Friday 19th May 2006 - Weather: camping weather! Rain, sun and gale force gusts!

Number one son performed in his last assembly of his reception year this morning...don't know where that year went...so I was later to the allotment today. Amazing how in just one week the weeds have grown, but then they have had perfect weather, rain and warm sunshine. Unlike today. The wind was so gusty at times I feared for the roof on my tomato house, so I did criss cross some more string over the corregated plastic just to make sure it wasn't going anywhere.

I cut a lovely spring cabbage to take to mums, and in the gap that I weeded and forked gently over, I planted 3 redbull brussel sprouts. Seems like a lot, and I know they should be at least 18 inches apart, but mine were fine last year at just under a foot apart. Also cut my first ever successful cauliflower! Very pleased indeed with that.

The earliest peas that were started in paper pots in the greenhouse and then planted out under cloches are now in full flower and there are plenty of pods already. I imagine by next Friday I should be able to make my first picking. The broad beans are also smothered in flowers, and finally the lower ones now have pods showing. I have them double netted, and I stood them all up and tied them to the cage before zigzagging some string over the top of the cage to hopefully keep the birds and squirrels out. The raspberry canes are covered in flower buds also.

I was able to pick a nice lot of salad crop, some red spring onions, radish and lettuce thinnings. Also, some of the italian mixed leaves are starting to bolt, so I pulled out the ones with buds coming, and thinned what was left. Hopefully these will carry on for a few more weeks until the rest of the salads are big enough to really start harvesting properly.

I planted another dozen tomato plants under the tomato house - what a difference in temperature the roof makes! It was very sheltered and warm under there and the patch of bronze fennel is already huge and lush...if only I knew what to do with it! I had another 8 squashes to plant, things like mini white cucumber, swan guord and black futsu, so I had to clear some volunteer potatos that I had left behind from last year. Managed to collect a bowl full of nice new spuds - marble size to golf ball size - perfect with our fresh salad at tea time!

The runner beans have flower buds on them, so I am really really keeping my fingers and toes crossed that we don't have a sudden frosty snap, but as they are growing alongside the tomato house, I do wonder if they will benefit from the protection. The variety I am growing is Enorma.

Next visit I will have to get in the rest of my squashes, tomatos and maybe even my sweetcorn as the children will then be on half term for 10 days so I won't be able to get up to the plot for a while. Yes, I think I will have a big push next week and sow loads and plant everything that I have left. I am going to keep 2 tomato plants in the greenhouse along with the chillis and aubergines, and maybe one melon plant. So much to do, so little time!

Friday 12th May - Weather: feeling hot hot hot!

What a glorious day! The sun shone like an August day, the birds and insects tweeted and buzzed all day through, and most amazingly on our site, quite a few people visited their plots today.

Lots to do, mainly weeding and sowing. My early dwarf French beans which I had planted under cut down cola bottles have been revealed to the weather and are coping just fine. The grass was creeping towards them from under the apple trees so I weeded them and killed several slugs.

As ever, I sow far to much, and far to closely, but I like the plot to be as productive as possible and as I tend to pull roots young because they bolt or go woody due to lack of water, I can afford to plant closer. So, I will start at the top end of the plot and walk you down to the shed.

The first bed by the old plum trees is going to be flowers this year, not only for cutting to bring home, but also to encourage lots of buzzy critters to the plot. For the last 2 years that has been the runner bean patch - proper bean trench was dug when I first took the plot on, and year one produced the best runner beans ever. However, last year a family of voles moved into the rough ground around the derelict plum trees, and they chewed through the stems of all of the beans! Devastated my main crop completely. I did another late sowing elsewhere on the plots, but it was so late, and I had so few seeds left that I really didn't get a huge harvest and didn't have enough to freeze. So, this year, flowers. Originally, about 3 weeks ago, I sowed a selection of annuals in nice straight rows, but as is the way with me and sowing seeds directly, they germinated in patches, so I decided, as I still had lashings of flower seeds left, I would just mix all the seeds up, and scatter them over the bed. Hopefully I will be rewarded with a fab show starting in about 8 weeks time. The cardoon in that patch is a monster and I am glad now that during the winter I made a cage using a stiff metal wire frame I had to surround the beast so I could plant around it. It is like a fountain now bursting out, up and over the top and it looks as though it is going to be a mass of flowers. I don't really grow the cardoon to eat, although I guess I should try, but more becuase it is such a stunning ornamental veg that the bees absolutely love, and a good A4ALL chum sent me the original piece so it had to have pride of place! Around the cardoon I grew flat leaf and curly parsley last year and it overwintered nicely, however, it is starting the bush and send up flowers, so I sowed a pinch of fresh seed around the cardoon a few weeks back, and sure enough, they are germinating nicely so as I dig up the old plants, the new ones should take over.

Next stop, the root section. My parsnips have started to germinate so I weeded along the row, and where there were gaps, I sowed a good pinch of seed. I would rather have too many and thin than not enough and come Christmas, when everyone is at mums, have to ration the roast parsnips! I have sowed two varieties, Gladiator and another which typically of me, I can't remember! Immediately next to the row is a row of radish - theory being they will be long gone before the parsnips are any size. The radishes were little Rouge variety and I have pulled loads already! These have to come out quickly as again, with no water, they bolt as soon as they start to swell. They are gorgeous! So peppery, yet with a sweet twang that makes you want to pop them in like little sweeties! I have been so pleased with that variety that where I pulled the large ones, I made little drills and sowed another few pinches in the gap. Again, they will be long gone before the parnsips get in the way. Down the row I swap from radish to spring onions. Very very slow to germinate. I have trouble with any members of the onion family because of the onion white rot that plagues my plots. Again, wherever there were gaps, I sowed thickly. I don't thin spring onions, I let them thicken up and pull them in clumps, in the same way you buy bunches in the supermarkets. I have 2 varieties mixed, a red and white one. Then comes a rather stunning row of turnips. I am very pleased with these as I have had mixed success with turnips over the years, but these are doing well. Can't tell you the name as I got them from Seeds of Italy and the italian name escapes me. I have had to give them a dusting with Derris powder because the flea beetles moved in the nano-second they germinated! I don't like using chemicals, but sometimes it is a battlefield out there, and if I want turnips, I have to take evasive action. I could fleece them, but I use my fleece for the carrots to stop the carrot fly. I guess I should put fleece on my Christmas list this year.

