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Malcolm Smith's
Allotment Diary
2009
| Front Page
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Diagrams
|
Growing Schedule |
| 2008 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2010 |
Sat 2 May 2009
Sun 3 May 2009
Mon 4 May 2009
Tue 5 May 2009
Wed 6 May 2009
Thu 7 May 2009
Fri 8 May 2009
Sat 9 May 2009
Sun 10 May 2009
Mon 11 May 2009
Tue 12 May 2009
Wed 13 May 2009
Thu 14 May 2009
Fri 15 May 2009
Sat 16 May 2009
Sun 17 May 2009
Mon 18 May 2009
Tue 19 May 2009
Wed 20 May 2009
Thu 21 May 2009
Fri 22 May 2009
Sat 23 May 2009
Sun 24 May 2009
Mon 25 May 2009
Tue 26 May 2009
Wed 27 May 2009
Thu 28 May 2009
Fri 29 May 2009
Sat 30 May 2009
Sun 31 May 2009
Fri 1 May 2009
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : Went up in the morning and did some hoeing. Sowed two rows of Pea (Delikata) in plot 3d. Sowed a row of Carrot (Early Nantes 5) over the previous row of Nantes 2 in plot 2c as there had been no germination. Sowed some Spinach (Scenic) into the spaces of the existing row on plot 2d. Sowed a few Broad Bean (Aquadulce Claudia) and (Jubilee Hysor) into the blank spaces in plot 2b. Dug some more soil from the bank and earthed-up a row of Potatoes each in plot 1 and 2d. Went back in the late afternoon and sowed a second row of Pea (Kelvedon Wonder) in lot 2b. Watered the Lettuce seedlings in plot 1 ready to transplant. Carried on taking soil from the bank but this was to make-up the tyre depressions in the access track. Sowed some Land Cress (American Salad) in a pot at home.
Weather : Sunny
Progress : No work today due to having visitors.
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : Started by doing a bit of hoeing. Sowed two rows each of Salsify (Giant) and Scorzonera (Russsian Giant) in plot 3a. Sowed two rows of Kale (Winterbor) in plot 3c then a row of Swiss Chard (Bright lights) in plot 1. Thinned out the Lettuce in plot 1 and made a second row. My son called in with grandson who immediately set to work collecting stones and dipping into the water tank. Resowed the Cauliflower (All Year Round) into spaces where germination had not taken place in plot 2a. Similarly sowed some more Radish (Sabina) into spaces in plot 1. Picked off the Dandelion heads in the grass pathways. Gave some Gardening papers to the wife of my neighbouring allotmenteer when she called in.
Weather : Sunny start
Progress : Upon arrival I was given some seedlings of Brussels Sprouts (Bedford Winter Harvest) which was good as only a few of the Sprouts that I had sown had germinated. I put the seedlings into plot 3c then covered them with a net. Double-dug another trench in plot 3d. Weeded through Soft Fruit area 2. Harvested some Spinach and Asparagus for dinner tonight.
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : Cut the grass paths then trimmed the top edges. Double-dug another trench in plot 3d. Watered the Blueberries and the Onions. The latter are very sporadic in germinating. Hoed a patch before going home. Some of the Red Currant leaves have been blistered by pests so I sprayed the affected areas.
Weather : Sunny start
Progress : Double-dug the last trench in plot 3d thus using up the remainder of my home-made compost from the enclosure in area 2. Swapped some of my Spinach for some Rhubarb with one of my neighbouring allotmenteers. Luckily he noticed that there were some Aspareagus Beetles on my Asparagus so we destroyed them. Did some hoeing. Weedkillered the central path between plots 1 and 2.
Weather : Dull and damp
Progress : Trimmed the edge at the top of plot 3. Made up the ground under the compost enclosure with soil from the bank then re-assembled the enclosure. Started off the composting with some bags of leaves, grass cuttings and horse dung. Did some watering, especially the newly planted seedlings and also the Asparagus.
Weather : Sunny with showers
Progress : No work today as we are travelling down to Cornwall.
Weather :
Progress : No work today as we are in Cornwall. Visited the Lost Gardens of Heligan again, having been there a couple of years ago. I was mesmerised by the Vegitabel Garden and spent quite a bit of time in there. I bought a copy of The Heligan Vegetable Bible which describes their work in recreating techniques for production on an estate prior to World War 1.
