24/03/2012 it's planting time!!!

I took Callum with me to the allotment this morning, it was a bit foggy but the sun soon came out bringing with it some other plot holders
i took Pete's drill with me as i needed more holes drilling in the bottom of the carrot tubs for water drainage and also needed to drill some holes in the metal poles that are near the blackberry bush so that i could put some more wire supports in , i dont think i'll get much fruit this year it's only the second year of growth

After my drilling skills were put to the test :) it was then time to start planting my first earlies callum dug a trench whilst i put more manure in the trenches weren't very straight but i made sure the potatoes were in a straight line

                    same as last year 2 rows of foremost hoping they will do as well as last year

                                             filled with more manure then mixed in a bit

bit of  a strange colour on this picture but here are the potatoes in the trench with added manure

potatoes are in a straight line  not really that bothered it doesnt make them grow any better

here we go 2 rows in one more to go but that will be another day

Also have some shocking news from the allotment it's about RATS i hate rats more than anything else so imagine my horror when i moved a bag of manure and saw a hole in the ground!! i knew instantly it was a rat hole so callum who cLaims he isn't scared filled it with pebbles the bag had been chewed through but no further signs of Mr rat no more holes or chewed bags we moved them for now....

im More than a bit horrified !!!

 Later callum was in the area and jumped back quick this made me scream like an idiot much to the delight of other plot holders!! turns out he got stung my a nettle felt such a fool!! 

Well the planting season of 2012 has begun on the allotment and my greenhouse is getting very full with various veg and flowers :)

10th March 2012

Went to the allotment this morning with Callum still not much to do as I'm starting everything off in the greenhouse this year
Today's task was to drill some holes in the large water butt type tubs i use for the carrots however all didn't go to plan as the drill bit snapped so ended up coming home

Things in the greenhouse are coming along well so far the following have germinated

brussel sprouts
savoy cabbage
golden acre cabbage
silverskin onions
peas
sweet pepper
1x celeriac hope the others follow soon
leeks
cauliflower
lettuce

just waiting for the tomatoes to appear now

March 1st 2012

Finally found the time to visit my allotment this morning :) there wasn't much to do hardly any weeds which was good!! I put some manure around the fruit bushes and had a little dig around wasn't there long
i did finally remember a soil sample from the area i want to grow cabbages,cauliflowers and sprouts ect they don't like soil to be too acid ,last year i added some lime and things seemed to grow well.

confirms i need lime again ill do it as soon as the potatoes are in don't want to risk putting it on an area where they might be going as they hate lime

This afternoon a spent a good hour in my greenhouse sowing seeds :):) here's what i started

tomato gardeners delight for pots outside

tomato minibel  for hanging baskets

tomato alacante which I'm growing in the greenhouse

cabbage golden acre

cabbage savoy

brussel sprouts

just a couple of each cabbage as i plan to stagger them so they are not all ready at the same time

also sowed some paris silverskin shallots like the ones you buy in jars :)

think i might be back in there again tomorrow as i have so much to do I'm growing everything in my greenhouse and transferring later to my allotment

Here is a picture of just a few of my potatoes chitting