I am stuck in the South of France :( and have time to play on the computer.
You should not be reading this as it is the busiest time of the year on the plot! :o
Have a great bank holiday weekend. :)
allaboutliverpool
i am waiting for a seemly hour before i go out and bash the clay in the neighbours "side of house" bed which will be the wildflower garden.
then it's off down the potting shed to sow some beans and more toms that I got from the pass the parcel, then it's getting my old computer desk out of one of the greenhouses (currently being used as staging) and replacing it with the tiny version i'm using now.
i'm hoping this cloud clears and i can top up the tan !
you have a good one too matey !
;D
Hopefully fishing, shooting, gardening and waiting for parcel no3 to arrive from Mrs KP. Oh and watching the F1 procession. However wife & kids and probably work will have other ideas. At least I can do most non critical work from home.
Early spuds go in in 3 hours
Um..not alot really, going out in the garden, and my nan and grandad are coming round for a meal on Sunday :)
Potato planting today........and working on and off the allotment at the weekend.
I am turning vegetarian!!!! First day. XX Jeannine
Planning to go to Columbia Road market on Sunday morning to buy cheap plants for the front garden.
Dear Dandelion,
Great web site, how do you find time for gardening? I do not know your books, I am too old. Do the animals have an allotment, they could teach kids a thing or two!
Good shopping.
good luck Jeannine :) Am bashing clay in front garden to make herb bed and fussing over seedlings today ;D
let me see, what am i doing....
BED 1
=====
Dig over
Add manure
Back Fill
Needs to be planted with Saxon, and Juliette and Lady Balflour.
BED 2
=====
Water
BED 3
=====
Dig over
Add manure
Back Fill
Plant Onion sets, Carrots Early Nantes, Margolds, beetroot.
BED 4
=====
Dig over
Add manure
Back Fill
Plant - Leeks, onion & Swede when grown in cells.
BED 5
=====
Dig over
Add manure
Back Fill
Plant Malin, Valor, parsley hamberg
Sow Achocha
BED 6
=====
Water and await harvest
Sow Pak Choi, Wok Boc, spring onions, Early purple sprouting broccoli, calabrese, spinach, brussel sprouts, chinese cabbage and radish.
BED 7
=====
Build frame and add blood and bone. Warm up soil.
BED 8
=====
wait for the onions to come to full harvest.
Sow for main beds
============
Onions, Leeks, Swede, Achocha,
Pak Choi, Wok Boc, spring onions, Early purple sprouting broccoli, calabrese, spinach, brussel sprouts, chinese cabbage and radish.
Sow for mini beds In toilet rolls
======================
Courgette Green Bush, Celery, Butternut Squash, Mellon and WaterMellon
Wood Work preperation
==================
* Make some frames for netting over the raised beds
* Make the plastic cover for 2 beds
* Cut some supports for shed
* Cut wood for miniGreenhouse
* Cut wood for L raised bed.
I plan on doing 2 hours a day but this is my plan for the next week :-)
Actually John is moving glass and then washing the kitchen floor and I am picking daisies after I finish my Easter choccies XX Jeannine
Cambourne - 1/2 hour/day with embrocation?
Jeannine - we have 3 'veggies' - At 56, 51 & 46 they're all still living. Just makes it difficult for the host!
no liniment just going to take my time and take things easy.
Hubbie is going to be using my cordless saw to cut the wood and get everything ready and i will put things together as i go.
I can easly manage 4-6 wheelbarrow loads of soil a day without my back giving up and it takes 7 to fill a bed and 1 barrow full or horse manure. So its just a matter of balancing digging beds over with bringing in more soil. Most of the weeds i am digging out are dock and i am putting them in the skip on site which is on the way to the pile of compost so its quite economical in footfall.
Once the beds full i am scattering in blood, fish and bone and watering then planting and watering again.
Transporting leaf mould from my garden collected during the winter and filling up new compost area in lotie. Planting spuds, carrots, leeks, parsnips and peas during the weekend
All this lovely weather and I am going to miss most of the weekend! OH being a Baptist Minister, this is our second busiest time of the year (Christmas being the busiest).