There are a few of last autumns cabbages and caulis now dotted around under netting and I am proud to say, there are baby caulis coming! Anothing thing I have struggled with in the past. Fingers crossed we might get some in a couple of weeks time. Through these I have carrots, lettuce and more spring onions sown, and I also managed to squeeze in a row of Boltardy beetroot and witloof - the chicon type of chicory.

Next, my lovely globe artichokes. An entire row! Such extravagance I know, but another stunning plant to look at, and I do love the artichokes. Mind you, how many can one girl eat?! I guess at some point I will thin them out to just a couple of good plants, but for now, I will keep them all. This is another flower that the big bumble bees get absolutely drunk in! Thanks to another A4ALL chum, I now have a purple one planted in a gap so that should be interesting. The artichokes didn't die down at all over the winter, so this spring they are huge. Again, I am very glad I created a network of string to keep the foliage lifted slightly so I can sow closer to them.

After the artichokes comes the purple sprouting brocolli, spinach, chard, mixed Italian lettuce, Australian yellow leaf lettuce, spring onions, radish, several broadcast sown beds of carrots and beetroot. The PSB had to come out so I could prepare the ground for sweetcorn production, and there were a few stray plants over with the salad leaves, and that came out also so the salad could now flourish. To be honest, the PSB had reached the stage where the flowers were openeing as soon as a new bud emerged. I managed to fill a bag with good tight flower stems, but the rest ended up on the compost heap. I sowed more beetroot, more lettuce and a few more radish. As you can tell, salad is our summer favourite. I do favour the cut 'n come again style of salad leaf as you just take what you want for that meal, so it is still sweet or peppery rather than have to wait for a lettuce to heart up, then cut the entire head and have to use it all before taking another, by which time they could be going over. That said, I sowed an entire row of Little Gem lettuce that yet another A4ALL devotee sent me, but I figure as they are so small and sweet, they will grow quickly and I would use several at one sitting. Plus I do rather fancy trying them braised like Nigella Lawson does, with fresh peas.

Now we have the strawberry bed, apple trees, and fruit cage. Not much to do there. Everything is in full bloom, plenty of gooseberry and currants begining to swell and buzzing bumble bees all over the strawbs doing what nature intended.

Now into the shadier part of plot number one. Immediately the other side of the fruit cage I have peas and broad beans on the go. The broad beans are Red Epicure and they are smothered in flowers. Tempting fate by saying this, but so far, not a blackfly in site! I have them surrounded by chicken wire because for the past 2 years I have lost almost the entire harvest to either jays or squirells who seem to know exactly when the beans are at their peak and scoff the lot, wripping the pods open and scoffing the young tender beans, leaving me nothing! I will put a net over the top of the wire cage also as the beans start to develop, which I suppose will be my next visit. The peas are called Early Onwards, and the kids sowed them in pots for me at the start of the year. I planted them early on the plot under my greenhouse roof cloche, and they have grown away like mad. They are now smothered in flowers so I removed the glass protection as I needed it elsewhere, and hopefully it will only be a matter of weeks before the kids can come up after school and help pick them. I have another 4 rows of peas, Kelvedon wonder, Alderman and 2 others...guess what, I can't remember their names. These are all in various stages of growth, from freshly sown on Friday, to 6 inches tall. For the last 2 years I have managed a couple of good harvests from the peas, with a few to freeze for the next couple of weeks, but this year I am hoping to be able to freeze more to last a bit longer. I still have 2 unopened packets of seeds, so I am hoping, fingers and toes crossed, that I will make the room to sow them in a few weeks time to extend the season even more. The asparagus bed is amongst the peas, and this is now growing. I am the only one in the house who loves the asparagus, so the 6 or so crowns provides enough for me to have a few delicious meals of it. It is a luxury, not an essential.

Now my latest structure. My very impressive brassica house. The pigeons have always left my brassicas alone, but I noticed the ones further up the plot had been really chewed on, so I covered those and felt it wise to build a proper cage for this seasons plantings. In here I have caulis, purple sprouting, 9 star perrenial brocolli (which I have started cropping from), spring cabbage (which are filling out nicely and will be ready for harvest in about 2 to 3 weeks time), kohl rabi (red and white), Cavalo nero kale and cabbages. I have red and green sprouts and red cabbage all waiting in the greenhouse at home. They will go in as the spring cabbages come out and when the first crop of peas are over, they are destined for that bed. Dotted in amongst the brassicas are lettuces - romaine type, and last autumns spring onions that are ready to pull really, but I haven't as yet as I had some in the fridge to get used up. They will come home with me next visit. Also in this cage is my rhubarb bed. The bubby is a monster! Every crown has tried to flower. The stems are incredibly long this year and the leaves are so big I could use them as umbrellas if there were another short shower! The great thing is the leaves fill up the compost heap for me.

Last but not least, another row of peas which are climbing up the brassica house, and my row of emergency spuds...the spuds that I couldn't fit into the main spud area.

As you can see, my rotation leaves a lot to be desired, but I do aim to move my spuds, onions and brassicas on by a third of a plot every year. It seems to be okay.

Now........plot number 2. This is my lower maintenace plot. A third of the plot is all spuds, and they are all coming up at different speeds. Then, in the middle is my patent pending tomato house, with new improved guttering and roof thanks to my darlings visit a couple of weeks ago. Then the last third is currently Japanese onions and garlic, which are all bulbing up like mad, but this will be my squash bed. The runner beans which are growing up the side of the tomato house are running like mad and already have flowers on them. I put this down to the protection of the plastic roof. There really was a noticeable difference in warmth when I stood inside the structure. I planted some more tomato plants as the first batch were all fine, and the plastic I surrounded them with was keeping them very cosy indeed. The I planted a couple of courgette plants to join the cucumber plants I planted in the rain on Monday. This is where the glass greenhouse roof was needed. I placed it over them just to give them a warm start to life in the open. I did have a wander around the site and noticed that nearly everyone else now has marrow plants and sweetcorn planted out so they are all confident we won't be having a cold snap, but whilst I have the protection available, I might as well use it.

So there you have it. Whilst all of the sowing and pottering was going on, I was weeding away, and forking over areas, and sowing, and sowing and sowing. I have probably overlooked telling you about other things I sowed, but you get the idea. By the time I left at 3pm on Friday afternoon, I had sunburnt shoulders, a carrier bag full of rhubarb, spinach, purple sprouting broc. and salad and the satisfaction of feeling that I have now sowed everything I want to have sown. Whatever I can squeeze in now is a bonus, and I will squeeze in loads more as gaps come about. Which reminds me, I must sow some sunflowers!!

