MY WEEK : 37 ( 25TH SEPTEMBER )

Hello all, another week flies by here at the allotments. As I mentioned in last weeks update my main work during the last week has been to start to erect the framework for my second tunnel and to prepare the ground, the photograph shows how far I have managed to get to. Other things that I have been up to include more weeding, clearing of the plant debris, adding to the compost heaps and back at home I have continued with my Jam making and Pickled Beetroot.





My first job was to measure out exactly the size of the tunnel area and mark it out so that I could install a timber framework around the perimeter ready for the cover to be fastened to along with the door frames.




Then I marked out the spacings of the spans and erected them accordingly, they are held in place with ground anchors and also by a cross bar, once the cover is attached the structure will be completely secure as is the case with my first tunnel.

My Leek plants are showing signs of damage caused by the Alium Fly which is the first time that I have suffered from this relatively new pest on our allotment site, it seems that this may become another pest that will have to be dealt with either by growing the crops under enviromesh or by some form of chemical means which is a shame but if you want to ensure a decent crop then you don't have much choice.

Hopefuly this photograph shows clearly enough how my Runner Bean pods are starting to produce the seeds for next years crop, the seeds themselves are starting to swell nicely inside the pods and as long as the weather remains fairly mild and not to damp they may dryout ok on the plants or if not I will remove them and dryout in my greenhouse.

I have also harvested Daniel's Pumpkins this week, he has 3 decent sized fruit ready for carving at Halloween, the vareity he sowed this year was Jack 'O' Lantern and although smaller than last years they are still big enough for their task.

I would like to request once more from any of you some ideas on anything that you would like me to cover on my website in the future, this will help me provide as many of you with hopefuly valuable advice or ideas, whether it be videos on particular methods of anything, links to my suppliers, a calendar of my planting schedule etc, they will be much appreciated.

Well that is it for another week, the seed catalogues are starting to arrive now ready for next year so I will be looking through them over the coming weeks to see if their are any new varieties that I would like grow, thankyou for your wonderful emails and messages that are coming in from all around the world from America, Australia, Thailand and others, thankyou Steve.