It's great that in such a short time the patch has changed from the image on the top to the one below. Ok it's taken some hard work, but always enjoyable and it has to be the cheapest gym in the world with fantastic rewards. Fresh air, exercise and the bonus of an end product which you can eat.
I had a fantastic morning today. I was invited over to a friends parent's allotment in Shard End. It's a small site surrounded by houses and is a most wonderful oasis of produce and chickens. Nick and Lynn are from Cyprus and have the most fantastic plot with chickens, a grape-vine all sorts of fruit trees and a wide range of vegetables. I was intrigued by a kind of Spinach called Kalalou (Spelling!!!). It was featured on a cookery programme with Neneh Cherry and my friend Nedge had told me ages ago how his Dad grew it. There would appear to be one sort from Jamaica and another from Cyprus and I have returned with a small selection of both thanks to their kind generosity. (Fortunately I wasn't stopped and searched by the Police as the small plastic bags of suspicious "Stuff" would have taken some explaining!!!) Watch this space as my attempts to grow it are recorded.
I also met their friend Helen who shares my birthday tomorrow and who also has a great plot lovingly tended.
I had to get back and get something done so I spent a while with Progress the Rake and we worked over the Cabbage patch ready for the transplanting. I also gave the spuds a good drenching and the Arran Pilots are already breaking surface.
So all in all a great day and coupled with Man U's great win yesterday and my birthday tomorrow I leave you with a smile on "The Captain's face.
Get well soon Vonny!
The Captain.
Yet another fabulous day down on plot 87. We were blessed with a visit from "Her Cissyness" complete with refreshments which was a rare luxury. She donned the funky boots and attacked the weeds with gusto!
I finally received the cloche clips and put them straight into action on the new raised bed up by the fig tree. They certainly do the job and are quite robust. I've sown a row of Lakeland Lettuce and a row of Parsley which I've cloched-up. I've also sown a row of Maris Pipers in the spud patch. Next week I'll put in a row of Kerr Pinks and alternate them so hopefully there'll be a choice later on.
All the seedlings are through and I've been busy thinning them out. I'm going to have to try and sow less as it's a terrible waste when you have to discard so many.
The rear corporate entertainment area is taking shape. I've unearthed more slabs and transferred them around the back. The "Gazeebo" has arrived courtesy of Mrs Moose and looks the business. I'll have to defer the trial run though as I'm off to sunny Skegness with "The Legend that is Alvin Stardust" today. We're playing at The Motorcycle News Weekend, so it's on with the leathers and "Rock n'Roll".
I'll hopefully get down to water the gang tomorrow afternoon when I get back.
It looks like we'll get some rain next week which will be great as everything is drying out and it saves having to use the hosepipe.
That's all for now,
Regards to all my friends,
The Captain.
The blast of fine weather over the weekend has triggered the mystery tree into action and it's a FIG! So that's solved that problem and now I'll have to read up on how to look after it.
I could certainly help it by weeding around the base as it's quite dense there.
Also seeing the first sign of new potato shoots emerging, so it's time to earth them up.
The brassica seedlings need to be thinned now and I need to fork in the lime spread over their bed.
Onwards,
The Captain.
It's as if summer has arrived already! Down on Plot 87 it's more like weather for sunbathing than spud planting. Still I managed to get 2 rows of King Edwards in along with putting up some pea nets ready for the peas. The water is on again so I managed to hook up the hosepipe and give everything a good soak. All the seeds are coming up as can be seen in the picture along with the new rake which has joined Winston and the still to be named fork. I think I'll call it Progress!
I spent a day last week liming the brassica bed. One of my neighbours advised me that there is Club Root on the site so I checked out a few forums for advice. One suggested liming before transplanting and also a good handfull of lime in each hole so I think it's worth a try. One also suggested a piece of rhubarb stalk in each hole, which would help with the acidity I suppose.
Man U are flying again which is a bonus! Come On You Reds!!!
I'm getting up the energy to demolish the old shed at the top. It's falling down and useless for storage, so it may as well make way for a parking space. I can also use the wood for some more raised beds and various other jobs.
Got a great pair of binoculars from Lidl at the weekend. 10x50 for &4.99! Brilliant quality for next to nothing. I can look at all the bird life a little closer now.
I'm still waiting for the cloche clips to be delivered. Come On Guys!
Well time to get on,
Until the next time,
The Captain.
