First trip up the lottie for a bit

due to house moving and rotten weather. I've not moved house, but I had to fly down south to help my daughter. Seriously thinking of a move myself however. It would be nice to be on her doorstep and I don't think she'd mind too much either. Still, we've got this season to get through yet.

Yesterday was spent on the plot, but managed to get up the lottie today for an hour or so.

Took up some more bags of home grown compost and brought the level of one bed up by about 1/2". It really doesn't go very far does it ?

Did a bit of weeding and clearing up. Found the soil incredibly easy to work. Nice.

Pulled some more rather chewed at Swede Best of All. Gave a couple to the M-I-L and kept a few for myself, now bubbling away in the pot with the last of the carrots.

Tulips (left in from last year) just beginning to show, so had to take it easy with some not so over zealous weeding.

Despite it being not a bad day, quite warm really, not much activity up at the site. Infact my car was the only one there for the duration.

Might have had something to do with the football being on the tele. Having rushed back to the in-laws to watch it, I really thought I'd have been better spending another couple of house up at the lottie re-erecting the fence or something - it was really pants.

Musselburgh leeks sown at home today for eventual transferring up to the lottie.

Other half back up next weekend so don't expect to get much done. Mind you there is the fence isn't there .............................

:-D

That's me started

I've been a very good girl this morning.

I've been through the seed box, sorted out everything that I'm not going to sow this year and have packaged them up for my very good friend with a new plot. That's going in the post tomorrow.

I've also listed out exactly what I've got to sow this year and have frightenened myself already. The list is enormous and this is the new sensible me.

I've also found out that I'm a bit late with my Aquadulce Claudia broad beans and my Valdor Lettuce. So now I'm in a panic that I've not been down the shed to sort that out and have no idea whether I've got any seed compost or not. It's amazing how quickly you forget what needs done and when.

Ahhhhhhhhh the joys of crop growing.

Let's get this show on the road

I braved the cold and took a trip up to the lottie yesterday, first visit since before Dad passed away. The sun was shining, although it was perishing cold. Gales were forecast for 3pm but I needed to get some fresh air and spent a nice hour just wandering around.

All in all it looked quite nice and tidy. Did a wee bit of clearing up and picked a couple of swedes that have lasted well with only a couple of nibbles here and there. There's still about half a dozen left, one is promised to the M-I-L when she gets back from her week away in the sun and one is going to a chap at work who has professed in interest in my crops.

I forked over a few of the beds and was pleasantly surprised them quite loose and crumbly. I was even more pleased that the tools were still where I left them.

So now the planning starts. What to grow this year ? I've not concentrated enough over the last season and have forgotten most of what I had learned, so it will really be starting from scratch again.

I want to try sweetcorn again. What I did manage to harvest last year, was lovely, sweet and tender. Trouble is half the cobs weren't pollinated properly, so I'm going to read up on what I can do better.

Peas. I was well happy with last years crop but need to think about how to keep them from falling all over the ground. Broad beans which I have learned to love, so more of them.

My runner beans suffered through lack of attention and timely picking, so I think it will just be a small run this year.

More swedes as I seem quite successful with them. And I'll try the white beetroot again. Didn't managed to get anything edible last season but that was purely down to lack of attention and duff spacing. I still like the idea of a kitchen that doesn't resemble an abbatoire, so they'll definitely be on the list.

The seed catalogues have started dropping through the door so I think that will be a job for today.

More bad weather forecast for today, but I've got loads of planning to do, so am really going to extract my digit and get the brain back in order !

Can't wait to start sowing and get back into the saddle again. Spring is only just round the corner ............. isn't it ? :-D

Hope you're all well, and I hope to be able to spend some more time on the blogs this year. Neglect will not be tolerated.

xxxx

Winding up for the winter

Well what a year. Nothing to do with crop failures, but the personal front has been nothing short of tragic.

We lost Mum in February, her mum - my Nan in August and then on 11/11 we lost my Dad.

So I'm sitting here in Sidcup once again, planning a funeral and thinking back a year ...... if we knew then what we know now, I'd have given up before I even started.

So this winter is going to be very quiet. The lottie had been pretty nearly put to bed a month ago, just a wee bit of tidying up to do when I get home.

I'd cleared out the g/h on the plot before I left too and deposited all the spent compost in various raised beds at the lottie. The soil levels are rising steadily.

I'm even going to have to start a blog for the Sidcup plot and I've got a fair size garden, room for a few raised beds and already got a greenhouse in place which doesn't need much apart from a good old wash.

