18 February

Another visit to the plot this morning. More prep. Lovely sunny morning.

Top allotment

Bottom allotment

6 February

2 1/2 hours on the plot this morning. Planted my shallots on the bottom allotment (far right bed). Having created my plan for the bottom allotment:

I realised the onion sets I'd planted in the bed at the front right were in the wrong place for my crop rotation scheme so I moved them to the same bed as the shallots. The rear beds are a bit smaller so I had a few left over so I used them to fill in a few spaces on the 2 rows of onion sets I've put in on the top allotment.

I took the wondermesh off the cauliflowers and cabbages and pulled them all out (to take home) as I wanted to get the soil warmed up a bit ready for the early potatoes. I only have 2 x 4' square glass panels left now so I've had to use some weed suppressing fabric for the remainder of the bed. I plan to put the rocket in in early March.

I also pulled a few chioggia beetroot up and dug up 4 more parnsips (still quite a few left). At home I have my first tomatoes in the electric propogator - Alicante. I can't find my Sungold seeds but am hoping to get a few in later this week.

I also have 2 trays of leeks in the greenhouse - I need to give it a good clean though with a solution of Jeyes fluid probably some time this month.

27 January

Went to the plot for the first time in weeks - snow stopped play.

Top allotment

Got some parsnips, leeks, celeriac and a beetroot:

Bottom allotment:

I'm forcing some rhubarb under the white bin again.

1 January 2013

Another year over and the bill has arrived from the council for the 2 plots I rent. Hmmmm, shall I fork out just over £1 a week - you bet!

I went up this morning for a couple of hours and concentrated on the bottom plot as the raised beds meant the soil was still easy to work with even after yesterday's rain. I cleared the bed that had the peppers in and moved the chive clump into the bed with the onion sets.

Here are the beds as they are now:

Both beds empty and prepared.

Still some beetroot left.

Some rocket and radish in the front bed, some cabbage and cauliflower under the Wondermesh.

Empty bed at front, onion sets and chives at rear.

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.....