Happy New Year

  

TO EVERYONE

Down At Christmas

Lower End of N2 Plot Waterlogged (28/December/13)

 With power lines, trees, fences, roofs and goodness knows what else, brought down with this weeks storms it was time to go down the plots today, to check out the damage there. Oddly enough most of the small lightweight items of allotment equipment, situated on the majority of plots, such as compost bins, wheelbarrows, plastic fencing and the like, seemed to have been unaffected by the 2 storms of Monday/Tuesday and Thursday night of this week. I was extremely lucky to have only suffered some minor damage on my plots. 3 plant pots in my poly tunnel were blown over with their contents deposited across the tunnel's floor. There was a slight tear in one of the tunnel vents caused by the wind and apart from the lower ends of N2's 2 main beds being underwater, the only other damage was to a dustbin which had been blown over by the wind.

Minimal Damage To My Poly Tunnel (27/December/13)

Having checked out my plots for damage, I took a walk around the allotments' road to see what other damage the destructive high winds and driving rain had caused. Many of the smaller poly tunnels had been blown over with 1 in particular being completely shredded by Thursday nights storm. One greenhouse on plot 77, opposite my plots, had been lifted completely off its base. Several sheds had their roofs missing, with 2 of them completely flattened and almost unrecognizable as sheds. Several trees along the hedgerow to the south side of the allotments had been blown down and were lying across the banks of the drainage ditch, which runs along the southern boundary of the allotments. Many large fruit cages, situated on different plots had been left leaning at precarious angles by the wind, with their supports loosened in the wet, rain soaked ground. Many items of garden furniture and various types of ground coverings, along with other sheeting were strewn around different plots other than where they belonged, waiting for their owners to salvage them.

Greenhouse Damage Plot 77 (28/December/13)

Greenhouse Plot 77 Lifted Off It's Base (28/December/13)

After taking some photographs around the allotments I was back on my plots depositing more kitchen waste and the usual used Christmas wrapping paper and cardboard onto my compost heaps. Having disposed of a large rat from N1 Plot I decided to remove the remaining Sprout plants from N1's brassica bed. Even after the recent extremely wet weather and continuing rain, the soil was workable, due to the fact that a considerable amount of compost had been added to the surface of this bed, earlier this year. As the Sprout plants and a few weeds were lifted, the soil and compost mix was turned and broke down very nicely. By 3 p.m. the air temperature was dropping, so the Sprout plants weeds and some other decaying vegetation was consigned to the compost heap, a couple of Parsnips were lifted, bagged up with a few edible Sprouts and I headed home for a cuppa. 

 Poly Tunnel Blown Into Trees Eastern End of the Allotments

Poly Tunnel Destroyed by High Winds (28/December/13)

Shed No Roof (28/December/13)

Chair Damaged & Shed in Pieces (28/December/13)

Roof No Shed (28/December/13)

Fruit Cages Damaged (28/December/13)

Heavy Duty Cloches Blown Over (28/December/13)

Guttering Dislodged (28/December/13)

The Only Good Rat is a Dead One (28/December/13)

There's Always Tomorrow!!

Hedging Your bets

Marshalls seeds currently have several offers taking place for plants and shrubs.

 Just thought I would post a link to 1 of their pages advertising the offers.

Link = Click Here

Seasons Greetings.

Seasons Greetings To Everyone

"We go, in winter's biting wind,
On many a short-lived winter day,
With aching back but willing mind
To dig and double dig the clay."
  Ruth Pitter, (The Diehards) 

Plugs & Carbs All Jammed Up

With both my plots ready for next season its been a leisurely few weeks for me, pottering about in my back garden for several days. The borders have been weeded, shrubs trees and plants pruned or cut back and the Autumn leaves from neighbouring trees have been raked up and added to my compost heaps on N1 Plot. The lawn has been raked, aerated and a mix of soil and sand has been applied to fill in a few dips in its surface. Just the greenhouse to tidy with some cleaning and disinfecting to do on it, before it again sees the addition of some early sown vegetable seeds in their pots and trays. Oh! and some fence painting to finish off.

He Changed Colours to Match the Autumn Leaves in My Garden (18/November/13)

With the M.O.T. Test being due last month on my trusty 20 years old Vauxhall Astra I was wondering if it would pass its test this time. Deciding not to wait for the test I bought another car, deciding to keep the Astra as a "spare". A few days after the purchase, the Astra, for the first time ever, refused to start. Several hours of tinkering with plugs, leads and various other engine components saw the fault rectified and things are running smoothly again. Having got one engine back into working order I thought I would test my luck further by sprucing up and repairing my old Landmaster rotorvator, which I was having carburetor problems with. At present I'm half way through the repairs, with the carburetor dismantled and the fuel tank, pipes and filters cleaned out.

