The first month

So just over a month has passed since we took over our plot. Seems longer!

 

The early potatoes have had their second earthing up. Think they should be ok now as they are already growing through the pile quite a bit.

We have also earthed up the main crop potatoes in the last week.

 

 

We've cleared another stretch across the width of the plot the other side of the raspberries.

We collected some wood to make a cage/protection around the strawberries but so far we have been picking them just before the are fully ripe and eaten by the birds, so we haven't needed to build anything.

 

 

We planted a small row of carrots and beetroot here a couple of days ago. They were both varieties that could be sown in June so we'll see how they go.

 

On the other side of the strawberries we have put a wigwam together and planted the runner beans that we started off in pots at home.

 

 

The middle of the plot is REALLY overgrown but rather than continuing to work our way down the plot we have decided to start clearing at the bottom end of the plot. We figured that's where the potatoes will have to go next year as the previous plotowners had planted some where we have planted our beans, so we might as well get ahead of ourselves, kind of!

 

We have been quite lucky so far to be able to harvest a few things; the rhubarb, some potatoes and now strawberries. The next thing will be the raspberries which are summer fruiting...........and there are a lot of them!! Not quite sure what to do with them at the moment as neither of us like raspberries!

 

Earthing Up!

Very excited yesterday afternoon to see a whole lot more of the potatoes starting to poke their way through the surface. The first half of the first earlies were doing so well that we earthed them up last night

 

 

The other half of the row is slightly behind but only by a few days and the good news is that the tips of the main crop potatoes have started to appear too so all is looking good!

 

We planted some runner beans in pots at home a couple of weeks ago. They didn't seem to do much for quite a while so I brought them indoors and of course they all germinated straight away

 

'PING!'

 

 

We have some old bamboo canes so will plant them out shortly.

 

So everything is looking good..........and the only problem is hayfever! Its been quite bad the last couple of days so I may have to take some antihistamines for it. Hayfever and needing to work on the allotment do not mix!

Bees!

Just a little short post, almost a Wordless Wednesday............except its Tuesday...........and it has a few words in it.

I love being on the allotment, digging away, sometimes on my hands and knees. It's so peaceful

Just me...........and the bees in the raspberry bushes

And here is Mr Bee

First Sign of Life!

It was  so exciting when we went over to the plot yesterday afternoon! The first signs of growth!

 

Yep, several of the Duke of York first earlies were breaking through the surface. We weren't expecting to see anything for another week seeing as we only planted them a week ago.

Time to start earthing up!

 

We have nearly cleared the area around the strawberry bed now.

 

 

Just need to remove some of the raspberries nearby and then we will try and board the strawberries in and protect them as best we can. They are already fruiting.

We've put up some notices in case anyone wants any of our surplus raspberry canes but not had any takers yet.

 

TK's friend came and helped us yesterday too so I gave them the job of doing some digging, which left me with not a lot I could do. I set them to work on some old earthed up areas as the soil was quite loose there...............and this is what they dug up!

 

 

 Not sure if any of them are any good, but we'll give them a try.

 

Can't believe how lucky we have been so far!

 

Potatoes Planted!

By Friday and just over week since TK turned over the first bit of earth, we had managed to dig over a 5ft strip of ground across the width of the plot. We've kept the parsnips that were already growing there, just in case but yesterday afternoon was spent planting the potatoes we picked up at the Shed Shop last Sunday.

As we are late planting, the potatoes were already chitted so it was just a case of putting them in.

 

 

 

We have two rows planted:

One row of earlies, Duke of York. These were well chitted so not sure how these will do. They are the left row which TK is putting in. The row is split by the parsnips.

The second row is the main crop, Picasso. These looked a bit healthier. Will be interesting to see which are the most successful.

 

 

The next job will be to protect the strawberries that are already on the plot by creating a bed for them. Going to pick up some netting from the Shed Shop later this morning and make a start on that today.