Spring is on the Way!!

January is exciting at it's the time to sort out the seeds and ditch all the out-of-date ones and file away the newly ordered packets.


If you're organic, as many people are, a rotation plan is a vital calculation because, should the carrot foliage suddenly acquire a purple tint at the tips (an indicator that carrot root fly is active), it isn't possible to apply an insecticide.  Unfortunately, if the infected carrot is removed, the fly problem will move along the row must faster, as if by magic.  Should it take hold, the roots will be marred by black horizontal banding and them cream grubs will wriggle free.  Worse still, the sweet roots will acquire an unpleasant flavour, designed to put off pests (and any other creature bent on munching the roots). 


Organic gardeners are best to follow a logical four-year rotation plan with each

'New' Shed

Great News! We've just bought a new second-hand shed: 

We're absolutely thrilled as it's much bigger than our previous 'starter' shed bought about two years ago:  

This shed has been sold to a nearby new plotholder family.  

It's an excellent starter shed but we now need more space.

So ...The new shed has three large windows and double opening doors so we can sit in the doorway and look over the allotment and see peeps of Torbay and the sea in the distance: 

As you can see, there's lots of space inside for 'stuff':

Below is the other shed which was on our plot, an ancient one which was already in situ when we took over.  It's going to an allotment site over at Preston.

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This shed has been dismantled, and is being collected soon.

Also in the photo are two beds which have been dug over and covered for the winter. Then there's a bed with raspberries and other soft fruit and strawberries and comfrey in the background.

We've cleared when the old shed was, read to make a turning space. Now the really old shed's going we can reserve that area for compost or make another vegetable bed.

Yoghurt

There's a carton of natural yoghurt left over from Christmas - what to do with it?


One idea is Pink Pudding (named by the girls many years ago)


1/2 lb raspberries
2 egg whites (whisked)
2 oz icing sugar
4 fl oz double cream (whipped)
1 carton (5 fl oz) yoghurt


Mix ingredients and eat soon, serves 4 - 6.

Happy New 2012 - on the Allotment

1 January: We've bought a shed from a fellow allotmenteer and this weekend's job is to dismantle it and cart it up to our plot, ready to assemble.  It's rather exciting as we've been wanting a bigger shed for ages!



18 January: The old shed's been carried away - literally - down to a new plotholder's place and we've started clearing and levelling, to make a car turning space.
The very old shed's about to go, so we've dismantled it (as it's going over to Preston) and carried it to the edge of our plot ready for removal by the new owners.  
We've removed the blocks and bricks it was standing on and cleared the space, ready to make a big compost heap (or two) or to actually grow stuff.  As it's right next to the hedge it may well not be the best place to grow stuff.
I bought some lime for the brassicas.  This year they're rather poor and I read somewhere that they don't need manure, they need lime. So that could explain why ours are so small.
28 January:  Well, lots has happened.  We've been down to the beach and harvested some seaweed, then found a good local source of horse manure (complete with straw).  I've brought some back to the allotment and plan to collect more next week.
Also I bought some fish, blood and bone - brilliant stuff, although not a good option for vegetarian alotmenteers. It's suitable for flowers, fruit and vegetables.
"A traditional, organic-based general purpose plant food that provides the three major nutrients required for strong, healthy growth. Nitrogen encourages growth and rich green foliage, whilst phosphate promotes vigorous root development. The potash content helps improve flower colour and the ripening of fruit and vegetables."
.Apparently a dose of this magic formula lasts for up to six weeks and it's easy to apply. Sprinkle over at the rate of about 70g per square metre, avoiding leaves and stems, fork in and water if the soil's dry.