Monday 8th May 2006 - Weather: RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!

Can you believe it? Well I couldn't. I had Monday clear, a day to finally make some headway on the plot and what do you know, rain is forecast. However, the morning started clear, so after dropping the urchins at school I set off for the plot. I had lots of weeding and planting to do and started in the brassicas. Managed to get all the weeding done and planted a row of cavalo nero kale and a row of kohl rabi seedlings, when slowely but surely, down came the rain! I was determined to stick it out, positive it was only going to be a passing shower - how wrong was I? It rained and rained and rained. I took a break and had a cuppa in the shed for a while, but I had so much I wanted to get on with! I struggled on, now wet through to my knickers, and planted 3 cucumber plants. I know this is horribly early for such tender plants, but I protected them with my greenhouse roof cloche. I left them as snug as bugs in rugs! At this point I had started cutting my hands and not noticing as they were so cold and wet, so at about 11.30 I thought it was time to head for home and a warm drink and bath. Before leaving, I did wander around and take a few photos.

As you can see, the blackcurrants are begining to swell, which for a fan of preserving, is always exciting! Also look at the lovely pink apple blossom! The scent in the air was incredibly sweet. And just look at all the flowers on the broadbeans, and not a blackfly in sight....or is that tempting fate?

Am still picking rhubarb like it is going out of fasion. Really need to come up with lots of exotic recipes to use it up - can't palm it off on mum as it brings her up in a rash, and the kids don't like it as it is to sour and they don't like the texture! My mixed lettuce germinated really quickly and they do look so pretty all mixed up. I now can't decide whether to thin them out or leave them thick and use them as cut 'n come again. And my proudest moment of the day, carrot seedlings! Well, little things please little minds!

Friday 5th May 2006 - Weather: Steamy!

Just typical. Today was going to be my day at the allotment. Was figuring on getting my beans all in, lettuce and brassicas, and having a good harvest and do some sowing...so what happens, I am struck down with a horrendous 24hour stomach bug. This is a killer bug, cramps, sweats, aches and pains, and as delightful as it is, spending far to much time examining the frankly modern design of my toilet bowl! Yuck - toooo much information. However, I didn't fill you in on our quick visit on Bank Holiday Monday. Mum was over to stay so she babysat whilst I dragged the other half to the plot. Although he was very impressed with my home made guttering structure, which had been working I hasten to add, he did remove it and replace it with some proper guttering and down pipe into the waterbutt. He also strengthened the roof. Now on my next visit, I will fork over the ground beneath inside the tomato house and get planting! I have quite a variety of toms, from beeksteaks ; 'Supermarmade', to black plum; 'Black Ethiopean', to yellow; 'Golden Queen', along with Gardeners Delight and a host of others. I promise to write down the names as I plant them and post a list.

The rhubarb is attempting to take over the world, so if I can't use it up, I am chucking it on the compost heap. Every little helps! Lots of germination had taken place - weeds as well as veggies, but there are still gaps that need filling. Monday will be my day! I will get up there with my hat and seeds and plants and lunch and flask, and stay there, even if it is lashing down! I will also take my camera to take a few snaps. I guess the apple trees are in full bloom by now as the ones in the garden have finally opened. The pear and cherry tree in the garden are also full of bloom so I am really hoping for a fruity year this year!

Monday 24th April 2006 - Weather: Overcast but warm

Wow the birds were noisy today, and a swan flew over....gotta say, I wondered what the hell it was! In the distance I could hear a whoop whoop whoop noise and it got steadily louder. I thought aliens were about to land, and then I saw her - gorgeous, pure white, elegantly flying above my head and the noise that she was making as she flapped those huge wings was astounding!

Anyhow, down to business. Main job of the day really was to get the tomato house roof on. Following on from others, I now have a roof over a wooden framework in which I grow my toms. The theory behind it is as no rain falls onto the tomato plants, blight spores carried in the rain do not infect the plants. Also humidity around the plants is almost non existance, so again, preventing the start of blight. Last year we had a HUGE crop from all of our toms, so I am keeping everything crossed for the same result this year - especially as we have just run out of frozen tomato pulp!

Thankfully I had a couple of long sheets of clear corrugated plastic for the roof which I screwed down and then using some thick green netting, I created a guttering to collect any rain that falls into a bin. We have no tapped water so I really need to collect every drop I can. Obviously I used plastic sheeting inside the netting to catch the water, the netting just provided the gutter shape until such times as I can scavenge some gutter pipes.

Very pleased with the tom house, so I weeded around the spuds and earthed up the first 2 rows that are poking through. Then Jack came over. He kindly gave me 2 huge beetroot to try which he grew last year and then stored in a clamp on his plot. (I baked them in the oven this evening wrapped in foil for a good 4 hours as they were monsters! Have never tried cooking them this way but it was recommended. I will post back how they were) He also gave me a nice new tap for my water but as some nice creature at some point chewed the tap up and then with use, the handle turny bit has snapped off. It is still useable, but very hard and hurts! Hubby will have to undertake that massive job at some point as the whole butt needs emptying, the top sawing off as it doesn't have a lid but is a sealed unit, fixing the new tap, and then making a lid and repositioning the butt so it can collect maximum water.

Now the maintenance was complete I planted a row of lettuce, sowed 2 rows of beetroot 'red ace' and sprinkled a patch of candytuft seed in a bare patch in the brassica patch. I also planted a row of Bright lights swiss chard over on plot number 2 to create a hedge along the elderberry boundary.

The rain and warm sunshine had really moved things on. My garlics are standing tall and strong and I can see the autumn planted onion sets are begining to bulb up. As I mentioned, the spuds have started coming through, some quicker than others, and I have a lovely strong row of mixed lettuce leaves growing. The seedlings I planted over the last couple of weeks have all benefited from the rain and are all looking lush. Of course the grass paths are now in full growth so I really must look into getting a cheap little petrol mower to just run around the edges. The boarding around my plots is helping but over on plot number 2 I am currently next to a vacant plot so the path is hardly used, so of course the grass is like a meadow! I wonder if I could ask Jack to walk along it with his mower for me....I could give him some petrol money....I will have to ask.

Roy has given up his allotment now as he has had 2 replacement hips and is wobbly on his feet and is worried that if he were to fall over, knowing how quiet our site is, he could be stuck for some time. Apparently a young couple have taken over, but I am yet to see them. Of course, I miss a lot of people as they work their plots at the weekend, whereas I am a week-a-day allotmenteer.