So folks, I truely hope you've had a better year than me and mine. Look forward to seeing you all in the Spring when hopefully my life will be back under control and I will have a masterplan for the three plots !

Take care of yourselves and have a Happy Christmas !

RIP Dad, no more 3 putting now eh ? ...... "Yeah yeah yeah"

Ron Bryer
21/3/28-11/11/08

Swede seedlings are through

But were fast becoming slug brunch. Working along the line they were. Might have to get some standby modules sown. Now I remember why I don't sow direct ! Thinned the survivors and surrounded them by a ring of animal friendly pellets and put the fleece back over.

Got the bean trellis up. Cheated and used the one from last year that I'd taken down intact. Slung some cardboard up the centre as a mulch to keep the weeds down.

All the Sutton broadies now germinated.

Beetroot has avoided being munched so far.

Planted out sweetcorn and peas and surrounded them with fleece wall to keep off the chill. Covered the whole bed with the remains of the multipurpose compost with JI as a mulch.

Tatties only just coming through. The ones on the plot are still bigger by far.

Uncovered another of the beds intended for the courgettes. Gave it a bit of a fork and turnover. One bed left to work on. The comfrey plant at the back of the plot is growing nicely, may steal a few leaves to sling in the bottom of the courgette holes along with a handful of manure.

Got a hose rigged onto the tap and filled the butts.

Had a bit of a weed round everything.

Garlic doing ok but a bit yellow at the edges.

Sunflowers starting to germinate under their cloches. Chard not put in an appearance yet.

Painted plot number on watering can and wheel barrow in an effort to remind the people that want to borrow them where to bring them back to. Lost two sun tunnels now and a watering can. You don't mind if people want to borrow, but at least have the decency to return them after they've finished. Got to buy myself a new watering can for the plot now !

Weather was overcast and large amounts of drizzle and blooming cold. Sun is out this morning but there's a 10k race on which will prevent me getting into the site until after lunch. That will give me chance to do some watering on the plot ............ and to go and get a new watering can ! The beauty of the drizzle was that nothing needed watering. Don't suppose the rain got very far down though.

Had a trim round the front edge flower beds and have promptly knackered my wrist again. Need to build some arm strength up. Got the salt out for the slugs which was fun ! Poor pansies are more or less stumps !

No idea what I'm going to plant to go over the arch this year as I didn't sow any sweetpeas until very late, and those that were donated by a lady at work have gone on the plot.

Have got nasturtiums (hey - arch idea ?), poached egg plant, turnips, marigolds still to plant out that are sitting back at home, along with the courgettes and beans. Had to resow some purple teepee dwarf beans as the majority had refused to germinate. May sow some extra runners direct as well (busily searching out packets now) .............

Hi ho, Hi Ho, it's off to B&Q I go.

xx

James Whale

Don't know if you've ever listened to the man but if he does anything he speaks his mind. He's just been sacked from Talksport for doing just that.

You may or may not agree with what he says but you should fight for his right to say it.

There's far too much censorship in this country these days.

Freedom of speech ? Don't make me laugh.

Want to find out what's going on ? Visit his website at http://www.jameswhaleradio.com/
and do just that.

Get on your soap box before it's too late.

Sowing direct scares me

but today I took the plunge.

As the M-I-L turned her nose up to turnips and wanted swedes instead, I've sown a row of Best of All swedes and chanced a half row of Beetroot Albina Vereduna and Wodan.

As the soil is still pretty heavy, I'd raked the bed, formed a couple of channels with a hoe, filled them with compost and sowed the seeds in there. Covered it with a fleece hoop network for some reason. Primarily to keep the scorching sun off as the babies pop through, but also to protect from the night chill. No-one else on the plot has done it, so I'm thinking "overkill", but like I say in the title, sowing direct scares me and I don't want to find a couple of rows of compost in a few days time and no bloomin seedlings !.

Perhaps already mentioned, where this bed is sitting, was where the cow poo was initially dumped last autumn before spreading it over the other beds. We'll see what incredible hulk mutant roots appear.

Water is running out. Down to half in both butts now, but had to give the broadies another soak - more of The Sutton germinated now.

Had another rake of the 5x5 and stuck all the big lumps which wouldn't break down, around the sunflowers leaving the rest of the bed looking pretty even but very dusty.

Possible showers tonight ........ I'm wanting a good heavy load !

Never satisfied ? Moi ?

Au revoir les jardinieres (made up word, probably wrong but you get the idea).

xxx

Bank Holiday Monday

Having spent a couple of days in the garden, thought I'd better get up the lottie to see what was what.

