The last post

I've handed back the allotment to Merton Council. Was not able to give the time the plot deserved, so it was best to pass on to someone who will potentially make more use of it. It was a lot of hard work, but very rewarding. Maybe someday I will be in a position to take on the challenge again. Ciao!

Big Shed, Little shed

How do you get a shed delivery from Nottingham to arrive for 8:30 am in SW London?

Someone gets the delivery driver to get up at 3am and head to the depot for the day's pick up!! Simple really.

Well once the other chores for the day were out of the way. I had plenty of time to get the structure put up.

Thanks to siblings for help at various points in the build - which hopefully means that everything will be strong and secure. Obviously I'm not talking about family relationships...

So the little shed (ok, it is a bike store really) is available....the next stage is to dismantle the big shed. Potential is for the big shed to be relocated on the allotment.

Big shed is 6x8 foot, so am considering options....top of the option list is to chop the length to a more manageable size (and without windows too ).

Invasion of the dandelions - part 1

A couple of busy hours at the allotment, while off for Easter hols.

To re-cap, we've got 3 beds weed free and planted with Maris Piper potatoes.

Another 2 beds are in fairly good shape. The wooden structures around the beds seem to generally have been damaged whilst I've not been at the plot.

The brambles had been chopped back over the last couple of visits, and the raspberry canes/bushes now have more space to grow.

So today, I gave a couple of hours attention to the patch that has never had any raised beds on it. Pretty sure I've grown runner beans here, and probably courgettes too.

I was going to give a good digging over with a fork, mattock or spade, but started to hoe some dandelions on the plot first. These weeds are easily seeded on the wind, so quickly spread across the whole allotment... there are no fences/walls between plots to stop them. The path that leads from the entrance to the allotment up to my plot shows a procession of dandelions heading towards my plot!

The dandelion clearance was quite successful (as much as you can be against these weeds!) and so carried on the work on the area above the raised beds. Two hours later, and I'm impressed that it went so well.

Below is picture of the cleared area (probably about 15ft x 8ft!).
I will continue clearing with the hoe at the top of the plot, and hopefully will have the majority of the plot ready for planting in a week or so...ready for next lot of spuds (Charlotte variety), and the rest of the plants being grown from seed.

The problem with clearing out the weeds with the hoe, is that it probably hasn't got all the roots out of the ground. Some will be fully removed, but some weeds have deep roots and are very persistent....never mind, what was above ground has gone and the continued hoeing will keep on top of the weeds for the time being.

Above is general view of plot today...raspberry bush in foreground, and rest of plot -including newly cleared area.

I met a neighbour on the allotment today. He lives on same road as me at the end of my block, stopped for a chat - he's been working the allotment for 20 years plus! Never seen him there before though, and guess it is down to the weekend vs weekday allotmenteering routines that people have.

Meet me at the cemetery gates...

Just a few quick notes about some changes that have happened since I was last active at the allotment.

My normal route to the plot has been in the car (sometimes bus, rarely walking!). Taking the car round to the cemetery that backs on to the plots. Parking up and heading through the gate (using key provided by council).

The other week I was showing my new allotment partner this entrance. There was a new lock...the old council lock is still there, but a new lock has been added, by the cemetery staff. This effectively blocks easy access to the allotment, and will potentially make life a hassle getting any bulky items to the plot (timber for beds, new soil), or getting it home (large quantities of spuds etc.)

From talking to people at the plot, this lock has been added as the cemetery staff were getting upset at the number of cars in the cemetery, and maybe more so because of being asked to open the gates when cars have overstayed their welcome and been locked in.

Hose pipe ban! In common with most of South East England, there is a drought! So a hose pipe ban came into effect early in April. Fortunately there are a number of water tanks close to my plot...and it rained fairly heavily yesterday. We will see how many hose pipes become evident on the site, and how people react to any ban breakers!! "There's always someone, somewhere with a big nose, who knows! Who trips you up and laughs, when you fall "

Notice board, a new notice board has been erected at the road entrance. It only holds a map of the plots....more on this another time.

Now some things that haven't changed...my plot neighbours are mostly the same.

Mick, is still going strong. Maybe a little slower, but still there every day. I have Mick to thank for keeping the plot in reasonable shape....he has been keeping the dandelions on my plot in check, as his plot will suffer seeds blowing on the prevailing wind onto his plot. I'm sure he has also been keeping check on other problems too.

"Keats and Yeates are on your side, but you lose - Cos Wil-il-ilde is on mine"

Hmmm, May have to plant some gladioli now!

Episode IV - A New Hope

A long long time ago, in a distant corner of London... an allotment has been waiting for a new beginning. The evil curse of lethargy has too long been present over the land. The allotment plot has been under the rule of weeds and couch grass.

Well I've been paying the fees to the council for the allotment - so there has always been the plan to get back to the plot. I'm unlikely to get the evaporators working, as the only good droids I had have disappeared.

But, at home base, I've got a back garden with a set of plants (mainly soft fruits) ready to take down, so a number of positive pieces were in coming together to restart this spring season.

The biggest boost by far though has been interest, not from distant galaxy, but from a friend/neighbour. Mary is an allotment master (having a lot more years experience) , I will be her apprentice.

We've decided to work the plot together, and have already been down a couple of days to clear some raised beds and get some chitted potatoes planted (Maris Piper).

Also got a lot of seeds growing in trays on the kitchen window ledge at home, so once frosts are over we'll be in a good position to get the allotment plot fully operational.

That will take the rebel scum by surprise!

As expected the plot has run wild in a lot of aspects...but an extra pair of hands will make the managing of the plot a lot easier!!

So here's to a new beginning, and to the harvest of 2kilo of Rhubarb from the plot.

Until next blog I make.

Feedback please

I was just at statcounter.com which I'm using to measure the traffic coming to my blog...all free and very easy to use!
It is interesting to note that people out there all over the cyber world (Czech Republic,USA, Canada, Australia,India,France, etc etc..) are potentially reading something that I'm writing...although some people could be falling onto my page randomly or by mistake!
I've found that blogging is a good way to record what is happening day to day, and as the archive of posts builds up, just how much has been learnt and achieved.
I really love being on the allotment - and even without the blog would feel a sense of achievement. But, having the blog lets me look back and see the fruits of my labour.
So I recommend blogging to you all - allotmenteers or not.
Please feel free to leave comments, questions, advice, tips etc....it would be great to read what you have to say.

Always winter, never spring

Hello All!

I think that should be "Always winter, never Christmas" - from the Narnia books...but the sentiment is the same...
It is a long time since my last post....and I've still not been to the allotment this year. It has been too cold, too frozen, too covered with snow to be able to do anything apart from develop chilblains!
The grave yard has short opening times during winter too...so is much harder to get organised and motivated to get down to the plot.
So here are my predictions for what I'll find when I do turn up!

1) A big mess - weeds will no doubt be evident and ready for a growth spurt.
2) Lots of clearing to do...I should have spent more time getting ready for winter - pull up the exhausted tomatoes, peppers etc... but I didn't!
3) Dead fish - they are supposed to survive winter by slowing down metabolism etc.. but it has been a long hard winter.
4) Rhubarb - I'm sure this is perennial, so it should be fine.
5) Most other plots in the same state - I'm sure I'm not alone in my fair-weather attitudes.


Hay-hoe...