Hi Neely. I had a mate who had a secret plot in the woods only he wasn't growing veg. As it happened not much of anything grew. Northern climate. In the allotment at the moment I've got some onions, sprouting broccoli which will be ready around April and some puny sprouts that don't look as though they will do anything. I think I put them in too late. The next job will be to get some potatoes and dig the rows. We'll have first and second earlies this year, and a maincrop too, as I have the space. Paul
Hello there, what have you got planned for the allotment this year? Anything in mind? I am trying to utilise what little space I have. Got a few peas planted on the back, but there's not much sun there I'm afraid so I don't think much is going to happen there soon. There are signs of life with the spinach on the front though and of course the herbs are doing well in the house (and the odd tulip). Got two mini chilli pots but nothing is happening there at the moment. The next move in March is a carrot and potato assault on the back. I also have a crackpot plan to find a secret plot of land somewhere on the edges of the Peaks and to grow a few things there. This is nothing much more than a strange boyish fantasy though, but I might give it a go for fun - the idea is that we can bike up there every week (as we do in the spring) and water them etc - the secret veg plot, sounds like something from a bad Famous Five novel or something?
Hi, it sounds like you are really getting stuck into it. I like the idea of being able to get rid of the weeds and to feed the soil at the same time, great idea. It sounds like you did well with the potatoes then, it is amazing what you can get just from a small space. I won't get as much as that because I didn't plant that many and I was a bit late in getting them planted due to postal errors etc. However I will get some and it will be my contribution to the in-laws Christmas dinner, that and some cakes probably. I only planted 15 seed potatoes, but that should still do me for plenty of new potatoes in and around Christmas. I planted on the front which is only 2m x 1/2, and two of the three Victorian barrels on the back. Next year though I'll do a bit more and like you say, there are opportunity for different growing stages is great.
Hi Neely, I've been down the allotment today for three hours. This time of year it's digging - though the going is easy as the earth is pretty soft. I was told by the bloke who runs the site that he digs his over in November and the green weeds turned will rot and feed the soil whilst the roots are killed off by exposure to the frosts. It's an opportunity to tidy up too. The trouble is with the early nights - there's no time to get down other than at weekends and in the holidays. It sounds as though the potatoes are coming on well. I had 6 bags plus a bed of potatoes which measured about 1 1/2 metres by 2 1/2, and it did 4 of us for several months. I was pleasantly surprised. I've got even more space next year so I'm looking forward to putting in a main crop as well. Apparently - (and I only found this out at the beginning of the year) - there are 1st earlies, 2nd earlies and then maincrop. Marvellous. Paul
Hi how are you going? How's the allotment coming on? My potatoes are shooting up and I'll probably have a fair supply for Christmas, with a bit of luck.
Hi, thanks for your kind thoughts. I'm thinking of doing a PGCE at the start of next year (or so) which will mean that I will be moving schools of course - not that I think moving is the pefect answer, the grass and that that - but it is the next step for me I think. Currently I am doing intervention work as an HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) in English, which is mostly OK, I get to try and work with the middle range student who normally slips through the net, so it has its rewards at times. In the meantime any negativity is certainly good practice towards developing inner calm in the Buddhist sense! Certainly the common sense elements of Buddhism I find very useful and thought provoking which is what I am reading quite a lot at the moment, when I can. Anyway thanks again, Neely.