We'd had some pretty terrific rain since I last visited so expected to see my broad beans floating halfway down the street, followed closely by the garlic !

Not so!

Ground is incredibly dry and the water butt I'd used last time still hasn't refilled !

Broadies are doing ok but the one's planted direct don't seem to have taken any interest in the goings on. They're underneath pop bottle cloches but I could only see one germinating. Still there will be enough to go round when everything else starts producing. We have blooms on some but everything does look as if it could do with a bit of a feed which I'll take next time I'm up.

Cleared out my bit of the shed and had a tidy up and sort, collected a carrier bag full of nettles to take home to make nettle tea (not for me - for the plants), think the locals thought I was just a bit mad.

Had a hoe, weed and rake of a couple of beds and planted 16 or so sunflowers just to fill a bit of the backof the 5'x'5' bed. May stick the corn in front of them.

M-I-L has expressed a disire for Swede. As they weren't on the list this year, I had to buy a packet of seeds and I know exactly where I'm going to put them. Only thing is that was where I dumped the cow poo before digging it in elsewhere. Will probably get mutant double headed roots. Will be interesting anyways. The few I had last year were donated and the year before rotted, so this will be my first time of going solo on the plot.

Shallots succeeding in evading the birds and are looking very green and healthy under their cages.

JA's haven't put in an appearance yet, but then I suppose someone took you out of bed and tell you that you're going in another one, miles away, that would put you back a bit too.

Garlic needs a feed too. Going a bit yellow at the ends.

Tatties are not showing atm.

Tulips are windbashed and over, but they still add a splash of colour to an otherwise bare looking plot.

Right, must dash .......... work calls. booooooooooooooooooooooooo!

2008 Starts Here

If you've visited the plot blog, you'll know by now that Mum collected her wings in late February and I returned to the frozen north at Easter.

Life has been a bit strange since then with no signs of settling at all. However in the middle of the turmoil nature carries on and I thought it would be good for the concentration to start the 2008 blog now.

To start with the OH decided it would be a good idea to get a job down south ! This kept the white water going for a bit until I decided I could cope "home alone" for a wee while anyway. Spent all of 5 mins deciding whether I could keep the lottie going or not. Having broke my back last year getting it all ready, I came to the conclusion that one more year wasn't going to hurt.

So I've been getting things sown at home in modules:

Sweetcorn Lark (although no-one I've met yet has been successful with it on the plot).

Courgettes: Jemmer and Defender came to nought on the first sowing, second has been more successful. All Green Bush and Cavili were successful first time round.

Broad Beans: Aquadulce Claudia, Green Windsor and The Sutton are in the ground.

Arran Pilot spuds are still chitting and must go in soon, although we did have frost again this week.

Leeks: Musselburgh. I've only just lifted the last of the leeks planted last year and jolly nice they were too so decided to have another go as they weren't that hard to maintain (seeing as I'd left them all over winter without any attention at all.

Beetroot: Wodan (same as last year) and a white version Albina Vereduna.

Peas: Twinkle and Meteor.

Got trays of nasturtiums, marigolds and poached egg plants in the greenhouse all beginning to germinate now. Left it a bit late.

That's not to say more stuff won't be started ......... runners, dwarf beans etc, but I'll see how I go.

The metal fence fell down totally and had been launched across my beds. But with the help of Mr Secretary, they have now been dumped to the side awaiting some OH help to re-erect.

The ground was pretty workable and I was quite pleased with that. Not much to do in the way of weeding ......... yet!

Here are some pics of the flower bed. Mum's primroses didn't do badly, but the pansies became slug brunch. Her tulips however are looking just fab. A fellow plot holder was quite surprised they were still there and hadn't been nicked (like my two sun tunnels have - grrr).

So, we have started ................ may your sun remain shining and your butts full.

xxx

Mind is elsewhere

Since returning from Costa del Hextable, we have had nothing but rain, gales, snow, hail, more rain, more gales and now we have flu!

Situation darn sarf remains serious which doesn't help the concentration levels. Thursday afternoon was spent (like every other afternoon last week) in bed sleeping. I say sleeping, I think it's been more of a coma really as my temperature was holding steady at 102oF. Never felt so ill in a long time ! Emergency trip to the quack (who held the surgery open for me, bless him) secured a course of anti-biotics which have made me feel 10 times worse if the truth be known.

Thankfully the temperature has now broken, the intense pain upon coughing has now subsided and all we have to contend with is the rather dodgy side effects from the Anti-Bs! One step forward, 10 back, it's getting beyond a joke.

