Progress on Plot 'X'...

 

Another plot morning today. It was spitting with rain but nothing drastic. Its all rather mundane at the moment- its all digging and removing couch and bindweed. However I have started to put down some edges and managed to move the established clump of rhubarb we found on the front of the plot. To be fair there isn't too much left to dig and weed now and hopefully you can see the progress on the photo below...

 

 

 

The rhubarb we managed to split into two decent chunks and I have replanted them further up the plot and given it a mulch with hoss muck. On the picture below you can also see the comfrey I planted this morning. There was one huge clump growing in the middle of this plot when we took it on so I dug it up today and split it into four plants that now reside next to the rhubarb. They are at hand here for the new compost bins so I can just cut it to ground level and chuck the leaves into the compost heap. I should get three good cuts each year, one of which I shall use to make a liquid comfrey feed for the tomatoes and sweet peas.

Had to go and fetch some leeks this morning aswell. I was at my mates house just before nine and he presented me with a tray of pendle blanch and a couple of Yorkshire giant pot leeks (destined for the heavy weights at Malvern autumn show).

These are now under the growlights with 12 hours of light. They are ready to pot on so I'll probably cover this in my next post- Stay tuned...

Bin today and going tommorrow...

 

 

Actually managed to get a dry morning today to go down the allotments. Despite all the rain we've had the ground is very workable on the new plot as it lies on almost pure sand- good now, probably not so good in the summer- if we get one!

The plan today was to get some compost bins built with all the pallets we had lying around. This is what I came up with:

 

 

Obviously they are not finished yet but they do look good don't they...

I have got to put posts on the front of each bin so I can add a slatted removable front. As you can see there are three bins/bays- two 4ft ones each end and a bigger 6-7ft one in the centre which might be useful for holding materials (spent hops, hoss muck etc...)

The only other job then is to line the back of the bins with black plastic or weed fabric to give a uniform look and help insulate the bins.

On the right of the second photo yo can just make out a clump of rhubarb- this is  half of the clump which was fond growing on the front of this plot when we took it on. It was hidden by a sea of couch and bindweed. Needless to say I have got to search through the rootball and extract as much root as I can and then replant further up the plot.

It was nice this morning- the gentleman from the rear plot arrived on his cycle and we met each other for the first time and he said how well I was doing and how eager I must be- its nice to receive a bit of encouragement now and again!

Hoping to get down tomorrow morning to do a bit more. Got some edging to put down on the plot and perhaps set up another weed tea bin- we'll see what tomorrow brings...

Hope you all have a great day and try not to get blown away!!!

Books and things that go quack!

Not a lot happening at the moment due to the weather. Its rain, rain and more rain... Thoughts go out to all those who have lost homes and possessions through the flooding across the country.
Last night we had very strong gales on top of everything but luckily we came off light. There is a smallish tear in the big polytunnel which will have to be patched and taped and some of the polycarbonate had flown out of the cucumber house but apart from that everything is still firmly attached to terra firma.
Had a ride into town today and got some gardening books out of the library to browse over:

 

Then from town we popped to the allotments just to check on the poultry. The ducks are slowly starting to come into lay but the hens must be on strike...

No sooner were these six laid they were sold!

Hoping to get down to the new plot tomorrow- got to build some compost bays and check the polythene is still down after the strong winds we've had.

More on this to follow. Have a good day one and all!

 

Looking back...

BREAKING NEWS...Last week we were offered our third allotment to which we said yes after taking a look at it the following day. It is rough with quite a bit of couch grass and bindweed. However I have forked over a third of it, covered a third where I intend to grow potatoes no dig and a third left to fork over. However this last third is mainly annual weed growth so I shall just turn them in and they will act as a good green manure crop.- photos to follow...

Not a lot happening at the moment so thought i'd take a look back at last years shows. The following pics are from Chaddersley show, Belbroughton and Stourport.

These were my 'Cornell'

My collection (the wrong way round!)

My hative di niort at the front

Nice display of dahlias

My mate John the Baptist- teaching him everything I know- he hasn't beat me yet. He will soon though...

Have to have my snapshot with the winning collection. Its always a well-contested class so its good competition...

My mate Boswell's pot plant display...

My veg display- gotta pick the cups up the end of this month....

The show season is under way...again....

