What I did today - 2015

[skeggijon]

Transplanted 4 Rhubarb roots given to me by a friendly plot neighbour and helped him to move a couple of builders rubble bags full of leaf mould in return.
Removed the Cucumber plants from polytunnel, since they've finally given up the ghost and chopped up a mountain of Nasturtium plants to add to the compost bin.

[Ryleh]

My allotment site had an inspection visit this morning by the council allotment officer and in reference to my plot she used the words:

"You've clearly put a lot of work in to this"

and

"I'm a very happy allotment officer"

So I'm feeling very please with myself

[janzbro]

made 4 8x4 raised beds out of decking boards that were laying about, now just have to decide where to put them and dig them all out - not looking forward to it

[cheapskate chaz]

Didn`t do half of what I wanted to do this weekend...but managed to do what I could...and that was to continue building staging in my new polytunnel. The only things growing in there are some strawberries which are still fruiting, not huge, but tasty. My yellow raspberrys are still producing great tasting fruits. I pulled up the last of the rhubarbs for composting...incidently I built another compost bin from nice newish pallets, kindly donated by my work yard. Gave away some rakes/cultivators that I "rescued" from the works scrap bin to some new allotmenteers, such a wonderful feeling of helping others, giving is just as good as receiving...well, it is near xmas.
I have sweet peas in a tray in the green house that`s just germinated, will they be ok in there till spring? or do I repot them sooner?
I `d like to start planting some seeds now to get ahead of next year, any suggestions of what works, would be nice to germinate some Broccoli in the PT or would I need to wait?
The winter mixture manure is growing well after only three weeks!

[skeggijon]

Got the last of Elsanta Strawberry plants and runners transplanted - now have three beds of early Strawberries and two growbags with runners in the greenhouse for an extra early crop.

[SusieG]

Raked up a mountain of leaves off the back lawn. Gathered them all up and found an old plastic bin to compost them in, hopefully to get leaf mold next year or so. Decided to cut the back lawn as it was making me feel guilty (well, butchered more like as it was Very wet, but decided it needed it desperately!)

Picked a load more red-hot chillis! They still keep coming!

[bramble]

Weeding onion sets and garlic, and still deadheading my dahlias.
Raking up leaves and picking a few of the last outdoor tomatoes.
Potted on loads of seedling pansys from a packet I accidently knocked over into a bucket of soil.

[susieq100]

Planted the garlic. Composted the courgette plants. Dug in some radishes that had gone so woody that I could have made furniture from them! De-matted a path. Working on this slowly to remove all weed control fabric from the paths as it is patently useless at controlling the weeds. Am going to plant grass on the paths and strim them regularly. Hopefully the grass seed will help to suppress the rubbish. And if not, I shall move to plan C - not yet sure what Plan C is ... but I will formulate it if and when I need it (she said with conviction).

[Tripmeup]

Cleared a bed to plant onions in tomorrow, hopefully.
Picked some more toms and chillies

[Bigmallly]

Removed the last of the sweetcorn & covered the bed with tarp till spring. Cleared all the runner beans from half barrels & re-arranged the canes so they bend out rather than in, hopefully they should be easier to harvest next year, cleared more leaves out of the pond.

[WPG]

Made a start on the big allotment clear-out, which was well overdue. Dug out two beds of parsnips which had gone cankerous, pulled out all the old squash, peas, annual flowers, bolted lettuce, bolted broccoli, overgrown radish etc. Covered the empty beds with weed control mat.

[Snadger]

Went to Morrisons re Veggie's Elfe potato link. No Elfe's, so bought a miniature rose for a squid!Sorted out my home grown usable Elfe potatoes from my keepable for seed Elfe potatoes.
Swallowed my pride and treated my allotment paths with Glyphosate whilst their was still some growth to absorb the chemical.

Pulled some old cauliflower plants and gave them to the hens.

Harvested my black grapes from one greenhouse with the intention of making them a base for chilli jam!

Composted 16 pepper plants. Well phase one wasn't to bad as they were cream crackered from neglect. Phase two will be harder as I have to decide which deserve to be overwintered

[Snadger]

Cleared away some more of the outside tomato plants - only 2 left but there is still some fruit! We must have had a very mild autumn thus far.



Snadger - is this a Geordie expression? Not heard it before. What does it mean? Weak, spindly? Or is it 'pretty' because it's a bit like feminine? Just wondered. I like words.

Weak and spindly.

[Bigmallly]

I think it means weak but could be wrong.