Topic: The half plot

[antipodes]

Well, I am getting on quite well with my "downgrade" :-)   I took on half the plot this year and I must admit that it is much tidier than it usually is !!! But on the downside, there are some things I would like to try and now don't have room for.
This shows the new area, you can see potatoes closest to the camera, and that scruffy area will soon be filled with the tomatoes, cukes, courgettes and hopefully some NZ spinach except I am having a damned time getting it to germinate.  The pea structures are a bit scruffy too I realise; I made them with bamboo and some plastic wrapping material that I managed to cut into thick strips.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q319/antipodes_photo/Allotmentapril2014_zps7bffb193.jpg
It is frustrating but the plot is at least very very full and I now have had time to tidy and relay the paths, keep the weeds back, and put down some separators for the beds which looks tidier. I have also managed to sow some pots with flowers and herbs, to make around the shed look pretty, it was a nuclear zone up till now!!! I intend to really work on having the plot full year round, and when the garlic comes out (it looks like a early harvest this year), I will sow autumn carrots, when the onions come out, I will put in swiss chard and cauliflower. Early spuds will be replaced by leeks and late spuds by cabbage.

I have a little cold frame built and the seedlings are under fleece - beetroot, leeks, salads, and the brassicas.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q319/antipodes_photo/semisavr2014_zps64a69781.jpg

The strawberries were replanted with my wonderful friend Nathalie and they are doing very well! I have just netted them as they are fruiting. For me this is relatively weed free!
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q319/antipodes_photo/semisavr2014_zps64a69781.jpg

My broadies are also doing well this year. I will never change to another variety I think ! (Imperial Longpod)
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q319/antipodes_photo/peasbroadsapr2014_zps3660fee4.jpg

All in all, it was a hard decision to downsize but probably a smart one. I can now actually stand back and admire the flowers etc, instead of just going flat out all the time. I was always envious of you lot slurping tea in the shed etc, maybe now I will have time to get a deck chair out and do the same!!!

[peanuts]

Oh well done!  So glad that you feel you have made the right decision, however hard it was at the time. It all looks really promising.  And that is a half plot?  Our daughter has a half plot in Leeds and yours looks quite a bit wider.

[goodlife]

 

Is you plot as wide as from the yellow flowers to yellow flowers?
Well done...plants are coming on nicely!
Is nice to see some pics and what people get up to 

[antipodes]

Our daughter has a half plot in Leeds and yours looks quite a bit wider.

It's 5m wide and 10m long. I don't know that English pole system I am afraid.

Is you plot as wide as from the yellow flowers to yellow flowers?

No, the marigolds are growing on the path actually, lol, but they are pretty and attract bees so I have just left them there. The ones next to the broadies are on the actual plot though. They self seed every year all over the place, I just hoe them and leave a few to grow if they are in a good spot.

Goodlife, you will never guess, about 2 or 3 years ago you sent me some acchoca seeds! Well I tried them at the time and couldn't get them to work. THis year I found them with the cuke seeds and sowed them in a pot and two have come up!!! So I am going to plant them out soon and see how they get on. They look just like a cucumber seedling.

Well;, I am pleased at having the half plot but it does seem restrictive in some ways. Still, when everything is in full swing, I might find that it is quite enough work as it is!!! This weekend I must dig over the last quarter and get plenty of compost into it for the beans, toms and courgettes. Backache guaranteed for Monday!