It’s hard to believe I have had the allotment for just over a year, it seems to much longer but at the same time it seems only yesterday that I stood looking at a rectangle of plough field.
I haven’t been to the plot since just after Christmas for a number of reasons out of my control and I have been getting anxious to get back into the swing of it. There is an element of guilt as I still have one large bed (the grassy looking area in the photo below) that hasn’t been completely dug over and is still virgin field (or weeds!!). I am going to plant the potatoes in this bed so I need to get a move on and clear it.
The top photo is from the central site path looking up my plot. I am a little disappointed with the Spring Cabbages in the first bed as they just aren’t hearting up and I have no idea why. I am trying to avoid netting/fleecing as I have already experienced one dead grass snake quite in netting and I hate the look of all the fleece but I suspect I may be giving in to enviro-mesh this year. I have been using garlic spray to try to deter the cabbage white butterflies and slugs from my cabbages. It seems to have worked quite well although you could tell when I hadn’t been spraying for a while as the number of caterpillars increased. The smell of garlic is also meant to deter rabbits which has been a problem on the site. In fact I discovered during my brief visit around Christmas that something, more than likely a rabbit, had enjoyed a real feast of one of my January King cabbages.
I was quite pleased today that the site wasn’t in too bad a shape. There is some weeding (apart from the dreaded bed) to do but nothing too major and some couch grass which needs removing. There are signs of the rhubarb re-sprouting which is good as last year we had to be very good and not harvest any while the plants established. I have moved all the fruit bushes round and they are now planted down one side of the plot as the start of a wind break. I will be adding some more as the other beds are cleared of crops. I now have a small raised bed adjacent to the compost bin and this will be used for salads this year.
Today I just pottered mainly as my back was aching from too much decorating the day before and because I had the prospect of more painting when I got home. I had to pull the remainder of my cauliflowers up as the heads had gone brown despite me tieing the leaves round them. I suspect I may have tied the leaves up too late. I planted some comfrey plants which I am relocating from the garden and I started to tidy up the strawberry plants which look so messy in the photo above.
I do find it very therapeutic being at the plot. As you can see the site is surrounded by open fields. There are sometimes some horses in the field on the other side of the site but generally apart from the odd dog walker it is very quiet. I generally go early Sunday and rarely see anyone else, though I did notice in the summer there were a few more people. As soon as the evenings get a little bit lighter I shall start visiting a couple of days a week on my way home from work. I find that I can do quite a bit in half an hour if I go with a set objective in mind.
Plans for 2012
So what do I have planned for 2012? Well the biggest lesson I have learnt is not to invest time, effort and money in growing crops unless I have already tried them and know I like them. I bought quite a few Jerusalem Artichoke plants last spring and to be honest I’m not that keen. I am going to give them one more go next weekend but unless the next recipe is a winner I shall be offering the roots to my fellow plot holders.
I was also very disappointed in the squash I grew. Now I have eaten squash before and enjoyed it roasted and I am hoping that it may be the variety I grew this year that was the problem. I just didn’t like them roasted or in soup. I am going to try again this year with a different variety and only one plant which I am thinking of growing in the top of the compost heap.
I am really pleased with the Carvelo Nero Kale and will definitely be growing more of that this year. I have planted more garlic than last year in the hope of making them last longer – I have just used the last of my crop harvested in August. I am also growing more onions and shallots. I am going to try some new crops, which I know I like, such as celery and celeriac but also, against my new rule, Globe Artichoke mainly as I have the seeds and think they look fab. I have some Cardoon seeds but I’m not sure whether to bother or not. I do think they look attractive and they are too dominant a plant to place in my garden but would I eat the blanched leaves – I’m not sure. You don’t see them in the shops and I know some people would argue that is exactly why I should grow them but I have a suspicion that the reason that some edibles aren’t that available is because we just don’t like them that much. After all tastes change and our tastes are very different to our predecessors.
I shan’t be growing sunflowers this year as the site is so windy and I got quite dis-spirited last year cutting off snapped flower stems every time I visited. I will be growing sweet peas again as they worked very well, much better than in my garden soil and I have some poached egg plants to plant out as edging and to bring in beneficial insects.
The other lesson I learnt fairly early on at my plot is to pick any crops I want early on in my visit. The walk back to the car park (at the tree line in the top of the photo below) is quite a way and when it is raining heavily you just have to run. We aren’t currently allowed sheds so there is no shelter apart from car.
So that is the plot at the start of the 2012. I shall be doing an update on the 5th (hopefully) each month. If you have an allotment or veg bed and want to join in please do.
I have been thinking about my veg garden as well. I will be planning it soon and starting some seeds indoors in March…direct sowing happens in April under cover due to our cold weather.
