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.      

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.   

Plot Layout for 2026

 

I picked up my new Windows 11 computer up yesterday afternoon from Megabyte Computers in Worcester Park, who have supplied all my desktop computers since Fit Inc funded my 386 machine when I wrote an AutoCAD emulator for Cadvance.  

Brad at Megabytes installed my copy of Microsoft Office, config my Outlook, and et up my BT security software, I and have been installing all the other software I requires and data on it. 

The old one computer which was running on Windows 10 and was not upgradable was making a horrendous noise and the hard disk was on its way out after 13 years. In the process of upgrading I lost all my CAD and BIM software, and I had a lot of different varieties and versions installed on that machine.

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.

Above is the Plot 1 end of Avalon and the plan is to get raised beds 12 & 12a, 13 & 13a, 14 & 14a and 16a built and to get beds H1 & H2 extended in time for planting and use next year  

Plot 1A end of Avalon and for the moment the plan is to leave the ground level 2.4m x 1.2m beds alone but I have shown how the beds could ultimately be modified in future years, depending on how my recovery of my mobility goes. 

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. 

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?   

Support UK Farming

 

Beds 16 & 15

A very cold 6.5C visit to the allotment this afternoon, topping up raised bed 16 and trim back the frost hit tomato plants in Bed 15. Larry and Mo had been walking on the cleared bed 16 and dug a hole in the bed, so the solar powered ultrasonic anti-fox devices are doing bugger all but showing a flashing red light, or perhaps my foxes are deaf! There was also a nearby bucket of compost and coir that the little buggers had been digging in

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.

I ran out of time on the butchering of the tomato foliage, and will continue with the bed clearance next visit

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. 

Currently there are 181 varieties of Tomatoes in my Tomato Seed Bank of which 29 are F1, I will be saving the seeds from plants grown from F1 seeds if they are worthy of saving and seeing what I get from the exercise. 

Up until 2023 I used to inspect the list below and decide on the 22 varieties that were to be grown in the back garden. Six that would be grown in Quadgrows in the allotment greenhouse and normally six that would be grown out on the allotment plot.

In 2025 I grew all Blight Resistant tomatoes and as the greenhouses were out of action as I could no longer get in and out of them because of my mobility issues I grew 10 plants out in two of the new raised beds. Six plants in one and 4 plants in the other and had quite frankly more tomatoes that usual when growing many more plants.  

Tomato seeds if kept in ideal conditions can last between 5 - 10 years, so I have marked seeds coming up to 10 years old as < Refresh Seed and will sow them to replenish the seed bank in 2026. I may have to recruit some fellow plot holders to grow as there appear to be many seed that need refreshing in the Tomato Seed Bank in 2026     

Alisa Craig - Mr Fothergills - Sow by 2019 
Alicante - Sow by 2017 < Refresh Seed 

Alfresco - Mr Fothergill's - Sow by Dec 2026 
Althaea - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Arielle F1 - Marshalls - Sow by 2019
Artisan Pink Tiger - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Amish Mayberry - 2013 - Self Saved 2016 < Refresh Seed 
Angelle - Grapevine 2018
Arnyalma - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 
Arrat Flamed - MYP&Q 2019

Attraction - Marshalls - best by 2017 
Aztek - Joe Mills Grow With Me 2022 -  Sow By 2024 

Bajaja - Thompson & Morgan Sow by 12/2019 

Balconi Red - Thompson & Morgan Sow by 12/2020  - Self Saved 2018

Balconi Yellow F1 - Seed Megastore - Packed 2019 - Sow By 2021 

Balcony Red - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Berkeley Tie-Dye - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 
Big Mother Fucker - Donated self saved - 2025  New

Big Yellow Zebra - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 
Blaby Special - Saved 2014 < Refresh Seed 

Black Cherry Tomato - Grapevine 2018

Black Krim - S.Bassett MYP&Q Seed Circle 2018

Black Icicle - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 

Black Russian - Grapevine 2018

Black Sea Man - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 

Black Strawberry - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Black Trifele - Grapevine 2018

Black Vemissage - Grapevine 2018

Bloody Butcher - D.T.Brown 2020 
Blue Zimmer - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Blueberry Dessert - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Blush - Grapevine 2016
Blush Yellow Plum - MYP&Q 2018
Brown Sugar - Grapevine 2016