Well I cant believe its 12 months since I was preparing my stuff for the shows. Time really does fly.
Last week was Bridgnorth show and off I toddled with several exhibits including cauliflowers and shallots. Happy to say I was award best in the vegetable section for my cauliflowers ( variety 'Cornell'). They were sown on 12th April and I have been picking them for the past fortnight.
My shallots also came first as did the cucumber and some homemade wines I entered.

Saturday just gone  I was at Bewdley show. Another well-supported show with some good growers. I was able to take half a dozen caulis with me, using them in various collections. Fortunately, I won all three collections I entered and won two more trophies for the cabinet. I pulled my first two celery of the season which turned out quite nice with hardly any slug damage at all! My shallots did it again and got another red card as did courgettes, flowers and salad collection.

WANTED
You might not see him but you'll definitely hear him coming... Tommy Hall- diamond geezer!

 

Bank holiday Celery...

Well we've had some lovely weather over the bank holiday weekend with plenty of (warm) sunshine about. The dutch hoe has been out in force creating a 'dust mulch' which helps prevent weeds and moisture from the soil evaporating. Bank holiday Monday was sunny too but there was a strong wind and if theres one thing that does damage- its wind.
We went down the allotments on Monday to plant my celery and first lot of caulis and ended up adding aubergines and French beans to the planted list. Im growing 'Morning star' celery this year and I've planted 13 plants in one of the raised beds:

Celery all boxed up ready to go down the plos...

This is how they started...

First lot of caulis ready to plant out...These are 'Memphis'

A bit short on cucs this year so I managed to pick up these two for a pound down on the local carboot...

One of the kelsae plants I've got to plant out. There must be about a dozen or so.

Trying grafted aubergine 'Scorpio' this year having had very limited success with seed raised plants. These have been planted in one of the raised beds in the tunnel.

I make 9" collars to wrap loosely around my celery once its planted out. This helps draw the sticks NOT blanch them- it is too early to be thinking about blanching them yet.

Got our DA meeting this Thursday where David Metcalfe will be talking to us about various aspects of growing in containers, with straw and exhibition veg. Hopefully we should get some new members along too.
Managed to get all my xanths planted on Saturday and tied up. Luckily I have a shelter which is surrounded by windbreak netting because after todays gales I think they would have been stripped! Haven't managed to get a photo of them yet so more on that later...
Some good news- the editor of Simply Veg magazine (NVS) has asked me to do a series of articles for the magazine. They will be entitled 'Growing Pains' and will document how a younger member of the NVS grows for exhibition and will hopefully help to encourage the younger generation to garden and join the NVS...

 

Better late than never...

I went along to the Malvern spring show the other weekend and have been asked to put some photos on here from the weekend's events. Unfortunately I was that busy looking round and chatting to folks I knew that I didn't get much chance to take photos. However lucky for you guys I did manage get a few shots...

The National veg society's overall display in the hall. Consisting of both flowers and veg. They deserved a first for this.

Mick asked me if i'd take a photo of him talking a load of crap... or was it compost? - he's definitely got too much time on his hands... all that chopping?!*?!

The NVS always do a good display on their stand. There was some beautiful veggies on there and tomatoes at this time of year!

Wherever I go there's always someone who wants their photo taken with me! Let me introduce you to the new Chairman and Secretary of the West Midland District Association (NVS)...



Moving on... we had our first committee meeting last night at the Swan Inn Fairfield for our new D.A. I'm pleased to say we have 6 fantastic guys on the team who i'm sure will help Mick and I to push the popularity of the D.A. One of them is a good friend of mine, John Guest from Kidderminster, who I now know follows this blog! John's a lovely down-to-earth guy and is one of those people you feel like you've known for years. John is now our raffle secretary ad members secretary- he's a good egg and a great asset to the committee.
Our next meeting is the 30th May (next Thursday) and our speaker is David Metcalfe who will be talking on growing veg in containers, growing with straw and touching on growing for exhibition. I personally have heard David's talks and I know he is an exceptional grower, having dealt with him for the past three or four years. The meeting is held at Fairfield Village Hall near Bromsgrove and starts at 8pm. Each meeting we have a good raffle and refreshments are provided. There will be the opportunity to purchase/order NVS polo shirts etc on the night so please do come along with your wallet and help us raise the money we need to keep the association going. NVS members are free and visitors will get their first visit free- thereafter they will be required to join the NVS and receive the benefits of membership. Anyone interested in our meeting please email me for more information....