Reviewing the diary over the last thirteen years for September
2013 - My First September having obtained the allotment in October 2012 - At the first of September 9 of the 16 beds were complete and had been used for growing during 2013 the central path of 600 x 600mm heavy duty ex council road slabs was finished. My first corn on the cobs were harvested and a major hit with my daughter Kelly, A second visit to the Wyevale 50p seed sale was made. I was still harvesting red tomatoes and Blight hit on the 14th September. Last runner beans harvested last week of September.
2014 - Dorking Wyevale 50p seed sale 2nd September, two £5 Space saving water butts picked up for the greenhouse from TESCO due to a marketing error they had to honour. First discussion with Redrow regarding them helping us form a drop off and pick up area, I didn't know then that it would take another four years to actually make this happen. Harvested carrots and obtained more composting bins off Freecycle. Repairing Planting membrane and making new planting membrane using the trusty soldering iron. Making a Pop Bottle Greenhouse, if only I had known then what a pain in the arse getting rid of it was going to be! Harvesting.
2015 - Took on additional plot on Spencer Road as I thought there would not be anywhere to drop off and pick up at Mill Green once the development was completed and negotiations re it's formation were not very good with the Council and Redrow at that time. Harvested sweetcorn mid September
2016 - Tomatoes finally turn red and are harvested. We found a source for woodchips, 2nd Visit to the Wyevale Seed Sale, 72 Senshyu Yellow Japanise Onions from seed to overwinter, Seed Sorting and Labels, 2nd week of September harvesting Sweetcorn. Crimson Crush, Butternut Squash, meeting with council and Redrow as mound of excavation behind access gate.
2017 - Allotment work party arranged to clear the area for the drop off and pick up area on Mill Green, Sarpo Spuds, Pumpkin, Marrow, Sweetcorn, Walking Onions, Wilkinson's Sale, SoilFixer SF60 Overwintering Onions Experiment, Timber Bench taken to site and made into a Potting Bench. Still harvesting Cucumbers at the end of the month.
2018 - 3rd Sept harvesting sweetcorn, 7th September Wilko seed sale, Second week harvesting tomatoes, followed by harvesting Beetroots and pickling, carrots and cucumbers & weeding .Power Planter trial and review. Infrastructure cutting up timber joists and painting them ready to make bed frames up for plot 1
2019 - Seed saving Cucumbers and harvesting Marshalls Alliance Sweetcorn.12th Sept Carrot harvest. Making a beach hut for a wedding! Using the Power Planter to install kerbstones around the allotment. Harvesting Butternut Squash. Bonfires on Allotments are a contentious issue.
2020 - Marshalls Autumn Catalogue arrived, Ken Muir's fruit & Suttons Catalogues arrive. Pre Blight Tomato Harvest. New Potatoes from the last 3 buckets harvested. Green Toms in Greenhouse Turn Red. Thompson & Morgan's Autumn Catalogue arrived. Mr Fothergills Autumn Catalogue arrived. Green manure grown. Spent Compost from tomatoes and potatoes added to beds. My videos were shown on Sean James Cameron podcast. D.T.Browns Autumn Catalogue arrived. Clearing around the shed ready for demolition of wall. Planning the Square Foot Gardening beds. Another temporary roof covering on the plot 1A shed. Decanting contents of the shed to a tarp covered palleted bed with blue water pipe hoops as demolition of wall expected . Mentioned in dispatches on Thompson & Morgan's blog.
2021 - Marshalls Autumn Catalogue arrived, Stemster - Main Crop - Dobies harvest, nice quantity and size. Pickling Beetroots. Trimming Paths during the 2nd week of September. In My Seed Box For 2022 - Index. So many cucumbers and tomatoes from the greenhouse this year. Andy & Emma gave me some help weeding the plot. D.T.Browns Sarpo KilifiPotatoes Potato in bucket yields were good and the potatoes were a reasonable size. Raspberries and Rhubarbs first year, limited Raspberry harvest and no harvesting of the Rhubarb this it's first year. I started looking at my seed stocks and resourcing seeds from well known co operative seed suppliers. Last year we had an Indian Summer and at the end of September storms came and hit the UK
2022 - Harvesting the last of the potatoes, RIP Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Great year for quality cabbages, More Freecycle slabs for paths picked up, Harvesting the last of the tomatoes, Review of Autumn Catalogues, Review of the first growing year of the KC5383 Grapevine Plant - Flame Red (seedless) grapevine, Undertaking review of what's in my seed box for 2023, Harvested the last of the celery and runner beans, gave excess to plot neighbours, Sowing green manure, Second sweetcorn harvest.
2023 - I had my Mask/Shell made for the radiotherapy treatment and the 5 weeks of radiotherapy started . My mobility and energy levels were at an all time low following the radiotherapy. Harvest potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. Compost making using two Daleks on bed 5. Modifications made to the path in front of the potting shed as I could not get in and out as the step was way too high for my reduced mobility to managed. I managed a few visits to the allotment towards the end of the month, to harvest what I had managed to get in the ground, with the assistance of my daughters.
2024 - First time ever Blossom end rot on tomatoes. Harvesting potatoes in buckets. Maxifacial and Haematology appointments this month. Grapes from the allotment harvested. I bought a Bamsa mini chainsaw. Harvesting Potatoes and Tomatoes. In My Seed Box updated. Potting shed painted with V33. V33 Review written. Reviewing New seed catalogues. Onion Beds harvested and weeded. Woodchip arranged and dropped off in car park, paths refreshed with new woodchips. I started planning alterations to the layout of the allotment and the introduction of raised beds dur to my Autoimmune dieses & rheumatism following treatment for my cancer. We went back to a traditional padlock & key system as the combination locks were getting difficult to read and move.
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
- Blueberry Area - Weed and make a base then fence in using spare panel.
Mill Green - Plot 1A
- 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 - Prune & Stabilise
- Plum Tree - Prune &
- Grape Vines - Prune
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