Buffalosun F1 - Suttons - Sow By 2026 

Burlesque F1 - Suttons - Packed 2022 - Sow By 7/2024 

Camp Joy - No Date

Carotina (Big Orange) - Grapevine 2018

Chiapis Wild - Grapevine 2016 
Cherry Cascade Thompson & Morgan Sow by 12/2019

Cherry Falls F1- Mr Fothergills - Sow By 2020

Cherry Honeycomb F1 - Mr Fothergills 2021 

Cherry Kisses - Thompson & Morgan Sow by 12/2019
Cream Sausage - Grapevine 2016
Crimson Cherry F1 - 10 Seeds - Dobies - Saved 2021 - Cost £3.99 

Crimson Cherry F1 - 10 Seeds - Suttons - Saved 2021 - Cost £4.49  

Crimson Crush F4

Crimson Plum F1 (Nagina)  - 10 Seeds - Dobies - Saved 2021 - Cost £3.99 

Crimson Plum F1                 - 10 Seeds -  Suttons - Saved 2021 -  Cost £4.49 

Crokini F1 - Dobies Packed year ending 2024 Sow By 2027 

Cuban Flower - Grapevine 2016 

Cuor Di Bue - Off Magazine 

Dark Galaxy - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 

Delicious - No Date < Refresh Seed 

Delta Dawn - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Early Door Sandpoint - MYP&Q 2019

Ferline F1 Hybrid

Gardeners Delight - Kings Seeds Kitchen Garden - Sow By 2022

Gardeners Delight - Suttons - Sow By 2024  Packed 2021 

Garden Olive - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Garden Pearl - Sow By 2014

Garden Pearl  - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 
German Lunchbox - No Date

German Queen - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 

German Red Strawberry - Grapevine 2018

Giallo D'Inveino - Grapevine 2018
Gigantomo F1 - Premier Seeds Direct - Sow by 2021

Green Zebra - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 

Gold Nugget Gelbei - Mr Fothergill's - 2020 Sow By 2024  

Gold Nugget  - Mr Fothergill's  2020 

Gold Rush Currant - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 
Golden Sweet - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Halum Gelbei - Grapevine 2018

Harbinger - Sow By 2015 - Grapevine 2016
Heartbreakers Vita F1 - Suttons Packed year ending 2024 Sow By 2026

Heinz Soup - Saved 2011
Homosa - Grapevine 2018

Honeycomb F1 - Dobies Packed year ending 2022 

Indian Bush - No Date
Indigo Blue - MYP&Q Saved 2018

Ink Spot - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Jack Hawkins - Grapevine 2016
Kenilworth King George - No Date

Kibitz - Saved 2016

Latah Bush - Saved 2015 < Refresh Seed 

Legend - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 
Lemonita F1 - Dobies Packed year ending 2024 Sow By 2027 

Livingston's Favourite - Grapevine 2018
Lizzano F1 - Marshalls - Sow By 09/2021

Large Barred Boar - Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Losetto F1 - D.T.Brown 2020 

Lukullus - Grapevine 2018
Marmande - Magazine 2018 

Marvel Stripes - Saved 2015 < Refresh Seed 

Maskotka -  Mr Fothergills - Sow by 2021  

Matina -  Thompson & Morgan Sow by 2016 

Merrygold F1 - Mr Fothergill's - Packed Jan 2022 - Sow by 2025

Merrygold F2 - Self Saved in 2023 from a plant grown from the Mr Fothergill's pack 

Merrygold F1 - Suttons Packed year ending 2024 Sow By 2027 

Micro Purple - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Micro Tom -  Jungle Seeds bought 2018 and Self Saved 2018 
Mini Plum - TESCO  - Saved 2014 - get new seed
Minibel - Sow By 2014 < Refresh Seed 
Minibel - Wilko - Sow By 2021

Money Maker Speedy Seeds - Sow by 2024

Moscow Long  -Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022

Moskow's Ultra Skorospelyi - Grapevine 2018

Mountain Magic - D.T.Brown 2020 

Mrs Rucks - Grapevine 2016

Mountain Princess - Grapevine 2016

Nector Rose - Grapevine 2018 

Nimbus - MYP&Q Saved 2018
Noah's Stripes  -Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Oleron Yellow Cherry - Grapevine 2018 
One Hundreds and Thousands - Saved 2014 - Saved 2016
Orange Banana -Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Orange bush -Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Otto's Papa - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 