My Friendly Back Garden Robin (18/November/13)

Since my last main post on the 14th of November the weather has been typically autumnal, apart from the continual heavy full cloud cover, except for 5 days with some sunshine, when the clouds decided to disperse.
I spent 4 of the 5 days doing various tasks down the plots, mainly clearing fallen leaves. The final few meters of ground on the lower part of the L-shape of N1 plot has finally been dug over. The last of the sandier/gritty soil from my back garden project earlier this year, about 1 ton of it, was dug into the damp heavier clay at the same time. This part of the plot will be used to grow Pumpkins and Squashes next year as they seem to appreciate the dappled shade there.

Compost Bins Already Full With Autumn Foliage (8/December/13)

This afternoon was spent removing a few annual weeds which still have the audacity to be growing in some of my previously prepared beds. A few herbs were potted up for future use and although it is fairly seasonably damp in my poly tunnel at the moment the new Strawberry plants, in pots, taken from runners in the early Autumn, needed watering. Although there have been quite a few heavy overnight frosts lately, many plants are still growing, budding and retaining their flowers. The Daffodils and Bluebells along the top of the drainage ditch bank (N1 Plot) are already showing through, as the milder daytime temperature continue to prevail.

Daffodils Appearing (8/December/13)

Bluebells Appearing (8/December/13)

With frozen vegetables from my freezer being used on a regular basis it was time to check the freezer contents to see what produce was still left. There were plenty of Cabbage, Carrots, French beans, Leeks, Garden peas and various types of fruit still left, although the Runner beans were starting to run out (pun intended). Doing an inventory now and again gives me an idea as to the quantities I will need to sow in the following season. Due to the bumper fruit harvest this year and the fact that my last batch of jam has been used up, it was time for some more jam making, using some of the frozen fruit from the freezer. Red currant, Strawberry and Raspberry jam were soon back on the menu.

Savoy Cabbages N1 Plot (8/December/13)

  

More Jam (8/December/13)

There's always tomorrow!!

Rooko's Decembers Top 10 Tryouts & Tips

1.  If you have done the final cut of the year to your lawn, clean off the lawnmower and remember if you are using unleaded petrol it does not "keep" so drain off any fuel left in the mower before storing the mower until next year.

2. Red & white currants, Gooseberries, Autumn raspberries & outdoor grapevines can be pruned this month but not if heavy frosts are expected. Seal any pruning wounds.

3. Most summer bulbs are not Winter hardy so dig them up, remove excess soil and store them in a cool dry place indoors, ready for re-planting next year.

4. If your outdoor plant containers are too large or heavy to move to a frost free place, make sure they are insulated for the Winter. Fleece, bubble wrap or (polythene sheeting over cardboard sheets) can be used.

5. Hardwood cuttings from Currants & Gooseberries can be taken this month.

6. Order your fruit and veg catalogues now.

7. If the soil on your allotment is still reasonably dry, digging/rotavating compost or manure into it, can still be carried out this month.

8.  Think about growing "woody" plants permanently for next year and beyond, these will help extract carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.

9. Keep clearing dead and decaying vegetation from gardens, lawns and allotments adding it to the compost heap.

10. Unless you are behind with your work “down the plot” enjoy your Christmas shopping and have a Merry Christmas!!!

A Lazy Week Or So

With plenty of heavy rain, rain showers and misty drizzles of rain over the last 7 days or so, my plots have been too damp and wet to achieve anything positive on, without getting covered in mud or becoming soaking wet. As I was awaiting delivery of a parcel, which I expected to arrive by the end of last week but didn't, plus the weather was cold anyway, I opted to spend a lazy week indoors not achieving much. I did manage to catch up with my blog reading, commenting, updating and correcting errors on my blog and finally clearing a full email inbox.

A Variation in Autumn Colours (13/Nov/13)

Many other allotment posts I have read this week, have rightly centered on the Autumn clean up and the preparation of next years planting areas of all different shapes and sizes, in gardens as well as allotments. Having, myself, spent the past 2 to 3 years digging over, clearing, preparing and re-designing new and old plots, I am now finding I have little to do as far as "ground work" is concerned and the various clean up and preparation tasks lately seem to be finished in the blink of an eye with tasks down the plots, being few and far between, so lack of visits there lately is not much of a loss to me.

