Perfect Plot Day

It was a glorious day to start with this morning when we got to the plot. We had a really productive day too. Firstly I put in some more broad beans, filling the gaps in the Aquadulce and then sowing 2 rows of Masterpiece Green Longpod. I've put net over it in a vain hope of keeping the mice and pigeons off.


Next were the peas. I love the rustic look of this teepee structure. This year I've got 'Magnum Bonum' peas on it again (a heritage variety that I got from a seed swap at Ryton Organic Potato Fair last year) - these were smashing. Because I only had 9 seeds of this (I wasn't organised and ate all the peas and forgot to dry some for sowing next year - durrrr!), I also sowed some Mangetout 'Carouby De Maussane', which also grow tall at 1.5m +. The blue bit of carpet is to stop the weeds which I couldn't reach to weed very well last year once the peas had grown.

On the subject of peas, the Meteor and Blauwschokker Peas I sowed in the guttering have come up, as have a few of the many sweetpeas I sowed.

Other jobs done today: - Hubby hammered in the last two posts for the step over apple tree, cleared Bed 6 ready for parsnips and carrots, hammered the loganberry's wonky post back in, popped in a few more japanese onions where they had been pulled up and did loads of dock weeding around the fruit bushes.

Overall a good day!

I went over to the plot yesterday afternoon and what nice weather it was. I really enjoyed it in the sunshine tidying and sorting. I bought another plum tree from Tesco (Rivers' Early Prolific). It's even better than the first and goes well between the arch and the bean frame (which progressively gets smaller and smaller as I take out bamboo. I'm going to grow less on here and instead use the arches for beans this year so they can scramble over them and the beans can hang down).

A pic of my plum. It looks boggy, but I've only just watered it.


Another view from the other side showing the plums, bean frame and arches.

Peas, Parsnips and Jelly

I sowed loads of peas, sweetpeas and lupins this week. The peas and sweetpeas I moved to the allotment greenhouse as they seem to prefer it cool. Last year my sweetpeas were really leggy and I sowed them all in individual modules. It was a poor show really. This year I've sown them 5 to a pot and I'll leave them all together when I plant them out. The peas are in guttering again as it was so brilliant last year. I then just dig a shallow trench in the bed, take off the end and slide them in. I had a real production line going! The Lupins are still at home (not sure what they need, will have to look them up!) and already showing above the compost - now if I can just stop the cat sitting on them....!


The rhubarb is at last making a bit more of an effort!

Hubby moved the path and dug over the new bit of bed ready for me to sow some more broadies and to put in the peas when they are up.

Below is my fabulous new cut flower bed. I've got tons of stuff in dahlias, gladioli, irises, freesias and more. The kids planted a dahlia each so they will have something to show at the allotment show and I've got one of my own too. along with my sweetpeas and lupins (I know they take 2 years!) I've high hopes! Roll on Summer!

And a pic of me with one of my monster parsnips. it's been in the ground for a while so looks a bit brown, but tasted great!

And finally, I've just made the most wonderful Sweet Red Pepper Jelly. It is gorgeous!! We love stuff like this on cheese and biscuits and we've just run out of the Quince and Rose Petal Jelly that my MIL gave us and had always planned to have a go myself. As you can see it doesn't make very much (I may have simmered it a bit long), but it's delicious and really easy to make.

Nigella's Sweet Red Pepper Jelly.

INGREDIENTS
6 large red peppers
3 oz white wine vinegar
Juice of 2 large lemons
1 lb castor sugar

INTRODUCTION

Sweet red pepper jelly, perfect for Christmas or any other time of year, but I must warn you its very addictive!!!! It goes really well with houmous or cheese on crackers. You can add a few red chillies to give a bit of a kick too. It's really easy to make and keeps for ages so don't be alarmed by the quantities(!?)

METHOD

1. Whizz peppers in a food processor as chunky as you want the final result to be (I prefer it finely chopped).

2. Put the blitzed peppers into a stainless steel sauce pan and add all the other ingredients.

3. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 20-30 mins or until relatively thick (like honey) stirring occasionally, be careful not to let it burn or go too thick as it thickens further in the fridge.

4. Its now ready to pour into jars. leave to cool a little before you put it in the fridge.

http://www.nigella.com/recipe/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=13940

Orange Rose

So I bought a rose from Wilkos. It looks lovely and as the 'Golden Parfum' climbing rose that I got from there last year did so well, I thought I'd go for one on the other arch too. It was only £2.50 so it was worth a go.


The three little twigs sticking up between the daffs and tulips is my little rose. The other one looked like this this time last year and grew brilliantly in a year. I'm hoping for some flowers this year!

My 'Golden Parfum' now.

We had a good day at the plot on Sunday. Hubby took a load of stuff to the tip and we moved the path and dug the bed for the pumpkins. I put the last of our stash of very well rotted manure on the bed and then spent the rest of the time there filling the bin up again with the free stuff. It's now half full - the rest will have to wait for another day. I also wired between the posts for the step-over apples and attached the branches to it. They are really secure now.

Lastly, Hubby cleared behind the shed as we were told the council were finally going to put up the metal fence at the end of our plots (and the 5 next to me). The high pointy topped fence runs most of the way around the allotments already, but stops when it gets to mine as we had trees/bushes there. It's okay for our plot, but the rest of the plots are not very secure, even I could get over if I felt inclined!.

Anyway, they are starting before the end of March and should be finished by the end of April. Also as a way of saying sorry for the inconvienience they have knocked £10 off our rent for the coming year - hooray!! It'll be like being in prison and I'll have a good view of the factories now, but I'll cope - I'd rather it was secure, most of it is behind the shed/swings anyway and I'll cover it up somehow!

Before!

Chewy and Pip!

Slightly off the topic of veg......

Meet the new additions to our family! The top little fella has been called called Chewy by the boy, and the one above was called Pip by the girlie. It was all very exciting - buying the bits, choosing the Hamsters, getting them home in the car before they nibbled their way out (not so much fun with a shrieking daughter in the back seat!). We've popped them in their cages and are allowing them to settle in for a day or two. Chewy seems a sweet, happy little thing and Pip will be fine too - when he calms down - the poor mite seems in a permanent state of shock!

The Potatoes Are Here!!!!!

Yippeeee! Though once again I have most spectacularly over ordered! This year I have written down exactly how many come in each bag so I can order properly for next year.

I ordered - Swift (1st, 36 in a bag, not tried before); Red Duke of York (1st, fab last year, 36); Pink Fir Apple (2nd, amazing!! 65+!!); Kestrel (2nd, 28 not tried before); Romano (MC, good but a bit sluggy, 25) and Valour (MC, again good but a little sluggy, 31). I will have to resort to organic type slug pellets this year unfortunately as 90% of my maincrops were unusable last year!

NEXT year I will order ONE 1st early, Pink Fir Apple and one other 2nd early, and ONE Maincrop!

Snowy plot pics:

The lovely leeks

And snow prints: The first ones I'm pretty certain are fox prints, the second some sort of bird - no idea what sort (not pigeon I think as they walk rather than hop) and final prints - something like a rabbit???

Snow day!

Schools were shut, yippee! Well, the girl's wasn't but she had the choice to go in or not and she chose to go in!!!??? So she did. Me and the Boy, on the other hand, got to stay at home and play in the snow!

First a picture of our remade friendly snowman. He had collapsed over night on the first day he was made. This time he has been reinforced!



And below is a pic of the mini snowmen - a little Gormley-esque! All they need is some little eyes peering up at you! These were produced before we got the calls about the snow day. So about 7am!! Brill!

Anthony Gormley - Field for the British Isles