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Growing Schedule |
Malcolm Smith's
Allotment Diary
2010
| Front Page
|
Diagrams
|
Growing Schedule |
| 2009 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Wed 2 Jun 2010
Thu 3 Jun 2010
Fri 4 Jun 2010
Sat 5 Jun 2010
Sun 6 Jun 2010
Mon 7 Jun 2010
Tue 8 Jun 2010
Wed 9 Jun 2010
Thu 10 Jun 2010
Fri 11 Jun 2010
Sat 12 Jun 2010
Sun 13 Jun 2010
Mon 14 Jun 2010
Tue 15 Jun 2010
Wed 16 Jun 2010
Thu 17 Jun 2010
Fri 18 Jun 2010
Sat 19 Jun 2010
Sun 20 Jun 2010
Mon 21 Jun 2010
Tue 22 Jun 2010
Wed 23 Jun 2010
Thu 24 Jun 2010
Fri 25 Jun 2010
Sat 26 Jun 2010
Sun 27 Jun 2010
Mon 28 Jun 2010
Tue 29 Jun 2010
Wed 30 Jun 2010
Tue 1 Jun 2010
Weather : Wet day
Progress : No work today but enjoyed the salvation of some proper rain.
Weather : Sunny
Progress : Delivered some bags of fresh horse dung. Noticed that all my Climbing Bean seedlings had been eaten by slugs, despite there being slug traps. Yesterdays rain must have brought them out. Turned in the top dressing to the remainder of plot 3c. Plants a ½ row of Lettuce (Winter Density) from the tray I had sown at home then made up the remainder of the row with seeds. Turned in the top dressing on plot 1 where necessary. Went back later with some more horse dung then Did some hoeing to paths and cultivated areas. Took some bags of earth and plant pots home to resow the beans. In the post today was an invitation from the Fordingbridge Horticultural Society to exhibit at their forthcoming show. It is unlikely that I will do so as I grow to eat, besides, none of my stuff ever looks that good!
Weather : Sunny and hot
Progress : Mowed the grass paths, trimmed the edges and cut back the grass bank. Did some hoeing. Cut two spears of Asparagus. Watered the seedlings in the coldframe. Back at home I sowed 2 dozen Runner Bean seeds into pots as backup for those already sown directly into the ground.
Weather : Sunny and humid.
Progress : Took our grandson to the allotments today. He loves water so I had bought him a small watering jug to enable him to help. Picked some Swiss Chard and Parsley.
Weather : Sunny spells and humid.
Progress : Raked up the loose top dressing that did not get dug in on plot 3d and composted it. Resowed the row of Cabbage (Winnigstadt), Dwarf Green Kale and Purple Sprouting Broccoli, all of which had not germinated. Similarly on plot 2c, I cleared the top then sowed a second row of Cabbage (Greyhound), replaced the Cabbage (Duncan) with Calabrese (Volta) then resowed the row of Turnip (Aramis) and Cauliflower (All Year Round). Watered the seedlings in the coldframe. Removed and squashed the many Asparagus Beetles that were on the Asparagus.
Weather : Sunny.
Progress : No work today
Weather : Sunny start, rain later.
Progress : Raked off the surplus top dressing from the unplanted area of plot 3c and sowed a row of Leek (Autumn Mammoth). Sowed a third row of Carrot (Resistafly) in plot 2b, Hoed the weeds out from between the Sweetcorn and watered the few plants that have germinated. Watered a few other rows of seeds.
Weather : Wet morning
Progress : Just called in to cut a fresh Cabbage, the first this year. Squashed a few Asparagus Beetles whilst I was there.
Weather : Sunny spells and showers.
Progress : No work today
Weather : Spells of rain.
Progress : Delivered some bags of fresh horse manure. Picked some Spinach Beet. Sprayed the Broad Beans which were heavily infested with Blackfly. Some of the Parsnips also showed signs of Blackfly. Infill-sowed the two varieties of Parsley. Topped-up the slug traps. Back at home I sowed a tray of Courgette as those on the allotment do not seem to be doing anything.
Weather : Sunny spells and heavy showers.
Progress : No work today
Weather : Sunny and warm.
Progress : No work today
Weather : Sunny spells.
Progress : No work today
Weather : Sunny spells and light showers.
Progress : Made a visit to pick some Spinach Beet and whilst there put some netting over the Strawberries in plot 1 as protection against the birds.
Weather : Sunny spells and windy.
Progress : Started by replanting the Dwarf French Beans in plot 3c with new seedlings brought on at home. I raked off the loose horse dung and bagged it for use elsewhere. Replanted the Asparagus Peas in plot 3c with seedlings brought on in the coldframe then intersowed with fresh seed. Intersowed the Peas in plot 3c. Picked the first of the Strawberries. Put some netting over the spare Redcurrant bush in fruit area 3. Tied up the Asparagus. Put cane supports up for the first sowing of Broad Beans in plot 2c. Used the onion hoe around the Broad Beans and Onions plus a few other places.