So what's happening on the growing front ?

Paid a visit up to t'lottie last weekend to inspect the carnage to find ........... none ! Bit of laying water but nothing overly bad. The mustard needs digging in and the metal fence panel had blown down (onto the Sec's plot - well it was his fault for digging so close to my foundations which I had made sure were a good foot or so inside my boundary - so HE can re-erect the fence whenever suits him). A quick weed is all that's required. Forgot to look at the trug full of garlic.

6 out of 8 of the Aquadulce's have now sprouted and I've got a tray 0f 24 Arran Pilot spuds chitting on the office windowsill.

Car has now been sent to the big metal scrap pile in the sky which means no more lottie trips for about a month til I can brave the long and arduous journey back from darn sarf with new car.

Can't wait until the river of life settles down past the white water rapids. Getting bored with the chaos now.

Peaceful thoughts to all.

xxx

Back !

Not been up the lottie yet but understand flippers were needed for a wee while.

I thought the other half was taking the proverbial when he told me he'd been drowned virtually every morning on his way to work since he got back after the New Year.

Having now experienced two sleeps (and associated mornings) back up the road, I see that he wasn't joshing. The plot at home is going to need some serious remedial work as both greenhouses got hit in the gales.

Still, nothing was ever grown by sitting around waiting for the weather to improve, so I've sown another 8 Aquadulce Claudia this morning and have stuck them in the leccy propogater in the nursery.

If I get nothing else, I'm going to have broad beans again this season.

The crisis carries on down south, which is going to mean fortnightly trips back home. Thusly, I'm not going to be growing loads of stuff with gay abandon, but am having to keep it realistic.

What exactly I'm going to do with the shoebox of seeds is anyone's business.

So if anyone wants some, just give me a shout !

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

Still mid crisis down sarf, but I actually have managed to sow 6 Aquadulce Claudia in preparation for planting out at some stage late winter.

Probably won't be updating this blog again for a while, but for any progress reports, please tune into http://kaypeesplot.blogspot.com/

Best wishes to all, I hope you and yours have a fantastic time over the jolly season.

Best of luck.

MrsKP

Weekend away followed by family crisis

Means that I'm not going to get up to the plot for another fortnight at least.

I've informed the committee just in case they think I've run off never to be seen again and hope that I've done enough digging, covering with poo and various types of sheeting to keep the weeds down. With a bit of luck the leeks will think it's their birthday, have had loads of rain in the last couple of days, and by the time I get back up there, they will be prize winners ! lol

I'm missing the place already though..............................

See you all soon.

xx

Where were we ? Ah yes .... beds !

OH said he'd help me on Sunday and advised me not to go to the lottie yesterday cos the Old Firm was playing at Ibrox.

Little does he realise I'm up with the lark and intended to beat the rush both before and after K.O. So with the car fully loaded (what would I do without it?) I got up there about 10am and set about making the final RB. When I say "final", I mean the last one with the wood I have. Now standing back and looking at the layout, there are definitely two areas that would benefit from some edging, but they can wait .......

First things first, make the bed. I had to sacrifice the For Sale post that was in the garden intended to be a support for a leccy cable through to the greenhouse. I needed bed legs, so it had to go ! I'm getting a dab hand at making RBs now. Had this one finished in double quick time.

Now the cabbages and final swede were in the way, so out they came ! There appears to be two different varieties of cabbage, one light green and crunchy, the second deeper and erm, less crunchy ! lol These were donated by an anonymous kind soul earlier in the year so I have no idea as to the names. They have been pulled far too early but will still make 4 or 5 meals worth as long as we eat them and don't just leave them to rot in the fridge !

With the ground now clear, set about digging the foundations for the bed legs. This is always befuddles me, I can never get the beds quite level, or straight for that matter, but they're dug in and done so that's what matters. I'm sure the veg won't worry about slightly out of parallel lines.

Dug the bean bed quite deep and threw that soil into adjacent new bed. Will line the bottom of the bean trench with newspaper and then cow poo today. I was going to have the bean bed right up again the fence, but then I thought about it a bit more and decided I did want a double row, so left enough of a path to pick from the fence side (north). Don't know how the lack of sun will affect that side, but will find out next summer eh ? lol

Removed the final two strawberry plants to take home and over winter. The wee one, was from a runner this year and it has already got a good looking root system on it. No way I'm leaving the strawbs on the plot with the potential flooding.

Got the hanging basket brackets up on the fence posts, empty atm. Could fill them with primroses I suppose as I still have plenty back on the plot that I've not planted out yet.