Autumn Raspberries Still Producing Fruit (13/Nov/13)

 The 2014 year planner that I attached to the potting table in my shed, is, at the moment, being used as a calendar. The notes written on it will serve as a reminder, when next Autumns tasks come around again. On Friday the 1st of November, I spent an hour or so weeding and tidying the flower border, which runs alongside my front driveway. This single border is now low maintenance, planted with 9 box, running centrally along the border with a miniature variegated shrub at each end. I ventured down to my plots that afternoon and began weeding the overgrown bed on the drainage ditch bank of N1 Plot, underneath my fruit trees. I was back down the plots on Saturday the 2nd and by mid afternoon the bed was weed free, with several containers of weeds, fallen leaves and decaying fruit added to the compost heap. Further rain on the 4th & 5th of November stopped play. With the ground and soil too wet to work, I spent a few hours in the shelter of N2's shed, as the strong breeze blew more leaves down from the nearby trees, I cleaned and disinfected about 50% of the garden canes I had used as supports for my French beans. From the 6th to the 9th of November rain again stopped play. Last Sunday afternoon, a break in the wet weather allowed me to remove my Runner beans and their supports. Several dozen more pods were salvaged and their beans will be used as next years seeds, after being dried and stored.

Full of Beans (10/Nov/13)

 With more rain yesterday, it wasn't worth toddling off to the plots once again. Tuesday was fine and sunny for a change, with some tangible warmth emitting from the suns rays during the morning. With frost forecast here for Tuesday  night, it was an ideal time to plant the last 22 of my Winter Onion sets, which was the first task of the afternoon. It was then time to clear up more fallen leaves and other foliage, which had been strewn around by the wind, consigning it to the compost heap, which is now bulking up well. The final raised bed, which I constructed some time ago, had the remainder of the polythene liner tacked to the inside of it, to aid soil retention. By late afternoon the temperature was dropping somewhat, so I spent 40 minutes or so, in my shed, shelling the last of my Runner beans for next season. A satisfactory afternoon down the plot I would say.

Runner Beans Removed & Roots Left In Place To Replenish Some Nitrogen (10/Nov/13)

  Yesterday was dry, sunny for a while and cold, after the first hard overnight frost of this Autumn. The afternoons task was to fill the the final raised bed with soil. Using the remainder of the soil taken from the main bed of N2 Plot during the Dandelion wars which started in October 2012, this was the soil that had been spread along the top of the drainage ditch bank, alongside my shed on N2 Plot. After filling my wheelbarrow with each load of soil any perennial weed roots were removed and after a dozen or so loads, the raised bed was almost full and the bank leveled and clear of loose soil. Four hours of work, job done. A couple of bags of multipurpose compost will be added on top of the soil later, after which, polythene covers will be placed over the top of each bed. The beds will then be used for next years seed sowing areas, easier than sowing seed at ground level and hopefully less back-ache!!

Final Raised Bed Topped Up With Soil (13/Nov/13)

    
There's Always Tomorrow!!

Allotment Book Review

Having received my first allotment gardening book for review, in the post last week, I thought it was time to post my thoughts & opinions about it.

 The Allotment Planner (more than 200 ways to enjoy your plot month by month) is a neat hard backed book measuring 6 inches (15cm) by just over 8 inches (21cm). An ideal size for keeping/carrying around the plot.

 The author Matthew Appleby has covered over 200 aspects of allotment gardening in a way that makes the book easy and quick to read. Many different methods of gardening and designing allotments are written about, some being established concepts, also many that would make you think, "I must try that one on my plot". Containing lined pages for each month of the year where notes can be written, the book can also be used as a diary/planner by the gardener. The text of individual topics is enhanced with a multitude of photographic pictures. There are also many internet addresses, to be found throughout the book, for various blogs & websites, which pertain to the individual topic being written about.

Summing up, from the amusing introduction by Alys Fowler to its end, the book is not only a good gardening read but it could also be useful as a notebook, a fresh ideas book, a reference to other gardening & related topics book. If you are taking on a new allotment want ideas for re-designing your plot or excellent gardening advice, this book is definitely worth reading.

The Reviewed Book

To order The Allotment Planner at the discounted price of £12.00 including p&p* (RRP: £14.99), telephone 01903 828503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote the offer code APG34. 

Alternatively, send a cheque made payable to: 

Littlehampton Book Services Mail Order Department, 

Littlehampton Book Services, 

PO Box 4264, 

Worthing, West Sussex 

BN13 3RB. 

Please quote the offer code APG34 and include your name and address details. 

*UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas. 

       

November Video N1 & N2 Plots

Here is my latest video showing the plots prepared for next year. 

Rooko's November Top 10 Tryouts & Tips

1. With less time being spent gardening over the Autumn & Winter think about collecting re-usable items that can be used in the garden or down the plot next season. Plastic bottles with the spray tops, for example, can be cleaned after they are used up, and re-used for garden sprays.

