Fencing Works, Bed 16 & Heavy Duty Pots

 

When I visited the allotment a couple of days ago the fencing contractor was working on replacing the old fence panels that were only just standing up on their own and I have to say they have made a good job of it, but could have taken it to the corner where the corner post is rotting away from the top. 

After two years of requesting they have straightened up the leaning fence at the back of the car park that has the bees area behind. 

They have also infilled the gap between the fence along the water way and back of plot 9 which has been out of action for a very long time due to Japanese Knotweed that has never been treated continuously in order to eradicate it. 

The glass and debris has not been removed from the plot and I will be reporting it again to idverde 

The last two remaining panels still have not been collected by idverde so I will report those as well next time I contact Jane. 

I managed to get two last wheel barrow loads from the woodchip drop off corner, there may be one more barrow load at a stretch. and topped up the base frame to the rear raised bed. 

The water was turned on a couple of days ago, so I fixed up my watering system and replaced fitting and hoses that were leaking and watered in the woodchip to make it heavier so that it will consolidate around the Christmas tree branches in the bottom of the bed. 

Yesterday afternoon I picked up fiver number 30 Litre 400mm dia. Heavy Duty Pots with handles off Freecycle which normally retail at around £5 each. I took my Ryobi soldering iron to melt my initials on the handles as I have with the ones I have purchased as previously some were stolen off my allotment plot by a former tenant and I don't want to happen again in the future. 

With the excavation of humus soil for the raised beds and having to get some potatoes in buckets going these were a really welcome find on Freecycle.  

 

Paths & Bed 16

 

With the weather as good as it has been, I took the strimmer down with me and trimmed to the path between Plots 1 & 2 and 1A & 2A. Idverde had been and cut the grass and trimmed along the boundary beds when they cut the main path. 

 The climbing frame greenhouse beds need re weeding and there are All Gold Raspberries coming up in the path inside the greenhouse that will need attention on a future visit. 

The loft conversion on plot 1 greenhouse has become unstable and unglued and needs attention and screwing together like I did with the plot 1A greenhouse version last year. But I need help getting it off and back on to the greenhouse. So another job for another visit. 

Some levelling up and excavation and the bottom of the first level of raised bed frame was filled with Christmas tree cuttings and some very mulch like wood chipping from what's left of the pile in the car park. When the water is turned on I will saturate the material in the bed to help it consolidate. 

By the time I had brought two wheel barrows and taken a route around the Fencing Contractors lorry in the car park I was knackered and had to call it a day.

Reducing my pain killers in anticipation of going onto steroids and then autoimmune medication to help with my arthritis and mobility issues, is having an effect on my stamina and strength, but I need to get off the pain killers as they are no good for my kidneys long term.  

I really need to arrange a drop of path quality woodchip to the allotment in the next week or two 

Planning and Reviewing April in Previous Years

Reviewing the diary over the last Twelve years for April 

2013 - After Burning everything that could be burnt in March, I finally started digging and weeding the first four beds on Mill Green Allotment, installing the woodchip paths and establishing the comfrey bed.

2014 - Potatoes in buckets, Potatoes in the ground, Sowing Tomatoes, Beetroots, Spring Onions, weeding and fertilising beds, potting on tomatoes into vending machine cups. a cold snap and fleece over the spuds.

2015 -  New edging to beds, Planting potatoes in buckets, Potatoes in the ground, Brassicas into vending machine cups, Sowing Tomatoes,  

2016 - Daffs in Comfrey bed 1, Digging and weeding new beds, Freecycle Slabs, planting Potatoes

2017 - Infrastructure works, paths desperately need replacing Neglecting Mill Green in favour of Spencer Road site as access is just so difficult due to construction traffic and no where to park. Jen in hospital with pneumonia so huge reduction in anything associated with the allotment, finally discharged and turns into Hell boy and re admitted. Constructed runner bean cantilever brackets and the extension to the shed at Spencer Road. Construction and erection of the comfrey pipe at Spencer Road. Kerb edgings and a double Dalek picked up from Freecycle. 

