Friday, 5 December 2025
Dwarf French Beans - Seed Megastore
Thursday, 4 December 2025
UK Climate Friendly Farming
British farming with its extensive, grass-based, grazing systems produces some of the most sustainable beef in the world.
#BackBritishFarming #ClimateFriendlyFarming
A Window Of Opportunity
I'm probably jinxing this, but it looks like a window of opportunity, to get something done on the allotment Friday morning as long as other stuff does not get in the way.
UPDATE
Knew it was too good to be true, I got a text message reminder that I have an appointment with the diabetic nurse mid morning, Doh!
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
TESCO Fake UK Farms
Please take time to watch this video, it's an eye opener and shows how Supermarkets are shafting our British Farmers good name, and abusing the Red Tractor Scheme.
Having worked for an engineering company that did work for TESCO I got to see just how unfairly they treat their suppliers and staff, and how poorly their buildings are maintained.TESCO Buyers, tender find the lowest quotes, and then try to screw even more reductions in price from the lowest three, effectively re-tendering. The cheapest price is not always the best choice, and other factors need to be considered when employing anyone to do anything.
It happened, we had to increase our bid to allow for the additional work involved in picking up the pieces, and the TESCO Buyers found out you can't screw down Construction professional in the same way you can suppliers of food stuffs.
Tuesday, 2 December 2025
Morning On The Allotment
A morning on the allotment clearing the scaffold boards and miscellaneous rubbish off beds 14 & 14a.
Thermal Insulated Winter Waterproof Gloves
THERMAL INSULATED WINTER WARM WATERPROOF WORK GLOVES FREEZER COLD SAFETY GARDEN.
I've had these before and have bought another couple of pairs as they are very reasonably priced on ebay and keep ones hands nice and toasty & dry on the allotment.
Following my cancer treatment and auto immune disease happening my hands don't remain warm as they used too, and the pair I have on the plot are in need of replacement.
Sizes come in Small || 7, Medium ||8, Large ||9 most popular X-Large || 10 and XXL || 11
Available to purchase as a single pair, 2 pairs, 5 pairs or 10 pairs
Winter Waterproof Gloves
A fully latex coated glove made with a 13-Gauge Nylon Shell inside of which is a 7 Gauge Terry lining, creating a soft and comfortable hand-feel. The glove is fully coated again with a Sandy Latex finish on both palm and fingertips for extra grip and durability, and to ensure no water penetration to the inside.
Features
- ★ Thermal Insulated
- ★ Breathable 13 gauge liner
- ★ Fully dual latex Coated
- ★ Extra grip coating on palm
- ★ Seamless Knit for optimum comfort
- ★ High levels of grip and abrasion resistance
Conformity
- ★ EN388: 2131X
- ★ EN511: 010
Ideal for: Working in wet conditions • Construction • Outdoor General Handling • Gardening
Sizes Available: Medium/8, Large/9, XL/10, 2XL/11
Other specifications of gloves available are:-
Waterproof Gloves
This is a waterproof glove made with 13-gauge nylon liner, fully coated with latex on the front and back of the hand. Being waterproof and double coated in the palm and fingertips, it provides excellent grip in wet and dry conditions while maintaining great dexterity, flexibility and comfort.
Features
- Breathable 13 gauge liner
- Fully latex Coated
- Extra grip coating on palm
- Seamless Knit for optimum comfort
- High levels of grip and abrasion resistance
Ideal for Automotive, Agriculture, Construction, Highway maintenance, Railways and all other wet work
Sizes Available: Small/7, Medium/8, Large/9, XL/10, XXL/11.
Semi Waterproof Gloves
Features
- Breathable 13 gauge liner
- Palm And Half Back latex Coated
- Extra grip coating on palm
- Seamless Knit for optimum comfort
- High levels of grip and abrasion resistance
Ideal for Automotive, Agriculture, Construction, Highway maintenance, Railways and all other wet work
Sizes Available: Medium/8, Large/9, XL/10
Monday, 1 December 2025
Planning and Reviewing December in Previous Years
Reviewing the diary over the last Thirteen years for December
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.
2013 - 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
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.
