FRONT PAGE |
DIAGRAMS |
PLANTING |
Malcolm Smith's
Allotment Diary
2007
| FRONT PAGE |
DIAGRAMS |
PLANTING |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | to 2008 |
Tuesday 1 May 2007 Wednesday 2 May 2007 Thursday 3 May 2007 Friday 4 May 2007 Saturday 5 May 2007 * The watering funnels are made from old plastic bottles or milk containers with the bottoms
cut off then inserted up-side-down into the ground, left slightly proud of ground level at the
top.
Sunday 6 May 2007 Sunday 7 May 2007 Tuesday 8 May 2007 Wednesday 9 May 2007 Thursday 10 May 2007 Friday 11 May 2007 Saturday 12 May 2007
Sunday 13 May 2007 Monday 14 May 2007 Tuesday 15 May 2007 Wednesday 16 May 2007 Thursday 17 May 2007 Friday 18 May 2007 Saturday 19 May 2007 Sunday 20 May 2007 Monday 21 May 2007 Tuesday 22 May 2007 Wednesday 23 May 2007 Thursday 24 May 2007 Friday 25 May 2007 Saturday 26 May 2007 Sunday 27 May 2007 Monday 28 May 2007 Tuesday 29 May 2007 Wednesday 30 May 2007 Thursday 31 May 2007
Weather : Sunny and very warm. Strong wind.
Progress : No work today.
Weather : Sunny and very warm. Strong wind.
Progress : Dug over more of plot 1 to get the top dressing of stable manure in and also turn in the
weeds. Tied up the Asparagus plants as the strong wind is blowing them about. Noticed that the
Asparagus Beetle has arrived. Watered the Asparagus plants also the Broad Beans in plot 3a. As
there is no rain foreast for the forseeable future, I need to formulate a watering policy to
try and keep the plants alive. Cleaned out the water tank on plot 1 (again) as it had become
thick with green slime, also the kids from the next allotment had been putting grass, dirt and
stones into it, consequently the watering can rose was geting blocked. Took the old tin bath
home from plot 1 to use as a container for watering the flowers and shrubs. Went back in the
late afternoon and watered the seedlings and Garlic.
Weather : Sunny and very warm. Strong wind.
Progress : Put some ant powder down round some of the cabbage plants where the ants were burrowing
around the roots and killing the plant. Used the cultivator in between some of the potatoes to
uproot the weeds. Watered where necessay including the Blueberry bushes, the Onions and various
seedlings. Sprayed Glyphosate weedkiller onto the convulvulus shoots.
Weather : Dull start with a cold wind. Sunny later.
Progress : Used the cultivator to loosen weeds in the general unplanted areas. Hoed between the rows
where weeds were emerging - now is a good time to do that as the sun will kill off the hoed
weeds before the forecast rain arrives on Sunday. Weeded and trimmed the edges of plot 3.
Watered the Strawberries as they were flagging. Also watered some of the emerging seedlings.
Haunched up the second early potatoes. Sprayed weedkiller onto some of the deep-rooted weeds in
the grass paths. Returned in the late afternoon to do some more watering. Also opened a trench
in plot 3a and dug in some home-made compost ready for Runner Beans. At home, sowed some
Parsley (Plain Leaved 2) in a pot.
Weather : Dull start. Sunny and very warm later.
Progress : Haunched up the maincrop potatoes on plot 3b. Sowed Runner Beans (White Lady) in the
prepared trench on plot 3a and watered in. Prepared a trench for more Peas in plot 3a. Dibbed
in more Pea and Mangetout seeds in plot 2c where gaps have occured. Put up a cane support
structure for one row of Broad Beans on plot 3a and dug in five funnels* between the Broad Bean
rows for deep watering. Some of the allotmenteers have got hold of some spare washers for the
water pump and are getting it fixed between themselves. Cut our first Lettuce
Weather : Dull start with drizzle. Sunny spells later.
Progress : The predicted heavy rain has not materialised yet again. Did a bit of
selective watering. Noticed that the Dwarf French Beans are starting to emerge after just ten
days. At home, sowed Sweet Corn (Sunrise) and (Swift)in trays. Also some
Lettuce (All The Year Round)
Weather : Overnight rain. Showers with sunny spells later.
