Winter Lottie Activities

[Shortie]

I've not been down the lottie for about 4 weeks now. The last time I went down there I stepped out of the car and the heavens opened and I got soaked!

Anyway, I can only get down there at the weekend and I seem to have a billion and one things to do this time of year/it's raining etc...

How much time are other grapes spending down the lottie at the moment?

Bearing in mind I still have a third of a shed to pull down and take to the tip, half the plot to dig and beds to make

[OverWyreGrower]

My garden is still flooded

I've swept up all my vine leaves in the greenhouse, and will prune the vine over Christmas, but I can't do anything else until the water subsides

Mr OWG said we should have a paddy field instead of a lawn... at least we could grow stuff!

[Bex]

The last 3 or so weeks I've only gone to put my bag of peelings in the compost bin, its been too wet to do any actual digging. As I'm getting so far behind from where I want to be I relented at the weekend and bought some round-up. Hopefully this will speed up the clearing of the plot. I know I still have to dig but it shouldn't be as back-breaking as bending to clear all the weeds from the soil.

[Alison]

Planted out some winter peas and broadbeans today - gave them a really good start in a cold greenhouse and they're looking great so fingers crossed for an early crop of both. Also pricked out some lettuce and cauliflowers which I'm growing under cloches and sowed some more in modules in the greenhouse. Apart from that it was clearing the last of the leaves and half a ton of twiggy stuff from next door's silver birch.

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Shortie et al,

Last few weeks we've only managed to spend 2 days on the plot, the weather has been too wet to do much on our other days off, so dont feel bad at not getting much done, as you arent the only one! (Dont worry, we too are both feeling fed up that we cant get to finish off the double digging and sort out the top raised bet yet, but hopefully the colder weather will mean a bit less rain and the chance of a bit more time on the plot soon!)

All we've been able to do recently is repair the 2' wooden retaining wall at the bottom of our plot, dig out the weeds in the bed behind that wall and start to prune back the overgrown brambles, elder, gooseberries and hawthorn, and get a bit more of one bed double dug, all of which was done before the ground became as sodden as it is now! Got to wait for it to dry out a tad before we can do any more digging methinks!!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi everyone! the weather has been too dreadful hasn't it, to be able to do anything constructive. I remember a good piece of advice from Nick and Adam during that very wet spell we had in August - they said not to dig the soil when it was so wet as it wouldnt really do much good, and you may end up doing yourself a mischief! Wise words methinks - and even though I was really eager to start digging my lottie yesterday, I know the weather will get better - and boy, will I be raring and ready to go! Dexterdog

[BayViewPlot]

Can only get to the plot at weekends at the moment cause the nights are too dark at the moment...then only 2-3 hrs at a time. still take veg trimmings to compost a few times a week tho'

keep chipping away and I'll get there in the end!

[jofanning]

Went down the allotment this weekend for the first time in ages, and secured two compost bins to a tree, as I am sure the kids will be kicking them over otherwise. Checked on the half of the plot that I have dug over and miffed to see weeds reappearing!! The weather has been so wet that even any attempt to dig this weekend ended up with me wearing more of it on my boots and on the spade than I probably should have!!!!
My kids enjoyed digging massive holes in the mud, so thats going to be their job for when I'm ready to plant pumpkins, have read that I need holes a foot deep, told my boy I need at least 6 holes of the same, he said he'd try his best!! Bless him. Lets hope for better weather after Chrimbo. Merry Xmas everyone.

[nick the grief]

Well we had a mini committee meeting on sunday that lasted about 1 hour & all we did was chew the fat & drink two Caffatieres of coffee still we had a good laugh. I've got the onions in & the Garlic & Broad beans so the next crop will be Peas I Guess then its tatty time. I dd try to dig my plot but the soil is in good heart & there are only a few annual weeds on there so I'll leave it till the spring I think.

[Snadger]

Like most of the other grapes I only manage to get to the lottie at the weekends as I seem to get up in the dark and finish work in the dark (And I'm not a coal miner!)

Finish work on Friday for a week and a half so should make up for lost time then! Loads to do as always!

[Geordie]

I seem to get up in the dark and finish work in the dark (And I'm not a coal miner!)

A Coal Miner......in Newcastle..............ha ha ha ha!!!!

[Stroppy scotte]

HI
I have also only managed odd days of late ( generally when the kids have driven me mad).
On the plus side the ground is still fairly dry despite the rain. Could be a little more than well drained. Did mean that I managed to dig and weed half the plot in an afternoon. Couldn't walk for the next two days!!
Paths also going in as well as edging made from pallets!!!
Still finding plenty to do and hope to get down there to work off Chrimbo excesses.
Have a great one one and all!!!