specimens. est, 7lbs
Desiree: Quite good, large and medium sized, good skins and will use last as they should keep. est, 12lbs.
Kestrel: good firm large sized and nice texture too when mashed. est, 12lbs
Maris Peer: big for new potato and with proper skins, god yield for so few plants (4), est, 10lbs
Not bed then, 10lb per row ish overall. Managed to spear a number when digging them and these got used to make mash that evening. Verdict, excellent.
First (of course): Spuds. I love digging up potatoes more than any other vegetable. There's nothing like opening up the earth to reveal golden (or ruby) skinned balls of tattie deliciousness. It is is the closest thing to striking gold on the allotment. Strange really, considering most people would probably consider them to be the least interesting the crops that can be grown. But then I love crows. And I love spuds.
King Edwards: mighty disappointment, lots of potatoes but tiny, salad sized things and only afew large specimens. est, 7lbs
Desiree: Quite good, large and medium sized, good skins and will use last as they should keep. est, 12lbs.
Kestrel: good firm large sized and nice texture too when mashed. est, 12lbs
Maris Peer: big for new potato and with proper skins, god yield for so few plants (4), est, 10lbs
Not bed then, 10lb per row ish overall. Managed to spear a number when digging them and these got used to make mash that evening. Verdict, excellent.
The absence
Oh dear. Unacceptably long absence, I last visited the plot in mid-July for a quick weed and water. Salads were doing nicely, brassicas too, the beans had taken a bit of a battering from black-fly, but I had faith in their resilience. However, like an absent parent in a tabloid newspaper, I was away, drunk, while they suffered and had to look after themselves. The result wasn't pretty.
- Lettuces uncut and gone to seed ( about 1.5m tall, rather interesting looking too).
- Beans all podded up and half dried and shrivelled (I had planned to leave some for sowing next year and using in stews, honestly).
- Cabbages- The Tuscan Black Kale has done really well and is barely touched by the Axis forces (wood pigeons and caterpillars); the primo and hispi though are a sorry sight. Half eaten; either gnawed away from the top or with leaves like doilies. Some others are ok-ish, not forming tight heads but with leaves still intact and healthy looking.
- Spuds, little top growth left but the patch is covered in weeds. A couple of plants had leaves left and had produced the dark blue berries potato plants produce when fruiting.
- Onions; some rotten, some nicely dried out and fine looking.
- Squash: slug ravaged and not edible, but a beautiful pale pink colour and a definite for next year. Cornichons are absent except for three strange giant orange/green interlopers. This must be what happens when they are allowed to go unpicked.
- Sweetcorn. All plants bar one had produced heads but I had missed the picking and they have shrivelled into miserable little runtish cobs.
- Plums: bin and gone, as with the apples.
- Dahlias: gorgeous deep red. I missed 30 or so heads but four remained although they had just passed their best, and as such, were not really worth cutting for home. However if I divide the tubers next spring I would hope to get plenty for cutting.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Monday, 22 June 2009
Has beans
Only popped down once or twice in the last few weeks, so on Friday last week I was confronted by weeds. Lots of weeds. Spent all day clearing the beds of the large ones and then did the spud, salad bed comprehensively. The salad has done really well, lettuces, witloof, land cress and herbs all doing nicely as are the spuds, though smaller than other years.
The beans. Oh dear. The broad beans, as expected, destroyed by black-fly. The runners are covered though appear to be still growing and the dwarf french beans are stunted. Sowed load more dwarf french and hope to rescue others and runners with a soft soap spray, bought a small pump/pressure sprayer for a couple of quid.
Onions look OK if a bit weed infested though the shallots are small, though there seems to be loads on each 'bunch'. Got a small bag of peas of the first sowing most of the second has been eaten but may get a starters worth, sowed loads more.
5 rows (short ones) of beetroot in as the cats had destroyed the beds with the roots in.