2018 - Plot 1 covered with weed membrane, Still on Spencer Road allotment at this stage, Plant Spuds in Buckets, Sacks of grass from Ron, Tomatoes potted on into vending machine cups, Allium Trays and planted onions, Spuds planted in the ground, Bought new B&Q Strimmer, Sowing Cucumbers, Butternut Squash and Marrows, Apple Trees in Blossom, Bluebells flowering in the Comfrey Bed, Cabbages and cauliflowers planted donated by Keith & Pauline, Onions in modules planted out,   

2019 - A lot of time was spent going backwards and forwards to the hospital due to the injury I had at the end of March and the Cellulitis that had flared up on my leg. Because of the pain and the infection gardening was really out of the question. My daughter and future son-in-law did what they could to help me get plants in the ground on the plot and I was only allowed to attend in a purely supervising role. I did make onion bed planting membrane and I was allowed to visit on my own to fill up the compost Dalek. First Early spuds in buckets, Obtained Tumbling Composter off Freecycle.  

2020 - April 2020 was the sunniest on record according to the met office, rain finally came on the 28th April. Due to lockdown many people started taking more care of their gardens, and National Gardening Week was 27th April - 3rd May. As shielding my wife most of my growing activities were confined to the back garden although those with allotments were allowed to visit for exercise purposes. The normal amount of tomatoes in buckets was reduced and I had the Bio Green City Jungle and the Quadgrow on the decking to grow tomatoes in. My WORK Hydroshot arrived but I could not trial it on the allotment. Growing Tomatoes and Radishes in the Space Saver Greenhouse. Cutting more path weed membrane for plot 1. Reviewed the City Jungle and made unboxing and assembly video. Won a couple of competitions, for a Compost Caddy and a hanging basket gadget.

2021 - Green Manure Cut and dropped then dug in. Paving blocks taken from the back garden down to the allotment to replace the milk bottle soft bricks. First Early potatoes in buckets planted. Onion sets put in the ground. 2 Plastic Dustbins off Freecycle, Cutting blue water pipe to length. Freecycle rubber matting and black pipe for hoops. Watering System Extended. Picked up Freecycle water butt for the plot 1 greenhouse. 12th Snow in the morning gone by the afternoon. Clearing behind the plot 1 greenhouse and erecting the timber table. Cleaning and Jet Washing the Plot 1A Greenhouse. Jet Washing the paving slabs and setting up and teak oil the table behind the Plot 1 Greenhouse. Sowing Beetroots and Sweetcorn in modules. First year trying to grow Aubergines, I didn't manage to get the area for them to live on the plot and the plants took an age to grow. I gave up on them this year. 

2022 - Major work this month getting the asparagus beds ready. Sowing and potting on brassicas and tomatoes. My Daughter caught Covid and moved out to protect my wife, Asparagus beds made and when crowns arrive they were planted. Grow With Me 2022 Tomatoes into pots. Sowing Melons and Spring Onions. Sowing Moonshine Sweetcorn that had really poor germination rates. Sowing Little Gem Cos Lettuce & French Dwarf Beans.

2023 - As my wife passed away in January I spent a lot of time on the allotment this year. Erection of the potting shed, and assembly of the two staging's supplied with it. Setting up the potting shed and started to sow seeds in it. Plot 15 created and let to Michelle the bee lady. Sweet peas planted along the greenhouse climbing frame. Emma planted onion sets. Daffodils in the green picked up and planted in the boundary beds. Freecycle spoon scales & paving slabs picked up. Storm Damage to greenhouse loft extension roofs. Making 105 hole planting membrane sheet with tuna tin on a broom handle. Picked up bags of compost from Freecycle. Constructing the third staging for the potting shed. Excavating and making Hugelkultur beds in the climbing frame greenhouse Freecycle paving slabs picked up and laid. Germinating Parsnip seeds. Grapevines showing signs of life and blossom on the apple trees. Picked up more free paving slabs. One bed of parsnips planted and Sweetcorn germinated on damp kitchen paper in the potting shed. Finished the month off by cutting the grass along the main path and the path between plots 1 & 1A and Plot 2. 

