Rain rain and a bit of work

Saturday morning was dry, Saturday afternoon however was a different kettle of fish all together - it chucked it down but I had promised myself that I would get down the plot and I had put it off for so many weeks - and I had promised you all that I would go so I felt duty bound to go.

So, a t-shirt a shirt a jumper and a wet proof later I made my way to the allotment, at least it hadn't deterioted further - the lack of light and cold snap had seen off things on the official growing list - dahlias, cherokee beans and courgettes but had at least kept the grass in check...a bit.

My amazing wigwam had to come down ...

... and the supports for the long gone tomatoes - pretty balls and all ! and the grotty dahlias that you can see at the bottom to the right of the wigwam
I took this picture as the plot looks slightly better from this angle

Hmmm I think the strawberry bed needs serious work

Vague attempt at damage control, this tarpaulin looked huge at home - barely covers anything at the plot ! I have a fancy it may not be dense enough to kill the grass but it may help a little.

I was getting very wet and miserable and decided that the tarpaulin would be the last job, whilst I was looking for weights to hold it down I spotted a bucket of water when I picked it up I noticed that the surface was frozen - it was at this point I decided home was a better place to be !
Rain, freezing conditions digging with my fingers to raise some carrots as I forgot hand tools - silly way to spend a Saturday !!

Where Have I Been ?

It has been a very long time since I have posted, due to many different factors I haven't given the allotment the attention in needs or deserves, to my shame I haven't even taken down my bean poles or planted my over winter onions. However this weekend looks like being cold and more importantly dry so I WILL get a flask of hot coffee and spend most of the day at the plot trying to make it look like somebody is taking care of it.

I have missed the first anniversary of the plot and subsequently the blog and thought that I would post a few pics to remind me how far I have come in a year.

The first two shots show the state of the plot when I took it over, it was a wilderness, in amongst this lot was actually two plots and we - my Dad and I systematically cleared the growth, roots and rubbish and had it looking good then came my turn to care for it.

I have learned a hell of a lot in one a season - the most valuable piece of information I can give to anybody starting out is never walk past a weed - get the bloody thing as soon as you lay eyes on it - if life takes over and you can't to the plot for a while that teeny weed you thought you'd leave till next time will be an evil giant spreading itself everywhere - may sound dramatic but it is my experiance !









It does obviously looks better than when I first took it on but I have allowed it to get out of control, the weeds are a problem - actually the weeds are just weeds - I am the problem, I need to organise myself better, between my degree, my family, the home there are just not enough hours in the day - imagine if I actually had to work for a living as well I just couldn't cope - fortunately I am a kept woman so I am able to dabble in lots of things.

Here we have a picture of the courgettes which are still going, purple cabbage, sprouts - purple and green and a nice big clear area which I have managed to do !




Here we have purple and white sprouting brocoli, cauliflowers in the recently cleared ground and leeks and carrots to the right of the picture.

This is the most shameful part of the plot, the lawn as I have named it is the part that requires the most work, to the left you can see the remnants of long gone tomatoes just sticks with coloured balls on, dahlias which are still going. On the far rightof the shot you can see the famous wigwam - remember when I got stuck inside - I won't be repeating that mistake next year !

Just in front of the wigwam you can see my feeble attempt with a scrap of old carpet to kill off the grass, it is working but I have now got a vast tarpaulin sheet which I intend to lay down over the majority of the lawn whilst I concentrate on other sections and hopefully it will begin to die back a bit.

So there we are plenty of excuses and not a lot of action, story of my life really ... enough of the woe is me - Saturday is the new beginning !!! Wish me luck !!