If i get time, I will be building more raised beds on lottie no. 2, putting tomatoes into pots in greenhouse and potting up my (far too many) seedlings. In reality, I will probably just about manage to keep it all watered and ticking over!
cj :)
PS Good luck Jeannine!
Hm...well I'm in for a 15 minute break after digging over our cottage garden border (half way there now!) and pricking out a few buzzy lizzies...
Well I only managed two bits of choccie,but am cooking baked fish with a pasta and leek concoction for dinner. John probably won't notice he is not eating meat for a bit I hope. Caroline I shall be back wanting tips if you wouldn't mind.
Your Easter sounds lovely by the way.I am hoping to get to the lottie to get stuff in but John is still moving glass.
Cambourne, sound like you are going to be working hard.
XX Jeannine
Jeannine - tell me you haven't opened your eggs already :D did you receive the PM?
Hello! Long time no write, its been a bit hectic here lately, but this weekend I plan to plant out my seed potatoes and get some later ones chitting and get some more of my plot dug over and weeded(only had it a few weeks). I have already sewn some seeds indoors, and the children have done some of their own (carrots, peas, courgette, pumpkin and sunflower).
DH is currently in the garden building me a compost bin out of some old pallets, so we will take that down there at some point and I have a tool shed to collect from the next town as well and get that put in place!
I need to work out what I ought to be doing with the established strawberries on the plot already, I think straw is needed somewhere, but need to read up on them!
Hope the clouds clear, its freezing here on the coast without a bit of sunshine!
Have a great weekend everyone.
Today: planted some flower bulbs, my nante carrots and spinach (well, not really spinach but some sort of beet leaf I think), dug off the top layer of couch grass in the next length of bed.
Tomorrow: fork and de-root the dug length, plant marigold and azalea seeds.
Sunday: Really clear, break up and plant something in that new dug length. Clear an area by the broad beans so I can plant other beans or peas there. (It's dug there but has been left a long time so needs serious weeding.) Want to get to the plot early while our little 'shop' is open and ask if they have whatever chemical thing I need to kill off some bramble roots. I know there's something I can just put on them to start killing them, since I won't get around to digging them up for a long time.
Monday: er, do something. :) Not sure what but get over to the plot for an hour or so. Maybe chop some bramble as a break from dirt, haven't done that in a while.
Tina.
timelady - sounds like you got your work but out as well as planned out! Don't worry about Monday - you can have it off if you like :)
Hoping to get to the plot later, when oh gets back from fishing.
Have been tackling a very huge amount of washing, the machine is broken and they can't get the parts til the 17th!
Tomorrow consists of suffering from the night before (friends coming round later ::))
panic easter egg buying, tidying up garden and going to work at night.
But Sunday and Monday are designated digging days!!! I really am looking forward to it, how sad can that be ;D
I've been 'booked' for Sunday by my mum ::) But I managed to wangle the day into something positive. "Ooooh mum! Let's go to Hardwick Hall for the day!"
They have a fabulous herb garden you know ;)
Spuds in,carrots,beetroot,salsify and scorzonera in all under plastic tunnels,toms nearly all pricked out and pea and bean supports put up -it`s been a busy day :)
NOTHING!! 8)
Being retired I think I am entitled to a holiday as well ::)
Got The kids & grandkids coming tomorrow(Sat)
Will need Sunday to recover from;..............Grandad lets do this............!!
Have a good weekend folks!!
been to the plot today, ray and steve put up some of the final part of the fence..
graham came to fix up the gate, nearly there,
I transplanted 90 asters, all from a free packet of seed from garden news,
tomatoes in to large pots, the tigerella have gone mad
tomorrow, transporting the in laws to lytham, dad in law's finally given up his car..88 yrs old
sunday, picking up youngest 26, from leicester, home for a week..he's a chef at leicester uni so gets lots of holidays
monday, back to the lottie, always something to do..have a good one everyone ;D
well hope to get to plot sometime over weekend - need it to be either early or late - can't cope with the full sun on me or need a strong breeze if it is :)
being quite lazy really - have been 'unpacking' a box of things belonging to my late Mum - she's been 'gone' 2 years now and at last, I've somewhere to put most of them - still need to pack some back tho and not sure what to do with them yet.....been lovely and nostalgic.
Visiting some of the family tomorrow evening for a meal and then again, visiting others on Sunday for lunch probably after Church....Monday must be sowing time tho!