Progress : The rain has not made much of an impression on the allotment so I did some
selective watering. Weeded along the Spring Onion row in plot 2c.
Weather : Overcast but warm. Strong gusty wind.
Progress : Planted out the Cabbage (Greyhound) plants which I had grown in pots
at home. I used these to fill in the spaces in plot 2d where plants had failed or germination
had not occured on previous sowings. Sowed another row of Cabbage (Golden Acre) in plot
2d. Sowed more Savoy Cabbage (Ormskirk) seeds to make up the spaces on plot 3d where
germination of previous sowings had failed. Sowed a row of Aquilegia (Pretty Bonnet Mix)
for transfer to the garden at home next year. Did a bit of watering and started to refill the
tank on plot 1 as the adjacent pump has now been mended by one of the allotmenteers. The
council groundsman has been on site today and cut the grass to the main path. Had the first
picking of Perpetual Spinach from plot 3b.
Weather : Showery all day. Strong gusty wind.
Progress : Day off today. The new (and inexpensive) pruning knife that I ordered
last week arrived by post today.
Weather : Rain or drizzle all day.
Progress : No work today.
Weather : Rain on and off all day.
Progress : I ordered a catering cleaver for cutting up thick stems on the allotment and
it arrived by post today.
Hoed between some of the rows of seedlings. Thinned out the leeks in plot
2c and made a second row then watered them in. Planted the Cauliflower (Snowball A) plants
which I had grown at home and sowed a second row in plot 3d. Double dug a trench in plot 3a ready
for the French Beans. Made the first picking of Spinach (Scenic). The slugs have ravaged
another of my Tomatoe plants in the coldframe despite there being lots of slug pellets around.
Also the pidgeons have been at my greens and those of other allotmenteers. These are not usually
a problem but I have made some scareres by tying plastic bags to a cane so they move about and
rustle in the wind. Collected the angle irons that I ordered from the blacksmith for supporting
the Asparagus and Artichokes. Noticed the Eagret in the meadow again today, probably picking out
tadpoles.
Weather : Sunny spells with showers. Gusty wind.
Progress : Sowed another row of Swede (Marian) in plot 3c and straightened up
the first row which was offline. Sowed Beetroot (Boltardy) to fill in spaces where
germination had failed in plot 2a. Sowed another row of Carrot (Nantes) in plot 2a. Sowed
a row of Radish (French Breakfast 3 Sabina). Did some weeding and hoeing. Cut down,
chopped up and composted the Leafbeet on plot 3b from last year. At home I sowed a fresh batch
of Cress (Curled) in a tray also resowed the Outdoor Cucumber (Marketmore) and
Squash (Butternut Sprinter), all of which had failed from the first sowing in trays.
Sowed Sweet Pepper (Ace) as the Californian Wonder had also failed.
Weather : Solid rain most of the day.
Progress : No work today.
Weather : Early showers with sunny spells later.
Progress : Sowed some Dwarf French Beans to infill where germination had not taken
place. Sowed two rows of Climbing Bean (Blue Lake) in plot 3a. Prepared a trench ready
for the Kenya Beans in plot 3a. Hoed through the Onions. Made a first picking of Pea (Oregon
Sugar Pod) taking them small and using them as Mangetout.
Weather : Solid rain most of the day, brighter later.
Progress : Took the angle iron supports to site today and installed them to support
the Asparagus and Artichokes in plot 4. There are lost of tine frogs coming onto the allotments
from the adjacent water meadow. They will do good by eating slugs.
Weather : Showery.
Progress : Dressed up some additional straw around the developing Strawberries. Sowed
two rows of Kenya Bean (Safari) in plot 3a. Drained the rainwater out of the slug traps
and topped them up with slug pellets.
Weather : Dull start, sunny and warm later.
Progress : Cut the grass paths, trimmed the edges and cut back the long growth on
the bank. Weeded along one edge of plot 1. Hung up some old CD's on string from bamboo canes to
keep the pidgeons away from the brassicas. Removed Asparagus Beetles from the plants.
Weather : Overcast with some sunny spell. Some light rain.
