Thu 1 Apr 2010
Weather : Frost. Sunny.
Progress : Bought some seed Potatoes (Wilja) and Onion sets (Sturon) this morning. Someone on the allotm,ents told me he had successfully grown Wilja last year. Delivered some bags of fresh horse dung and the collected kitchen waste. Turned in the top dressing to part of plot 2c and planted four rows of Onion (Sturon). Turned over part of plot 3b and sowed a row of Carrots (Nantes 2). Turned in the top dressing to part of plot 2d and sowed a row of Cabbage (Duncan). Had a chat with the new starter who taken over an adjacent plot and from where I was given a coldframe. I have found that I shall not need the coldframe so I offered it back to him which he accepted. The plot he has taken was shared and it seems that the sharer has been back and taken some of the plants that were left. Anyhown the committee are on to it and will be telling to return the things that he has taken.

Fri 2 Apr 2010
Weather : Frost. Penetrating rain then sunny later.
Progress : No work today.

Sat 3 Apr 2010
Weather : Sunny spells then rain
Progress : Turned in the top dressing on more of plot 2d and sowed a row of Turnip (Aramis). Turned in the top dressing on the remainder of plot 2a to sow some Spinach but found that I had left the seed at home. Intended to sow some Leeks (Autumn Mamoth) in plot 3c but I had not cultivated it so I sowed the seed into a pot and placed it in my coldframe. Weeded and removed the stones from about half of plot 3c and spread dung over then realised that I had intended to double-dig it. I will probably carry on now and just trench the area for the Beans. Dug the last of the Salsify.

Sun 4 Apr 2010
Weather : Sunny with some hail showers.
Progress : No work today.

Mon 5 Apr 2010
Weather : Sunny spells.
Progress : Decided to remove the surface dressing of horse dung that I put down on plot 3c so that I can double-dig it later as planned. Spread the dung over the remainder of plot 3a. Cleared the remainder of the Purple Sprouting brocolli plants from plot 3b and composted the foliage, bagging the roots for disposal. There was enough sprouts to take home for dinner. Trod down and raked over a patch of plot 2c ready to sow Broad Beans tomorrow. Also left a bag of seed Potatoes (Arran Pilot) in my shed to possibly be sown tomorrow with my grandson. Lifted a bucketful of Jerusalem Artichokes.

Tue 6 Apr 2010
Weather : Sunny
Progress : Took my grandson to the allotments today for a basic lesson. We sowed two rows of Broad Bean (Jubilee Hysor) in plot 2c then two rows of Potatoe (Arran Pilot) in plot 2a. Noticed that the Greyhound Cabbages had germinated so I covered them with netting and put down some slug traps.

Wed 7 Apr 2010
Weather : Wet overnight. Mostly sunny day
Progress : Delivered some bags of fresh horse dung.

Thu 8 Apr 2010
Weather :Cold night. Sunny and warm day.
Progress : Turned in the top dressing on part of plot 3d and sowed a row of Beetroot (Boltardy) and a row of Brussels Sprouts (United). Gave some of my recently dug Jerusalem Artichokes to an unsuspecting newcomer.

Fri 9 Apr 2010
Weather :Cold night. Sunny and warm day.
Progress : No work today.

Sat 10 Apr 2010
Weather :Cold night. Sunny and warm day.
Progress : No work today - working on the new extension.

Sun 11 Apr 2010
Weather :Cold night. Sunny day.
Progress : No work today but I did pop in to check if anything needed to be watered. Noticed that more Brassicas have germinated.

Mon 12 Apr 2010
Weather :Cold night. Sunny day.
Progress : Gave the grass paths a first mow of the season. Double-dug a trench in plot 3b using home-made compost from the enclosure in area 2 then top dressed with bagged horse dung. Did some watering then put some more water into the tank which I recently moved. The ground is starting to crack and leaving clear space under some of the Shallots. Pruned the Apple tree. Thought I saw a Cabbage White Butterfly taking off from my Curly Kale.

Tue 13 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny but windy.
Progress : No work today.

Wed 14 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny spells with a chilly wind.
Progress : No work today.

Thu 15 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny spells with a chilly wind.
Progress : Delivered some fresh horse dung. Collected a spade which I had spotted in the field next to the allotments and found also a hammer and a reel of garden wire. It seems likely that these have been taken from the allotments so I will have to try and find out who they belong to. It also looked as if some Rhubabr has been vandalised just inside the allotment gate. Turned in the top dressing of the first trench on plot 3c then sowed a row of Sugar Peas (Delikata). Double-dug and top dressed another trench in the same plot. Watered the seeds and seedlings then filled up the water tank in area 1. Found a Toad inside one of my watering cans! Pulled the first of the Rhubarb. Picked off the Dandelion flower heads in the grass paths.