Weather : Sunny and breezy
Progress : Delivered some bags of horse dung. Hoed various areas. Cut down a couple of the old Spinach Beet plants as they were falling over the central path and stripped the good leaves for dinner. Returned later and planted the Runner Bean seedlings that I had started off at home. Raked off some more surplus dung and bagged it. Hoed some more areas. Tied up the Raspberries and Loganberries. Trussed up the Red Currant bushes in fruit area 2 and draped netting around them. Watered the Loganberries and Red Currants. Planted the Squashkin seedlings into plot 1.
Weather : Sunny.
Progress : Overplanted a row of Climbing French Beans from seedlings reared at home. Watered some of the new plantings of Peas and Beans. Tidied up the netting over the Red Currants and fixed them with clothes pegs. Had a good picking of Strawberries after which I watered them. Picked some Swiss Chard.
Weather : Sunny start, light rain later.
Progress : Ran the cultivator through part of plot 2b and raked off then sowed a row of Snapdragons and Dwarf Lupins and a fourth row of Carrot (Resistafly). Removed some of the large weeds in the Strawberry patch in fruit area 1, sprayed the bindweed then had a picking of Strawberries. Tied up and watered the Blueberries then put up a framework of canes for the netting. Hoed around where necessary. Watered the Brassicas in plot 2d. Dug the first of the Foremost new potatoes.
Weather : Sunny spells.
Progress : Noticed that the watering yesterday had a good effect of the seedlings. Ran the hand-cultivator through part of plot 2b and potted the self-sown Nastursiums then planted out a row each of Sweet Pepper (Ace) and Aubergine (Moneymaker) then watered them in. Planted out two rows of Leek seedlings into plot 3c then sowed an additional row.
Weather : Sunny
Progress : Picked about a kilo of Strawberries. Dug some more Foremost Potatoes and the first few of the Accord Potatoes. Also cropped a Cabbage.
Weather : Sunny spells and warm.
Progress : Went up later in the day to do some watering as it was far too hot during the day. Cut a Cabbage.
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Went up later in the day to do some watering as it was far too hot again during the day. Cut a Cabbage. Picked another kilo of Strawberries then watered them as some were wilting badly. Dug a few more Foremost potatoes which are coming up very clean and are delicious to eat.
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Went along after dinner and watered the seedlings. At home I sowed some additional Runner Bean and Climbing French Bean seeds to infill where germination has not taken place.
Weather : Sunny spells and very warm.
Progress : Took a few Climbing French Bean seedlings from home to plant. Inserted some watering funnels for the Runner Beans and put up the sticks. Had a good picking of Strawberries then gave them a watering. Picked some Swiss Chard. One of the other allotmenteers asked me how to combat the Cabbage White Butterflies so I said best not plant any cabbages !
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Bought some new sticks for the climbing beans as those I already have are extremely fragile. Took down and replaced the sticks that I put up yesterday. Watered the soft fruit except the Strawberries which I did yesterday.
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Dug the remainder of the first row of Foremost potatoes, all of which have come out nice and clean. Also dug the remainder of the first row of Accord Potatoes but they are small and scabby. Picked the ripe Strawberries from Fruit Area 2 as they are not covered and the birds could get them. Watered those Strawberries. Also picked the first of the Raspberries. Picked off all the available leaves from last years Spinach Beet which has now completely run to seed.
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Went along to pick Strawberries for the family who are visiting today.
Weather : Sunny and very warm.
Progress : Struggled out in the heat later in the day and watered Beans and Strawberries where possible.
Weather : Some rain then sunny spells.
Progress : Put up the sticks for the Climbing French Beans then sowed into the spaces where germination has not taken place. Sowed into the spaces of the Swiss Chard and Lettuce. Resowed the Good King Henry. Watered the most necessary items. Sowed some Cucumber (Marketmore). I noticed that someone had been into my shed but nothing was disturbed. However, someone's watering can was by my water tank but no water taken. I suspect it had been borrowed by someone (I can guess who) and left in the wrong place. Went back later to pick some Parsley.
Weather : Sunny spells
Progress : As it was generally overcast I took the opportunity to do some watering. Even the Potatoes needed water. Did some general weeding, particularly of the larger weeds. Put up sticks to contain the second sowing of Broad Beans. Put up pea-netting for the Delikata. Picked Strawberries. Pulled the first of the Beetroot. Cut down and composted some of the bolted Spinach Beet. Moved the last bit of home-made compost from area 2 into the fresh filled area 1. Found a Sloworm in the process which I put into a safe place. Placed a small notice by the pump to remind users to refill the tank when they take water as this has become a problem.
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