21 & 31 December

21 December Spent a bit of time on the bottom plot, tidying up the front bed, pruning raspberries, weeding, etc. I took a before and after photo!

Before:

After:

I pruned the autumn raspberries at the back of the plot as well and weeded one of the beds at the back and covered up the rhubarb crown to do a bit of forcing, worked well last year.

31 December

Bottom allotment looking ok - straightened up / repositioned the onion sets, the birds had popped a few out!

I didn't think I'd make it to the plot again this year but the rain stopped so I went to get some parsnips and leeks this afternoon from the top plot for a roast dinner on New year's Day:

The green manure is growing pretty well on the top allotment. My seed broadcasting probably could have been better!:

Overall, top allotment looking a lot tidier now, ready for 2013:

There's still a few leeks and plenty of parsnips left, here's hoping for a better crop next year...

8 December

A reasonable crop on the sunny allotment this afternoon, chioggia beetroot, leeks and parsnips.

Dug over bottom of allotment again, removed a full trug of horrible bindweed. Went right up to edge! It was pretty good to work with today. I was forking it and turning it over, breaking up the lumps quite easily. There's a still a load of stones to remove.

I'll probably put a row of spuds in here, they seem to do well in previously uncultivated land.

1 December

Long awaited trip to the allotment this afternoon. Stayed until dark. Finally dug up all the raspberries at the bottom. I have an invasion of bindweed. I'm going to have to dig the area again and try and get rid of most of it. It's coming from garden behind with loads of trees in it - damn!

The green manure(Alfalfa) seems to have grown well where the maincrop spuds used to be. Had a small bonfire and burned the bindweed I dug up along with the raspberries.

Wish I'd brought a potato and some silver foil.....