Helen, re your ‘virgin’ bed (so to speak!) – to save your back – how about trying the Charles Dowding No Dig method? Don’t know the exact way to do it (I’ve only just found his site) but I think it’s a case of just chucking about 6″ – 8″ of manure/compost on top of the grass/weeds and then the worms will do all the work for you. There again, lugging loads of manure isn’t exactly easy on back either …so…just a thought.
Hi Donna – I know about the no dig approach and I have other beds now which I dont really need to dig but this bed needs clearing of perennial weeds including couch grass and thistles.
Your plot is coming along all tickety-boo and it is obvious that you have put a lot of work into it. It is difficult making decisions as to what to grow and if you have space. Mine is still full of all sorts at the moment so I can’t do too much clearing up, but it won’t be long before it is all systems go.
It all looks great with the promise of future harvest. Donna’s suggestion above sounds good, heavy mulching can be done with cardboard as well in layers, or old carpet. But it takes time and digging is quicker and you get those satisfying squares of black soil cut out of the grass. Ooo it makes me want to dig !
Hi Paul – I agree I quite like digging, its very rewarding and as I want to go potatoes in the bed I think it needs a good dig and weed
One allotment year behind you already – it’s hard to believe. You have made great progress in that time Helen and have definitely been bitten by the bug! I must confess that I have not visited my plot since mid December – the spirit has been willing but the flesh weak and the weather has not been encouraging. Too wet, too cold, too windy – that’s my excuse. Must get a grip. Hope that your second year gives you just as much pleasure and that all your crops flourish.
I agree about not growing things you don’t really want to eat. I have to keep reminding myself about that – as the mustard greens stand so prettily out in our garden (but I hate them). Time for me to start planning my garden out for the year. Looking at your garden is great inspiration – it’s so very pretty!
Your allotment looks great and you have done lovely things to it it looks brill to me i must get back out to my garden and the veg area later finding it hard when hubby is still off work with his kidney stones
Hi Linda – sorry to hear your husband is ill but hopefully you will be able to get out in the garden more soon
Hello from Auckland New Zealand – obviously our seasons are opposite way down here at the bottom of the world. New Zealand has a big variety of weather types and here in Auckland it is mostly semi-tropical. I live on the side of a volcano (Mt Eden) extint ( I hope) and I don’t get any frosts, although athough this year cold winter, rain, wind wind and wind (south westerlies) Don’t forget here southern winds are the cold ones and north the warm ones. Temperatures were as low as 9 degrees cel. and even a few snow flakes. Was so amazing that news on TV and radiio! I have a small city garden, sort of L shapped, on vocanic soil, lots of volcanic rocks and fill. I am a mad enricher of my garden with a worm farm, sprinkle liberal amounts of sheep pellets (great and portable from a sheep country) epsom salts on lemon etc. I need to ease up on the manure on 3 of my potted hydrangeas as they have had too much sheep (poo) and give them some potash in autumn (about April) too boost flowers for next year. I have lots of pots over 100 as my garden so small. I don’t believe in “Less is More” and am a self confessed plant-o-holic – no cure I am afraid!! My style is cottage as we live in an old villa – tho’ I can’t go minimal! Roses are either old Duchess de Brabant or David Austin, St Swithens does particularly well, 100 blooms and 200 buds and lovely scent – and Sally Holmes does amazingly well, stands up to our humidity and wind. I have a semi tropical end, sheltered and shaded with a privet (considered a weed here) and most of my vegs are in recycling bins. I have salades, basil herbs, lots of beans, tomtoes rhubarb, a lime tree etc etc in them.
January is usually hot and dry but this Christmas we in Auckland had rain, rain and more rain and the temps not as usual. I swim daily in sea (6 klms away in a lovely bay) 500ms a day and ws late starting this year but catching now. Parts of New Zealand had massive floods over Christmas and camping (a great NZ holiday) was washed out. But in AND poor Southern NZ they had high temperatures and sun – how contrary the weather can be!! Poor Christchurch had lots more strong earthquakes, it really is a ghost city in parts, so sad!
Globe artichoke well worth growing for the spectacular flowers, I’m not fan of artichoke myself but it was left over from the last owner and having seen it in full flower I value it for it’s flowery contributions now!
I am with Paul on the cardboard idea, I got this from the lovely Alys Fowler and current cardboard compost all spot on my plot that need ‘work’ . Usually get slabs from the local council recycling place – they think I’m a bit odd – and then either put manure of well rotted compost on top and water it to help it break down quicker.
Rosalind
I am going to go for a no dig approach eventually but the bed is full of couch grass, thistles etc which I want to clear properly first especially as I want to grow potatoes in that bed this year
your progress is impressive – hard to believe it’s only been cultivated for a year! Have you tried letting the Jerusalem artichokes flower – they are a member of the sunflower family and might be better at standing up to the wind than the actual sunflowers… Also beware that Globe Artichoke isn’t fully hardy – I’ve lost a few over the last couple of hard winters (in Glos), though they might be OK with a good mulch of straw or similar.