Progress : On holiday.
Weather : Sunny intervals. Strong wind
Progress : On holiday.
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : On holiday.
Weather : Overcast with some rain later.
Progress : On holiday.
Weather : Sunny.
Progress : No work today.
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : Hoed through most of the planted areas. Weeded along the Peas. Picked off
the Asparagus Beetles then sprayed those which had returned. Found that the Spring Cabbages had
an infestation of Flea Beetle so sprayed them. The pidgeons had also been back at the brassicas
so I put some string lines around them. Topped up the water tank on plot 1. Sowed some Runner
Bean (White Lady) and Dwarf French Bean (Purple Teepee) in trays at home to fill in
gaps where germination has failed.
Weather : Sunny and warm, clouding over later.
Progress : Hoed and used the cultivator to get the small weeds down whilst it is
sunny. Did some hand weeding then some selective watering. Dug some watering pots into the
Runner Bean trench. Removed more Asparagus Beetles and covered the spring cabbages with a spare
pea net to keep the pidgeons off. Went back to the allotment in the late afternoonto water some
of the seedlings.
Weather : Sunny spells.
Progress : Hand weeded through the Onions and Garlic. Watered the Peas again. Picked
off the Asparagus Beetles. Took the cover off the Tomatoe plants in the coldframe. Weeded along
the outer edge and top end of plot 1. Picked the first Strawberries to take home to ripen
and put down more slug traps around the Strawberry plants. Spayed Flea Beetle eggs which I found
on some of the Turnip leaves.
Weather : Mostly sunny.
Progress : Weeded then turned in the top dressing manure on part of plot 3b then
double dug the last remaining area of the same plot. Pulled my daily Radish for my
lunchtime salad. Took some self-sown tree seedlings from the allotment and planted them along
the bank to provide screening. Also moved some self sown Comfrey plants to plot 1 to
initially add some colour but also use later for compost. Watered the Spinach to keep it tender
and less likely to bolt.
Weather : Rain all day and night. Overnight wind building to gale force.
Progress : No work today. Was given some Tomatoe, Capsicum and Chilli plants which my
son had grown from seed. Record rainfall today being the normal amount for the entire month.
Weather : Showers with sunny spells.
Progress : No work on the allotment today, however, planted the Capsicum and Chilli
plants in growbags in the conservatory.
Weather : Frost in places overnight. Sunny spells.
Progress : Planted the Tomatoe (Alicante) from the coldframe into plot 3b then
put the Tomatoes plants from my son into the coldframe but left the top off. The holes were dug
deep for the tomatoes and compost worked in. Watering funnels were placed inbetween the plants.
Hand weeded the Shallots. Hoed between the bean seedlings in plot 3b then sowed seed where
germination has not taken place. Sowed Peas where germination has not taken place in plot 2c and
watered in. Sowed two rows of Sugar Pea (Delikata) in plot 3a. Emptied water out of the
Slug Traps and topped up with bait. Erected a frame of bamboo canes and tied up the Broad Beans
on plot 2c. Sowed two more rows of Carrot (Nantes 2) in plot 2a.
Weather : Early rain, sunny later with strengthening wind.
Progress : Tied up the Asparagus, Artichokes and Loganberries. Hand weeded around
some of the brassica seedlings. Placed another net over some more of the Spring Cabbages.
Cropped the first Carrots (Nantes 2). Made the first full picking of Spinach (Scenic). Was given
a couple of Plum Tomatoe plants by another allotment holder.
Weather : Sunny spells. Heavy shower and windy in the late afternoon.
Progress : Planted out the new Tomatoe (Moneymaker) and (Minibell)
plants in plot 3b. Double dug in some stable manure on plot 1 and sowed two rows of Climbing
Bean (Blue Lake) to be used as Haricot beans for storing. Planted two Courgette (Venus)
and two Marrow (Badger Cross) plants in plot 1 having put a forkload of stable manure
under each plant and worked it in first. Gave my spare Marrow plants to the allotment holder who
gave me some Tomatoe plants yesterday. Tied up the Tomatoe (Alicante) plants which I planted on
Tuesday. Caught a Mole which was raising a mound under my feet.
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