Friday 24 October 2008

Views From My Lottie Greenhouse.







These are some of the views from my lottie greenhouse. Looking out to sea and across to Teignmouth. I never tire of watching the boats coming and going.

Rainbow Harvest


These are some of the cauliflowers I harvested yesterday. I made some cauliflower cheese with bacon and it was delish

Tuesday 21 October 2008

Plot 20b Cleared












Well I was totally determined to get the new plot cleared in four weeks. Several days it rained and I don't usually go to the lottie at weekends...BUT...I still managed to get all the blackberry brambles out and any other nasties I found. All burnt now and a lovely pile of potash remains. I did it in just under 3 weeks. I was so lucky to get a newish greenhouse and I can't wait to start planting and sowing in it.
All I need to do now is...Make the raised beds, put down weed surpressant fabric and cover with bark chips. As you can see from the photo above, I've started to bring in (half) bags of manure and I've bags more to get. I'll have muscles like Popeye soon :)


New Plot Next To Me








Last November, Michael on plot 20 told me he would only continue for one more season. That made me sad. He was a very nice chap and always made me feel I could ask him anything. He had been gardening on this site for 15 years and had an allotment for 45 years total. He told me in November 2007 to get my name down. I'm sharing the half plot with Lin, she has been on the site for about 8 years. Lin also has the half plot below me too and she gets the little shed Michael hand built. So it's worked out great for us both.






My Giant Tomato


My Super Marmande tomato plants produced some real whoppers. Some were so heavy they bent the stems. The out door plants all got blight, just as the toms were turning red too.

Veg I've Grown






I don't think I have bought one single veg since June. I hope this continues as you all know, home grown veg is so much tastier.
Here are just a few I remembered to take photos of.Little baby turnips, so tasty, will deffo grow again. Purple, yellow, white and green variety of cauliflowers. All still taste the same.

Lottie In Full Bloom


I'm really please with my first year. It's the first time I have grown many things from seed and had great success. My dahlias are still blooming well. I don't cut them (except dead head). I grew them for colour and for the bees.

Friday 18 April 2008

April 17th 2008

I've had my allotment now for six months. I didn't do any work through January and February as it was too cold for me to venture onto the plot. I did have all unplanted areas covered in heavy duty black plastic, but I did give it all a quick dig over just to loosen the soil.

I thought it was time I did an update of my plot progress.When I took this picture yesterday (April 17th 2008) the east winds were very strong and cool even though the sun was shining.
I have been waiting for a delivery of wood chips to finish my pathways before I took any update pics.

The pic below shows my little raspberry bed with a few strawberry plants in the front.
I have onions, shallots and a few garlic growing in this bed
The raised bed closest to the bank is the last bed to be sieved. I'm saving that job for a sunny day.

I made this rock garden to tidy up this ugly back corner. All the rock I used I dug up around the plot. A couple of them were so big and heavy I had to roll them to the back..Phew !!!
I have planted quite a few summer flowering bulbs and seeds here too.








The raised beds have been sieved of all stones. They look quite full at the moment but they will sink once we get some rain.






I originally bought these box plants for my garden at home. When I laid them in position it thought it made everything look too busy. They seem to like it where they are and are doing well.
























This open plan style bed I have used for planting my potatoes.One row of each...Ulster Sceptre, Vales Emerald, International Kidney, Rooster, Charlotte, Pink Fir Apple and Cara