Snow, sleet and rain

Friday was great, as although it was a bit windy, the hail and sleet held off until around 5pm. About 15 people helped out in our communal clear up, and we took two van loads of rubbish to the tip. The vacant plot looks so much better now, and is ready to let.

Since then it has been very cold and wet, with snow this morning, so haven't been able to get down to our plot - hope to get there and do few jobs this afternoon - the worms need some food! Instead, have talked to the plants at home a bit, sown some Lavender for planting out next year, and sown the Black Eyed Susan for flowering this year. My brother Mike, one of our expert advisors, has admired the broad beans and sweet peas in toilet rolls and recommended we plant them out in about two weeks, once this cold snap is over. Please let it be warm soon!

Will it rain?

Well its 7am and today we are having a communal clear up of a recently vacant plot - need to get it ready for reletting. Just hope it's not too wet and windy out there... It looks quite mild, no sign of the sleet that was forecast this morning.

I bought these seeds yesterday. The Lavender is for sowing and bringing on to plant out next year, but the Black Eyed Susan is for this year, to add to the climbers along the front fence of the plot.

Leeks and broccoli

This afternoon I sowed two varieties of leeks - Colossal, from the heritage seed library, and Hannibal from the organic garden catalogue. The colossal seeds were definitely larger than the Hannibal, so it will be interesting to see what happens. We have just finished eating the leeks sown in April 2007 - our last supper with them was a leek and cheese pie (served cold - with no pastry) from my favourite Greek cookery book.

The broccoli are Romanesco variety, given to us by our friend Bruce, who has helped out on the plot a few times.

I just had to transplant the Cosmos today - although they don't have any true leaves, because they were sown on the top of the compost, with a little vermiculite and had grown so tall, they were looking very fragile, and waving around. I decided they had a better chance if they were transplanted and set more soundly in some compost. Their roots were pretty sturdy - and after seeing a picture of Cosmos in the paper today, we are a bit concerned they are going to be pretty tall! That's OK though, just need to be prepared for it - these are definitely for the back row of the flower border. I sowed some more today as well - in case I kill off the first lot.

Allotment business

Versailles on the balcony
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

One of the things I've kept quiet about so far on this blog, is the "other" allotment business I get up to. I've been secretary of our society for five years now, a bit of a long time, but no one else seems to want to do it. Some of the jobs are a bit onerous, but some are fun.

One of the fun things I've done recently is to contact the first half of our waiting list to see if they are still interested in having a plot, and to find out more about their experience. Over the years we've had people join who know nothing about gardening, but we don't realise just how much they don't know until their plot is knee high in weeds - then it's a problem. So the grand plan is to find out a bit more about people in advance, so we can support them if needed when they first start. I am really enjoying finding out more about their experiences, and you also get to see just how enthusiastic people are.

This postcard was sent to me by someone on the waiting list - who also happens to be a friend - I love it, and want to know if it is how they see their allotment looking? We all have our own Versailles, maybe not so big, but its definitely good to have a plan for how you want your allotment to look. It's OK doing a bit here and there, but sometimes you end up with things in the wrong place, and then its a pain to change. So allotment tip of the day, spend time thinking about the overall plan, don't rush to put in permanent features too soon (like a pond, or a fruit tree), until you have had time to work out the best place for it.

Sore back

I've got an allotment back. Some lower back pain since last Thursday when I last did some digging - was in a bit of a hurry, which was stupid. It's not too bad, but niggles me early in the morning...and is aching now since I did some hoeing this afternoon, while it was dry.

The Cosmos have germinated, and have got very tall, very quickly. I am hoping they are meant to be like that, and it's not because they are too hot/not enough light etc. But they are making rapid progress - only a week since they were sown. So hope to pot them on later this week, and then try and control them a bit better. I hate waiting for slow germinators. The didiscus may take another two weeks to show themselves....snore...I can't wait that long. I want seedlings NOW!