2024 - With the weather being naff and my mobility issues I set up a table in the rear of the living room in front of the window and set about starting off my seedlings in doors. Something I would not have got away with when the wife was alive. Having found medical boots that would go over my dressings I managed a few visits at the end of the month and was anticipating more visits to the allotment in May of 2024.  

To Do List   

Mill Green - Plot 1

• Greenhouse 1 - Currently being used to house all the cardboard to be used in the new raised beds, The Loft Conversion is failing and needs remedial works.   
• Infrastructure - Convert standard 2.4m x 1.2m beds to 2 number 1.2 x 0.9m Raised beds with a path between for bed 

Mill Green - Plot 1A

• Greenhouse 1A - Set up more Coffee to dry out 
• Daleks - Dig in the additional Daleks along the path with plot 2A
• Main Crop Potatoes  - All Now harvested
• Onions - Overwintering Onions and Shallots in weed bed as necessary. 
• Apple Trees - Prune & Stabilise
• Grape Vines - Prune  

Sowing and Planting Plan for April 

April                  Asparagus - harvest when 15cm high

April to May      Peach - protect blossom from frost

April to May      Peach - spring prune after blossoms fade

Week 1              Parsnip – Germinate in Take-a-way containers

Week 1              Gourd – Luffa – Soak overnight and sow

Week 1              Asparagus Crowns - plant outside

Week 1              Brussels Sprouts - Sow seed of mid to late varieties

Week 1              Cabbage (summer) - sow seeds indoors

Week 1              Onion Sets - plant

Week 1              Onion Sets - protect from birds for 5 weeks

Week 1              Radish - sow seed under cloches

Week 1              Shallot - plant sets outside (18cm / 7in apart)

Week 1              Shallot - protect from birds for 5 weeks

Week 1              Turnip - start to sow seed outdoors

Week 1              Spinach - sow seed inside

Week 1              Swiss Chard - sow outdoors with cloche protection

Week 1 - 2         Carrot - remove cloches from early sown varieties

Week 1 - 2         Carrot - sow early seed varieties in open

Week 1 - 2         Strawberries - buy and plant potted plants

Week 1 - 2         Cucumber  – Sow Party Time all six seeds

Week 2              Melons – Sugar Baby sow seed in pots indoors

Week 2              Melon – F1 Mabgomel sow seeds in pots in doors

Week 2              Melons – Rugoso di Consenza Giallo sow seed in pots indoors

Week 2              Beetroot - sow seed in pots indoors

Week 2              Broccoli (sprouting) early varieties - sow under cover

Week 2              Salsify - sow seeds

Week 2              Tomatoes - pot-up young plants

Week 2              Squash / pumpkins - sow seed indoors

Week 2              Radish – Sow fortnightly

Week 2              Spring Onions – Sow fortnightly

Week 2              Lettuce (Winter) – Sow fortnightly

Week 3              Parsnip – Transplant into loo rolls once signs of germination

