Planning and Reviewing December in Previous Years

There is not a whole lot of growing that happens in December, its normally blustery, cold, rainy, and overcast. It's the only time of the year with no sowing programme, though some enthusiasts and trophy hunters will ignore convention. I can't shut my plot down completely because there is too much tidying and maintenance to do on plot 1A and I have infrastructure works to undertake on plot 1. I also need to go there for some Allotment Therapy and get out of the house. 

2012 - My First December and third month of owning an allotment was mainly spent cutting down the weeds and exposing what lay underneath and discovering all manor or debris to dispose off. There was a lot of burning of weeds in the two incinerators 

2013 - Mainly clearing up the plot, Growing and cut and drop green manure, installing an infrastructure of paths and beds. Harvesting Sprouts 

2014 - Mainly clearing up the plot, Growing and cut and drop green manure, installing an infrastructure of paths and beds. Harvesting Sprouts 

2015 - Mainly clearing up the 2nd plot on Spencer Road, Growing and cut and drop green manure, installing an infrastructure of paths and beds. Harvesting Sprouts, carrots and parsnips  

2016 - Two plots on two different allotment sites Mill Green and Spencer Road, Installing infrastructure, collecting leafs, Walking Onions in greenhouse, harvesting sprouts, manure and leafs on beds, making planting membrane sheets, High winds blow over Keith's shed. Shed Break-ins and meeting the police on Spencer Road.
            

2017 - Family health matters mean very little achieved on the plot. Leaf collection and sprout harvest.

2018 - Lots of rain and not a great deal of work possible this month. Grow Your Own Tomato Seed Circle package arrives. 30th December and I was clearing the sweetcorn from the beds and putting to sleep for winter.  

2019 - Lots of rain, but I did manage to audit and catalogue What's In My Seed Box 

Jools Holland in Brighton with Kelly and John Barrowman A Fabulous Christmas and weekend away with my good lady wife meant I lost two weekend of working on the plots.

Christmas Eve my good lady wife and I were in the Royal Brompton Hospital as she was undergoing a night study to recalibrate her BiPAP  (Bilevel Positive Airways Pressure) machine that she has to go on each night.

Below is the to do list in no particular order and catching up with what actually happened in November and what has slipped. The plan is now to get as much infrastructure on Plot 1 in place as possible, and get both plots and greenhouses ready for next season. 

Coronavirus UPDATE

Early into March I ended up self isolating because my wife is very high risk and from the looks we were in isolation for a lot longer than the 12 weeks.  My first visit to the plot was on July 21st Fathers Day.

My daughter and son in law kept a lot of the weeds at bay, but the bind weed beat them and now I'm in allotment rescue mode as well as putting in some new infrastructure and removing some so that remedial works can happen to a boundary wall. 

The second wave is here and this time I will be taking the opportunity of exercising on the allotment and looking after my well being to get everything ready for next years growing season.  

To Do List  

Below is the to do list in no particular order of what needs to be done and what has slipped 

Mill Green - Plot 1A

• Clear Bed 2 of Cabbages and cover - TBD
• Remove and dispose of Corex on the roof - TBD once a couple of dry days.
• Re felt the roof of the shed - Awaiting a couple of dry days 
• Fix the potting Bench - TBD after the bindweed is removed. 
• Clear the Wasp Nest in greenhouse 1A - Completed 
• Rhubarb Bed to be created - I have now cleared the weeds in the bed and covered in cardboard in current location and will move the Rhubarb when I expose it again on plot 1, or perhaps buy some new.
• Tidy Up the Allotment  - Ongoing 
• Weeding - Ongoing   
• Butternut Squash - Harvested and Foliage Composted.

Mill Green - Plot 1

• As much infrastructure works as the weather will allow - Raised Beds, Paths etc. One bed of Raspberries dug weeded and created, two more beds required for Raspberries that have arrived and need to get in the ground.
• Beds and Paths -  Main Path into Plot 1 completed now need to dig and weed the remaining square foot gardening beds and two raspberry beds. 
• Erect the greenhouse - New Timbers have been cut and treated Need to find brackets
• Clear the debris from the bottom of Plot 1 - TBD
• Install the kerb edging along the bottom of Plot 1 - TBD
• Clear the weeds and install a 600mm margin around the perimeter of the plot - Trimmed path around plot 1 during November, margin to be installed
• Trench for hose from corner of plot 1 to the tap and water butt - TBD
• Empty Last years Apple Dalek and relocate to Dalek Army 2  - Moved into location but not installed as I need too
• Prep the next Dalek area  - TBD
• Cut and paint timber for the Square Foot Gardening raised beds - When dry and able  
• Cut and paint timber for the Raspberries raised beds - Done   
• Tidy Up the Allotment - Ongoing over the Autumn/ Winter to be completed by March 2021
• Stockpile Timber ready for burning  - Most burnt by John for me 

Home 

• Planning - Ongoing
• Catalogue Seeds - Last of the Vegetables for 2021 added to Index
• Cut Path Weed Membrane - When dry   
• Cut Bed Weed Membrane - When dry
• Cut Planting Membrane - Make some narrow bed tomato planting sheets

Reminders

• None at the moment.- Add when remembered.