- 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, Install beds 11 & 11a, 12 & 12a and 13 & 13a and bed 15a
- Raised Beds - Scaffold Boards have been delivered and pilot holes drilled in 0.9m (3ft) boards for next two raised beds. the rest to be processed in December.
- Blueberry Area - Weed and make a base then fence in using spare panel. Pot up the six blueberry plants.
- Greenhouse 1A - Set up more Coffee to dry out
- Daleks - Dig in the additional Dalek by the Hotbin
- Bindweed - Remove bindweed from all the affected beds on plot.
- Apple Trees - Pruned & Stabilise
- Plum Tree - Pruned needs more tidying up & under
- Grape Vines - Prune.
- Path - The main path, is now installed, needs a little TLC at the slope between plots 1 & 1A.
- Trees - Prune back self seeders and save for backfilling Raised beds.
Sunday, 30 November 2025
Plot Visit Didn't Happen
Long story short, I over exerted myself the day and night before, sorting out the material decanted from my broom cupboard office, and spread out all over the living room. As a result slept in and woke up late, and then decided I had to get on and make real progress with tidying up and mucking out the claustrophobic office.
I have to say I have gained a whole lot of paper that will now be shredded bagged and taken to the allotment and put into empty Daleks to be used as browns when the greens start flowing again.
I look at it as not working on the allotment but for the allotment.
Saturday, 29 November 2025
Looking Ahead At The Weather
Peeing down with rain today, so I thought I would take a look to see what the next week has in store. Tomorrow is looking good, if my body allows, I will try and get down the allotment early and try and get four hours on the plot.
Wednesday also looking promising, I have a lunch date with my sister, but should be able to squeeze in a couple of hours at least one side or the other. However the rest of the week not so much.
Who would have thought I would be planning my week around the weather, and maximising my time down on my allotment "Avalon" during retirement. During late 2023 & 2024 I was wondering if I was going to still be around, and would I be able to keep my plot if I was?. It's good still being on the green side of the grass and gradually gaining back some of my mobility.
Friday, 28 November 2025
Plot Layout for 2026
Now days I only really use CAD for my annual update of the plot layout and what I'm going to grow where etc. I down loaded NanoCAD 5 Free version which is basically very AutoCAD 2000 like, as can be seen on the photo above.
I would highly recommend NanoCAD for anyone wanting to get to grips with the basics of AutoCAD or any 2D CAD package and it has to be said, with the change in how software is now licenced NanoCAD is a much cheaper alternative to AutoCAD.
I thought after all the years of writing CAD add-ons and an AutoCAD emulator for Cadvance and beta testing for Autodesk I might be able to get a free version, but Autodesk are not as willing to court an old retired engineer, as they once were with free software and invites to Autodesk University, when he was in his heyday.
This file is printed into snagit and then processed into a negative using infranview which make it more visible than a colour on white background for uploading on manvslug.
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
De-Banding Scaffold Boards & Harvesting Spuds.
6.5C on the allotment this afternoon, but a hot 24C in the potting shed when I opened it as it had been in the sun all day. Todays tasks to remove the banding from the 1.2m long scaffold boards from the first delivery of boards from last year. Then to harvest the potatoes from the remaining bucket and a half, and spread the coir / compost in bed 15 to top it back up.
Removing the bands from the ends of the scaffolding board using the boards on top of the raised beds as a bench, and hammer and chisels and pinchers.
There is one board that is shorter than the rest and I will use that for the end caps on the narrow beds
Bed 15 used when removing the potatoes in buckets and decanting the coir compost mix on top of the soil in the raised beds that has consolidated
One of the previous buckets of coir and compost was added to the bed before it was recovered to stop the foxes having access
Potatoes harvested from one and a half 30 litre pots with handles
Harvested potatoes with soil shaken off and taken home.
Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Clearing Bed 15
Two hours on the allotment this afternoon with the temperature at 6.5C and a cold wind with a chill factor, clearing the bamboo and tomato foliage from bed 15. Chasing Larry and Mo out of my plot a number of times and finally covering up bed 15 to make it fox proof. Photo above is the condition of the bed on arrival.