So, the plan for my next visit, which will be sometime week commencing Monday 1st May, plant my runner beans and give them a fleece wrap for a week or two; plant a few tomato plants and use the greenhouse roof cloche to protect them for a week or two; plant a selection of squashes and give them pop bottle cloches for a week or two, to protect them from the weather and the constant march of the slugs; earth up spuds as necessary; and sow more salads and peas. My sweetcorn hasn't germinated yet - but hopefully it will by the weekend, and that will go out in about 14 or so days, along with the rest of my squashes and tomatos. Now somewhere in all of this I need to erect a few bamboo wigwams as I have lots of unusual beans germinating and nowhere to grow them!

Friday 21st April 2006 - Weather: bright and sunny!

What a perfect day to spend on the allotment! Lots to do so as soon as the kids were tucked up safely at school, I shot off to the plot and was there just before 9am. As usual, I was alone but Jack was next door in Loretta's garden cutting the grass and Ken from the other side of the site came over and mowed his paths.


Glad to report the slugs and the pigeons haven't decimated all of my newly planted brassica's.....yet! So, first things first, get planting. So much to catch up with so I knuckled down and cleared all of the old bolted cabbages and sprout plants and got them onto the compost heap. I forked the patch over, raked it down, and planted number one daughters 'Mini-Pop' sweetcorn. These are the baby corns that you pick before they are mature. I know it is still early, but then were becoming pot bound so I wanted to get them out, but as a safety measure, they have a lovely fleece duvet to keep them cosy. Next I planted a dozen white haricot beans. Again, early I know, but they are snuggled up alongside the apple tree and I put pop bottle cloches over them to keep them warm for a week or so. In went a dozen celeriac seedlings, still tiny and I forgot to put any slug protection down, so they might be all gone already!

The broad beans have flowers on now so I removed the fleece jacket and replaced it with chicken wire. I am hoping that this tight fitting prickly wire wrap will keep squirrels, mice and birds off the beans so this year I can get some! The peas under the glass cloches are now nearly a foot tall and have flower buds appearing. Hoping for an early picking as they have been kept so warm. The other peas that were sown direct have now germinated. It looks like the mouse or vole has had some, but I sowed thickly to compensate for losses. I really don't know what to do about these little furry critters. I don't like to trap them on the allotment, I figure the cycle should work if I don't interferre, but these little whiskered pests don't seem to appreciate my lenience.

The strawberry plants are now all in flower and had lots of bees buzzing around so I weeded around them and did my usual trick, planting 'Bright Lights' Swiss chard in amongst them. Well, it seems like such a waste of good planting areas! I also weeded and tidied the rapsberry canes and around the rather spiteful gooseberry bushes. Looks like it could be a good year for berries as already there are masses of flowers and teeny immature fruitlets. The apple blossom hasn't opened yet but I am sure it is only a matter of days. The apple trees at home aren't in flower yet - only the cherry trees are.

I marked out the bed that the main 'tender and true' sweetcorn will go because if I don't, I am likely to plant in it and then have a panic on when I have 60 plants and no where to plant them.

I sowed carrots 'early nantes', beetroot 'detroit', radish 'french breakfast', lettuce 'australian yellow leaf' and spring onions 'white lisbon'. I then squeezed in a row of peas down at the bottom of the plot when I planted an emergency row of spuds. Another row of lettuce plantlets were planted in between the brassicas - they should be long gone before the brassicas are big enough to cause competition. I also sowed some dwarf french beans called sprite. They were given to us by one of his workmates, and they went out of date in 1998 so I have no idea if they will germinate or it the mice will just scoff them all! However, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

On to plot number two. The onions and garlic are looking fab. Really pleased as the white rot on plot number one really takes it's toll. I weeded around them and up around the daff bulbs which are now going over. There are a couple of rogue ones - smaller flowers, more white with dark orange trumpets. They smell gorgeous and the buzzy things were having a great time. I had to carry out some minor repairs to the runner bean/tomato house and now we need to sort out a roof for it. It needs to be clear to let in the light, but not let in the rain. This is the only way I know to reduce the risk of blight.

I picked a carrier bag full of purple sprouting brocolli - a really good value crop, a pile of rhubarb, the last of the red kale, some lettuce and a couple of spring onions. By 3pm my hands were sore, my legs aching and I was gasping for a cuppa as my flask had been emptied at lunch time. Bag again next week as I have lots more seedlings to get in. I really need to keep on sowing and planting and harvesting as things are ready.


On the wildlife front, the male mallard duck is still around - he came for a chat when I first arrived, then flew up into his tree stump and watched proceedings for a while. Plus I had the great satisfaction of squishing many, many slugs! Some whoppers and lots of tiddlers. Every little helps. A coot was wandering around the site - wish he would eat the slugs, and the Jays and Magpies were making a real racket in the woods.

Good Friday 2006 - Weather: wet start, brightening up by lunch time

Today my darling offered to spend some quality time with the children so I could get to the allotment for a couple of hours. I had lots to plant, and also as I haven't been for a few weeks I really wanted to check out what was going on up there.

I assumed, being Good Friday it would be quite busy on the site, and sure enough, Jack, Geoff and another couple were busy working away. Traditionally, today is spud planting day, but as I had already done that, for me, today was cauliflower planting day! I cleared the last of the celeriac and celery - the celeriac went into the trug to come home, the celery went onto the compost heap, raked the patch and then got all of my caulis and purple sprouting brocolli planted. Now, I like to make the most of my little patch of mother earth, so planted in between the brassicas I planted two rows of lakeland lettuce which I had started at home in modules. They will have been picked long before the caulis and brocs do their thing. The nine star perrenial brocolli is putting on some serious growth now. I guess it will start cropping this summer/autumn and continue for a couple of years. As I busilly planted I could hear the gentle cooo cooo of the pigeons, all gathering for front row seats at the Brassica Brasserie, so a very Heath Robinson netting structure was rapidly put into place. Just hope it is secure enough! I forgot my camera so have no pics, but will pop down again over the weekend just to see how they are going, and will take some snaps then.

I planted a couple of rows of Red Bull beetroot which I started in the greenhouse in the little peat jiffy pots, just as an experiment really. I didn't have time to get the spring onions in, but I did sow another row of mixed lettuce leaves to try and keep a nice frsh continuous crop over the summer and into the autumn.