Planted garlic in the trug ! Only about 20 cloves, but then I really don't need to feed half of Britain ! We do use a fair bit in our cooking but I think I've got enough hanging in the shed to last me a lifetime (for as long as the bulbs will store anyway). Thought I'd just picked up Solent Wight, but would appear that I got a Purple Wight as well.

Hung the jacket up as a flag of loyalty (Rangers tartan). The team must have been watching as they came away with the first OF victory of the season. I kept having to run up to the lovely Jean to keep her updated with the score.

I was thinking of doing a blow by blow round up of the season, but my record keeping has been shocking this year, so here's a few observations instead.

1. Taking on a lottie just the season after getting the plot together was a huge undertaking. In hindsight would I have said "yes" if I'd known exactly how much hard work it was going to take ? .... aye probably. Definitely pleased I only took a quarter plot though. At least by the beginning of next season, I'll be able to concentrate on sowing and growing rather than building and banging.
2. Never mix your Gigantes beans with your runners. They look so similar ! Fantastic crop of Gigantes though and will definitely grow them again next year even if they do take a long growing season.
   
3. Courgettes did reasonably well. Plenty to eat and more than a few in the freezer. Will definitely start them off at home again and plant out when they've got to a reasonable size in pots. Only trouble is, not a clue which variety was which.
   
4. Broad beans will definitely be on the menu again. Love them and have got a successional plan for next season.
5. Cabbages, still not convinced by these. Although I do have two new varieties to try next year. Will give them another shot in half a bed.
6. Was impressed with the swedes even though I'm sure they weren't prize winning size, but at least we got to eat them which was 100% success over last year.
   
7. The beetroot grown in situ were just sown too late to reach any kind of useful size. The early ones raised at home did well though so they'll go in the plan.
8. Blue Lake climbing beans were a winner, but don't think I'll have room for them next year. Have got Dwarf Bush Bean - Purple Teepee instead.
9. Ahmed's Bosnian Pumpkin was delish however took up loads of room. I may find a home for him on the plot next season but not at the lottie.
10. Find a new way of growing leeks. The hassle of having to weed around them was a right faff, and my nicely prepared holes just seemed to fill up with soil far too fast. Some are getting to a reasonable size but a lot of them still look like large spring onions !
11. Green manure is the way to go. That's one bed I've not had to worry about since I sowed the Mustard way back. All I can see is Mustard, no weeds ! Like that idea lots !
12. Will definitely plan and label better. For all my playing with excel charts, I simply lost track of what was where and when it was planted, and simply MUST find a pen that doesn't fade in the sun !
    
13. Must get the watering and feeding thing sorted though. Everything was left to it's own devices this year and I'm sure with a bit of TLC I would have got more and bigger than I did.
14. Don't go mad with the seed catalogues. Realistically I have enough to last me until the end of time................. famous last words.
    

There's still a lot of work to do, filling the beds with old compost bags and the like, but hopefully the hard part is done (apart from getting the netting and supports sorted and everything else that I've forgotten already ! ).

Found this purty wee pink thing over the back in the nature reserve. No idea what it is, but it's very girly !

Am away next weekend with the A4A girlies so must get up there again today so have another good bash. No useful daylight to get much done after work nowadays and just SO much still to do on the plot.

Have a good one folks !

I made a mistake yesterday!

I went up to the lottie after a good long absence without a plan.

It's amazing how quickly you forget where you're at with stuff after a couple of weeks away tending to other things.

Still everything appeared to be how I left it, so no vandal damage (two or four legged varieties) to contend with.

Planted some more tulips I found hiding in the trug. Filled the trug with spent and sieved growbags ready for the garlic. Another growbag went to providing an almost invisible layer over one of the raised beds. It really doesn't go far, despite breaking your back getting it to the lottie !

Took more netting supports up, but almost immediately found that I didn't have anywhere near enough plastic joints. Thinking cap on, will take up a length of hose next time and cut some from that. Baby Bro donated much to the cause during his brief visit, so I now have three full length hoses to choose from.

We had a new fridge delivered at work in the week, so I grabbed the cardboard and polystyrene packing. Was thinking of insulating the cold frame with the polystyrene and the cardboard went over a couple of bare areas of soil.

Lifted half a dozen leeks from the flower bed because I wanted it clear for the new path. Small as they are, they are destined for the soup this week.

