Robbed

Not been blogging for a while due to work etc.

Went up to the plot to see how things are going, I was shocked to find that all my spuds had been dug up and stolen.

I honestly couldn't believe it, they didn't leave 1 potato in the ground. The kids were gutted it was the first thing they had ever grown.

First Crop Eaten

This is the first crop to come off my plot, a massive juicy strawberry hopefully many more to come.

Needs Must

Because it's not a big plot I am going to try and use all the space I can, so even a toilet cistern comes in handy for my strawberries.

Spuds 2 Triffids

The spuds have really taken off with this warm & wet weather, just hope it doesn't encourage blight. As you can see my leeks have taken ok so at least we are up for leek & spud soup later this year.

We have GROWTH

Right the spuds are thriving so far, plenty of growth. Since this picture I have mounded them up a few times to encourage more roots meaning more spuds. I believe last year a lot of fellow plot holders lost their crop to blight. Fingers crossed we have more decnt weather.

Weed Control

I've used the bag that the top soil came in to kill off the weeds, I will cover in bark chippings to tidy it up.

Had Help

Getting the kids involved they seem to enjoy visiting the plot.

First Crop Planted.

Right I'm now growing, with the help of the kids we have planted some spuds.

Dont ask what type or which seed potatoes, they are what we had left from some we bought from the supermarket. They had sprouted and will grow and give me a crop.

Top Soil

Finally got some top soil delivered, it cost £48 (inc delivery) for one tonne. Due to my plot being in the middle of all the allotments I had to handball it in the wheelbarrow. On the hottest day of the year so far.

Two beds are ready for planting now.

Smelly Soil Improver

My neighbour on the allotment is Sam, his plot is nearly the size of a football pitch as kindly given a big heap of chicken manure. It will help fill the beds at least halfway up.

Then there were four....

Right with the little time I have had so far, I have managed to dig over 4 beds. Two still need wood surrounds. Having top soil delivered today so I should be able to plant something today.

2nd Raised Bed

Finished the woodwork (I use that term loosely) around the 2nd bed. Will think about ordering some top soil soon. I will try and get another raised bed set up first then I will beable to plant something before it's too late.

Second Bed

The first bed is complete just waiting for top soil, the bed is not a masterpiece but functional. Dug out the 2nd bed need to fashion a wooden raised surround from the old pallets.

Had Help

Had help with staining the wood, dug out the plot (behind the fire) for the metal shed we have yet to construct.

Re-Think

Right I'm not bothering digging out a soak away too much hassle. I will dig a few drainage channels and just build it up with top soil.

It's surface water not running off, when I stood in the bed I sank up to my shins nearly lost my welly. I think with plenty of soil improvers such has manure & compost it will work out ok.

No Good

I had another look at the plot and the one bed so far turned... It's looks like a muddy duck pond. I think I will have to dig about 3-4 foot down and put in a gravel soak away with gravel & sand then fill with top soil.

It is looking more likely that not much will be planted this year :(

Pond close up-

The clay just holds the water, as you can see from this picture. I will have to buy in some top soil and see if I can build it up.

New pond :(

Looking at alot of the other plots around mine everyone seems to have raised beds. So thats now my plan of action. My brother as brought a load of pallets from his workplace, i'll use them to build my raised beds. Work in progress-

First turf turned.

Started to dig over a bed which was pretty tough going. Under the rough grass I have about 3 to 6 inches of soil then it is solid clay. I have double dug the first bed to try and break it up and with there still being abit of frost around it might break up some more.

At last I have a plot of land to call my own.....

This is my plot, in which I hope to grow good crops of veg & fruit. It isn't very big but I should get around 6 or 7 beds in there. My mam is going to get stuck in aswell she has already ordered a small metal shed.