Piss Boiler Part 2

Yet another group of allotment holders are suffering. This time due to relocation for the Olympics.

Allotment Holders to relocate

Apparently they are being moved to a new site and will be allowed back after the Olympics has finished. Which again proves how clueless the government is. No doubt, after having been worked on for over 80 years, a lot of time and effort will have gone into improving the soil and the new site will probably contain stuff like couch grass and bindweed.

Grrrrrrr

Magic Beans?

Apologies for the quality of the photo - but these are my "Magic Beans". My Dad until recently, grew his own veg and had done so for about 50 years. He always saved seed from some produce for next year's crop. This included tomatoes, runner beans, sunflowers, broad beans etc.

Anyway, over the years his runner beans developed into black beans as above and he gave me some about 5 years ago, to carry on the family tradition. The runners from these beans give nice long pods with very little stringing. I have never seen any in a seed catalogue - white beans - but not black.

Like my Dad I always save seed for next year's crop. These ones that I picked today are huge as you can see from the 20p piece.

They're Back!!!

Well only one of the little critters. But it is the first one I have seen since the "Bastard Children" episode of 31st May (see post "It's all gone Pete Tong"). I am quite attached to my family of slow worms and found this one when I lifted the lid of one of the compost bins.

Now I have a quandary - I was planning to empty the bins to use the compost on the allotment - but I might disturb my slow worm.

Hard day's work

Well not quite a whole day - about three and a half hours, which was enough giving the fragility of my back.

Digging was not an option - not because I wasn't up to it - but the ground is still concrete (see the photo left - the plant pot is a 3.5" one). There is no moisture in the soil, despite the recent rain.

I did however get a few jobs done. Mainly making a start on clearing of the strawberry patch. This was planted about six years ago and the crop has been poor for the last couple of years. The plants originated from three "Marshmellow" plants that I got for a £1 and they had now come to the end of their natural life, probably not helped by a lack of weeding on my part.

But half of the patch is now cleared ready for digging and a bit of manure - if I can find some.

The rest of the time was taken up with housekeeping, sweeping my little patio, cutting back the hedge and collecting seed.

I also dug up a few leeks - way too early I know - they are much better after a good frost, but with over 240 planted I am sure we will have them to spare.

And, providing the nights are not too cold, we should be eating French Beans next week.

Oh fffffffffffffudge!

Well this was the weekend set aside for the "big push" up the allotment - weather was looking good (with some rain earlier in the week to soften the ground) and I had no visitors or visiting. But OH HELL - Friday afternoon my back starts to twinge. Saturday morning it has moved down my leg - so no allotment for me today.

I have consoled myself with a bit of retail therapy (needed for the upcoming holiday to the USA) and hope that a few light duties and a night in the spare room will ease it for tomorrow.

Thankfully two seed catalogues landed on my door mat last week (Local outfit Kings Seeds and the Thompson & Morgan one) - so that should keep me quiet for a few hours.

Cracking Ground 2

Well the promised rain on Friday didn't happen so there was little I could do up the allotment as the soil is concrete again. So it fell back to favourite standby of cutting the grass on the paths. (mental note to add small push mower to my Christmas present list) I did also clear a small area of the strawberry patch.

Pictured left are some French Beans - I planted them late this year due to my failure to clear the area of weeds in time. Can't remember if it was late July or Early August - but they seem to be producing beans. Although I am not sure that they will continue with the recent change in temperature (only 6 degrees last night).

Wasn't a bad harvest this weekend, beetroot, carrots, courgettes and a couple of small pumpkins. I will need to make sure that I clear the rest of the pumpkins well before the end of October.

I have now eaten the last of the potatoes and the tomatoes are starting to run out.

Phew!

Well having spent the last three weekends either visiting or being visited, I am looking forward to being able to spend a fair amount of time on the allotment this coming Saturday - I am certainly having withdrawal symptoms.

So far the weather is looking fine for the weekend, with rain on Friday which will make the soil perfectly workable.

I have only managed brief visits over the last few weeks - but the pumpkins are looking good, as are the leeks. Although the brussels look good (no flea beetle this year) - they are not developing little sprouts like they should be.

So hopefully this blog will be back to normal at the weekend - watch this space.