Plated out 3 x 10' rows of brassicas, 1.5 row of kale and 1.5 of 'cabbage'. Not too healthy looking (been at home for ages), we'll see. Couldn't net them properly as nets to small, so a flanking movement by the wood-pigeons followed by a full blown frontal assault of cabbage whites is likely...
Plums are swelling on two of the trees (one better than the other) though one is fruitless. The one which hosted the Spring 2009 Ant-Aphid solidarity conference.
Onwards.
The beans. Oh dear. The broad beans, as expected, destroyed by black-fly. The runners are covered though appear to be still growing and the dwarf french beans are stunted. Sowed load more dwarf french and hope to rescue others and runners with a soft soap spray, bought a small pump/pressure sprayer for a couple of quid.
Onions look OK if a bit weed infested though the shallots are small, though there seems to be loads on each 'bunch'. Got a small bag of peas of the first sowing most of the second has been eaten but may get a starters worth, sowed loads more.
5 rows (short ones) of beetroot in as the cats had destroyed the beds with the roots in.
Plated out 3 x 10' rows of brassicas, 1.5 row of kale and 1.5 of 'cabbage'. Not too healthy looking (been at home for ages), we'll see. Couldn't net them properly as nets to small, so a flanking movement by the wood-pigeons followed by a full blown frontal assault of cabbage whites is likely...
Plums are swelling on two of the trees (one better than the other) though one is fruitless. The one which hosted the Spring 2009 Ant-Aphid solidarity conference.
Onwards.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Bean
Earthed up the spuds a bit more, the last row (Maris Peer) are finally coming through, probably as they didn't have much of a spout on them. Weeded (badly) the onions, my spacing is coming back to haunt me, next year I'm using GPS.
The runners seem ok and the the first lot of broad bean that went are are about to flower, so I can expect loads of black fly shortly after. I bought some soft soap the spray if this happens.
I sowed some Dwarf French beans along the edge of the bean bed, the home pot planted ones are hardening off at the moment, I'll get them in middle next week. I've also been hardening off the squash and cornichons, so hard frost is bound to follow.
Sowed arow of small parsnips and bit more lettuce.
Rough dig of back right bed, now decided to put in squash, courgette and cornichon here, frame train the the cornichon and let the squash cover the ground and hopefully keep weeds down until the autumn, when I'll give it a proper clearing,
Put in some dahlias and red hot poker in the flower bed bit in the 'lawn'.
Lots of sparrows again, and one with very red legs, like small chough, only the wrong colour.
Little rain recently, so few slugs, but the beer traps are working (for now) around the lettuce.
The runners seem ok and the the first lot of broad bean that went are are about to flower, so I can expect loads of black fly shortly after. I bought some soft soap the spray if this happens.
I sowed some Dwarf French beans along the edge of the bean bed, the home pot planted ones are hardening off at the moment, I'll get them in middle next week. I've also been hardening off the squash and cornichons, so hard frost is bound to follow.
Sowed arow of small parsnips and bit more lettuce.
Rough dig of back right bed, now decided to put in squash, courgette and cornichon here, frame train the the cornichon and let the squash cover the ground and hopefully keep weeds down until the autumn, when I'll give it a proper clearing,
Put in some dahlias and red hot poker in the flower bed bit in the 'lawn'.
Lots of sparrows again, and one with very red legs, like small chough, only the wrong colour.
Little rain recently, so few slugs, but the beer traps are working (for now) around the lettuce.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Runner
Busy week, four visits totalling around 18 hours. Everything bar Bed 7 is dug over. This has been broken up, pending tomorrows forecast heavy rain (they keep saying this). It will then get a rough dig/weed and the sweetcorn will go in (another change to the plan.) Next to the beans I'll now put more lettuce.
The runner beans went in today on the A- frame, 11 plants. I also put in a thyme plant and mint plant in bed 1. The mint is in water-cooler container buried upside down (bottom cut off) to keep the roots in check. I also put the sage plant back here, but it looks a bit sad, not sure if it will surivive.