Moved the 5'x5' RB over about a foot to it's final position. Just a shame the rest of the leeks are in the way. Spent a bit of time moving paths to suit. Despite the paths being compacted, it was reasonably easy to dig. It would appear that's I've got a strange shaped area in between the 5'x5' and the bean trench. Can't really visualise it until I've got the last 8'x4' built and in place which will be almost next on the agenda.

There's still a huge pile of cow poo in the midden, so my main priority is to lift the last of the swedes and the cabbages and get the two final RBs in place and filled with the stuff. I'm surprised it's not all be grabbed by now.

Ma and Pa in law came to visit for a chat over the fence, so they got one of the swedes and I brought two home. Bit of splitting damage to one, and what appears to be root fly tunnelling. Still there's enough there to go in the pot and I was more than pleased that I actually got some grown which was more than happened last year when they all rotted.

The green manure mustard had fairly shot up. Keeping a watchful eye on flower heads forming. I really must find out where the mustard sits in the rotation plan and how long I'm likely to be able to leave it before I dig it in. It's definitely an easy way to ignore any weeds that might be lurking, you just can't see them !

Stood and looked at the plot for ages thinking what to do next so turned the compost heap. Bit wet and soggy so made sure extra newspaper went in as I refilled it.

Went for a walk around the site on my way home and ended up having a cup of tea and a chat with the lovely Mrs Minute Taker and her chap, and the Chairperson popped past too. Came away with two jars of home made chutney, a pepper and a sense of well being.

List of things to do before I can put the lottie to bed:

1. Obtain 2"x2" post for the last 8'x4' bed legs. Build bed.
2. Remove cabbages and swede and dig over where bed is to be. Fill both with poo.
3. Find two more pallets and get another couple of bags of post fix to finish side fence and then I can get the hanging basket brackets up.
   
4. Plant garlic in trug.
5. Fill RBs with spent compost from the plot (which is going to take a while as the tomatoes in the g/h are still ripening !).

Things to think about for next year:

1. Build a secure tool store. Everything is just crammed in the corner of the shed atm and now I've used the trug, everything's just been stuffed into carrier bags.
2. Think about the paths. I'd originally thought woodchips, but with the likelyhood of flooding I can see them ending up a soggy mass. Chuckies, pavers or bricks would be ideal, for the central path anyway. Shame I don't have any !
3. Secure the fence that the Lovely Mr Sec has excavated right up to and which is leaning precariously towards his plot.
   
4. Measure up and cut netting from the huge roll that's sitting in the plot shed.
   
5. Devise my cunning planting plan!

I've sown a tray of perpetual sweetpeas (donated by Mum) and a tray of annual sweetpeas at home. Think the perpetual ones will go up the arch and hope they don't mind being a bit waterlogged !

End of chapter.

xx

Sunday - day of rest ? Do me a favour.

I really do enjoy the peace, quiet and calm of early morning on the lottie, especially when the sun is out. The birds are happily playing and you can't even hear much of the motorway that's close by. And then I arrive and stick the radio on but not before I've had chance to soak up some of the peace.

Another beautiful day. Slightly overcast to start with, and a bit damp. But when the sun came out it was fleece off time, really warm. There has been much activity on the plot next door for the past couple of days and they've put some flowers and shrubs into the border. Was going to ask to borrow their broom to sweep my not very neat paths, but I don't know them very well, so didn't ! Will take the spare old one from home up when I remember.

Sawed the final 2"x2" post for legs in record time and bed No. 7 got built. I'm getting the hang on this sawing malarky, obviously. Need to level it up a bit though. Didn't notice until I took the pics that there is a very obvious tilt.

The whole "village" is beginning to come together now though. It may look a bit cramped, in fact it is, but the main path up the middle is wide enough for a barrow (I stole greenhouse John's and checked) and the poo was easy enough to sling on. There will be no turning circle though, so it's a case of driving in and reversing out. Being a woman of many talents, I can reverse - even without mirrors !

The netting hoop support post idea works well. Glad I found that during my browsing.

I made a brick kerb to try and stop the path overflowing which I think works quite well. Ideally I want a fence (perhaps chicken wire rather than pallets) at the front of the lottie.

I'm toying with the idea of a small gate too. Don't know why really except I have two spare short posts that would lend themselves nicely. I'll see what everything looks like when I've got the final fence panels up. I just cut bit lumps out of the turf, slung them in an old compost bag behind the shed. I shall ignore them for a year and see what happens to them. The theory is that I'll get a nice bag of loam.

The leeks are now in the way of where I want the 5'x5' square foot bed to go tucked away in the corner. I want 5 (yes a whole 5, don't go mad now) sweetcorn in the back row so as not to cast shade but where I want to shift it means that it will sit over the path that I've so carefully be firming up lol. Still it would benefit from another good dig I think.

