What I did today - 2015

[veggiechicken]

With a nod to Gertrud Franck, I sowed spinach and chard, very thickly, between the 60+ manky kales I planted out recently.
I'll cut down the spinach in the spring as mulch but hope to get a few pickings from it beforehand.
Its a kind of insurance against kale crop failure.
If you haven't heard of Gertrud (and not many have) and you have a few hours to spare, try this http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eme_63459.html

[Nannysally99]

For the first time this year I actually made a meal from all my own gear! Well apart from the sausages!

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Jeez! I now can't move! But it was to "Die For"

While the "Cat's are away" on there "Jollies" ...........

It's a great feeling Deano isn't it

[kris1960]

Its going to take forever to catch up on the grapevine and at the allotment- grannying is a time consuming business in the holidays.
Today I planted cabbage, kale and purple sprouting. Also cleared shed and organised potting bench to start sowing seeds for winter. Took some more leaves off tomatos in greenhouse.
Melons still going strong- they have defined golden lines on the outside now!
Some (4) tomatos have ripened and others are thinking about it.
Cavolo nero has been devastated by flea beetle as have the oriental greens that I planted about a month ago.
Picked loads of flowers and a carrier bag of cucumbers.
So nice to be back- looking forward to reading all your posts over the next few days.
Will rush to allotment tomorrow, in Coventry in the evening ready to take grand daughter for injections early the following morning.

[Scarlet]

Wondered where you'd ^^^^ got too

Me? Not done much today, just picked some stuff - it poured down most of the day.

[rhonsal]

today i sat in the sunshine (very rare to see the sun here at the moment) and enjoyed watching the insects flit about between the flowers!

[rosiepumpkin]

Bagged up seeds for the vsp/tomato circle while enjoying my flask of coffee. It started tipping down Noah style just as I was about to go out down my allotment, so might as well carry on I thought.

[sparrow100]

I have 3 squashes bagged and ready to pollinate on the plot and it's raining. gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!

[rosiepumpkin]

I painted my shed! My allotment neighbours must think I'm mental. It was ugly and horrible and to be fair they did let a 26 year old girl into their plots so I of course have to make it prettier. Here's a before picture...

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And after!

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Okay honestly on the tin it looked darker and more lavender. I freaked to begin with because it started out as such a bright pink but seems to at least have darkened to purple The little bird house isn't staying there, it'll be going around the back. And I'll be putting up more hanging baskets under the windows (as well as curtains in them!)

That is a wonderful shed. Eventually my shed (currently comandeered by The Man) will be painted and have curtains. I have my swatch of fabric up in the window. A gorgeous foxglove print

[1Bee]

[yesterday]

Guyed down my metal arch and a tied up some PSB and sunflowers in the face of a sudden warm wind. Mummified my 4yo in his blankie on the comfy chair, put a pillow under his head and a hat on his face and let him nap while I weeded. 'Nap' lasted ten minutes, which is a sitting-still-on-the-plot record for him. For both of us, in fact!

Weeded and harvested.

Rescued a fledgling sparrow from a tub with an inch of water in the bottom. Newly fledged, the little fella couldn't fly up with soaked feathers - I had no idea it might be a hazard and will leave twigs in them in future. He was relatively contented to let me pick him up and find him a sheltered, safe spot in our hedge. Saw him preening and flapping later, so I think he's fine.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Took the plunge, n lifted the "Seed Sown" onions!



They are "Huge" it being a first time from seed for me this year! I'll defoe do it next!

Was actually inspired to read "Pots" thread on "Growing onions from seed" (I say Pots, but AP was another major contributer)

Hmmm! Do I invest in a proper lighting system n devote my time to onions?

Thinking not! But have seriously thought about it! Hey! I want em for Kitchen use, no more no less!

But great thread to read Guys!

[bramble]

Great crop Dino, but the leaves are still very green which makes me think you could have left them in the ground a bit longer.
Not a critisim, just an observation.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Bramble! I need the space! Have a few overwintering stuff that needs to go in!

[Penellype]

Busy day today. My daily check for pests revealed a new type of sawfly has joined in the feasting on my gooseberry bush. These are much more prolific and hunt in packs, reducing a leaf to lace over night. I decided urgent action was required, so I carefully searched every leaf (its a triple cordon and semi spineless so this wasn't as bad as it sounds) and removed every caterpillar and egg I could find. I then tried to wrap the bush in fleece. If you have ever attempted wielding 3 metres of fleece in a small space on a windy day you will know that this was far from straightforward. The result was something that looked a bit like an Egyptian mummy but was clearly going to fall apart fairly soon.

Cue a trip to the garden centre to find something more suitable. They have fleece jackets which are designed to go over large potted plants, so I got some of those. On my way home I stopped off to get some food from Tescos and passed Costa Coffee, so I decided to see if they had any used coffee grounds. Came out with a huge bag full (free). My car and garage both now smell like a coffee shop .

Put the fleece jacket onto the gooseberry bush, which was reasonably easy. Killed a sawfly that was trying to get in, and pulled the drawstring tight around the stem of the bush. My only reservation is that the fleece is green (its clearly designed as a frost jacket) but it will have to do.

Mowed the lawn as it was dry. Put some of the coffee grains around my newly planted out kohlrabi, to deter slugs (I hope).

Noticed that the first lot of onions that I'd brought inside were about dry, so stripped off the dead leaves and roots. Put them back on the rack to finish drying and brought in a few more. Cut back some nasturtiums that were hiding the path.

Harvested some tomatoes (Balconi red and yellow, which have been very prolific), a large bowlful of blueberries, some lettuce for lunch, 2 courgettes and a large handful of runner beans. I thought I had a courgette problem but the runner beans are worse! Why on earth I thought I needed a couple more plants around the archway I have no idea - they haven't even started producing yet...

I'm going to be having nightmares about courgettes and runner beans soon.

[kris1960]

Spent a lot of time yesterday trying to find trowell to move more strawberry plants from next years onion bed. Never did find it so cleared beds in front of greenhouse ready to take them. Gave all fruiting things a comfrey feed and picked flowers and veg to take to daughters.Chopped cucumbers and brined ready for pickling.
Forgot to take flowers but had lovely meal there. She had unfortunately mistaken appointment date so arrived home today at lunchtime, made pickles and got to allotment in time to spend rest of the day digging bed,picking and planting chard in the rain.
Will try to work through tomorrow- away at weekend and back at work next week.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Can't resist posting this!

Brought a couple of the "Seed Sown" Onions home! Tiedied em up a tad!



How Good are they!

Did a bit of "Fettling!"



Picked the first bunch of "Celary" Sweet, crunchy and gorgeous with there inner curved vain full of melted cheese n chives!



Oh n noticed an "Abyssinian Glad" in flower!





Ain't they just lovely things!