Fri 16 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny spells with a brisk wind.
Progress : Used the back-hoe to drag up the weeds on the central paths. Also used it to clear the weeds on the top end of plot 1 then spread some horse dung. Dug a few fresh Jerusalem Artichokes. Watered the Beetroot seedlings which I forgot yesterday. Topped up the water tank in area 2. Advised one of the co-ordinators about the items I found yesterday.

Sat 17 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny spells with a cool wind.
Progress : Watered all the seeds and seedlings then topped up the water tank. Sowed a row of Cauliflower (All the Year Round) in plot 2d. Picked off some Dandelion heads from the grass paths. When I checked my seed Potatoes in the shed today I found that mice had been nibbling them so I put down a mousetrap.

Sun 18 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny spells.
Progress : No work today. No mouse in the trap yet.

Mon 19 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny.
Progress : Turned in the top dressing on plot 3a and planted four rows of Potatoe (Cara). Planted two rows of Potatoe (Picasso) in plot 2a. Noticed that the second sowing of Broad Beans is starting to break through so I gave them a watering as the ground is very dry. Dug a handful of Jerusalem Artichokes.

Tue 20 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny spells.
Progress : Turned in the top dressing on part of plot 1 and planted two rows of Potatoe (Wilja). Sowed a row od Swiss Chard (Bright Lights) in plot 3a. Watered the Asparagus. Picked some Cabbage heads from undeveloped plants left in from last year. Also made a first picking of Spinach Beet from plants that have overwintered. Picked off the Dandelion heads from the grass paths. Bought some lollipop stick to use as plant markers.

Wed 21 Apr 2010
Weather :Frost. Sunny spells.
Progress : No work today but I did visit briefly to deliver some bags of fresh horse dung. Marked up the lollipop stick markers ready to put out.

Thu 22 Apr 2010
Weather :Frost. Sunny spells.
Progress : Double-dug and top-dressed another trench in plot 3c. Tied the plant marker labels to the appropriate sticks. Set-in some water funnels to the first sowing of Broad Beans. Picked off the Dandelion heads. Picked some Curly Kale from last years plants which have resprouted.

Fri 23 Apr 2010
Weather :Frost. Sunny.
Progress : Double-dug and top-dressed another trench in plot 3c. Dug out Dandelions from about half of my grass paths, just cutting off the tops rather getting the roots right out. This will not stop them growing again but should keep them in check for a while. Dug some more Jerusalem Artichokes.

Sat 24 Apr 2010
Weather :Frost. Sunny.
Progress : We took our grandson to the allotment today whilst awaiting the birth of his new sister. Earlier he had helped me build a little trolley for him bring produce back from the allotment. We gathered some Artichokes, Cabbage and Parsley then he did some digging and watering. Back at home, our grandson filled a pot with compost then sowed some Dwarf French Beans (Golden Teepee).

Sun 25 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny spells. Some light showers
Progress : No work today.

Mon 26 Apr 2010
Weather :Warm sunny spells.
Progress : Mowed the grass paths then trimmed the edges. Dug out some Dandelion tops. Weeded round the Gooseberry bushes, watered then laid black plastic sheeting under the bushes to discourage the leaf beetle.

Tue 27 Apr 2010
Weather :Warm sunny spells.
Progress : Turned in the top dressing to part of plot 1 and sowed two rows of Sweetcorn (Swift). Turned in the top dressing to another part of plot 1 and sowed a row of herbs comprising Parsley (Moss Curled); Parsley (Plain Leaved) and Chives. Dug over part of plot 3b and sowed a second row of Carrot (Nantes 2). Cleared the withered weeds from the central paths then removed some more Dandelions from the grass paths.

Wed 28 Apr 2010
Weather :Warm sunny spells.
Progress : Turned in the top dressing to part of plot 3d and sowed a row of Sprouting Broccoli (Early Purple Blend) and a row of Kale (Dwarf Green Curled). This patch had been top-dressed with fresh horse dung which had weathered into sort a of fabric which had insulated the ground below which was significantly damp despite the prolonged dry spell. Sowed a second row of Parsnip (Gladiator) in plot 3b. Sowed a single Broad Bean seed where the only one had failed to germinate. Picked some Curly Kale shoots and shoots from the overwintered Cabbages. Picked off a few Dandelion heads. Weeded the Blueberry tubs, made up the covering of tree bark chips then gave them a good watering. Took some pictures of the gorgeous Apple Blossom.

Thu 29 Apr 2010
Weather :Dull with some light showers
Progress : No work today.

Fro 30 Apr 2010
Weather :Sunny spells with some light showers
Progress : Turned in the top dressing to part of plot 3d and sowed a row of Autumn Cabbage (Winnigstadt). Similarly prepared part of plot 3c and sowed a row of Asparagus Pea. Picked off a few Dandelion heads. Had a chat with a neighbouring new allotmenteer who was enquiring about local sources for manure.