Sun 1 Feb 2009
Weather : Bright but cold.
Progress : No work today.

Mon 2 Feb 2009
Weather : Snow
Progress : No work today - this is why. Did actually go onto the allotments to take some pictures and also gather up the beer cans after the nighthawk drinkers. I keep a bag in my shed for recycling such things.

Tue 3 Feb 2009
Weather : Frost and snow
Progress : No work today.

Wed 4 Feb 2009
Weather : Frost and snow overnight.
Progress : Delivered four bags of fresh horse dung and made up the compost enclosure in area 1 with this and leaves and other material I have been storing ready to be composted.

Thu 5 Feb 2009
Weather : Frost and snow overnight.
Progress : Delivered four more bags of fresh horse dung and continued to make up the compost enclosure in area 1. I forgot to replace the fixings at the bottom of the front panel and consequently it is starting to spread out and will be difficult to push back.

Fri 6 Feb 2009
Weather : Snow all day
Progress : No work today.

Sat 7 Feb 2009
Weather : Frost. Bright day.
Progress : No work today - too much rugby to watch on the telly. Eat the last of the stored Desiree Potatoes.

Sun 8 Feb 2009
Weather : Frost. We day.
Progress : Took a sackful of old leaves to top up the compost. Also tied a cord around the base of the enclosure to stop it spreading. Dug some Salsify for dinner and cut some Purple Sprouting Broccoli.

Mon 9 Feb 2009
Weather : Rain all day
Progress : No work today.

Tue 10 Feb 2009
Weather : Heavy rain and strong winds overnight
Progress : Removed and composted the remaining Turnips from plot 2d as they were not suitable for eating then double-dug the last trench. This used up the last of my home-made compost from area 1. Dug the last of the Eskimo Winter Carrots. They were well formed and tasted delicious. The field next to the allotments was partially flooded after the rain so I went home that way so as to clean my wellingtons after digging.

Wed 11 Feb 2009
Weather : Foggy start then brighter
Progress : Trampled plot 2a to compact it ready for the Brassicas. Turned in the top dressing to one third of plot 3b. Pruned the two odd Currant bushes in Fruit Area 3.

Thu 12 Feb 2009
Weather : Frost. Some sunny spells
Progress : Delivered some bags of fresh horse dung for the compost in area 1.

Fri 13 Feb 2009
Weather : Wet start
Progress : No work today - a grandad day. Called in at the local hardware shop to see if they were stocking Shallots again this year, but unfortunately they are not.

Sat 14 Feb 2009
Weather : Frost
Progress : No work today apart from gathering a couple of winter cabbages.

Sun 15 Feb 2009
Weather : Overcast
Progress : Turned in the top dressing to the remaining thirds of plot 3b. Dug some Salsify. Quiet on the allotments today.

Mon 16 Feb 2009
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : Started to take out the home-made compost from area 2 as the sides were collapsing. Put some out ready for use on plot 3d then used some of the good stuff from the bottom on the soft fruit in area 2. Dug some Scorzonera and cut some Purple Sprouting Brocolli. My neighbouring allotmenteer had left me a gardening magazine in a plastic bag by my shed. Noticed that some dandelions have come into flower. Also the frogs are starting to congregate in the field next door ready for their mating. around the fruit bushes in area 3 with home-made compost. Dug the remainder of the Jerusalem Artichokes - the nine plants have yeilded a full barrowload. Had a good chat with several of the other allotmenteers. Went into the local garden centre to look for Shallots but they were pre-packed and so expensive that I did not buy any.

Wed 18 Feb 2009
Weather : Dull and wet
Progress : Bought a small pre-pack of Shallots (Golden Gourmet and enough Potatoe (Foremost) for two rows from a garden centre whilst I was out today. Planted one row of the Shallots in plot 2b.

Thu 19 Feb 2009
Weather : Dull and damp
Progress : Bought some ready bagged Shallots (Golden Gourmet) from a seed merchant today and they were many times cheaper and far better quality than those I got yesterday. Also purchased enough Potatoe (Arran Pilot) for two rows. I could do with some more but as they were already weighed and bagged, the quantity was not what I required so I will get some later. Planted the second row of Shallots (Golden Gourmet) in plot 2b.

Fri 20 Feb 2009
Weather : Sunny
Progress : No work today.

Sat 21 Feb 2009
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : No work today.

Sun 22 Feb 2009
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : No work today.

Mon 23 Feb 2009
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : No work today.

Tue 24 Feb 2009
Weather : Dull and colder
Progress : No work today.

Wed 25 Feb 2009
Weather : Dull
Progress : Walked past the allotments in the morning and noticed that the gate was missing. Someone had been delivering manure so I thought the gate had been taken off to give access as had happened previously. That time the gate was adjacent so I put it back. This time it was missing completely. I called in at the Town Hall whilst I was in town to report it and a message was sent out to the Groundsman. When I went back he was already there but it turned out that he had taken it away to repair and had just refitted it. He'd made a good job of it. Went back later and dug over half of plot 2d and planted two rows of Potatoe (Foremost). Someone came over to see what I was doing and I had to admit that I was planting the Potatoes a bit early but it was a risk as I had two varieties of First Earlies this year so I thought I would try to bring these on quickly. Cut the last two Winter Cabbages also some florets of Purple Sprouting Brocolli.

Thu 26 Feb 2009
Weather : Dull
Progress : Delivered some more bags of fresh horse dung. Had a chat with another allotmenteer who is impressed with his results in germination by sowing to the moon's cycle. I have heard similar positive comments previously. Turned in the top dressing on the remainder of plot 2d. Dug a couple of very deep-rooted Scorzonera. I had found an old washing-up bowl at home which I brought to use to clean my boots in.

Fri 27 Feb 2009
Weather : Sunny start
Progress : Turned in the top dressing at the top end of plot 1 then planted a row of Lettuce (Winter Density) given to me by the allotmenteer to whom I lend my mower. Cleared the finished remains of the Winter Cabbages, composting the leaves and disposing of the stems. Topped up the compost in area 1 with horse dung.

Sat 28 Feb 2009
Weather : Some sunny spells
Progress : No work today.