2. If you are lucky enough to have poly tunnels and cloches, try using the cloches inside the tunnels to doubly protect crops sown over the Winter months from the cold weather.

3. Provided that the ground is not too wet, November is a good time to divide various plants, as well as adding a good layer of mulch to plants in borders and beds.

4. Bulb planting should be completed by the end of November. Hint plant bulbs to a depth equal to 3 times their diameter.

5. Kale, Broad beans, Oriental veg and Garlic can still be sown/planted in November. Some roots and over wintering greens can also be grown under protection, as well as Sweet peas, cyclamen and Lupins.

6. Many garden centres are selling discounted gardening supplies and other items at this time of the year, try a visit and pick up a bargain.

7. Mulching, manuring, composting on the allotment can be done now especially if the soil is dry enough to rotavate or dig the manure/compost in at this time of the year.

8. If you have been thinking about obtaining some plant/seed catalogues, try the following link which has a good selection of them, plus other home and gardening freebies, some are applicable to the U.S.A. too. CLICK HERE.

9. Don't forget to check any bonfires, before lighting them, some animals may have decided to hibernate in them!!

10.

SOWING/PLANTING IN NOVEMBER

1. Garlic cloves can be planted out.
2. Sow peas (round type) if the ground is not waterlogged.
3. Parsnips can be left in situ.

OTHER JOBS TO DO IN NOVEMBER

1. Lift and store any remaining carrots.
2. Harvest Winter Cabbage and Cauliflower.
3. Prune back fruit canes.
 4. Remove any rotting fruit/vegetation

  

If It Moves Fasten It Down

Well it looks like I spoke too soon in my last blog post about pleasant Autumn afternoons with some good spells of sunshine breaking through, almost daily. Since then we've had plenty of rain here, mainly heavy showers but with some extremely heavy downpours, overnight. In fact last Friday when I visited my plots in the afternoon No 2 bed on N2 Plot had about 3 inches (75 mm) of standing water on the lower end of it. This took about a day and a half to drain away and its not even Winter yet. With severe weather warnings already issued for most parts of the country for tonight and tomorrow, its still not too late to check your plots and secure those loose items of equipment before it gets blown away. In my experience of "allotmenteering" I've seen many different items strewn around the allotments after high winds have caused havoc, such as: Wheelbarrows, cloches, polythene and plastic sheeting, netting, rainwater barrels and even plant pots with plants in them. Sheds and greenhouses are not immune either. A few years ago on our allotments, one lady had just finished erecting a new shed a couple of days before some high winds blew it over. As it rolled across several allotments, blown along by the wind, it broke into many different pieces which needed a lot of repairing before it was re-erected.

Standing Rainwater Lower End of N2 Plot (25/Oct/13) and Its Not Even Winter Yet

So despite the blustery and general murky weather I've been able to get more preparation done down my plots for next year. Earlier this week my shed on N1 Plot had its roof repaired and was re-painted on the outside using a 50/50 mix of "Wilkos" fence paint and Creacoat. Hopefully this treatment will keep it waterproof for a while longer. My other shed on N2 Plot also got the same treatment on the back end panels with some more sealing around the panels being done, with silicon sealer, to keep out the rain and those annoying overwintering beasties like mice, slugs & snails. I don't mind spiders seeking shelter in my sheds over the winter, every shed should have 1. After the painting and sealing was finished another rainwater barrel was installed behind the shed on N2 Plot, running a flexible plastic pipe (from an old fish pond), fitted with an old bath overflow outlet, from the top of one of the existing barrels. Total cost, zero.

Another Re-cycling Masterpiece :) (24/Oct/13)

 The Gladioli that I planted earlier this year into the L-shaped bed on N1 Plot have been removed and stored in my poly tunnel, prior to being split and re-located next year. The soil where they were planted was too damp for them so they will eventually be re-planted in another part of the plot. Last Tuesday I removed more of my Summer fruiting Raspberries from N1 Plot. The ground has been too wet to remove the rest to date. Several of the plants were given to 2 of my neighboring plot holders and they are already installed in their new home. The remainder of the plants were consigned to a nearby bonfire.

Before & After N2 Plot Shed Painting 50/50 Mix of Wilkos Fence Paint & Creacoat (24/OCT/13)

More Autumn maintenance of a different type has been done during the week. My lightweight rotorvator, (rotortiller), a very old Landmaster, needed some attention as it woudn't start. After installing a new spark plug I managed to get it to fire and run, although the engine cut out after a few seconds, each time it started. Looks like it will need some more maintenance this week. The Land masters (gardenmasters) were manufactured in U.K. in the mid 1900's in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. Another good British machine (now vintage) no longer being made. Some of the accessories for these machines included, hedgetrimmers, weeders and ridging blades.