More salad sown, more little gem and red salad. Of the previous sowing the cos is fine, the red salad appeared then disappeared.
Started tidying the edges to the beds/paths up, takes ages , because of the couch grass roots. Bed 1 and 2 are done and it improves the way it looks significantly.
Spuds rows 1-3 earthed up, the maris peer are barely showing.
None of the sowings in bed 3 have appeared, nor has the Witloof, though it has been dry.
Another change to the plan is squah is now going in 6 and will be allowed to creep into the raspberry area (and keep the weeds down). Bed five will now have kale and cabbage. In the lawn are I dug over a bed for flowers, to be sown next week.
Lots of house sparrows and dunnocks on the site today, (as only one cat appeared.) On Friday I watched two kestrels acourting in the skies above and, in the plum tree, a lone long tailed tit watched me weeding for a while. Lovely.
The runner beans went in today on the A- frame, 11 plants. I also put in a thyme plant and mint plant in bed 1. The mint is in water-cooler container buried upside down (bottom cut off) to keep the roots in check. I also put the sage plant back here, but it looks a bit sad, not sure if it will surivive.
More salad sown, more little gem and red salad. Of the previous sowing the cos is fine, the red salad appeared then disappeared.
Started tidying the edges to the beds/paths up, takes ages , because of the couch grass roots. Bed 1 and 2 are done and it improves the way it looks significantly.
Spuds rows 1-3 earthed up, the maris peer are barely showing.
None of the sowings in bed 3 have appeared, nor has the Witloof, though it has been dry.
Another change to the plan is squah is now going in 6 and will be allowed to creep into the raspberry area (and keep the weeds down). Bed five will now have kale and cabbage. In the lawn are I dug over a bed for flowers, to be sown next week.
Lots of house sparrows and dunnocks on the site today, (as only one cat appeared.) On Friday I watched two kestrels acourting in the skies above and, in the plum tree, a lone long tailed tit watched me weeding for a while. Lovely.
Monday, 20 April 2009
Antecedant
Lovely day, about 19c. The first day I've felt hot, but then I was digging with a hangover. I got the bed for pumpkin and cornichon ready. Dug over again and weeded again. It will need another go in the autumn then I want to get some kind of green manure on it. The squash (an old French variety called Galeux d'Eysines, salmon pink skin and orange flesh and cornichon (Piccolo di Parigi) have been started already at home and will be planted out in about a week and a half after some hardening off.
I also dug over and took at weeds on the sweetcorn area, which is behind the 'A' frame where the runners will go. Both the sweetcorn (24, Tuxedo F1) and runner beans (12, Streamline) are also growing at home. I put in another 10 broad bean plants at various stages, so hopefully (assuming the black ants don't take starting their own aphid market garden on them like last time) I'll get succession crops through late-Spring and summer (must buy soft soap flakes).
I gave the onions et al a weeding, takes ages, I knew I should have spaced them geometrically, makes using the hoe easier.
Bed 4 has changed a bit (as has the whole plan, new one to follow). I gave it a good hoeing, raking etc and sowed the following:
4m row of Swiss chard
4m x 2 rows of baby carrot (Ideal)
2m row radish (Sparkler 3)
4m row beetroot (Boltardy)
Gave it a good dusting of pepper, hope this keeps the cats off, though I'm sure the fox will wreck it if they don't.
In Bed 1 between the spuds and where I have some lettuce and land cress growing (for now, cloches came off yesterday, slug salad bar I'm sure-must put the pub in) I sowed a 4m row of Witloof (Di Bruxelles), I also put another 4m row next to the red onions in bed 2, this will separate the onions from the leeks, should leeks ever get beyond the malnourished chive size, they currently are.
I also did another small patch of little gem and red salad bowl lettuce next to the others.