I might have a day off today. ;) My back is quite bad today, I never quite know how it's going to be. But we'll see... I feel guilty that I can only handle 2 or 3 hours at most at the plot. All the folks around me are so busy all day! I can't wait for the heavy digging to be done. Maybe by next year!
And you know I didn't stop to think that the Sunday shop might not be open tomorrow. Easter and all that. *duh* We'll see.
Tina.
2 more rows of potatoes ( Milva) in.
Difficult to believe I know, but here in Switzerland where I live, it is still not accepted to work in the garden/allotment on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. No-one says anything if there is a barbacue going, or some sort of quiet hobby is being followed, but the rule is; no work, no noise, no washing hanging out, no car-cleaning, no lawn-mowers, etc., it's the same for Sundays in general. But I'm not complaining, I like it like this.
Our local allotment society keeps a sharp eye out for offenders and treats all with the same ruler.
Just how it used to be, many years ago, back home in England.
I remember that as well Busby...
Spuds going in, last two rows of 30+Kg...
then have a break for a couple of days.. just pricking out and other light work!
;D
Hi Guys,
Today i have ear marked no allotment time as the boat race is on.
Getting work done in garden and having BBQ.
Cambourne7
I think that is an interesting comment Busby,John and I treat Sundays as non work days,and we rarely participate in anying that means work for someone else,we don't eat out, shop or go to theatres etc on Sundays but we do do our hobbies, I sew, etc and as our gardenening is our hobby we don't classify it as work.I suppose if we were farmers it would be work. We don't go to the allotment meetings is they fall on a Sunday.I find it interesting that these observances are different in different parts of the world. I am interested to find out about other countries, thank you for sharing that with us.
I remember years ago in England shops did not open as a rule, some little shops did but they were restricted as to what they could sell,eg you could buy bread but not soap,you could buy milk but not sweets.
I remember in Scotland that inns were only allowed to sell to travellers, so everyone went to the next village for a pint.
Funny old world.
XX Jeannine
I am back from France and have planted Spinach and parsnip seeds and have planted my Asparagus seeds that I grew from seed last year.
I have also planted Butternut Squash plants, a big risk, but in a frame.
Proof on
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_squash_butternut.html
More tomorrow.
When my site opened in 1840, it was restricted to those who attended church on a Sunday. I think rules of that sort were fairly common back then.
Weeding newly made raised beds and helping my other half put up a shed for me on the lottie. ;D
Well the asparagus crowns Connovers Collosal) I had ordered finally arrived on Thursday (what good timing) and I managed to get them in yesterday. I was every so pleased when I dug the bed over before putting the crowns in that all my hard work in Autumn paid off - I dug deep trenches and incorporated manure - the soil is now lovely and rich - should feed the asparagus all they need for a while. It was very hard work - especially in the heat but well worth it. Seeing that its lasts for 15 - 20 years.
Planted out my gutter sown peas and planted some more Sugar Ann Peas. Did a bit of watering and that's about it I'm afraid. Today we had a fun day at the church and my muscles were a bit achy after all the trench digging yesterday - so the rest was gladly accepted. I am hoping to get there later tomorrow to water the asparagus crowns and hopefully get my cabbages in. But besides that I don't think I'll get much else done. Oh and there's a garden and craft show at Somerely which I would love to go to - so I think MOnday is fully bokked as well ;)
Jitterbug
Working! http://www.chdt.org.uk/Events
We've got horses coming apparently to give cart rides - must take a bucket and shovel.......
Went and dug out some more couch today grrr!!!!!!!!
Lovely and sunny!
Louise
X
Friday I was helping my cousin dig out old leylandii trunks and roots and managed to puncture my arm on an old piece of barbed wire. :o
Saturday we visited relations. :D
Sunday I'll be planting my late crop spuds in the morning and in the afternoon I'll be finishing the leylandii (and minding the barbed wire) and putting up a fence at my cousins as well as helping him prepare a small veg patch. :P
Monday I'm hoping to start on the landscaping of my back garden.
I'm looking forward to going back to work on Tuesday for a rest! :D
:) Well, like Caroline and Busby, I don't have much time over Easter to get to the allotment. I've probably been in church almost as much as Caroline's OH, singing at various services... (six, including two today.) I think it's actually busier than Christmas, because it's all packed into one rollercoaster week between Palm Sunday and today.