It's meant to be cold tonight, so all the plants that were out on the balcony are now in, except the sweet peas and broad beans, which should cope with the colder weather. I am not convinced our balcony gets that cold anyway - its fairly sheltered, and we have a thermometer that always shows it is much warmer than the forecast. London seems to have these pockets of warmth, especially in the more built up areas.

The allotment keeps me awake at night. It should really be my PhD thesis keeping me awake, and it probably is subconsciously. But when I can't sleep I think of the warmer days, and all the fantastic vegetables and flowers we should have this year. Programmes like Monty Don's Around the World in 80 Gardens, don't help, as it just makes me want to grow more things, and go and see some of those fantastic Gardens. Then I spoke to my old school friend this afternoon. After over 20 years we have caught up with each other again to find we are both allotment gardeners - which was not a shared interest when we were 18. She was telling me how excited she is about her peas! I completely understand. Gordon says I talk more to my seedlings than I do to him - he is probably right!

We should have some rhubarb soon, which will please Gordon as he is a Rhubarb Person... I'm not so sure - it's OK if mixed up with other stuff I guess. I have bad memories of school rhubarb and custard, which always looked awful. I like the look of the plants though. It was transplanted and split up last year when we moved plots, and with a good feed of horse manure in the autumn is looking very very happy in its new home.

Running out of room

Space is a problem. I've just transplanted 31 acrolinium, and 18 aster seedlings into individual pots. These are now taking up even more space in our one bedroomed flat. At least the wind has dropped so the broad beans and sweet peas have gone back outside on the balcony. The tomatoes have gone outside tonight as well as it is mild here, but will need to keep an eye on them. My spreadsheet tells me I should be sowing the broccoli, leeks and lettuce in modules this month, but they are just going to have to wait until there is a bit more space.

More seed sowing and stuff

I've sown some more seed this afternoon. I think I've sown parsley, but the seed packets fell out in my bag, as I have been carrying them to and fro from the allotment a lotm - they got mixed up with the dill so not entirely sure which is which. If its not parsley, then it is dill! Also sown coriander, basil, cosmos and didiscus.

The didiscus have to be kept without light until they germinate, whereas the cosmos need light. I don't really understand why this is the case, but expect it can be found somewhere or other on the web. The didiscus have nice little cardboard cut outs over them.

The last couple of days all the plants that were on the balcony have been brought indoors to protect them from the wind, which has been quite gusty here. I look up at the planes coming into city airport, and am glad I am on terra firma. So the flat is getting more and more like a greenhouse, and we are running out of windowsills. Hopefully soon I can get more things hardening off outdoors, to free up some space.

The problem with gardening is that it ruins your hands. My hands are very sore this week again. Some muscular aches, but also just rough skin and abrasions, making it difficult to do fine tasks.

The acrolinium almost have their true leaves, so hopefully can soon transplant them. The trouble is there are about 50 seedlings, so may have to be selective what I pot on. I hate discarding seedlings, I feel they all deserve a chance.

The asters are having a hard time, they will be very glad when I transplant them. They are so fragile and I nearly killed them off the other day with my watering from the top. They all sagged...and have stayed sort of lying down in the pots. But I stopped watering in time, so still have some upright seedlings left.

Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, aubergines and Hungarian wax hot peppers all alive and kicking.

Another long weekend at the plot

The flower border
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

Gardened Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday Mike helped us with the final digging over of the path, and then helped lay the bricks to form the main path from the entrance to the beginning of the partitioned Japanese Knotweed area.

Today I finished the brick work, but I think I will leave the smaller stones until I am ready to complete each bed. This afternoon I finished the structure of the flower border, shown in the picture. This is a rather ambitious project, but if it works should be great. It will have twelve different plants in it. Some are coming on at home, and others will be sown direct in the ground over the Easter weekend. I have added some light and heavy horse manure tom 2/3 of the bed. Some areas are quite soggy, and it needs something to break it up a bit.

Seedlings

Aster - florette champagne
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

The flat is getting full of seedlings that are not quite ready to be transplanted. Waiting for the true leaves to come through, then they should be strong enough to survive a move. I'd also like to get some more of them outside, but its just too windy, as the tomatoes found out the other day.

