Got some help today!

Well having been in France last weekend for the Le Mans 24 hr race, I had a lot of catching up to do. Thankfully my Mum and Dad paid me a visit this weekend. For some reason I can never get leeks started on my plot or at home in the garden. My Dad has done the honours for me for a few years now. He has lovely soil in his garden. Rich, beautifully dark and not at all like the clay I have up my allotment.

Well they came over this weekend with Prizetaker, Bandit and Mussleburgh. We only managed to get about 150 planted - I have another 150 or so to go.

Today I took a picture of my Dad on my allotment - he turned 83 last month. It is due to him that I have an interest in growing vegetables. He had a good area at home and we were self sufficient in veg all year round. I used to "help" from about the age of three. He would give me worms to feed to the chickens next door - until he discovered I was eating them myself. Eventually I had my own area in the garden where I would grow a few beans and sweetpeas. Now I have my own allotment - thanks Dad for your influence and knowledge.

My Butt is full

How wet has it been. The waterbutt in the garden is overflowing. As we are away next weekend (Le Mans) I needed to dig over the area for the leeks. It was very hard going. The clay soil was sodden and very sticky. My boots had 2" platforms of mud which I peeled off after each row. But I am now ready for the leeks.

I couldn't wait and dug up some potatoes. Enough from one plant for a meal for two. But they were soaking. So much so that I disturbed this little fellow - which was a surprise as there are no ponds nearby. I am seriously thinking about growing rice next year.

Doh!

Remember my New Year's resolution (see post 1st Jan 2008). Well I was going to label all my plants. Part of the reason being that I like to try different varieties. I have still to find a sprout that grows well on my heavy clay soil. My last allotment loved Trafalgar - but on the new one it crashed and burned. I had some success with Oliver last year and have added Bosworth and Wellington to the plot.

So I have stuck to the resolution and each plant has had it's own label with added information such as date of sowing. I marked them using a permanent marker such as I would use on a CD.

But guess what - have a look at the Courgette (or is it a Pumpkin) below. The sun has bleached the marker pen and I am totally clueless as to which variety it was.