Hi Rose – my J.artichokes flowered last year but I have to stake them as the plot is so so windy!!
I know what you mean about growing crops that are useless or you just don’t like. I grew Oca a couple of years ago…I did’nt like it and the yield was very low. Also grew Linseed last year but the seeds dropped off before I got to harvest them.
Hi Bridget – I have an oca plant but have forgotten to harvest them and to be honest doubt will like them
Choosing what to grow, and how much of it is difficcult, it is easy to end up with a lot of something you’re not that keen on and it’s worse if that something has taken up valuable space, not to mention water (in my case). Jerusalem Artichoke, Globe Artichoke and Cardoon all have the same taste so if you’re not sure you like it certainly I’d say only grow one, I’m going to try globe Artichokes because they grow well in this area, the farmers all grow them and they also look beautiful. you’ve done really well in your first year; good luck with the second. – I always think potatoes are one of the hardest crops, you have to dig twice, once planting and once harvesting, they take a lot of space and are relatively cheap to buy in the shops. If you do decide to grow them I’d recommend using nematoads as slugs always like the varieties you like too! Christina
Hi Christina – its interesting that you think J Artichokes, Globe and Cardoon taste very similar. I think I have concluded to give my J Artichokes away and try Globe Artichokes since as you say they are so beautiful. I grew potatoes last year as they are good for breaking up the soil but only grew new or salad potatoes as so nice when fresh from ground.
You’ve done a great job, so much progress in your first year.
I know what you mean about the cardoons. The ones I grew last year were something of a whim. I planted them out while the garden was still fairly unformed, and they were a good space-filler in the new borders, not to mention beautiful plants – but take up so much space. Somehow I don’t seem to have made any attempt to cook with them, my heart is just not in it, so now that the borders are starting to fill out and their sharp elbows are hampering other plants, I think I will be digging them out. They were very beautiful while they lasted though; if I had more space I would keep them purely for their ornamental qualities. And maybe get around to eating them some day.
Globe artichokes seem like a good compromise: also beautiful plants but they don’t take up anywhere near the same space, and I would probably even cook with them once or twice, I quite like the taste though I would have to work hard to find a meal to fit them into. Perhaps in a year or two I will grow a few also, think our patch is already oversubscribed this year! I look forward to following the progress of your new crops this year.
You can admire my Globe Artichokes from afar though to be honest I doubt I will eat them
Hi Helen, have been reading and enjoying your posts for some time now. Am really impressed and inspired with what you have achieved over the last year. My dad has offered to give over half his plot to me which is very generous and I want to do a good job but find that every time I look at the plot I become overwhelmed.
My problem is that he has not marked out paths and tends to dig the entire plot each winter and weed it all during the year. I would rather lay paths out as you have done, I like the organisation and efficiency it affords. Would you please tell me about the membrane you have used and how to secure it? Thanks Ceri
Hi Ceri
I found laying out paths was very good for me mentally. Broke the plot down into bit size chunks. I used a weed suppressing membrane and you buy special pegs to hold it down – an example of what I used is here http://www.gardening-naturally.com/acatalog/Weed_Control_Fabric.html
Thanks Helen will take a look, think it’s the way to go.
Your allotment looks great. I’ve stopped with JAs now as well, wasn’t overly keen on the taste. And celeriac is a must for this year after growing a few last year and loving them. Good luck!
Hi Damo – Hopefully Celeriac will be easy to grow as I do enjoy it.
Your allotment looks really good, so tidy. You have done a lot in one year. I agree about growing globe artichokes, they are so architectural. Good luck for 2012.
Looks really neat and tidy to me Helen.
I suffered the same cauli fate, with the brown bits. I tied the leaves up too late as well, something I always manage to do. I seem to overlook the winter veg during the summer harvest. Determined not to do that this year.
Cabbages in the first picture look stunning.
Good luck for 2012, hope you get some rhubarb.
You’re right I suppose it is a no dig approach I saw it more as weed control really. That said it does in fact control the weeds to the point of killing them off – I don’t have couch grass though only creeping buttercup and bindweed they gave up the ghost and moved to the neighbours plot, mostly.
I’m with you on the Jerusalem artichoke front, Helen. Impressive plants, incredibly tall and handsome but I don’t particularly like the taste, they give you terrible wind and the flowers are very, very late – almost at the same time as the first frost. They produce a vast amount of tubers too. Ended up giving them to a neighbour’s pigs. Very impressive to have cleared all that so recently from virgin field.
Good luck with the allotment! Looks great!