The potatoes are chitting along well, and provided the weather is OK tomorrow, should be able to finish getting their bed ready to plant them out over Easter.

More work to be done

More work to be done
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

This weekend I carried on digging, and by the end of today had nearly finished digging over the paths. I ran out of energy by 17.30 and had to pack up.

This photo shows where I started this morning.

I always have three containers. One for weeds, one for large stones (which are being collected to make paths), and the other for rubbish. Every time I turn over a forkful of earth, especially on the path which has not been dug at all, there are bits of plastic, and rusty nails. So definitely use gloves and strong boots for this kind of work.

The wormery at one week

The wormery at one week
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

Well the worms seem to be there still. I only took the lid off to give them some more food and to take a photo. A couple were climbing the sides, but you can see one worm among the vegetables. The lid now stays on tight for another week to let them settle in.

Aster germination

The asters are showing signs of germination three days after sowing (usual germination 7-21 days). They have been living on the kitchen windowsill, with plastic bags over them. They were bit difficult to photo, so here is an image of the aubergines, which are next to them and coming along OK.

Any day now we are going to be overun by plants, as the hot peppers need potting on in the next few days, the acrolinium are growing fast, and there are still so many other seeds to sow.

I am beginning to think I am a bit obsessed by my seedlings, but it is so exciting to see them growing, and I keep imagining the fantastic vegetables and flowers we will have this year.

Speedy seeds

Speedy seeds
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

The acrolinium started to germinate yesterday and here they are this morning. Looks like it doesn't really matter how they were sown, they are all coming up fine.

Two other varieties of flower seeds were sown on February 26th - Rudbeckia (Chim Chiminee), and Aster (Florette Champagne). These may be more challenging fo me, as need more heat to germinate, both could take up to 21 days to germinate.

Acrolinium

Sown some acrolinium double mixed (also known as everlasting flowers) this morning in pots indoors. Need to be at 16-18 degrees to germinate. Not really sure of the best way to sow them, and couldn't find any specific information. So have sown some under a light covering of compost, some others about 2cm deep, and some others under what I thought was vermiculite, but is probably just small stones.

Now planning on getting some vermiculite, as know we will need this later on for some other flower seeds.

The tomatoes were growing themselves out of their seed trays, so have transplanted 14 small plants into larger pots (about 2-3inch). So they are looking much happier already - but that was before I put them outside on the balcony. Plants that live here have to learn how to survive early on out on the balcony as there is just not enough space inside our small flat for them all. They will come in at night if it gets too cold.

Now off to the plot, and then to the allotment society committee meeting.

Arrival of the worms

Worms by post
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

They are here - in a plastic bag with some compost. Now need a trip to the allotment later on to settle them into their new home.

A cold snap

Through ice
Originally uploaded by LoopZilla.

I really like this photo Gordon took at the weekend.

A home for frogs and newts

Our logs
Originally uploaded by LoopZilla.

Gordon made this log pile yesterday in the hope it will attract a few frogs and things that will eat slugs. It is placed under a tree in a shady area, and also masks next door's plastic bags...

The end of an allotment weekend

This weekend has been great. Lots of sun, quite cold, and a very heavy frost last night. The water butts have had a layer of ice, and when I tried to dig the shaded areas today, the ground was impenetrable. Still managed to do quite a big of digging/forking though, especially on the main path. Mike came and helped with a lot of digging yesterday. Today, I stayed at the allotment until dusk.

An allotment day today

It is lovely and sunny this morning here and I am off to the allotment to get some more digging and preparation done.

The aubergines are just started to germinate.

Heritage Seed Library: a delivery

Seeds from the Heritage Seed Library 2008 Catalogue
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

The seeds have arrived! This is how they are described in the 2008 Heritage Seed Library catalogue...

Carrot (Egmont Gold): A tapering, pale orange main crop variety good for late sowing.

