MY WEEKS 18 & 19 : ( 1ST & 8TH MAY )


Well first of all I must say a big thanks to my Dad for letting you all know about the reason why I could not update you all last week, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting to hear what I have been up to, anyway I will hopefully make up for it with this larger than usual update.

I thought that it would be nice to show you the trees just outside our allotment site in full blossom, they really look stunning at this time of year and give you a lift what ever the weather.


Over the last two weeks I have erected the support system for my Broad Beans, I placed stout stakes at both ends of the double rows and also in the centres and spaced them 12" apart, then I ran twine around them at 12" high and 24" high to keep the plants inside the framework and offer them support, the reason for running a lath across the tops of the support frame is to keep the stakes upright when you pull the twine taut.


My Sweet Peas have enjoyed the warmer weather accompanied with the showers, I have selected the strongest shoot on each plant and have tied them onto their support and then pinched out any side shoots and tendrils as they take up alot of the plants vigour and energy, this will then leave the main stem to grow away and hopefully produce excellent lovely straight stemmed flowers.

I have transplanted some Lettuce plants that have taken well, they were given to me by my neighbouring plot holder Brian, we quite often give each other plants and produce depending on who has had better germination of certain seeds or higher yields of a particular produce, I think this is one of many wonderful characteristics that we have as allotment gardeners. The Lettuce plants have been netted to protect them from the Pigeons and to defend from Snail and Slug attack I encircle the crop area with pellets to act as barrier without them being too close to the crops I think that this reduces any unwanted chemicals from
getting into your food and I'm afraid to say that after trying numerous different methods the pellets are the only thing that stops my hard work being destroyed by the Slugs and Snails.


The First Early Potatoes are bursting through the earthing up now so hopefully we will not get any more frosts, however if we do have a frost forecast I will cover the rows with fleece. The Maincrop Potatoes are coming through now as well, so next week I will earth these up, I find that this method suits me best rather than earthing little and often I tend to do mine in one go if possible.

Today I picked the first bunch of Radishes, despite a few nibbled leaves from the Flea Beetles they look great and the taste is something else, as usual far better than any you get from the shops that have no flavour or spice to them.


My Garlic and Shallots are doing really well, now that they have rooted well and they are firmly anchored in the ground I have been able to give them a good weed without the worry of dislodging them, this will make sure that any water that they have will all go to the crops and not the weeds.

Well over the last two weeks I have sown my Calabrese, Purple Sprouting, Beetroot and Maincrop Carrots, in the greenhouses and coldframes at the moment I have the following plants growing : Runner Beans, French Beans, Leeks, Sprouts, Kohl Rabi, Fennel, Tomatoes, Courgettes, Butternut Squashes, Cucumbers, Celery, Lettuce, Calabrese, Purple Sprouting, Summer Cabbages, Autumn Cabbages, Cauliflower, Pumpkins, Sunflowers, Lavender, English Marigolds, French Marigolds, Petunias, Asters, Lobelia, Coleus and Busy Lizzies, I think that that is about it however I'm sure that I've forgotten some.

Next week I will be covering my polytunnel frame so that I can get some of the Brassicas planted, I will also be planting out some Rockets plants and I will also be making a start on planting up my hanging baskets and pots with the help of my Mum who has just retired so I thought that I would draft her in to help with the workload. Anyway that's it for now, I hope to speak to you all again next week thankyou for waiting, have a good week at your plots, Steve.