Sun 1 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : Just called in to get some greens for dinner. Noticed that the pigeons have been at the Curly Kale so I put a net of it. Bought some more Desiree seed potatoes whilst out today - enough for two more rows.

Mon 2 Mar 2009
Weather : Mostly sunny
Progress : Took a bag of leaves collected from our garden to top up the compost enclosure in area 1. Removed the Brussels Sprouts stalks from plot 3b then dug out the pernicious weeds. All of those will taken away to the recycling depot. Used all the exisiting bags of horse manure to put a thick layer over half of plot 3b, enough to smother the remaining weeds.

Tue 3 Mar 2009
Weather : Wet day
Progress : No work today

Wed 4 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : Delivered two carloads of stable manure. Could not get onto the allotment via the usual gate at the first visit as a digger was working to cut the bank back to ease access for vehicles. The surplus much was carted to the top end of the allotments to build up the bank there. It had really chewed up the track. Loaded some bags from the shed to be taken to the tip tomorrow. Spoke with the supervisor who was trying to figure out the renumbering of the plots.

Thu 5 Mar 2009
Weather : Snow
Progress : Went to the Seed Merchant in Ringwood and bought enough King Edward Potatoes for one row and enough Picasso for two rows. Also purchased a bag of Sturon Onion sets. No work on site today

Fri 6 Mar 2009
Weather : Cold but bright
Progress : No work today.

Sat 7 Mar 2009
Weather :
Progress : Turned in the top dressing to the remainder of plot 2b then sowed two rows of Broad Bean (Jubilee Hysor). Sowed some Broad Bean (Aquadulce Claudia) to infill the gaps of the seeds sown last November. Picked enough Curly Kale and Purple Sprouting Brocolli for a family dinner tomorrow. Gave one of my allotment neighbours some Curly Kale for him to try in repayment for the Lettuces he had given me earlier. Noticed that my allotments have been renumbered from 34 & 35 to 33 & 34. Someone is likely to start digging the wrong plot if they are not careful !

Sun 8 Mar 2009
Weather : Heavy showers
Progress : No work today

Mon 9 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny
Progress : Double dug another trench in plot 3d then top dressed the dug areas of that plot. Went back later to get some rootcrops for dinner - Salsify and Scorzonera.

Tue 10 Mar 2009
Weather : Dull with a cold wind.
Progress : Sowed a tray of Cabbage (Greyhound) at home.

Wed 11 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny spalls
Progress : On arrival noticed that the notice inside the gate had disappeared. Sowed a row of Pea (Kelvedon Wonder) in plot 2b and a row of Carrot (Nantes 2) in plot 2c. Double dug another trench in plot 3d. My wife brought me a bottle of water for refreshment as she passed on the way to the shops.

Thu 12 Mar 2009
Weather : Dull
Progress : No work today

Fri 13 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny with a cold wind
Progress : No work today - on holiday

Sat 14 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny with a cold wind
Progress : No work today - on holiday

Sun 15 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny and warm
Progress : No work today - on holiday

Mon 16 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny and warm
Progress : No work today - on holiday. Stopped at a garden centre on the way home and bought enough Potatoe (Catriona) for one row.

Tue 17 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny and warm
Progress : Double dug another trench in plot 3d. Found that some pigeons had taken nearly all the Purple Sprouting Brocolli despite there being a net over the plants. I have raised the net on some beanpoles so that it no longer rests on top of the plants. Saw a Yellow Brimstone butterfly.

Wed 18 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny and warm
Progress : Delivered a carload of stable manure. Trampled part of plot 3c ready for the Brassicas. Turned in the top dressing on part of plot 1. Dug out the Dandelions from the Strawberries in fruit area 1. The groundsman was clearing the old fence along the roadside ready for a new one. I noticed that the portable toilet has been installed for the summer season.

Thu 19 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny and warm
Progress : Bought a pack of plant labels whilst I was out then delivered a carload of stable manure. Had a good session of seed sowing as follows :-
Plot 2a for the early croppers
- Summer Cabbage (Greyhound)
- Calabrese (Volta)
Plot 3c for the late croppers
- Purple Sprouting Brocolli (Garnet)
- Brussels Sprouts (United)
- Winter Cabbage (Tundra)
- Autumn Cabbage (Winnigstadt)
Noticed that the Pea Moth grubs have nibbled the edge of the Broad Bean seedling leaves. Refreshed the slug traps.

Fri 20 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny but getting cooler
Progress : Mowed the grass paths around my allotments and also those of me neighbour and another nearby. Recut the edges of my plots. Turned in the top dressing on more of plot 1. Used the last of the stored Apples for dinner this evening.

Sat 21 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny and warm
Progress : Had another good session of planting and seed sowing as follows :-
Plot 1
- Radish (Sabina)
Plot 2a
- Turnip (Snowball)
- Cauliflower (All Year Round)
Plot 2b
- Onion sets (Sturon)
Plot 2d
- Potatoe (Arran Pilot)
- Spinach (Scenic)
Watered the seeds, had a chat with a neighbour then went home to watch the rugby on TV.

Sun 22 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny and windy
Progress : No work today but I did pop in to speak to the wife of my neighbouring allotmenteer. He has been very ill so I just wanted to offer my assistance should it be wanted.

Mon 23 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny start and windy
Progress : Took a bag of clippings to top up the compost then layered it with fresh horse dung. Cleaned some of the edges of my plots where I had trimmed and composted the waste. It is starting to look quite tidy. Watered the rows where seeds have been sown.

Tue 24 Mar 2009
Weather : Sunny and windy
Progress : Took another bag of garden clipping and leaves for the compost. Dug over part of plot 3a and used the many stones that came up to fill the wheel ruts on the access track. Into the dug area I sowed a row each of Beetroot (Cylindra) and Parsnip (Countess) then watered in. It was quite busy on site today. One of the allotmenteers gave me some sizeable Parsnips which were surplus to his requirements. He also showed me where some children had ridden across his allotment. I then traced the tracks over another allotment to where the culprits had come in where the fence has been removed. According to the word on site, the new fence was due today. I pased the site later in the day and traffic cones were out along the line of the femce to stop cars parking too close.

Wed 25 Mar 2009
Weather : Overnight rain. Sunny spells and windy
Progress : Arrived to find the fencing contractors at work. Turned in the top dressing on part of plot 3a and sowed a row of Leeks (Musselburgh). Also turned over a few rows on plots 1 and 2c. Had a chat with a couple of brothers who run an allotment together.

Thu 26 Mar 2009
Weather : Cold wind
Progress : No work today

Fri 27 Mar 2009
Weather : Showery
Progress : No work today. Tha Cabbages in the seed tray germinated today. I was watching the TV this evening when I thought about the danger of slugs so I went out to move the tray to a safe place and found a small slug just cresting the tray - it perished.

Sat 28 Mar 2009
Weather : Cold wind with showers
Progress : No work today but I did call in to pick some Kale. The plants are running into flower and thus growing through the netting so I pulled it loose again. Noticed that the Shallots are starting to sprout at last.

Sun 29 Mar 2009
Weather : Frost. Sunny
Progress : No work today

Mon 30 Mar 2009
Weather : Frost. Sunny
Progress : No work today

Tue 31 Mar 2009
Weather : Warmer but dull.
Progress : Watered all the seedlings and noticed that many of them are now germinating. Set more slug traps to protect the seedlings. Put some black plastic sheeting around the base of the Gooseberry bushes in an attempt to prevent the leaf-cutter grubs from coming up from the ground. Told my neighbouring allotmenteer off for being so cheerful so early in the morning of a dull day !