Beetroot (Bull's Blood): An old variety dating back to before 1900 and renowned for its edible, decorative, reddish-purple foliage. It produces medium-sized, spherical roots that are tasty and tender when young. If picked when small, the striking leaves are also sweet and succulent.

Climbing French Bean (Bonne Bouche): Originating in the Rouen area of France in the 1950's...it has pairs of delicate white flowers and large green leaves. The long green pods have a slight red stripe, and a really great flavour.

Chard (Samara): This attractive variety produces large green leaves with white stems. It is very productive and long lasting.

Leek (Colossal): A hardy and reliable cropper, with long ribbed leaves that drape onto the ground.

Kale (Asparagus): Listed in The Vegetable Garden (Vilmorin-Andrieux 1885), this variety is reputed to be one of the tastiest kales and can be treated more like Broccoli. The violet tinged, fringed leaves, when picked young, are mild-flavoured and really tasty. In spring the young, tender flower shoots can be blanched and eaten like asparagus. Compact, hardy and productive.

Dwarf French Bean (Negritos): The flowers are a pretty pale purple and give rise to short green pods.

Seed potatoes

Yesterday the seed potatoes arrived. We have King Edwards, Pink Fir Apples and Charlotte. Just got find somewhere for them to chit.

Aconites

Aconites
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

Back from a weekend in sunny Germany, where the crocii are out and so are the aconites. It was difficult to get a good photo, but these looked so good against the dark soil. We will get some of these to mingle with our crocii by the bottlebrush.

So now we can get back to some allotmenteering after three busy weekends elsewhere!

The brussels sprouts have germinated, and the tomatoes are doing fine. The sweetpeas have survived having their tops pinched out, and look as though they will start bushing out from the lower parts of the plant.

The potatoes should be arriving this week. Hooray!

Heritage seed library

This year is the first time we have ordered some seeds from the heritage seed library (HSL). But like the potatoes they also have not been seen, even though they were ordered on January 3rd.

The problem seems to lie with a broken PO Box number, so all those requests are apparently sitting somewhere in Belfast possibly never to be seen again. I called them up, and a quick email to the HSL with a copy of the order, and they should be with us next week sometime.

We hope to get six of the following, plus a lucky dip!

1. Beetroot (Bulls blood)
2. Beetroot (Ukrainian)
3. Carrot (Egmont Gold)
4. Chard (Samara)
5. Climbing French Bean (Bonne Bouche)
6. Kale (Asparagus)
7. Leek (Colossal)
8. Pepper (Nardello)
9. Squash (Bubble and Squeak)
10. Climbing French Bean (Romanian)
11. Dwarf French Bean (Emperor of Russia)
12. Broad Bean (Martock)

Where are my potatoes?

Well its been several weeks since the potato order went in, but no sign of them. So today I called the suppliers, and they should be delivered next week. I am a real potato fan. I am looking forward to chitting them, and then sowing them in late March.

Some say I look like a potato...

Aubergines and Brussels Sprouts

According to my spreadsheet I can sow some aubergines (Black Beauty) and brussels sprouts (Groninger) in February, so thats what I've done. They will stay inside on the window sill. The aubergines are going to live here at home. I tried growing them on the allotment, but they didn't do too well, so they will stay indoors and in a grow bag on the balcony to see what happens.

The tomatoes sown on January 28th are just beginning to germinate, which has taken longer than I thought, but the window sill may not have been warm enough. I've kept looking at them every half an hour or so this morning, and they are definitely moving.

Most of the sweet peas out on the balcony now have four leaves, so their tops have been pinched out to make them more bushy. They look so fragile blowing around in the wind, but seem to be managing OK. I don't think are as worried as I am.

Getting organised

Seeds sown today
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

We hired a car yesterday to go to a party, and took advantage of our time to do some moving around of things too bulky to carry down Limehouse Cut. We took the strulch, and a lot of used compost to the plot, and Gordon went and collected a wormery. If you are a Tower Hamlets resident you can buy a large wormery from the Council for only £5.00, which is a bargain. You can also get compost bins, and small wormeries as well. It comes with a voucher to send off for the worms when ready to get it started.