Yesterday evening I spent a couple of hours knocking together frames for the bees to draw out as honeycomb: they're working hard and if I don't keep ahead of their nectar storage needs, they'll start thinking about swarming.
And, alas, on Monday I have work to catch up with. But I did manage to plant out another 8x4 bed of spuds today (yay!) and OH kindly broke the ground so I can add a new spud bed as soon as poss this week.
I'm up early now having a little quiet time and getting the children's Easter eggs etc out and heaping them on the kitchen table around our little Easter tree. Plus getting lunch prepped (if I don't do it now, it'll be 3pm before we eat!) Organic Suffolk lamb from a friend's farm for the carnivores and a splendid veggie nut-roast in a pastry crust for the veggievores. Loads of veg and lemon-curd flan for anyone who has room after all the chocolate eggs. ;D
Oh Busby, but what if your allotment is your fun and relaxing? (in a twisted sort of way) :) It's one of the few times I get to escape from work, since I work at home - by forcing myself to go out into the fresh air and dig. And what I do there hardly qualifies as 'work'. ;)
Well, my plan was scuppered anyway. I was planning allotment from 6-8 yesterday (had to paint all day, two commissions to finish) but forgot about Doctor Who, so had to stay in! A friend called me last night to ask if I wanted to do mountain biking today, whooohooo! Her kids are at their father's so she's on her own and we might have some trails to ourselves I think. So I'll dig a bit tomorrow instead.
Tina.
At least I get spared the singing! I had a call from one of the other stewards yesterday, our scheduled preacher is ill, and could I take the service. That's three extras I've had to take on in two months.
bit late, but happily have had fab easter break. OH was off from fri and will be till mon, so helps with the girls. My dad took the kids to Monkey World on Thurs so spent most the day at lottie. Planted spuds, carrits, onions, sowed rockit, early purple sproinkin ( as 5 year old calls it) and cleared out shed....spiders as big as my hand, OH more scared than me though, big wuss.
Easter egg hunt at my friends yesterday for kids so got to poke around her garden, accumulating seeds and promises of cuttings in return for the sweetcorns i gave her, drinking tea and gassing. Lovely. OH has taken girls to sandy park on clifftop so i get to prep lunch (done) and pootle about. Busy doing nothing, and i hope all of you who have the time off are busy with same and all of you who have to work get to chill out this week instead!! 8)
QuoteI remember in Scotland that inns were only allowed to sell to travellers, so everyone went to the next village for a pint.
I remember it well!!
As you rightly put it there was a license for travellers but not locals.
The ruling was; You had to have travelled at least three miles from home, you were supposed to be travelling further afield i.e. on leaving the Hotel/Inn ( pubs didn't have a license) you were supposed to be continuing your journey not travelling home.
Plus you had to sign the visitors book with your name where you were from and to where you were travelling to.
Typical names in the book were; Mickey Mouse from X travelling to Hollywood.
So as you see it was of stupid rules that were rarely policed (a bit like some of the laws in place today ::) )
Got back from holiday yesterday so am spending most of today doing washing (so much for not working!) but have managed to get out in the garden, and not just to peg out the clothes! My new compost bin finally arrived while we were away so transferred stuff from old bin to new and found quite a lot of decent compost at the bottom. Am avoiding going to the allotment until I'm feeling less tired as, judging by how much growth my garden plants have put on this week, it will be knee high in weeds and grass! Nicest sight when we got back was my amelanchier flowering for the first time- lovely!(sorry, not an edile plant!)
Tee Gee I seem to remember you had to order food as well, crisps sold well on Sundays XX
What a variety of replies!
I am upset that the weather forcast was wrong. Admittedly there was no rain but it has been so cold that my plans for a gardening wekend were ruined. However you all be relieved to know that last week in Nice, until we returned on Friday evening, the weather was exactly the same and sweaters were the order of the day.
At least I coulkd start a blog!
http://allaboutliverpool.com/blog.html
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html
Just got back from a long weekend away in the caravan so no gardening has been done at all. Hoping to get some done later this week but time is short. Never enough hours in the day.