Bean Trench Completed

Another very busy few hours has seen another large area cleared, the bean trench dug, filled with leaves, home made compost and soil, and then the poles put up. Note the arch in the middle...

Two by Two

Two of us working over two days for a total of 13 (wo)man hours has had a big impact on 54a. It is starting to look like one plot at long last.

Looking from the shed you can see that most beds are clear and ready for the new season, even if the path needs tidy up. What used to be the end of the plot is now only half way!

At half way are piles of roots and nasty weeds that need disposing of. The piles are pretty high! We will make a seating area here.

 Two thirds of 54a are now clear, with potato trenches now ready, and the bean trench started.

Looking from the road. Just a few hours work to finish clearing, then the hard work starts!

Mean whilst at home sowing has started in the propogator and the greenhouse. 

Bertie

I cannot believe it has been so long since the last post.

What a contrast to last year when we had a very cold winter then a hot dry spring. This year we had a few very warm days in early March, then almost non stop rain, with cool temperatures. Everything is much later than expected, but at least the water butts are full and the ground is damp.

Here's a brief round up: most of the news is missing because I've forgotten it!

Say "hello" to Bertie. He is championing plot 54b in the allotment Jubilympics. 

Mind you, he has some stiff competition:

They are very much needed: over a few days the peskie pigeons flattened the mesh and ate all the over wintered cauliflowers:

Meanwhile, after two winters we were able to sample our first asparagus yesterday.

Yum Yum.

Temporary Spring

Yesterday we took advantage of a beautiful day to spend around 3 hours on the plot. Inevitably on what was the first proper session of the year, much time was spent clearing up.

Quite a few of the overwintering vegetables hadn't survived (e.g. some cabbages, and the broccoli), so these were removed or consolidated into one area.

The Autumn planted broad beans and peas are a bit patchy, but I have some replacements doing very well in the greenhouse.

The first bean trench was dug and part filled with compost and cardboard.

The Autumn planted raspberries, asparagus and rhubarb is still dormant (or dead). I hope there will be signs of life there soon.

Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, the start of the massive spring sow has started, and the potatoes (from a Woodborough Garden Centre, Wilts) are chitting in the shed.

Number 7

It's not a scene from the prisoner, but today I've been working on bed number 7, which will be roots. The trouble is that although I thought it was already cleared, once I started digging, I realised it was still full of bramble and some bindweed roots.

The weather was great for lots of digging... cold and sunny, with the bitter north wind being sheltered: I assume by trees and houses.

In just over two hours I managed to completely dig the bed ( approx 3x3m) and clear the major roots. After leveling and tamping down, I placed a row of old large water bottles over a row. They're not doing anything, but it looks as if there is something happening. I also marked out beds 6 and 8.


In my extensive reading I've just found out that onions and legumes don't go well together: only three months late. The onions are doing so badly, I might move them any way!

Tomorrow is the big day........ the shed comes.

Taking shape

The plot is now taking shape, and there is a plan. I've based it roughly round 12 3x3 metre beds. I say roughly, because 3m depth would make it 18 meters long not allowing for paths, the shed space and compost. It is only 19 metres in total. Beds 9 to 12 are probably nearer 2m depth, as are 4 and 5.
Bed 9/12a have the broad beans in. I guess about half have survived the winter, so I might in fill with some new sowings. 9/12b have onions in. Similarly, less than half have survived winter, birds etc.

Bed 11 has the tree in it, as well as rhubarb. It will be interesting to see if the tree re-grows after its severe pruning.

Today, after a hard frost I still managed a few hours digging. I broke the surface of plot 1, and marked out plots 2 and 3. Plots 4/5 are joined to make the potato patch.





This is the overall plan for the year: it will be interesting to see how it evolves.

• Bed 1: Beans
• Bed 2: Sprouts, Cauliflowers, Chard
• Bed 3: A pottager plot
• Bed 4/5: Potatoes
• Bed 6: Cabbages
• Bed 7: Carrots, Parsnips, Beetroot
• Bed 8: Peas
• Bed9/12b: Onions
• Bed 9/12a: Broad Beans
• Bed 10: Sweetcorn/Sunflowers
• Bed: 11: Rhubarb.

I also want to find space for a few herbs, stawberries, borrage, comfrey and holyhocks. Possibly a few complementary flowers as well!

2009 in the vegetable patch (and elsewhere...)

As promised, here is the round up of what is being grown this year:

In the original vegetable patch there are parsnips and spring onions (which are being sown successionally). In the new vegetable patch, which will have its own separate post at some point, there are 3 courgettes and lots of spinach. I have planted a few runner beans against the fence in the border, lots of peas in pots, also being sown successionally, and of course the radishes!

I am also experimenting a little by planting some leftover runner beans and a courgette in some odd bits of ground in between other plants in the garden.