I check the peas which I planted a few weeks back and covered with corregated plastic and extra fine netting, and they are all up with is great! Fingers and toes crossed I have out witted the Vole family for now. I lifted the corregated plastic, but left it at an angle, keeping the young sprouts cosy, and protected from the dissapointed pigeons! We also have a friendly pheasant on the site, and of course he will graze away quite happily on all the young plants! And now, to join the zoo, there appears to be a pair of mallards nesting in an old tree stump behind my shed!

As I left I noticed a nicely spaced row of radish are up - I will have to either fleece them to keep the flea beetle off, or use a dusting of derris powder. The garlics are looking lovely and strong and I have some potash to sprinkle around them next visit. Also next visit I need to remember to take a battery drill, mini step ladder and some screws as my tomato/bean structure has bowed in the winter winds and needs shoring up. It will be fine - I am a dab hand at inventing protective growing structures that all the old fellas laugh at!

Thursday 30th March 2006 - Weather: Bright but very windy!

Well what a perfect day to get to the plot. Although there was a gale blowing, the sun was out and in between the gusts, it was lovely and warm. It is great to finally feel the suns warmth on my face. The plot is looking great. The apple trees (Bismark and Orleans Rinhart) are all in bud, and the fruit bushes are very green. The globe artichokes are still growing. To be honest, they never really stopped! As you can see from the piccy, I have wrapped strong netting around them to try and fence them in as last summer they threatened to take over the world! I have done the same with the cardoon and she really is a monster. I grow the artichokes because I love to eat them, but also they look amazing where as the cardoon I grow only because it is stunning. Last year the bumble bees were fighting over the big purple flower, tunnelling right inside the huge spiky flower. This year I am hoping for lots of flowers. I wonder how long they would last if I cut some and brought them home? I think they would make an amazing table centre piece.

Anyhow, down to business. The plan of attack was to sow seeds. I had a selection with me of flowers and veggies. Up where I grew runner beans last year, by the old plum trees, I am going to grow flowers this year as the beans were scoffed by voles last year...however, the old plum trees are in the process of being cut down by my neighbour! Bit of a worry. Does this mean the voles will be homeless and will move even more onto my plot, or will it mean they will seek dense shelter elsewhere and move onto someone elses plot? I digress...I raked the ground over - lovely stuff! Four years of rotted compost and leaf mould has left me with lovely soft fluffy soil which after the rain and frosts has broken down into an incredibly fine tilth. I sowed Clarkia, Chrysanths, Cosmos and Calendula...all the C's! Then the other side of the path I sowed parnsips 'Gladiator', radish 'Scarlet Globe', spring onion 'Red Barren', turnips 'Snowball' and carrot 'Kingston'. I covered the carrots with fleece to prevent carrot fly damage, and to give them a warm bed so hopefully, a head start! I also scattered a few flat leaf parsley seeds amongst the remaining parsley plants as I guess they will go to seed this year. Looks like I will get a plentiful cutting before then though. Further down that patch I managed to sow another row of carrots 'Early Nantes' and a row of mixed lettuce leaves.

As I worked up and down the plot, I weeded and weeded and my compost heap is filling up nicely. All I need now are a few sacks of hot horse manure to get it going again. I picked the last of the brussel sprouts 'brilliant, and they have been! Filled a bowl! Also picked a pile of sprouting brocolli and pulled the last of the cavalo nero kale. I find this black kale bolts very quickly in spring, where the purple kale is still growing well and fresh looking. I also dug up a couple of rogue parsnips that had started to grow again, but they had a touch of canker, and weren't looking great, so they ended up on the compost heap. I have lots in the freezer so I didn't mind dumping them really.

Down the bottom end of the plot I am planning to grow all of my brassicas this year, so I sowed half a row of kohl rabi, green and purple mix. They are old seed but I thought I might as well bung them in and see if they sprout. I do have some in the greenhouse at home in little jiffy pots already growing, so maybe next visit they will go in and make up the row. I protected the row with a few slug pellets (cringe) and a wire cloche so if they do grow, the pigeons and slugs won't make a meal of them!

The spinach and swiss chard are all in full growth again and I reakon I could have a good pick from both in a week or two. I will use the kale up first as this is going over quickest. Again, I have chard seedlings and spinach seedlings in the greenhouse to go down to the allotment next visit.

No sign yet of any spuds, but it is still early, and rather chilly! Of course there are plenty of weeds growing, but I ran out of time today to see to them. Plot number 2 will get some attention next time. The onions and garlics are growing very well. I am wondering if this plot suffers from white rot like my other plot does. If not, I could get a decent harvest, however, it seems likely to suffer as I stomp from one plot to another, and I know others suffer terribly from it also.

I really do think spring is trying to spring now. As I said, inbetween blustery gales, the sun was warm on my face, and by the time I got home, my cheeks were quite ruddy. Also the birds were really making their presence felt. The ducks from the neighbouring farm were quacking and flying to and fro most of the morning. And I watched a group of wrens in the brambles hopping around for ages. Also, as I was pottering, I unearthered these two doing what comes natural at this time of they year.

Tuesday 14th March 2006 - Weather: overcast with occasional snow showers.

Well, as planned I packed up the car with broad beans and peas and after droping the munchkins at school I headed off to the allotment. As expected, I was the only 'hardened' allotmenteer there. First job of the morning, a cuppa from my flask and survey my kingdom. The ground is really looking good now after a couple of years of digging and getting loads of compost and manure in. The rhubarb is coming along very quickly, I can't wait, just love bubby crumble! Am contemplating covering a crown to force some early young shoots, but it means I need to get hold of a bin to cover them....wonder what I can scavenge.....?

Now Broad Beans 'Red Epicure'. The ground was already prepared so I planted them in 2 blocks of seven. Not many plants, but as I am the only one in this household who likes broadies, it is pointless growing hundreds of them. I would rather save the room and grow more peas and french beans. I had sown the beans in paper pots, and of course the roots had all grown through, but I think they will be okay. I also had to give them all little bamboos for support as where they had suddenly started growing fast as the weather has warmed up a touch, they were a little bendy and if they touch the ground, the slugs will have a field day! Once planted I made a bamboo frame around the plants and wrapped a layer of fleece around the outside to create a tent. This will serve (hopefully) two purposes. Firstly I will keep them snug as it is still pretty chilly at night and they have been hardened off a little, but not really as much as they probably should have been, and it will stop the pesky squirrels and Jays from eating the beans. I plan to keep the fleece on until I have finished picking, and if necessary, I can place a piece of net over the top to stop the birds trying their luck. I tell you, it is a battlefield out there!

