Tidying Up

An hour with the trimmer makes the two plots look quite smart again.

2nd allotment underway

Making a start on the second allotment. we have decided to allow the top half under the trees and in shade go to grass with new fruit trees added.

Meanwhile the fruit trees on the first plot look like having a good year, pears already appearing in abundance.

Rotavator tamed

Rotavator did all plots this morning, no problems.

Well it begins...

A slow start this year due to other commitments, however glorious sun today so a couple of hours getting the weed growth off the first bed sees it ready to rotavate

Fruit trees showing lots of blossom, hopefully a good crop this year

plot clearing continues

On to the third plot which still has a few rows of spuds in. Hoping to have all ready for manuring in a few weeks.

Back to the plot

I don't know how other allotmenteers have seen this season. For ours it has been pretty dismal. A very long and wet Spring with parts of the allotment under water for weeks, then after getting on the plots to rotavate, weeks of very hot dry weather which baked the soil until a spade would hardly go in.

The plants seemed to suffer. with bean crops very poor, sweetcorn running to seed very quickly, courgettes, pumpkins etc. all producing very poor crop. the peas did produce a reasonable crop. The potatoes did quite well but then got hit with wireworm so lots coming up riddled with holes.

The fruit trees also failed miserably, the apple did not produce a single fruit.

I have been drawn away from the plots for several weeks but I am now getting back to get them under control. A couple of beds being cleared of top growth of weeds ready to winter dig.

Oh well I guess that's gardening, let's all hope for a better season in '15.

A little de-weeding

Despite the poor weather stuff is growing, spent an hour getting rid of some weeds to tidy up the plots this morning.