My day off

[Moggle]

Took the day off work yesterday, as work is usually very quiet during the half term.

Dropped Mr M off at work so I could have the car and had the whole day to myself! Of course I went to the lottie, after getting 6m of fleece (1.5 - 2 m wide, 75p a metre, is this a good price?)

Picked a few emerging nettles and chucked them on my sluggish compost heap in the hope that it will activate it.

Dug a few more holes for my ultra-early spuds, and planted 8 partly chitted Rocket spuds under 2 layers of fleece, as per instructions by Hugh, some time ago. I will try a couple more in a few weeks time.

Planted a double row of broad beans (all my rows are short - about 1.5m long, across the bed) just to try them out. Had a difficult time drawing out a drill for some peas, ran in to a big pile of couch roots and rhiozomes  :'( Managed to get most of them out I hope, and plant my row of peas. All under fleece too. The peas are suitable for autumn sowing, so I thought 'what the heck, I'll give it a go'. Started another drill in advance for the next lot (plant in march?), and came across more couch! Spent the rest of my time at the plot removing couch, and the other dandelion-type weed that I have infesting my plot  :'(

Still, I got a lot of stuff done, and was home in time to plant my pineapple top, have a hot bath, a big bowl of greek salad, and then pick up Mr M at 5.30  :D

[Moggle]

[Svea]

sounds like you got lots done.
taking time off work is not really an option for me :( my yearly allowance is meager to say the least and i need to save my days for the holidays we are actually taking :)

still, looking forward to my first weekend on the allotment. planning on getting tools, clearing some rubble and debris, taking it to the tip and picking up some bags of compost while there. digging/forking in. planting garlic (after i have worked out my planting plan - your's was a great help :)). ordering more seeds.
maybe start some seeds indoors (herbs mostly). kind of stuck for space though...can i sow/plant out onto pots on my balcony if i put a mini-cloche over each pot? (half a pop-bottle) ???

svea

[Mrs Ava]

Great stuff Moggle.  You are very organised!  My spuds won't arrive on my lottie until the start of March, so I must start digging the trenches soon!  Broadbeans are in and in flower already, but they were sown midwinter.  My peas won't be going in until March either, I did try early ones last year under cloches, but nothing happened.  Don't know if it were the mice, damp, or just to cold for them.  I have my fleece all washed and at the ready for my carrots.  Altho we have loads of clean carrots, 2 batches were riddled with carrot fly so am not going to have that noncense again this year!  I have cloches and corrigated (recycled  ;D) plastic sheets down on the plot to start warming the soil ready for my first sowings, it really depends how organised I am.  Finally have toms and chillis growing in the conservatory, and a few aubergines, but still have so many to do!  Mother is coming to stay for a few days next week when our kids are on half term so I sense a spot of babysitting taking place whilst I set up camp in the greenhouse! ;D

Oh and madam...where are the photos please!  ;)

[GardnerJ]

sounds like a great day off!
75p a meter is great but at my good old trading shed it is 30p a meter!
Jemma xxx

[Roy Bham UK]

I have cloches and corrigated (recycled  ;D) plastic sheets down on the plot to start warming the soil ready for my first sowings,

Interesting Emma, how do they withstand heavy winds and what do you use to peg them down ??? 8)

[NattyEm]

well I'm still on the dig dig dig (as you can see here) got the kids up there for a bit today, looking forward to more serious clearing at the weekend, and hopefully a (rotted)muck delivery to start digging in.  Sounds like you did great Moggle!

[Debs]

Beautiful girls Nattyem... are they twins or very close in age?

Unfortunately I have to bribe my 8 yr old daughter to go

to the lottie :-\, however my 6 yr old son is a real enthusiast!

...but thats kids for you ;D

Debs

[NattyEm]

twins, nearly 3 :)

[Mrs Ava]

Roy, our plot is the site of the old Priory vineyard and orchards, but I am convinced it is the site of the old Priory brickworks!  Bricks and stones I can do you by the bucket load, and handy weights they make too!  Also the plot is very sheltered by high trees so doesn't ever seem to be a problem.....mind you, going down tomorrow.....fingers crossed.

[Moggle]

Poor you Svea, I won't tell you how many days of holidays I get, it will probably make you feel ill. I am also very lucky that I can take flexi time off, and make the hours back up, which is what I did on Wednesday.

EJ I will try to take some photos when I get down there on the weekend :-) I thought the peas under fleece idea was one I pinched from you  ??? Might try to get the carrots in this weekend, if I clear enough couch! I am trying to ignore all the postings about toms at present, cos mine were sowed way too early last year, and we are moving in the next month or 2, so I don't quite know where I will be sowing yet. Most of my toms are going to have to go on the lottie instead of the balcony methinks.

Nattyem, looks like you are battling with the evil couch too  :-\ It is awful stuff, but it feels good to get rid of it. I will be black bagging it as per suggestions on another post. You are lucky to have such cute helpers  :)

Hurrah, it is friday, so I can start planning my day down there tomorrow  ;D

[Moggle]

Followed up my work on wednesday with more work yesterday and today.  ;D

More weeding and removal of couch. It seems like a never-ending job. Managed to clear enough space to sow a row of carrots and a row of parsnips. Have covered these with fleece too, so now I just hope we don't get too much snow as predicted tomorrow.

At home, my seeds sown 2 weeks ago and put out in the mini-greenhouse didn't seem to be doing anything, so I have brought them inside till they germinate. Also sowed 3 different types of sweet pea.

Forgot the camera though :-\