Weather : Sunny
Progress : No work today.
Weather : Sunny with a strong wind
Progress : No work today but popped in to pick some veg and water the seedlings in the cold frame where the Courgettes and Aubergines have just germinated.
Weather : Sunny spells. Very windy.
Progress : Dug in part of plot 3d and sowed two rows of Climbing French Bean (Blue Lake). Haunched up the Potatoes. Did some hoeing and hand-weeding, Did some selected watering. Watered the Blueberry bushes and staked and tied up one of the bushes which was being buiffeted by the strong wind. Was advised by one of the co-ordinators that the allotments will be included in the judging of the town's entry in Britain in Bloom competition. Had to throw away the last of our stored Potatoes, being some Pink Fir Apple variety, as they have started to sprout vigourously.
Weather : Overcast with light showers
Progress : Called in to pick some Spinach. Watered the Asparagus. Hand-weeded through the Carrots in plot 2c and Dwarf French Beans in plot 2b as both had started to germinate.
Weather : Overcast and wet
Progress : No work today. Eat the last of the stored Jerusalem Artichokes.
Weather : Light rain most of the day
Progress : No work today.
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : Sowed a second row of Carrot (Early Nants 5) in plot 2c. Had a chat with one of the new starters who was seeking advice about successional sowing. Oversowed some Beetroot (Cylindra) in plot 3a as germination has largely failed. Oversowed some Pea (Kelvedon Wonder) yet again in plot 2b to fill in the gaps. Did a bit of hoeing where most needed. Cut down and composted the Curly Kale which is now beyond eating.
Weather : Heavy showers and windy
Progress : Weeded where I had removed the Curly Kale in plot 3b yesterday then turned the soil over. Sowed some Dwarf French Beans to infill where germination has not taken place. Moved some Swiss Chard seedlings from plot 1 to 3b which is a more suitable location. Did agood bit of seed sowing starting with two rows of Swede (Marian) in plot 3c. Then one row each of Spinach (Campania), Spinach (Spinnaker) in plot 2c and Spinach Beet in plot 3b.
Weather : Mostly sunny
Progress : No work today but called i to check if everything was OK after the strong winds. Bought a packet of Savoy Cabbage (Ormskirk 1 Rearguard) as the Tundra that I have sown is failing to germinate properly.
Weather : Sunny spells and strong winds
Progress : Was given some seedlings of Savoy Cabbage (Rearguard) so I put in a row on plot 3c then alongside I sowed a row of the seed that I bought yesterday. Put up a net over the seedlings. Rehaunched the Potatoes in plot 2d. Watered the seedlings in the coldframe.
Weather : Sunny
Progress : Took the car onto the allotments with three bags of fresh horse dung then loaded a couple of bags of weeds to take away for the tip tomorrow. Dug over part of plot 3d and sowed two rows of Runner Bean (Best of All). Hand weeded through the salads in plot 1 then oversowed the Spring Onions and Radishes where germination has been poor. Sowed a second row of Leeks in plot 3d. Watered some of the seedlings as necessary then topped up my tank.
Weather : Sunny
Progress : Mowed the grass paths and trimmed the edges and the bank - that took long enough! I had bought some 4m lengths of netting this morning so I started to put that out over the rows of brassicas and strawberries. It is lightweight netting so it is going to need pegging down. Used the displaced netting to cover the Currants and Blueberries. Hand weeded around the Onions. Picked the first Radish (only two to choose from!). Cut down and composted a few of the straggly Spinach plants. Hoed here and there. Sowed a row of Parsley (Moss Curled 2) in plot 1. Watered the newly transplanted Savoy Cabbages. Was given a Marrow plant mwhich I have put into the coldframe for the moment. .
Weather : Sunny
Progress : No work on the allotment today but at home I sowed some Leeks (Musselburgh) into a pot with the help of grandson.