So I have also washed a lot of pots today, and sown tomatoes (alicante) and hot peppers (hungarian wax). I am trying not to sow too many of each variety this year. Last year I grew 48 tomato plants, and gave half of them away. Its great to do that, but space becomes a bit of a problem. I may sow some more later.

Sweet pea

Sweet pea
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

28 of the 37 sweet peas have germinated, and are hardening off on the balcony.

Some of them still look a big leggy, even though they went outside as soon as they had germinated, but I've not really grown them for ages, so can't remember what they are meant to look like. Once there are some more leaves, the top will be pinched out.

I may dig out the non germinators and rub them with sandpaper to see if that stimulates them - but it may be too late for that, its worth a try.

Boots and mud

Boots
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

Why do I always get so muddy? These are definitely the best boots for digging in, and I can't work without them. I don't look after them properly, but have had them for probably 16 years, so they are doing OK.

This weekend was about digging and weeding. Continued work on the paths with Mike and Gordon, and have made great progress I think. All of the unwanted iris are now gone.

Hardening off the sweet peas

Hardening off the sweet peas
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

I love going to out check on the seedlings every morning. It's one of the first things I do. I'm a bit concerned still about the mould around the bottom of the toilet rolls, but now they are outside it doesn't seem quite so bad.

These ones are Sarah Kennedy, which germinated first, and Alan Williams. Aunt Jane is still inside as they are only just starting to show themselves nearly two weeks after sowing. They have been given a stiff talking to, and told to get a move on.

Next plan is to sow some tomato seed and hungarian wax hot peppers.

Parsnips: tender and true

We still have quite a lot of parsnips to get through - there seem to be more than last year, although they are not too large. These tender and true parsnips smell of damp earth, and have that sweet parsnipy smell you get when they are very fresh. They will be par boiled, and then roasted in olive oil, with a little black pepper.

Path to the compost bin

New path
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

We are gradually getting our new paths completed. A bit of an experiment using the many, many stones that we keep digging out of the soil.

More seeds

I've put in another seed order, this time with Thompson and Morgan, as they have a wider range of flower seeds than the organic catalogue. I've ordered:

Agrostemma - Corncockle
Scabious atropurpurea - Summer sundae
Cosmos bipinnatus - Sensation mixed
Aster chinensis - Florette Champagne
Lupinus elegens - Dwarf fairy pink
Rudbeckia Hirta - Chim Chiminee

These are all annuals, and so will flower this year. Some of them are easy, and just involve sowing direct where I want them to flower like Scabious. Others, like the Aster look a bit more involved, but look great, and I want to experiment and challenge myself a bit more this year.

A delivery

Today most of the seed order arrived, plus two nature's own grow bags, and two bags of strulch, which is a straw mulch and soil conditioner. I am very excited.....

However, the sweepeas in the toilet rolls started to get some mould around them. One web site comment elsewhere suggested they were too close together and needed some air to circulate, so they have been spread out a bit more.

Germination

The sarah kennedy sweet peas sown five days ago are beginning to germinate. No sign of the other two varieties yet.

Heavy horse manure

One of the other allotmenteers has being collecting bags of horse manure for us all in her gas van. We had five 70 litre bags of heavy horse manure delivered yesterday.

Have also been starting to lay paths made of stones we have dug out of the soil.

Sweet peas

Sweet pea sowing
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

Have just sown three varieties of sweet pea, from Matthewman's Sweet Peas. They will go outside on the balcony as soon as they germinate.

Also did a big seed order this week, and getting excited about all the great vegetables we are going to have. Are still harvesting leeks and parsnips, and have a few bags of beans left in the freezer. Plan to have more winter vegetables this year, and need to find a better way to store potatoes as the flat is too warm.

The Allotment at its peak!

Six months later
Originally uploaded by Marj Joly.

This was our allotment in the middle of the summer. It was fantastic, and we were completely self sufficient from mid June to September (except for tomatoes which got blight).

Have just ordered our seeds for 2008, and busy getting the plot ready.