Landmaster 85 (24/Oct/13)

Aspera Engine Fitted to Landmaster (24/Oct/13)

Several hours today and yesterday have been spent manuring this years Brassica bed on N1 Plot along with my Rhubarb plants and the whole of Bed2 on N2 plot. My stockpile of well rotted manure is now depleted but apart from rotorvating both plots are now prepped for next season.

The Final Pumpkin (25/Oct/13)

There's always tomorrow!! What to do next??

It Ain't Half Hot Mum!!

Nine days since my last blog post and with a few exceptions the Autumn weather here has been warm with many beautifully sunny afternoons, which I have spent, preparing my plots for next season, as well as tidying and cleaning the usual gardening paraphernalia away for the onset of Winter. Although rain has been plentiful enough to re-fill most of my water butts and tanks recently, it has been raining either early on a morning or later in the day after I had left the plots for home. So much for the predicted wet weather forecasts again. (Bring back Selwin Frogget and his pine cones)??

Butternut Squashes Ripening Up

Marigolds N1 Plot

  Both N1 & N2 Plots are almost fully prepared for next years sowing and planting. Now that the heavy digging is complete the other tasks preparing the beds have been leisurely and enjoyable for a change. The 4 main beds of N1 Plot have been turned using a garden fork. The soil being easy to manage with just enough rain lately leaving it in easily workable condition. 2 of the beds have had compost added to them and all 4 will be rotavated in the coming weeks. The main bed and bed 2 on N2 Plot are currently well dug and ready for rotavating soon. 3 out of the 4 smaller N2 beds are now weed free and also ready for rotavating. The French bean, Sweetcorn, Chard and Squash plants have finished producing and have been removed to the compost heap. The Sweetcorn plants have been placed into my last raised bed to be built, due to the fact that they will take quite some time to fully rot down. When the last of the waste vegetation has been cleared away, it too will be added to the same raised bed before top soil from the drainage ditch bank is placed on top of it. My Runner beans are still producing some good beans and have been left in situ, at the lower end of what will be next years Brassicas bed. Some time ago I decided to remove my Summer Raspberry plants from N1 Plot, keeping the Autumn fruiting plants only, on N2 Plot. Early this year the Summer fruiting plants suffered from phytophthora (root rot). Although some of the younger shoots survived many of the larger specimens were well rotted away. On the up side, when I started to clear the bed this afternoon the main plants and roots were relatively easy to dig out, due to their decaying condition. This bed has been left mainly untended this year and it hasn't taken nature long to re-plant the area. I have so far removed the following self seeded plants this afternoon. 5 small Currant bushes, 2 Hawthorn trees, several Deadly nightshades, Shepherds purse, Dandelions, Grass, Thistle (2 varieties), 1 small Mares tail, Toadstools, Scarlet pimpernel, Chickweed, Creeping buttercups, White clover, Groundsel, Bramble.

Summer Raspberries Being Removed From N1 Plot

Fungi Growing From Rotting Raspberry Root

 During a brief rain shower on Thursday it was time to get next seasons year planner out and make space for it my shed. A "notice board" was duly constructed on the underside of my potting table onto which the planner was pinned. The planner itself was a much appreciated freebie which arrived with my seed suppliers catalogue from Moles seeds.

Next Seasons Year Planner in Shed

At the moment the plots are looking tidy again after some neglect this year, although the grass is still growing due to the warm temperatures, the paths and verges have recently been strimmed and/or mowed. Several tasks are still to be done such as tree and fruit bush pruning, shed painting, some manuring, cloche making and rotavating. That being said, it feels like everything is in place and running smoothly, ready for some organized gardening next year. The only problem I can see at the moment is how to outwit next years weather conditions.   

N2 Plot Main Bed & Small Beds Prepped for Next Year

 

N2 Plot Bed 2 Ready for Rotavating

N1 Plot Brassicas Still in Situ Runner Beans to Be Removed for Next Years Brassica Bed

N1 Plot This Years Roots Bed Composted for Next Year (Bottom of Picture) Leeks Still in Situ With Overwintering Onions

Currant Bushes Salvaged from Raspberry Bed (Right of Picture)

 

Grapes Still Producing Well

Garlic from Underneath the Raspberry Plants

Lots of Spiders About Lately

Strawberry Runners Planted Into Barrels Until Next Spring

There's Always Tomorrow!!