Grow Your Own Magazine

Wish they had let me have my plot last Autumn then I might have cleared more of it before the grass, weeds, and brambles took off this Spring.

The part of the plot I've managed to clear is doing quite well with two lots of potatoes growing, shallotts, peas, beans, salad and a few carrots but the uncleared part is having a ' field day'. Each time I visit which is not as often as I'd like to or need to I make sure I start by hoeing with a hand hoe or dutch hoe the part that is planted...

thyme

The wild things like nettles, brambles, grass, thistles, that's weeds I suppose are growing faster than the things I've sown and planted.

I'm working part time at the moment and busy helping someone with urgent paperwork so the visits to the allotment have decreased and it was a bit of a shock when I saw it after not going there for a week. It looks my plot has the potential to go wild and unite with the bramble patch next door at any moment.

Trying to be positive...

thyme

Nice surprise when visited the allotment on Monday and saw how much of the plot my helpers had cleared while I cooked their Sunday lunch.

This week planted more peas which I hope will survive the neglect of the next couple of weeks. Also made a make do and mend version of a raised bed from lawn edging and sowed mixed lettuce leaves in organic compost in it. I intend to harvest this by picking leaves as and when ready and needed, rather than cutting the whole lettuce. This method...

thyme

Still not feeling great but managed two hours at allotment yesterday and an hour and a half today. Because of how I feel noticed for the first time that my half plot looks bigger now than when I got it, probably because I now know how hard it is to clear even a small area that is covered in carpet with grass and weeds on top growing through the carpet and rooted through to the soil. I still love being there though and enjoy the visit from the blackbird and seeing the half of the plum tree that does...

thyme

I am hoping weather is ok tomorrow as I want to go to the allotment to finish planting the early potatoes and to clear a bit more of the plot to sow some peas. I got a lift there today but did not have time to stay it was just to drop off a window to use as a cold frame; a redcurrant and a blackcurrant which I will plant up tomorrow; also have taken a container there to collect rainwater in as the water at the site is not switched on yet. Not sure when we will be able to use the tap but it...

thyme