Weather : Sunny and warm
Progress : Took out the large weeds from plot 1 plus the rogue Artichokes. Hand-weeded through the Shallots and adjacent Broad Beans in plot 2b. Put in some watering funnels between the two rows of Jubilee Hysor Broad Beans and gave them a good soak. Pegged out the nets over the Strawberries. Watered the Winter Cabbage seedlings that I was given. Took the cover off the coldframe and watered the seedlings, all of which are now germinating. Made the first picking of Spinach (Scenic). Sprayed the Broad Beans where they are infested with Blackfly - some of the Aquadulce Claudia have been stunted by the effecy of the Blackfly.
Weather : Sunny and warm
Progress : Got collared by one of the new starters on the way in who offered me a bale of straw. I turned him down as I already had a two-year old bale in my shed. However, that made me realise that I had not put straw around my Strawberries before I covered them with netting! Did some hand weeding here and there. Later I went to the Garden Centre and bought a packet of Parsley (Plain Leaved 2) which I sowed into a pot back at home.
Weather : Sunny after a wet start
Progress : No work on the allotment today. Eat the last of our frozen Blackcurrants today.
Weather : Sunny after a damp night
Progress : A brief visit today. Watered the seedlings in the coldframe then topped up my water tank after someone had been using it. Picked the Asparagus Beetles off the plants. Cut back some of the Spinach and Parsley plants where they had bolted and encroached onto the Asparagus.
Weather : Wet and windy all day
Progress : No work on the allotment today.
Weather : Dull start; sunny and warm later.
Progress : Delivered some bags of fresh horse dung for the compost. Cut down and composted a row of bolted Spinach in plot 3a. Picked the beetles off the Asparagus plants. Hand weeded and hoed plots 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d then watered the majority of the seedlings. Refilled my tank which also has been used by someone else. Another allotment holder who lives in view spotted a the "troublesome two" on the allotments again yesterday evening so made them aware that he had seen them. A new starter has begun work on one of my adjacent allotments. Discussed with another experienced allotment holder the poor germination that I have been having with some crops and it seems he has had similar problems.
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Moved the pallets from plot 1. Dug over some of plot 1 and planted a row of Tomatoe (Roma) and a row of Courgette (Tuscany). Transplanted and watered in some of the Sweetcorn to make two rows as there has been less than 50% germination. Was given some plugs of stumpy Carrots which I put into plot 2c. Spoke with the new allotmenteer next to me. Hand weeded through the Onions, Broad Beans and Shallots on plot 2b then tied up the Jubilee Hysor Broad Beans. Watered the Purple Sprouting Broccoli plants ready to thin and transplant. During my lunch-break, I went into town and bought another packet of Sweetcorn (Applause). Back on the allotment after lunch I continued with the hand weeding going through the next rows of Broad Bean then some of the Brassicas in plot 2a. Staked and tied up the Aquadulce Claudia Broad Beans then sprayed the Blackfly. Dug in some watering funnels for the Broad Beans and gave them a drink. Wedded through the Purple Sprouting Broccoli then moved some seedlings to make a second row then covered them with netting. Did a bit more watering then topped up the tank. Moved some of the slug traps to more strategic places. Picked the first Broad Bean (Aquadulce Claudia) taking then small to eat whole. Eat the last of our frozen raspberries this evening. Was told that the youths were seen back on the allotments last night and they had taken the Broad Beans from one of the supervisors plots. He found the shells on the ground when he came in to make his first picking. Someone spotted a Grass Snake on the allotments today. I heard the Cuckoo for only the second time this year.
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Cut down and composted a few stems of Chard and Parsley which were overhanging the path. Removed the netting from the Cabbages in plot 2a then completed the weeding of that area. Gave the cabbages a drop of water where they had been disturbed. De-bugged the Asparagus then watered it plus the Blueberries and the Broccoli that I moved yesterday. Got called away early by my wife who informed me that our son and his family were coming to tea. Noticed that the Strawberries are ripening and the birds have found them already. There was evidence that someone may have been at my Gooseberries but it could have been a bird. At home I sowed some Calabrese (Green Sprouting) and Summer Cabbage (Greyhound) into pots then some Sweetcorn (Applause) into trays to start off in the conservatory. Discussion on th eallotmentseems to signify that those who have started their crops off in pots this year have done better than those who have not. It is just my luck that I had decided not to use pots this year!
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Just called in to do some picking. Came home with the first two Strawberries for us although the birds have started already.
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