Allotments 4 All

First time at this time of year on my lottie and I seem to have run out of things to do - which I'm sure isn't right!

The bit that is ear marked for next year's roots and tubers still has a plentiful supply of leaves growing on it so apart from harvesting them on an as-needed basis there's not much to do there.  The bit earmarked for next year's leaves, 'gettes and rhubarb has had its initial weed clearance and is no covered in the black plastic awaiting a light digging over and planting.

Is it worth bunging in a few peas now or is it too cold?  Also, have I missed the boat for planting green compost mow that the frosts have started?

Problem is that I don't have weekends free at the mo and by the time I finish work during the week it's too dark to do much on the lottie so trying to avoid any large jobs but feel that I ought to be doing something.

Stock up on new seed cataloges before spending ages pouring over them and picking enough to feed the population of a small country...

or is that just me...?

I'm finished until January now, the plots are dug & mucked, the greenhouses prepared for next year and plants that require protection are under cover.

I only need to go down to the plot to harvest things for the kitchen as an when required; e.g Leeks, Sprouts, Cauli, Calabrese, Cabbage & Savoys.

So it is hibernation for me for the next couple of months!

Thanks - I don't deel so bad about my idleness if evveruone else has slowed down a bit!

Like Tee Gee, I'm hibernating. What hasn't been done by mid-November doesn't get done till the weather warms up a bit. On a good day I'll be up there shovelling manure & digging over the odd bed, but that's it. (But if you're feeling guilty, Si - or getting withdrawal symptoms - pop over and I can always find you the odd job to be getting on with!)

But basically, that's why we have Christmas at the end of December: to fill up the cold & dark winter months with frantic shopping, cooking, card-writing & parties!

Pity you are not a bit closer, you could have come and given me a hand. I've got to level some ground and build a base for my shed. Build, weatherproof, and creosote the shed. Clear the ground where the shed has been laying, build a base for my greenhouse, assemble and glaze the greenhouse. Finish tying in my raspberry canes. Creosote the fence, and then dig up and get rid of about a ton of glass on the rest of the ground I haven't yet dug. That will complete a 2 year project on my plot which hadn't been used for about 15 years before I got it.

And to be quite honest I love every minute of it. Especially as I got both the shed and the greenhouse for free.

Happy to pop over and help anybody...my fees are very reasonable  ;D

I'm so glad I've found your post Si - I was beginning to feel guilty about not spending as much time up the lottie! (Just taken a rescue pup in and uni exams are looming) - but I feel much better now lol  ;D

I will however take the odd weekend to dig a new bed if we get some wetter weather - maybe stick some broad beans in if it's not too late??

yes i too feel a bit lazy, but I have realized that there is not much you can do just now. I dug up all the old plants, weeded, leaf mulched where I could, put up a barrel of wire with some leaf mulch for spring and now like TeeGee just go down to cut a cabbage or pull up some parsnips or some sprouts. I think you can see that the ground is resting!! so maybe we should be too?? The only thing I want to do over the winter is lay my new paths. But it is difficult with the short days to find time...

You lucky sods. I've had my plot for three years but work full time and can't get up for every weekend, so I'm up every chance I get, still digging over paths and pulling out perennial weeds. Just transplanted a load of cabbage plug plants that had been acclimatising, now need to clear ground for spring seed beds.  ::)

Same as bupster... (although a bit newer at the whole allotment thing) I'm spending every chance I get clearing weeds and digging. No hibernating for me this winter!  :D

I'm also about to get a big heap of manure for the beds I've cleared so far (I'm not sure the previous occupier fed the soil much so I'll probably have another heap in Spring too) so shovelling is next   ;D