I noticed the middle plum tree's leaves were curled and withered, my suspicions proved correct on a closer look, aphids and black ants farming them. Next to stop the ants getting up and then spray with soap. The other two seem OK, though one had ants going up it, so I'm sure it will follow soon. Must sort it out this week.
The apple blossom is out and very lovely it is too.
At home sowed a 24 pot tray with Kale (Nero di Toscana) and another with 12 each of Hispi and Golden Acre-Primo cabbage. Must get the the brassic bed dug over this week, so it can settle before these sowings are ready to plant out.
It was the busieset I've ever seen the site this weekend, the crows were kaa-ing for hours, hopping from branch to branch in a plane tree as if the tree were hot. I think they were annoyed.
I also dug over and took at weeds on the sweetcorn area, which is behind the 'A' frame where the runners will go. Both the sweetcorn (24, Tuxedo F1) and runner beans (12, Streamline) are also growing at home. I put in another 10 broad bean plants at various stages, so hopefully (assuming the black ants don't take starting their own aphid market garden on them like last time) I'll get succession crops through late-Spring and summer (must buy soft soap flakes).
I gave the onions et al a weeding, takes ages, I knew I should have spaced them geometrically, makes using the hoe easier.
Bed 4 has changed a bit (as has the whole plan, new one to follow). I gave it a good hoeing, raking etc and sowed the following:
4m row of Swiss chard
4m x 2 rows of baby carrot (Ideal)
2m row radish (Sparkler 3)
4m row beetroot (Boltardy)
Gave it a good dusting of pepper, hope this keeps the cats off, though I'm sure the fox will wreck it if they don't.
In Bed 1 between the spuds and where I have some lettuce and land cress growing (for now, cloches came off yesterday, slug salad bar I'm sure-must put the pub in) I sowed a 4m row of Witloof (Di Bruxelles), I also put another 4m row next to the red onions in bed 2, this will separate the onions from the leeks, should leeks ever get beyond the malnourished chive size, they currently are.
I also did another small patch of little gem and red salad bowl lettuce next to the others.
I noticed the middle plum tree's leaves were curled and withered, my suspicions proved correct on a closer look, aphids and black ants farming them. Next to stop the ants getting up and then spray with soap. The other two seem OK, though one had ants going up it, so I'm sure it will follow soon. Must sort it out this week.
The apple blossom is out and very lovely it is too.
At home sowed a 24 pot tray with Kale (Nero di Toscana) and another with 12 each of Hispi and Golden Acre-Primo cabbage. Must get the the brassic bed dug over this week, so it can settle before these sowings are ready to plant out.
It was the busieset I've ever seen the site this weekend, the crows were kaa-ing for hours, hopping from branch to branch in a plane tree as if the tree were hot. I think they were annoyed.
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Spring clean
Tidying up the back of the plot was my main goal today, before the weeds go mad. So cleared away the 'shed' area and behind the compost bins. I made a new longer but lower bin and moved the un-composted stuff from bin one into this in layers with the newly cleared greenery.
In bin one there's just over half the bin left and although its' got a fair few bits of plant left in in it, once sieved (must make barrow-riddle) the compost looks very nice. Black crumbly and rich.
This whole thing took hours, also dug over the roots bed, that's ready for sowing after it's had another quick fork over and the sweetcorn area behind the beans is broken up and dug over. Hope the forecast rain will break the soil up and allow the roots to come out easier. Weeded the onion and garlic (a bit) and did some general tidying. It drizzled for about four hours and then got sunny as I planned to leave.
Saw two goldfinches today, I don't often see them. There a top ten Uk garden bird, but I see far rarer birds more often (kingfishers, goldcrests, eagles...)
In bin one there's just over half the bin left and although its' got a fair few bits of plant left in in it, once sieved (must make barrow-riddle) the compost looks very nice. Black crumbly and rich.
This whole thing took hours, also dug over the roots bed, that's ready for sowing after it's had another quick fork over and the sweetcorn area behind the beans is broken up and dug over. Hope the forecast rain will break the soil up and allow the roots to come out easier. Weeded the onion and garlic (a bit) and did some general tidying. It drizzled for about four hours and then got sunny as I planned to leave.