Found another roll of weed suppressant tucked away in the shed, so now I've got all the newly pooed areas covered. I grabbed a couple more barrow loads for No. 7 but could still do with a couple just to leave on the pile until the 8'x2' is in place ready for next years runners. Spread a bag of home cooked compost over the poo in No. 7 (which of course didn't go far) and then came home to a bowl of home grown/made soup.

Leeks, swede, onions, butter beans, garlic and carrots - all MINE ! More than enough there for us all week, don't know how I'm going to get the big lumps in the flasks though !

Overall a very rewarding weekend's work.

This week - the plot !

Sh[t, sh[t and more sh[t (and a sore back)

I made several attempts to get out of work early last week but all futile. So on Friday, ran out the door at 3.30pm on the dot and fled up to the lottie.

Manage to get all of the screws fixed into the last bed (remember, I ran out of juice?), and installed the final netting support posts.

Most exciting of all, two of my comrades told me a load of muck had been delivered, so went to have a look and sure enough a 5' high pile of cow poo was sitting in the midden. That was Saturday sorted then !

Yesterday, crack of dawn plus an hour and I was up there, wellies on, fork in hand, borrowed barrow and shovelling sh[t! Nearly lost a wellie at one stage, but the thought of putting my wellieless foot down for balance gave me the encouragement needed to regain my balance and tug a bit harder at the wellie ! Took as much as I could/was able to/allowed to(? ) and started loading up the beds. Greenhouse John said "is that your pile?" in a "that will never be enough" kinda way. I knew this but my back was breaking. I did go back and get a few more barrows later though and what I've left, he's going to go back on Sunday and grab ! Early birds don't just get worms on our place, they get poo too!

It's about 6 month old cow poo so I've been told, so consensus was get it forked in! Of course, my wee pile soon went down, so will go back today to procure a few more barrow loads for the bean bed that isn't quite ready yet.

There were loads of wee flies though, one went down my throat ! and my forehead is full of wee bites this morning. Just hope I don't get blue tongue disease ! Blue nose - aye, but blue tongue ? Nah - will give that a miss thanks.

Hence the covers over two of the beds to try and limit fly activity. Rather handily, the plastic sun tunnels fit exactly across the beds, so that will mean two rows germinating and once they have, move them on to the next newly sown rows. Successional sowing here we come.

I've also now cleared all the bean trellises and tee pee. There weren't many beans left on the vines, which were looking pretty frost ravaged anyway. Pulled the last of the chard and beetroot as they were in my way ! Have had to start another compost pile to the side of the darlek so covered that in black plastic.

The bed of green manure mustard is doing well and filling out nicely. There are patches where they were slower to germinate that their next door neighbours, but all in all, doing well.

More break ins had been discovered but the only damage to my plot that I could see was a bent and broken swede (which got lifted and brought home for some soup). Dug up a couple of the bigger looking leeks for the pot too.

Also brought home Ahmed's Bosnian which I left to the OH to attack with the largest knife we've got. A quarter of that is also going in the soup. I was quite pleased with AB, being my first ever pumpkin !

Only one fruit off 5 plants though, not a very good return and they take up acres of space. I suppose if I'd paid them more attention (aka known what I was doing) rather than just leave them to their own devices, they might have produced more !

When I decided I couldn't barrow, dig or even stand up straight any longer, I dropped to my knees and cleared the flower beds by the arch and put in mum's primroses.


So the photo is of the primroses, not the path ! :-) I said to a couple of people that if I couldn't get up again, I may just sleep the night in between the beds. lol


Another lovely John gave me a bag of apples, so I had one for lunch. He was wandering around with a bare rooted pot marigold given to him by one of his other wimmin ! He's such a lad.

Lots of birdy activity today. Saw a robin and some chaffinches, sparrows etc but all were quite busy flying about and chiripping lots.

Came home and immediate ran a hot bath, which must have done some good as I have actually been able to get out of bed this morning without too much difficulty.

Next weekend is a right off what with my brother coming up to say his goodbyes before disappearing to Spain to live, so I must get a load more done today just incase the work thing gets in the way again next week.

I hope to get at least one more bed built today, two if possible and more shifting poo.

I love my lottie !

More frost expected tonight grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Right, first of all, Sunday/Monday.

OH came up with me on Sunday to continue with the fence. A quick tour of the locality didn't provide the last two pallets required, so he just put up the last one we had. We're on the home stretch though and it's all standing pretty solid.