Next, peas. Daughter sowed these about 3 weeks ago, 3 to a cell, and there must have been 99% germination success. These were destined for cloche life. Six weeks ago I made a cloche with the old greenhouse roof to warm the soil up. In the middle I had staked into the ground a wire net to support the peas. I planted the peas in a staggered row either side of the netting - 24 blocks of two to three pea seedlings. Once in, the glass 'roof' was replaced and I staked a piece of corrugated plastic at each end. This roof will stay put as peas do not need insects to pollinate them (or so I believe) but the pea moth is a pest and I do loose a lot of peas to these litte wigglers, so hopefully the protection will reduce, or prevent any moth damage. If the peas get frazzled in the sun (if it ever shows itself again!) then I do have some old net curtains and I will make a tent for the peas, similar to the broadbeas, but much closer to try and keep the moth at bay.

The next job was to get the last few spuds in. I still had a dozen Cara and 6 Orla to get in. I have run out of room over on plot 2, so decided I would plant them in a row by the shed at the very end of my plot. The ground is pretty wet there all year round, and right by my waterbutt, so I could pamper them...if I were that way inclined. I also edged the end with a couple of very long pieces of wood that have been hanging around for ages and I had forgotten about.

The, after another cuppa break I put up my supports for the Alderman Peas. These are an old fasioned variety and grow up to 6foot tall so need supporting similar to beans. I used some 7foot canes and pushed them into the ground about 2 foot apart across the bed, then using plastic coated wire I fixed strong pea netting to them. I used stones to hold the net to the ground. I will get the Aldermans sown in the next couple of weeks. I will do half the packet in cells and half the packet directly and see if the meeces ignore them!

Monday 13th March 2006 - Weather: 2 degrees but -9 windchill!

Well, as promised to me, I got to the allotment today. I had a big trug full of garden rubbish for the compost bin and my spuds desperately needed to get into the ground. I know it is a touch early really, but I have to fit these jobs in around life! The spuds were destined for planting on plot 2, gate end, and thanks to the weather, the ground was ready and waiting for me, all nicely broken down and soft. Back breaking work, but I dug my trenches, lined them with the last of my homemade compost from last year and set the spuds. I planted Valor, Desiree, Nadine, Pink Fur Apple, Kestrel, Lady Christl, Orla and Sante. I still have Cara to get in, but ran out of room! They may end up on plot 1 by the shed. Jack came and 'advised' me how to plant my spuds, and that digging a trench was a waste of time and energy, but it meant I was able to weed and get a nice lot of compost into the ground, so I was happy. (Also good exercise in the never ending exercise/diet chore!) This little job took all morning so I poured myself a coffee and went and picked the last of the red sprouts. Although they have produced loads, the sprouts never did get as big as the green ones. Okay for novelty value, but as I am pretty much alone in my love of this veg, I think I will just concentrate on green sprouts this season.

The weather must have warmed up because the weeds are all starting to grow. Plenty of creeping buttercup and forget me nots around. The ducks were making quite a racket today...wonder if something was in the field and spooking them. I am planning to pop back to the plot tomorrow to get my broadbean and pea seedlings in the ground and wrap them up in a duvet of fleece. I shall also try to remember to take the camera and take a few snaps!

NB: Carried out more seed planting over the weekend, but of course, the list is downstairs and I am up. however, I do know I have seedlings of beetroot, spring onions, sweetcorn, bright light chard, brocolli and cabbage. I also sowed some spinach, kohl rabi, chrysanths, and.....um.... I shall have to remember my list tomorrow and fill in the gaps. Lots went down to the greenhouse now to toughen up a bit. The tomato seedlings are now all on their first set of true leaves. The only tomato no-show is a variety called Fuzzy Wuzzy that Ruud in Holland sent me.

Monday 6th March 2006 - Weather: light dusting of snow, cleared by bright warm sunshine!

At last I was able to get out into the back garden and feel the sun on my back! I have been itching to get out there for weeks, but every time I plan a day, leave it clear, forget about the housework and chores, the ground is either frozen solid, covered in snow, or it is raining! Today however, even with a light, granular dusting of snow, I was able to get out and finish off preparing the garden for this year. I cleared the deck as I had been stashing broken pots and other odds and sods there, and then started on the garden. I edged the lawn, which makes such a difference. Also, so many weeds already. Little tufts of grass and chickweed, but it was easy peasy weeding as things are only just starting to show, so the beds are quite clear. There are plenty of lovely crocus up and about, and a small smattering of snowdrops. I really should get some more as they are a joy, but I like them best en-masse, so it looks like I might have to save my pennies and invest in a large order.

I pulled up, quite easily, an old red stemmed cornus which was quite close to the front of the bed close to the pond. I am trying to take back a few of the shrubs, and there are cornus bushes everywhere as they root so readily, wherever an old tip has touched the ground, a new plant has grown! I also pruned back the variagated acuba which keeps threatening to take over the garden. I am pleased to say that after it's rather radical haircut late last summer, it has made lots of new young fresh growth within, so I am planning to keep nibbling away at it to keep it close to the fence, a lovely backdrop for the dahlias and mecanopsis which are infront of it....so long as the thick compost mulch I gave them in the autumn was enough for them to survive the worst of this winters weather.

The next plan was to tackle the pond. The weeds needed tidying up, leaves dredging from the bottom and the waterfall needed a little clean out. It wasn't to bad, however, we appear to only have 3 goldfish left. I know that horrible ginger Tom cat sits on the edge of the pond fishing....if I catch it....anyhow, we are going to try and create something beautiful, but cat proof to put over the pond. Netting is just so ugly...maybe something ingenius with bamboo, who knows.

One great thing about these windy winter days is it blows all the dead twigs from the weeping willow onto the lawn, so I raked all of those up and already the garden looks great. I noticed that the angelicas and dicentras are all up, hope we don't have a really cold snap as I don't want to loose them.

That was it for today - only did a half day shift, but achieved a lot. Finished the afternoon by watering the plants in the greenhouse, which are all coming along wonderfully. The Fushcia cuttings that Mary gave me are all growing rapidly, and the broadbeans that I moved from the conservatory to the greenhouse have really made a lot of growth. I really do need to get them in at the plot next week!

Just a quick little addition, once again, mumma hamster has 8 little babies. I gave them their first major clean out today as 9 hamsters in a confined space is SMELLY! They are all adoreable, and we would love to keep them, but between them, the fish, the giant stick insect and the antfarm, I think I have enough to clean out and feed and look after.