Saw two goldfinches today, I don't often see them. There a top ten Uk garden bird, but I see far rarer birds more often (kingfishers, goldcrests, eagles...)
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Bean digging
Lovely warm day 16-17c.
The rest of the legume bed is now dug and weeded. I'll put up the runner/french bean A frame next.
The herbs have all germinated and the marigolds are showing and will go in across the plot when ready as a pest deterrent. I must really clear the nettles at the back of the plot as a) they are great on the compost heap and b) they are already flowering and don't want any more seeds on the plot.
The onions are all starting the sprout well gave them a drink as it's been quite dry.
The fox has wrecked the newly erected mini poly-tunnel cloche on plot 1. His laziness is clearly a act in front of humans.
Only crows about today and one dunnock.
The rest of the legume bed is now dug and weeded. I'll put up the runner/french bean A frame next.
The herbs have all germinated and the marigolds are showing and will go in across the plot when ready as a pest deterrent. I must really clear the nettles at the back of the plot as a) they are great on the compost heap and b) they are already flowering and don't want any more seeds on the plot.
The onions are all starting the sprout well gave them a drink as it's been quite dry.
The fox has wrecked the newly erected mini poly-tunnel cloche on plot 1. His laziness is clearly a act in front of humans.
Only crows about today and one dunnock.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Under the cloche
Put the potatoes in today in today. It's one of my favourite jobs. 11 King Edward Tubers, 6 Desiree, 6 Rocket (2nd early) and 10 Maris Peer (2nd early). They've only taken up 2/3 of the bed so I've put some Cos (Little Gem) and Red Salad Bowl lettuce seed in direct in the remainder. Each type are under both a cloche (old water cooler bottle, top right) and also the sawed-off lid. The lid is just while they germinate, then I'll remove it. I'm going to compare those growing under cover and those exposed and see which is the more spectacular failure.
I also planted out 9 broad bean plants and about 14 pea plants. The latter in a henge of twigs. I am sure the wood pigeons will devour these, although I have low hopes that my Heath Robinson string concoction (top left pic) will deter them somewhat. A net would have been preferable but I neglected to take it with me.
A few of each of the alliums are starting to spout. I am sure it was quicker last time.
The ducks passed overhead (I'm convinced it's the same ones), this time there were three. Fox was about lounging on someone's compost bin. He then hobbled off. Looks pretty lame. I wish he'd eat the cats.
I also planted out 9 broad bean plants and about 14 pea plants. The latter in a henge of twigs. I am sure the wood pigeons will devour these, although I have low hopes that my Heath Robinson string concoction (top left pic) will deter them somewhat. A net would have been preferable but I neglected to take it with me.
A few of each of the alliums are starting to spout. I am sure it was quicker last time.
The ducks passed overhead (I'm convinced it's the same ones), this time there were three. Fox was about lounging on someone's compost bin. He then hobbled off. Looks pretty lame. I wish he'd eat the cats.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Making beds
Finally finished digging the potato bed [No. 1]. It's not the digging, the grounds not really so heavy when it's not sodden, it's the bleeding couch grass. I must have taken 12-15 trugs of roots out. I dug the dandelions and docks out in October and only found half a dozen this time but the grass.....
Anyway it's ready and the spuds look chitted enough so I'll put them in on Sunday. I was going to wait 'til Good Friday but seems pointless.
The onions are taking for ever to put up shoots about four have and one garlic is showing. Wonder why?
I also dug over about a metre wide strip of bed 3, so the first lot of broad-beans (12 plants: Bunyards?) started in pots can go in. Also have dozen Kelvedon Wonder pea plants to go in in some kind of wigwam affair. Canes? String? Twigs?
I've decided in the allium bed [No. 3] in the third of the bed currently vacant and awaiting my leeks (sown late, 24 March, Musselburgh) to put some red salad bowl lettuce under my 'new' cloches.