I meanwhile, created a bit of a flower bed over by the water butts. Raked out a load of surplus to requirement annuals and (mainly) weeds, chucked on some home grown compost and planted some tulip bulbs that OH's grandpa donated to the cause, and some of the pansies gifted by my Mum.

Then it was a rush back home to watch the football.

Yesterday, I had a bank holiday, so off up to my favourite place at 9am. Started on constructing another raised bed, only to run out of juice with one screw to go. Fuzzem fuzzem. Still, managed to clear the bed where it was intended to protect, dismantled the trellis by pulling it out of the ground in one. If it fits the 8'x2' bed, I'll not bother dismantling it, just leave it laying in the nature reserve over the winter.

I thought that I'd got the beds pretty parallel to the back kerb wall. How wrong was I ? They're on a good slant (which only just leaves me enough room to clamber over the back of the furthest bed), never mind, they're not all getting dug back out now !

Being a bank holiday, it obviously rained ! The early good start was soon replaced with showers (some heavy) and a persistant drizzle. Got another wee fire going in the grate, although newspaper soons burns out and has to be replaced ! Good job I've got a years supply of Evening Times handy ! In the end, it was obvious the weather wasn't going to let up, so I finished off the wood painting in the shed. So that's everything had one coat now.

Another committee member stopped past for a chat and it was Jean that warned me about the frost that we're due midweek. After some more consultation with Fuchsia Bob at work, I decided not to bother with fleecing the Gigantes and picked as many as I could instead. So I've now got a spare room full of beans ! I've found a tasty looking recipe so will give that a go at the weekend.

Also stripped the Blue Lake and runner bean bare. There's still some wee stragglers but if the frost gets them, I'm not too worried. I'll definitely find a patch for some more Gigantes next year though. Some of the pods look huge and if they dry OK, then they'll definitely be a winter staple from now on. Thanks Supersprout !

I've wrapped Ahmed in newspaper until I can get back up there again. I just didn't have enough hands to carry everything I wanted to bring home tonight.

Still, there's always tomorrow. :-D

We've had the first frost !

First thing that hit me yesterday was my poor pumpkin ! I thought someone had gone berserk with the weedkiller.

Then I was told that it was frost damage ! I knew it had been cold during the week, but I didn't realise how cold ! So poor pumpkin was given a bit of a haircut and hopefully will manage to ripen a bit more.

The tops of the Gigantes got it too but mostly they are looking fine ! I popped a trial pod and the beans are huge. I've got to read up on them and see what I have to do now.

I managed to turn the skinny bed round so it looks like it's in about it's final position. Trouble is I won't be able to get in there and sink it properly til the cabbage and swede have been lifted. Gave them both a haircut(to improve air circulation or just to make it look neater - I don't know :-D). And look at one of my lovely swedes ! About the size of my fist I guess.


The skinny bed is for runners next year and I'm thinking I can actually get two rows in there. Being extra deep, and going to fill it with loads of WRM when I ever get round to getting some, there should be sufficient nutrients to house about 14 plants. I'll have to move it forward a bit to get round by the fence to pick, but I think I can do it.
I screwed the fixings in for the cane/hoops supports. Quite a good trick I read somewhere and was praised by one of the gurus. He liked my weed suppressant paths too. Said they were neat !

Got to get some more pvc tubing but here's one bed ready to be filled with soil. I chucked a couple of bags of leaf mould over the base to pad it out a bit and will start filling it with spent grow bag and pot compost.

It was a lovely day, and really warm. Did some more panel painting and had a good hoe about. I want to get the front flower beds done over the weekend. I've got loads of spring bulbs to plant, and get some of the pansies and primroses in.

I got some more posts cut for bed legs and had to start another new compost heap as the fat darlek is full again - as are the water butts. I got rid of the remainder of the broad beans and pulled the rest of the Brittle Wax beans. Will definitely have to consider whether or not to grow them again next year.

Picked another carrier bag of Blue Lake and runners and I could get another cut or three off the chard. The bed of Mustard for green manure is filling out nicely now. All the seeds that I though weren't going to germinate have now. Oh and I had a go at burning some weeds in the grate in the shed. Even the newspaper I tried to light the fire with was damp so not much got burned ! Have left a load of stuff in the grate to dry out and will have another go today!

Looks pretty miserable out there at the moment, so I'm hoping the rain stops soon !

The rain dance worked

So it was rain stopped play up at the lottie. Wouldn't have got much done even painting inside the shed as it leaks worse than a leaky roof on a raining day.

See Plot blog for Sunday's action.