Outdoor Girl - Saved 2015 - Saved 2016 < Refresh Seed 

Paoline F1 - Mr Fothergills - Dec 2026 

Patio Plum - Marshalls - 2019

Peace Vine - Grapevine 2018
Piccolo - Saved 2011

Pink Charmer - Marshalls - 2020 Sow By 2022  

Plum Roma - Saved 2015
Polish Linguisa - Grapevine 2018

Pomodore Ciliegla - Sow By 2015 < Refresh Seed 

Principe Borghese - Grapevine 2018

Principe Borghese - Mr Fothergills - 2020  

Purple Russian Plum - Sow By 2014

Purple Smaragd -Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Rainbow Blend F1 Hybrid - Sow By 2015
Rapunzel F1 Saved 2018

Rapunzel F1 6 Seeds - Suttons Sow By 2025 

Raspberry Oxheart - Seed Parade 2020 

Red Alert - Thompson & Morgan - Sow by 2019
Red Bodyguard F1 - Thompson & Morgan - Sow by Dec 2025

Red Buffalo Horn - Grapevine 2016

Red Cherry - Sow By 2015 < Refresh Seed 

(Red Dragon F1) Y Ddraig Goch F1 - Dobies - packed year ending 2022 

Red Fox Cherry - Saved 2015 < Refresh Seed 

Red Pear - Mr Fothergill  Sow By 2019

Red Pear - Organic Gardening Catalogue Cherry - Packed 2022 
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 - Multipack 2018
Roma VF - Johnsons - 2018
Rosella - Grapevine 2016

Rosella- Kings Seeds - Kitchen Garden - packed year end July 2021 

Rubylicious F1 - Dobies - Sow By 2025

Sandpipe - Saved 2016 - Saved 2015 < Refresh Seed 

Santonio F1 Hybrid - Thompon & Morgan - Sow by 2020

Santarini (Greek Tomato) -Tomato Seed Swaps Saved by Col Pope 2022 

Schwarse Weinreich - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 

Sophia's Sweet Caramel - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Speckled Roman - Grapevine 2016

Stupicke Poini Rane - Saved 2016 - Sow By 2017 < Refresh Seed 

Sub Artic Plenty - No Dates < Refresh Seed 
Summer Cider - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 
Summerlast F1 - Marshalls - 2019 Sow By 9/2021

Suncherry Premium F1 -Thompson & Morgan Sow By 12/2020
Sungold F1 - - Mr Fothergill  Sow By 2019

Sunrise Jazz - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Sunset Red Horizon - Saved 2014 < Refresh Seed 
Super Marmande - Thompson & Morgan Sow By 2017

Super Roma - No Dates

Supersteak F1 - Mr Fothergill - Packed Aug 2022 - Sow By 2025

Sweet Aperitif - Sow By 2017

Sweet Million F1 - Mr Fothergills - Sow By 9/2022
Sweet Pea Currant - Sow By 2014 < Refresh Seed 

Sweet'n'Neat Lemon Sherbert  F1 - Seed Megastore 2019 
Tartufo - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Tennis Ball - Donated self saved - 2025  New

Terenzo F1 Hybrid - Sow By 2015 - Sow By 2017
Tigerella -  Thompson & Morgan - Sow by 2020

Tigerella -  Speedy Seeds - Sow by 2024

Tiny Tiger - NRTomatoseed - Packed 2026 Sow By 2029 New

Tiny Tim - Grapevine 2018

Tomatoberry Garden F1

True Black Brandywine - Grapevine 2018

Tumbler - Sow By 2014 < Refresh Seed 

Totem F1 - Jungle Seeds - Jungle Seeds Sow By ?  

Tumbling Cherry  - Mr Fothergill's - Sow By 2020 
Tumbling Tom Red -  Thompson & Morgan - Sow by 2020 
Vesennij Mieurinsky - Grapevine 2016
White Cherry - D.T.Brown 2020 

Yellow Mimi F1 - Marshalls 2019

 Yellow Perfection - Grapevine 2016 < Refresh Seed 

Venus Balcony - Russian Seed Company 2018 

Veranda Red - 6 Seeds - Suttons - £4.49

Veranda Red - D.T.Brown 2020 

Violet Jasper - Grapevine 2018

Vilmer - Joe Mills - Grow With Me 2022 - Sow by 2024

In My Seed Box For 2026 - Index