I've been pondering on whether to use some nematodes on the brassica and salad bed, bit pricey I think, but then so are no crops. Hmm.
There were quite a few crows on the site today. They usually just watch from adjacent roof tops when people are about, giving the occasional throaty caw caw (to voice disapproval of our intrusion onto the site). One kept on swooping past me about 1m to my back as I was digging. I think it must have been because I was turning up loads of earthworms today, more than usual. I wish they'd eat the cats.
Anyway it's ready and the spuds look chitted enough so I'll put them in on Sunday. I was going to wait 'til Good Friday but seems pointless.
The onions are taking for ever to put up shoots about four have and one garlic is showing. Wonder why?
I also dug over about a metre wide strip of bed 3, so the first lot of broad-beans (12 plants: Bunyards?) started in pots can go in. Also have dozen Kelvedon Wonder pea plants to go in in some kind of wigwam affair. Canes? String? Twigs?
I've decided in the allium bed [No. 3] in the third of the bed currently vacant and awaiting my leeks (sown late, 24 March, Musselburgh) to put some red salad bowl lettuce under my 'new' cloches.
I've been pondering on whether to use some nematodes on the brassica and salad bed, bit pricey I think, but then so are no crops. Hmm.
There were quite a few crows on the site today. They usually just watch from adjacent roof tops when people are about, giving the occasional throaty caw caw (to voice disapproval of our intrusion onto the site). One kept on swooping past me about 1m to my back as I was digging. I think it must have been because I was turning up loads of earthworms today, more than usual. I wish they'd eat the cats.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Primavera +1
Lovely sunny day today. Got the fruit area kind of sorted. Moved the largish gooseberry bush the middle of a path and the apple tree and put in the 2 extra GB and a redcurrant- these all came from the 99p shop- last October and have been sitting in the spare toilet all winter. No idea if they'll take, they had a bit of new growth. I put Blood, fish & bone into each of the holes and also gave a top dressing and lots of water.
In this area I've put the crappy weed fabric down and covered it in 270 litres of bark chippings. Need another layer I think to make sure. Kindly given 8 strawberry plants, so these went in. I moved the sage up to this area to. Looks quite good I think. It will be great if it works. Must think about a way of netting the bushes, though the cats keep most birds away, though I would rather have the birds than the cats. The pair of Mallards flew over again, I wonder if it's the same ones each time and where they're going.
I had the mower out and cut the paths on the bottom half, looks instantly better, like an allotment.
Also put three rows of red onion sets in (Red Kamal), tidied up and did a bit of digging so the peas can go in in a some kind of wigwam type shape. I've also gained about 15 of the large water-cooler bottles, so I can get some cloche experiments going. Carrots? Lettuce?
I saw a Song Thrush on the way home, the first I've sen in over 12 years of living in London. It was skulking about in the undergrowth by the river, I watched for five minutes until it flew away down-river It pleased me no end.
In this area I've put the crappy weed fabric down and covered it in 270 litres of bark chippings. Need another layer I think to make sure. Kindly given 8 strawberry plants, so these went in. I moved the sage up to this area to. Looks quite good I think. It will be great if it works. Must think about a way of netting the bushes, though the cats keep most birds away, though I would rather have the birds than the cats. The pair of Mallards flew over again, I wonder if it's the same ones each time and where they're going.
I had the mower out and cut the paths on the bottom half, looks instantly better, like an allotment.
Also put three rows of red onion sets in (Red Kamal), tidied up and did a bit of digging so the peas can go in in a some kind of wigwam type shape. I've also gained about 15 of the large water-cooler bottles, so I can get some cloche experiments going. Carrots? Lettuce?
I saw a Song Thrush on the way home, the first I've sen in over 12 years of living in London. It was skulking about in the undergrowth by the river, I watched for five minutes until it flew away down-river It pleased me no end.
