Its all starting to move .

Spent a bit of time in the greenhouse over the last few days.

As I did with my shallots, I have started off my main crop onion sets (Turbo) in module trays. They will stop in them for a couple of weeks before I plant them out. The shallots which I started off last week have began to show a good root growth already.

As well as starting off the onion sets, I also got some seed sown. A tray of each of Calabrese (Autumn Green), Cauliflower (Avalanche), Onion (Stoccarda) and 6 of each of Aubergine (Early Long), Chilli (Hot Thai Culinary & Cayenne) and a Pepper called (Sweet Romano).

Black Knot!!!!!!

Its been a very productive couple of days at the allotment thanks to the fine weather we have been experiencing. I finally finished weeding the fruit bed, cut back a couple of gooseberry bushes which was encroaching onto my path and tied in the raspberry canes to the support frame. All that needs to be done now is apply a good feed.

It appears that my plum tree has signs of a fungus called Black Knot starting to form on two branches. These branches will need to pruned back at least 4 -6 inches below the affected area and burnt.

Fruit Bed or Weed Bed ??????

Had a couple of hours on the plot this morning. The fruit bed has been neglected for a while so I started to give it a bit of TLC. My fruit bed runs the length of plot 36 and separates my plot from my neighbour. In the bed there is an apple and a plum tree, a couple of each of Blackcurrants and Gooseberry, a small Red current, a large selection of Summer and Autumn fruiting Raspberry and a couple of Rhubarb crowns. Weed from my neighbours plot has started to penetrate onto my side, so a bit of weeding was in order. It turns out to be a bigger job than I envisaged and will need another day or two to get it back in order. It just goes to show you should never put things off and always try and keep on top of things if you want an easy life.

The rhubarb has started to show. I just love the first few pickings of the stuff , I think its at its sweetest in the early days. Lovely!!!!!!

More Snow On The Way.

With the forecast of more snow on the way, and not wanting to spend a fortune on paraffin, I took the decision to bring home all the trays of seeds from the greenhouse. I have put them in one of the bedrooms. They can stay there in the warm until they have germinated.

Shallot Bed Ready.

I was at the allotment on Friday for a couple of hours making the most of the weather. The ground had thawed out so I took the opportunity to take up the last of the leeks and the remainder of the beetroot. Plot 36 looks so baron now with only a few swede and a small row of parsnips left.

I have purchased some shallots sets this year, Golden Gourmet and Red Sun. I have them in module trays in the greenhouse. I have started them off this way because I want them to have a root growth before I plant them out. There is I believe a number of advantages in doing this:

1) It gives them a good start.

2) Less likelihood of them pushing themselves out of the ground.

3) Harder for the birds to pull out.

I dug over an area of plot 36 and prepared my shallot bed. I dressed the bed with Sulphate of Potash and Bone meal and also added chicken manure pellets. Hopefully I can plant out the shallots in a week or two.

First Sowing

Had a few hours at the allotment this morning. With the snow gone and the temperatures starting to rise, it was great to be out in the open air again.

I harvested the last of the beetroot and leeks and spent a bit of time in the greenhouse.

I started off some Broad Beans ( Bunyards Exibition) in moduals and sowed a tray of Musselburgh Leeks.

I have also sown 2 types of onion. "Rossa Lunga Di Firenze" which is an Italian Long Onion. And "Roja de Niort" a French Red Onion.

Oi ! Where's My Mealworms?

My friend the Blackbird came to see me again this morning for his feast of meal worms.

Potatoes Chitting

Now the weather seems to be improving a wee bit, I took all my potatoes down to the allotment so they can chit in the shed. I'm growing 5 different variety's this year; Kestrel, International Kidney, Picasso, King Edward and Valor.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !

Although the snow has now cleared it is still freezing. The weather forecast for our area recons that we can expect temperatures of between -6 to -8 for the next few days at least. So the plans I had for getting some work done on the plot will have to be postponed.

Allotment Success

Back in September Birmingham held its annual gardening show. Previously the show was held a Kings Heath Park, but due to the lack of funding the show was drastically reduced in size and was moved to another venue. Gone were the trade stalls where you could grab a bargain to just a few marquees. One housed the local societies which included the Dahlia, Fuschia, Begonia, Bonsai and Rose society's to name a few, all showing off their prize exhibits. Bee keeping enthusiasts were giving advice on husbandry also had jars of honey and bottles of Mead for sale. The second marquee held Q & A sessions with well known experts and the final one was the allotment marquee. Run by the "Birmingham & District Allotment Council" they held their annual competition for local growers. There were classes for both individual growers and society's. We as an allotment entered the 20 vegetable class. The previous year we entered the same class and was awarded 4th place. Not bad considering it was the first time our allotment had entered any competition. So you can imagine how surprised we were this year when our 6' x 4' display was awarded 1st Place.

Feed The Birds

I made a quick visit to the plot yesterday afternoon before the snow took hold. I remembered that I needed to replenish the bird feeders. I had a bird feeding station at the rear of my plot up till recently, but the gales we had the other week brought it down. The post was rotten so needs to be replaced, but as of yet I have not got around to doing it. So I have bird feeders hanging off different structures around the plot. I get a lot of pleasure watching the birds at the feeding station. Over the last few weeks I have had a young m

ale Black Bird visit my plot. Within minutes of my arrival he appears for his daily feast of dry mealworms. He shows no fear and will come to within a couple of feet of me eagerly waiting for his feed.

Another Year!

OK, OK, I know I said I was going to keep up with this blog last year, but once again I seem to have let time pass me by and failed to update it. But this year I do intend to make the effort to sort myself out.

The produce from the plots have once again have been plentiful, with the exception of the sweetcorn which was very disappointing.

Snow is now falling so I am unsure when I will be able to get back up the pot. Not to long I hope.