Thursday 2nd March 2006 - Weather: Snow flurries, hard frost, -1

What a cold week! Yesterday I visited one of the gardens I go to with the intention of digging the veggie patch but the ground was frozen solid, and even with the sun on it, it was still rock hard when I left. Instead I cleared and weeded along the long conifer border as the conifers had provided enough protection for the ground to still be soft. I then weeded and swept the patios and steps. A good, hard mornings work.

I am feeling harrassed at the moment after decorating number one sons room at the weekend. I don't seem to be able to get a handle on the house and it seems to be a constant tip, but today, finally I made some headway and the house is now looking straight again. The conservatory is looking great at the moment. A couple of weeks ago I picked up 4 Hyacinth bulbs from the garden centre round the corner for just 5 pence. Well, just look at them now! The scent is amazing and I know they probably aren't as tall as they should be, but for 5pence!
Here is another beauty, my Bird of Paradise. I have had this baby since I was a child, and for the last three years it has rewarded my nearly 20 years of patience with flowers. I adore it! And another conservatory triumph for me was when late last summer, my huge monster banana palm rewarded yet more patience by producing a hand of fruit! Unfortunately the summer was coming to an end, so temperatures fell and daylight hours became less and less so only a few of the fruits developed and ripened, however, as you can see, they did, and I had the great pleasure in eating a home grown, fresh and naturally ripe banana!

Of course, this is an allotment Blog, and as yet, thanks to the weather, there hasn't been much in the way of allotment chat. Well, I popped to the plot during the afternoon to see how things were doing, and I am pleased to say that it is all looking very straight and organised. Still loads and loads of crops there, and everything is growing still, even through the snow! So, home I came with a pot full of brussel sprouts - green Brilliant and purple Red Bull, and a handfull of purple sprouting brocolli. Really am hoping to spend all day up there next Tuesday and get in my 2 batches of broad beans and 2 batches of peas.

Thursday 23rd February - Weather: Snowing!

Come on! Snow! I mean!! Seven years ago, my darling and I were preparing for our wedding day, the anniversary of which will be next Monday, and it was a glorious hot, sunny day! However, this time 36 years ago, my mum and dad were preparing for their wedding day, and yup, you guessed it, there was snow on the ground.

Anyhow, this is only a quick note to myself really to remind me that today I sowed, in Jiffy number 7's, basil, iceburg lettuce, arctic spring onions and brocolli early romanesco. They are now in the conservatory with my other seeds.

And although I haven't sat down and written a complete list, if memory serves me correctly, germinated are spring onions, celeriac, lots of tomatos, mesyabrytheums (sp???), spring cabbage, peas, broadbeans and the first of number one sons sunflowers is up! I will sit down properly and do a list...famous last words!

A beside the point note, the mummy hamster now has litter number 2, just 2 weeks after litter number 1 went to the pet shop. It is official now, they will all be kept seperate. The babes are only a week old but she is quite happy to let me take a little peek, and I would say there are at least 6 babies.

Wednesday 22nd February 2006 - Weather: FFRREEZZING!

I really am getting fed up with this cold weather. I don't want to wish my life away, but roll on summer I say! Anyhows, back to business. Yesterday I visited one of my gardens and the plan of attack was laurel trimming. He has lots in the garden, inherited from the previous owners, and they have been allowed to grow out of all proportions. I offered to start giving them a hair cut, and as the owners were away for a long weekend, I was really able to get stuck in. I didn't scalp them, the laurels provide a lot of privacy from the neighbours, but they garden beneath them is absolutely dust bowl dry, even after the rain we had earlier in the week, and the plants are begining to die. I did what I could reach on my mini steps using my super extendable clippers, and even if I do say so myself, I did a neat job. I took them all back by at least 18 inches, and to be honest, I could have gone further, but I wanted to do some weeding, and there is an ivy that has become a shrub and begining to smother a lovely old apple tree, so I needed to give that some attention. Filled their green wheely bin to overflowing, tidied up, and came home. I was cold through. Up that ladder, in amongst the trees, I really did get blown about and very very cold indeed! Thank goodness for fleece gloves and wooly hats! One thing I must remember get a pair of safetly glasses! I don't have any, and as I was cutting the branches back, several fell onto my face and twice I ended up with something in my eye. Not ideal as I had no access to the house or water if I needed to wash my eye.

Then today, at one of my other gardens. Shrub planting was the order of the day - and deal with some workmen that were visiting for various reasons. Six berberis bushes in the front gravel area, which was okay, but I had to scrape away the gravel first to expose the soil, and when I did find the soil, it was pretty useless! However, I have asked and asked if I should get any soil conditioner or compost, but they are willing to take a chance that the shrubs would take. I am sure they will be fine - tough as old boots Berberis! Next Photinia 'Red Robins' to plant. A couple along the huge conifer hedge as for some reason, some of the conifers never filled out, so it is patchy, and some in a new bed I am slowely creating as they get more and more plants, along the edge of the upper patio in the raised part of the garden. Finally a bed of berberis to eventually hide the compost heap. They are hoping to get a large batch of Willows to plant along the back fence as although their garden backs onto farm land, there is a public footpath which is regularly used, running immediately behind their fence, and they feel there is a lack of security and privacy. The willow they have chosen is very quick growing, and as with all willows, can be copiced to create a nice thick multi stemmed screen. Again, very cold, and the soil there is very very wet indeed.

Back at home, I really must get on with sowing some more seeds, and listing here what I already have sown and what is germinated already. With the kids help, there is a lot in and a lot starting to sprout. Very exciting. Am hoping to get to the allotment this week, weather permitting!

Friday 17th February 2006 - Weather: damp and dreary, then bright and breezy, then cold!

Had a request for my spicy pumpkin chutters so thought I would post the recipe. I had some today in a ham sandwich and it hit the spot!

4 cups cooked pumpkin flesh
1 1/2 cups brown sugar (I only had white, so used white!)
1 1/4 cups malt vinegar
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup raisins (I didn't have any, so chopped an apple and used instead)
3 chilli peppers, chopped (I used more as I had lots of fresh just picked and we like it hot!)
2 tablespoons grated garlic
2 tablespoons grated ginger (I didn't have any fresh, so used a teaspoon of dried)
1 teaspoon salt

Place everything in a large pan and slowely bring to the boil. Turn down the heat to a gentle simmer and reduce until as thick as you like it. Remember, it will thicken slightly when cold. After about 30 minutes, or when as thick as you like it, bottle it in warmed, sterile jars, and label when cold.

