Sunday 22 September 2013

Progess at last!

We really seem to have managed to make good progress with the digging over the last month. The perennial bed is dug, although weeds, particularly couch grass, pops up again just as quickly. It seems to be called twitch grass by other plot holders. It can be a bit disheartening to go over to the allotment and find a lot of it looking green again and not in a good way

I finished digging Bed 4 yesterday. This will hold legumes next year and onions. I bought some onion sets from the shed shop last Sunday. Two varieties: Shakespeare and Troy. All these little beauties for the princely sum of £1!

 
We actually have too many Shakespeare so we're going to swap some with a friend.
As soon as the micro mesh tunnels arrive we'll get these planted. They'll need protecting from the pigeons.
 
So I've started digging Bed 3 which technically is the last bed we need to dig over. Its also the worst. However Bed 2 which we planted some things in is looking a bit weedy again but hopefully it won't take as long to go over it a second time.
 
The parsnips that were already growing in the potato bed (Bed 1) have continued to grow. Some did die back but a few have green leaves still. We pulled one up the other week to see what it looked like and hey presto! We had a parsnip!
 

The runner beans are still going but slowing down. I did have to freeze some the other day though as there were too many for me in one day.
 
We pulled a couple of carrots the other evening and although small, it was reassuring to see they were nice and straight!
 
 
TK complained yesterday that I am making to many homemade things which is bizarre as he likes to help making them! This year we have made strawberry jam and raspberry jam. I used the raspberry jam to make this Gainsborough tart which is something my nana used to make. It has a coconut top
 
 
And yesterday I made millionaires shortbread
 
 
Yum!