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Duff Plum
Re-dug the area around the plum trees, more bramble roots (it is they, not cockroaches, that survive apocalypses) and Mr Reliable, couch grass.
This as of next week will have 4 x gooseberry bushes, 1 x recurrent, 1x Blackcurrant, an apple tree, in addition to the three plum/gage trees.
I have decided to put weed fabric down and cover this with barkchips. Then I'll cut through to plant the herbs and bushes.
The large plum was sawn down, was old, too old. I couldn't afford the fees for a home, so on the fire it goes.
This as of next week will have 4 x gooseberry bushes, 1 x recurrent, 1x Blackcurrant, an apple tree, in addition to the three plum/gage trees.
I have decided to put weed fabric down and cover this with barkchips. Then I'll cut through to plant the herbs and bushes.
The large plum was sawn down, was old, too old. I couldn't afford the fees for a home, so on the fire it goes.
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Rite of Spring
Saturday was spent digging out the brambles at the back of the plot and clearing the area around the plum trees. Some of the root-balls are huge with a dozen branches off them. This is now cleared but needs forking over. I plan to add some of the soil from the bottom of the compost heap. This will be where the the 2 gooseberry and redcurrant bushes will join the blackcurrant and existing gooseberry bush. I'll also move the apple tree to here. At the end of this fruit patch will be the raspberry canes. I'll probably put in herbs in among the bushes to make use of the space.
Today (Sunday) Spring is here...warm and sunny with the exquisite aroma of barbecue fluid on the breeze.
After another digging, hoeing and raking the onions (Stuggart, 3 rows) and shallots (Golden gourmet 2 rows) went in and join the double row of Garlic. I realised after that this was supposed to be the bed for peas and beans, I'll just switch them.
Broad beans have germinate and started to show.
The heron flew over on his way to Homebase. He hangs out at the big pond at the front.
Today (Sunday) Spring is here...warm and sunny with the exquisite aroma of barbecue fluid on the breeze.
After another digging, hoeing and raking the onions (Stuggart, 3 rows) and shallots (Golden gourmet 2 rows) went in and join the double row of Garlic. I realised after that this was supposed to be the bed for peas and beans, I'll just switch them.
Broad beans have germinate and started to show.
The heron flew over on his way to Homebase. He hangs out at the big pond at the front.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Planting something (too late)
Garlic in , two rows. Way too late by conventional standards. I read somewhere (?) it can go in now, though there is risk it will not form proper cloves, rather produce large bulbs, like onions, as it needs frost (or at least cold) to make it split. Nothing lost, it would have rotted anyway so in it goes. May get frost, may not. Big garlic onions might be good...
I was going to prepare the bed and plant the onion and garlic sets, way too wet, the soil clings to the feet in huge clumps. Touch of the Flanders. Incoming....
Let's hope it's fine Saturday, and, I can be out on the weekend....
I was going to prepare the bed and plant the onion and garlic sets, way too wet, the soil clings to the feet in huge clumps. Touch of the Flanders. Incoming....
Let's hope it's fine Saturday, and, I can be out on the weekend....
Monday, 9 March 2009
Printemps? Pas encore!
A hiatus of some four months due to travel, inclement weather and a general disinclination to tackle my small patch of London clay. I return with some trepidation. A sunny, breezy, early spring day. It is not anything like my gloomy imaginings. Some weeds, mainly grass, few docks and dandelions.
Set about digging over the bottom right bed again (feel like Sisyphus), do it, needs another pass, start the adjacent bed and then a third. Then, the Iceman cometh, hail, thunder and a great darkness. Drenched. Home. Bath.
I enjoyed it. It feels good to be back on the earth.
Set about digging over the bottom right bed again (feel like Sisyphus), do it, needs another pass, start the adjacent bed and then a third. Then, the Iceman cometh, hail, thunder and a great darkness. Drenched. Home. Bath.
I enjoyed it. It feels good to be back on the earth.
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