Week 3              Broccoli (sprouting) early varieties - sow seed bed

Week 3              Cabbage (summer) - sow outdoors

Week 3              Calabrese (sometimes called broccoli) - sow seed

Week 3              Cauliflower (summer) - weekly feed

Week 3              Courgette - sow seeds indoors

Week 3              Cucumber (ridge) - sow seeds in Potting Shed 

Week 3              Lettuce - begin to thin seedlings, distance by variety

Week 3              Onion seeds - harden off seedlings

Week 3              Radish - sow seed outside

Week 3              Sweetcorn - sow seed indoors / greenhouse

Week 3              Swiss Chard - sow seed outdoors no protection

Week 4              Beetroot - sow seed outside

Week 4              Broccoli (sprouting) late varieties - sow under cover

Week 4              French Beans - sow seeds under cloches

Week 4              French Beans - sow seeds in pots indoors

Week 4              Parsnip - sow seed outside

Week 4              Spinach - plant out seed sown indoors

Week 4              Spinach - thin out previously sown seedlings

Week 4              Sweetcorn - sow seed under cloches

Week 4              Turnip - thin seedlings 15cm earlies, 25cm main crops

Planting Onion Sets In SFG Bed 1

 

With my restricted mobility issues I only just managed to carry two 40l Sacks of compost to SFG Bed 1 and empty them out and spread them on the bed to top it up. I marked a 1.2m long bamboo cane in increments of 100mm and used it to sow rows 200mm apart in the bed.

The water has still not been turned on yet and the water butts next too the taps are empty as those without greenhouses or sheds that are not capturing their own water, have emptied all the open water butts. 

Once watered in the bed was covered with debris netting to stop the birds and squirrles from pulling the onion sets out 

Getting SFG Bed 1 Ready for Sowing

 

After a week of home office clearance I'm back on the allotment and what a difference a week can make in terms of weeds especially at the end of March as true spring starts to show itself. Photo above is Square Foot Gardening Bed 1 with the debris netting removed and uncovered, and as the warmer weather and sun has arrived the allotment plot has started to weed up including the woodchip margins around the paving slabs and the raised bed timbers. 

Weeded Bed and margin, the woodchip has rotted down to life supporting soil and needs excavating and replacing when I can arrange for some path worthy woodchips to be dropped off. The woodchips in the lower section of the raised bed have obviously rotted down and the level of the soil in the bed has dropped. next visit I will add a couple of bags of compost to this raised bed. 

The All Gold Raspberries have started to come up on the boundary beds. 

All Gold Raspberries coming up in the main path but theses will be trimmed back by myself and idverde when they cut the main path each month.  

All Gold Raspberries coming up in the main path but theses will be trimmed back by myself and idverde when they cut the main path each month.  

Constructing Raised Beds

 

The visit to the Allotment today was all about assembling / constructing two of the raised bed frames that will form bed 16. As can be seen in the photo theses will go end to end and as narrower than the 1.2m x 2.4m framed bed 16 will increase the width of the paths such that wheelbarrows will be able to be used  

The I also took the opportunity to top up the two beds on bed 15. There will be a break in allotment visits as I'm in the process of clearing my old office and finding new homes for my technical library that has been built over my working life. The aim is to find new homes for all my books such that they become a resource for a younger person or persons in the construction industry.   

Coffee Grounds Time

 

A visit to the allotment this afternoon and it started to spit with rain as I arrived, so I had a tidy in the potting shed. 

Decanted a very large sack and a bit of Starbucks coffee grounds into tin trays, working the grounds into more like a powder, so I can spread them out to dry when the sun comes out to play again. 

Bed 16 Backfilling Trench 2

No allotment for a couple of days as I had a bit of a stomach upset but as my stomach felt much better and with it being Fools Spring, and sunny and warm, no fleece today just a T shirt and of course Factor 50+ Sun Block on arms and face plus my Whinny the Poo hat, not the beany. I set about filling Trench 2 with two barrow loads of wood chips and walking up and down on it to help consolidate the fill material. I also topped up the level of trench 1.  

Next job to remove the timber and branches laid on the left bed 15 raised bed and uncover the right raised bed. 

Hoops and debris netting removed from raised bed 

Tray placed on the raised bed and three potatoes in Buckets emptied and sorted  and a very small harvest of spuds recovered. 

More empty square flower buckets found for us on excavating the next trench, and the compost mix used in last years potato buckets added to the two bed 15 raised beds to bring the soil level back up to the top of the raised bed, ready for sowing or planting.