Bed 15 once the canes and tomato foliage removed. As with bed 16 the soil level had dropped somewhere between 75mm - 100mm and the start of timber rot internally is visible.
Bed 15 once covered with 900mm (3ft) New boards for the new beds to stop Larry & Mo (the two foxes) from coming and digging it up. I will dig and clear the tomatoes and weeds in the woodchip around the raised bed and fill with fresh woodchips at a future visit.
Bed 16 & 15 both now stripped of tomatoes and covered to stop the foxes from getting on and digging the soil out of the raised beds. I'm happy to put a couple of hours in on the allotment this time of year when it's dry, the only difference is that after getting cancer and the autoimmune disease I no longer run warm and my hands get really cold. I also had some hip pain today, not sure if that is cold related or not?
Saturday, 22 November 2025
Friday, 21 November 2025
Beds 16 & 15
The tomato plants in bed 15 were looking the worst for a couple of nights of hard frost. Photo before cutting the foliage back.
Photo at the end of my visit just before going home for the evening, after trimming back the tomato foliage a bit.
Bed 15 topped up with soil from the mound in front of the raised bed and a couple of buckets of compost and coir from the spuds in buckets. covered with old 1.2m scaffold boards from the first delivery of boards for raised beds that need their end bands removed, then they will be used to build the next raised bed in front of the one in the photo above. Those boards should stop Larry & Mo digging in that bed anymore, until I make the raised bed frames up.
Thursday, 20 November 2025
Tomatoes Seed Bank
This collection of tomato seeds has been built over the last 13 years is thanks to a number of seed circles, one that I ran for two years and virtual seed parcels.
Alisa Craig - Mr Fothergills - Sow by 2019
Alicante - Sow by 2017 < Refresh Seed
Althaea - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022
Artisan Pink Tiger - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022
Angelle - Grapevine 2018
Arnyalma - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed
Arrat Flamed - MYP&Q 2019
Aztek - Joe Mills Grow With Me 2022 - Sow By 2024
Big Mother Fucker - Donated self saved - 2025 New
Blaby Special - Saved 2014 < Refresh Seed
Blue Zimmer - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New
Blush Yellow Plum - MYP&Q 2018
Brown Sugar - Grapevine 2016
Cherry Cascade Thompson & Morgan Sow by 12/2019
Cream Sausage - Grapevine 2016
Crimson Cherry F1 - 10 Seeds - Dobies - Saved 2021 - Cost £3.99
German Lunchbox - No Date
Gigantomo F1 - Premier Seeds Direct - Sow by 2021
Golden Sweet - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022
Heartbreakers Vita F1 - Suttons Packed year ending 2024 Sow By 2026
Homosa - Grapevine 2018
Indigo Blue - MYP&Q Saved 2018
Kenilworth King George - No Date
Lizzano F1 - Marshalls - Sow By 09/2021
Marmande - Magazine 2018
Mini Plum - TESCO - Saved 2014 - get new seed
Minibel - Sow By 2014 < Refresh Seed
Minibel - Wilko - Sow By 2021
Noah's Stripes -Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022
One Hundreds and Thousands - Saved 2014 - Saved 2016
Orange Banana -Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022
Piccolo - Saved 2011
Polish Linguisa - Grapevine 2018
Rapunzel F1 Saved 2018
Red Bodyguard F1 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow by Dec 2025
Red Robin - Saved 2015, Self Saved 2018
Red Zebra - Grapevine - Saved 2014, Self Saved 2016,
Reisetomate - 15 Seeds - Organic Gardening Seeds - £2.99
Roma VF - Johnsons - 2018
Rosella - Grapevine 2016
Summer Cider - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed
Summerlast F1 - Marshalls - 2019 Sow By 9/2021
Sungold F1 - - Mr Fothergill Sow By 2019
Super Marmande - Thompson & Morgan Sow By 2017
Sweet Pea Currant - Sow By 2014 < Refresh Seed
Tartufo - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New
Tigerella - Thompson & Morgan - Sow by 2020
Tumbling Tom Red - Thompson & Morgan - Sow by 2020
Vesennij Mieurinsky - Grapevine 2016
White Cherry - D.T.Brown 2020



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