The Week on the Plot

Considering it's done practically nothing but rain this week I've managed to spend a little time on the plot.  There is still lots to do, one complete bed needs to be dug which is for the main crop of potatoes.  I've decided to rough dig this bed as it will get a proper digging when I lift the potatoes.


The second early potatoes have gone in alongside the few earlies Dad was given from Arthur.  Two bags of shallots have also been planted.


I'm always a little too eager to sow seeds and once again I did, this time with the runner beans.  They were in the root trainer pots and were nearly 12" tall and desperate to go in the ground, which they now are.  I've put a frame of canes for the beans to grow up and because there is still a bit of a chill to the air, I've put a couple of lengths of fleece around the frame.

Plans

The majority of digging has been finished so we've planned what is going to be planted where.  This plan keeps to the crop rotation idea of not having the same crop type in the same area within three growing seasons, thus alleviating disease.

A whole new growing season, and off to a flying start

Things have changed this year.  I can not dedicate enough time to the allotment to make it viable to keep it in my name, so this year the plot belongs to my Dad, and I'm his skivvy!


We've been busy over the last few weeks preparing the ground for this years crops.  Quite a lot of land was being wasted by the paths between the beds so we have decided to remove them and only have the narrow paths which run widthways across the plot.  This has increased the beds by nearly three feet each which is a considerable amount of space, it just means there is more to weed now!


A number of crops are growing happily in the greenhouse which include beetroot, Brussels sprout, red and green cabbage, leeks and runner beans.  I still have a lot to sow but it is still early days and the nights still threaten frosts or very cold temperatures.

The whole plot

First early potatoes in today (11/04/12)

Still lots of digging to do!

Over wintered greens

Purple sprouting broccoli almost ready for picking

The garlic is looking a little anaemic but have scattered some fish, blood and bone

The onions also look a little hungry so they've been fed as well

The new bed and frame for the blackberries

All this rhubarb, and it's only the 11 April!

View of the plot from behind the rhubarb