A note, whilst I remember. Popped to the lcoal nursrey yesterday with the kids and came away with an orchid plant for 2 pounds, with a new bud coming, some blue epicure spuds - these have incredibly dark blue skins, and the kids chose a selection of seeds for themselves. Daughter number one is giving mini corns a go, along with peas, and son number one is growing a huge array of sunflowers!

The broadbeans, 'Red Epicure', are now 5 inches tall so have been moved out into the greenhouse to slow them down and get them ready for going up to the allotment in the next 2 weeks. They will have fleece or cloche protection to start with up there. The peas are all up and growing quite strongly now in their paper pots, so they will get up to the greenhouse over the weekend. I am hoping to start some beetroots off in cell trays over the weekend. My swiss chards are starting to come up, but no spring onions yet! Strange as they were brand new seed. Still, plenty of time if they fail.

Monday 13th February 2006 - Weather: damp and dreary

A quick list of seeds that have germinated over the weekend and are still on their first seed leaves. All are tomatos.
Alicante, Gardeners Delight, Golden Queen, Orange berry, Great White, Taxi, Costoluto Fiorentino, Sweet Million, Super Marmande and Missouri Pink Love Apple.
If no more germinate, I think that is a good amount!
Still no signs of chillis or aubergines, but they can take up to three weeks to pop through. At least the heating is working again now so that should help things along. My broad beans and peas are growing great-guns so I will shift them out to the greenhouse this week so they have a week or two our there before being planted out at the plot. Also, that will give me a bit more room for a sowing or two of something else!

Sunday 5th February 2006 - Weather: bright and breezy

What a busy day, took the kids to the park for an hour, then for a happy meal, home, homework done, and chores sorted so I could get into the conservatory and finally get the plants reorganised.

We repotted the giant bird of paradise yesterday and it looks very handsome in it's new Branhams blue glaze pot, so today I could tackle everything else. Everything has quietly become huge over the winter so I needed to gather all of my big clay and glazed pots from the garden, including the old oak half barrel that we brought for the bananas. I potted all the baby BoP into their groups, so Reginae in one, Nicolii in one and the other, whose name I have totally forgotten, is in the last. That gets rid of a lot of pots on the windowsill. Then the palm that Taxi gave me has been trying to escape upwards out of it's pot since I was given it, so that was treated to a new slightly deeper pot. In fact, one by one, most things were potted into bigger pots, unless of course they were already in big pots, like the clivia and orchids. The bananas were the last job. WOW they are monsters! So, in came the half barrel, on which I cut my arm (!) then in went all the babies. This left the monster Mumma. I cut of the bunch of bananas as they weren't going to develop any more, and that part of the plant seemed to be dying, so when I finally manhandled it out of the pot, I had to use a saw to cut the beast in half. The big lush half fitted nicely into the barrel along with some of hte pups, leaving one last pup who wouldn't fit. Now, I was going to throw this baby in the bin, but of course him indoors cringed, so the baby is now living in a nice pot alongside the mumma. All in all, I used 2 bags of compost and at least 8 big pots, but things are looking great now. The clivia has flowers and lots of buds so it is going to look great in a few weeks time. The orchid looks stunning, even though one of the flower stems snapped clean off and is now in a vase on the mantlepiece! Also, I think there are two different orchid plants in one pot as the other half has 3 flower stems, but the buds are completely different. And the monster Strelizia has at least 5 buds coming, and as each flower last 3 or 4 months, I think she is going ot be in flower for the rest of 2006!

Just thought I would mention the squash collection. As you can see, there are still loads to use and I am running out of ideas! I have just made a lovely big batch of hot and spicy pumpkin chutney which not only used up one of the huge pumpkins, but also used up a load of chillis which have finally ripened on the conservatory! Mum has given me a couple of different recipes which I hope to do over the week, but I think a lot of these are going to end up on the compost heap. Oh well, at least they will go back to putting some goodness in the ground!

Friday 3rd February - Weather: freezing, damp and dull! BBRR

Note: Sowed Celeriac 'Brilliant' in paper pots today to try and give them a head start.

Wednesday 1st February - Weather: Dull Dull Dull

Off to another of my gardens today for a four hour stint. Lots to do! Planted two climbing Jasmines on their back fence, followed by a willow in the lawn. Then tidied up the compost heap moving the newer stuff to the back so I could get to the rotted compost. Used a couple of barrows full to mulch around the fruit trees. There is so much green stuff on the heap, I think they need to get a skip and get rid of it as most of it is grass cuttings and they aren't rotting down, just going slimey and smelly! The out to the paddock where I needed to create a new long border for a natural 'prickly' hedge. They are hoping to remove all the fence once the hedge is established and knitting together. Going to be painful for me to weed as 95% of the shrubs will be spikey. I will have to invest in some good eye goggles and really heavy duty gloves. Four hours whizzed by, but wow am I suffering now. My calves and thighs are aching along with my sore shoulder. I should have a long hot soak, but the kids won't let me, and I have the shopping being delivered tonight! I have never done that before, and only am this time because I received a good money off voucher so it made it worthwhile!

At home, the kids were very excited as they spotted the first green shoots on my broadbeans and peas. Several of each are through, and if the temperatures would go up a little, I think there would be a plantation of seedlings by the weekend! I will take the camera down with me and photograph the babies!

Tuesday 31st January 2006 - Weather: dull and nippy!

Visited one my gardens today. It is looking lovely as there are snowdrops up in little clumps all over the place. I really must get some for my garden! Really just a matter of a little weeding and picking up leaves still, although it is amazing how much new growth there is, and they are keen bird feeders (have I mentioned this before?) so there are alsorts of weird and wonderful seedlings popping up around the birdtable. I won't be back there now for 3 weeks as half term is fast approaching, but when I do go back they would like me to start cutting back the laurels that are dotted around as hedges. They are as wide as they are tall, but the growth is plenty thick enough that I think I could take them back a good few feet without loosing any of the privacy they provide. There is also a huge holly that I will try to take back a little, but the biggest problem is a huge monster Norwegian Spruce like tree. There are needles spread thickly all around the base, and the soil around is dry and dust like. I don't think I can do anything about that as the tree is as tall as the house! I will suggest they get themselves, or I get for them, a load of well rotted manure or compost and heavily mulch the area under the tree to try and improve matters.

I was planning to come home and finish my own front garden, but by the time I had done chores, it was school run time. Oh well, tis another day tomorrow.

On the seed plantation front, peas and broad beans are just begining to root, so as soon as real live green shoots appear, so will photos!