Things starting to move

Spuds are all planted now, 18 rows in total, first earlies are now showing, earthed them up a little today as frost could be just around the corner. Went to plant onion sets that I had started in seed trays and found that most of them were soft, even though they were growing, did not take chance with many of them as, they would probably have rotted.
Found it quite hard to get more sets as most places had run out of them but managed to get some from mgm in Kilmarnock. planted some today along with shallots. started tying in rasp canes as they are very tall. seedlings at home doing well, most are put outside and covered with tarpaulin at night in case of frost. garlic that I planted earlier now doing very well.....until later...happy gardening....Veggie

Hi I'm Back

Hi Folks, not had much activity on my blog for a couple of weeks as I've been away on a walking trip for the past week and the week before, I was preparing for it, but i'm back with batteries charged and i'm raring to go ! Incidentally the walking trip was on the west Highland way in Scotland, over 50,000 peole per year walk it. This was my third time at doing it
and I managed to complete it once again, even with blisters !! the mileage is about 96 miles but feels like a lot more. Our weather was fantastic for first week in April, which made the trip very enjoyable.
Thinned out my strawberries that I aquired at the end of last year, managed to get about 56 plants and planted them on weed suppresant fabric with holes cut in it, also planted my 2nd earlies this week (Kestrel and Maris Peer?). will show photos later...happy gardening ...veggie

Ides of March

Well it's mid March already, it's actually St Paddy's day today, this is when some of the 'want to take a chance' guys down the plot traditionally plant their first early spuds, I was even smarter off the mark and planted mine last week (12th-14th), planted 5 rows of earlies, Epicure, Maris Bard and Arran Pilot....if I've made a boob and the frost get them..then what the hell, it's worth the risk, just to be able to get my nashers into them as early as possible:-)

Picked the last of the carrots, which were riddled by the 'Fly', still used them, cut out the bad bits, they were they lovliest and sweetest ones I've ever tasted. started diggin Brassica bed, coming on nicely and started to prune raspberries, really not sure how to, but cut out loads of old wood, will need to strenghen posts that support them,will wait to see when they fruit and if they are autumn fruiting,(as I suspect ), then I will prune them hard after fruiting is bye.

left pic shows before and right shows after, will now need to think of a use for the old dead canes...mmm????

bye for now...Happy Gardening...VP

Mare's Tale

Well that's the tattie bed dug over, ready for planting earlies next week or the following, might be a little early, but old allotment buddy assures me that they will be ok !, In the process of doing this I removed THREE! carrier bags full of roots from the Marestail or Horsetail plant, almost enough for a meal, don't know if they are edible though, and boy do they run deep, see photo, root is laid on 2' slab!, don't imagine I got them all ...but it's a start

until later...happy Gardening..veggie

Seed Sowing

Now to get down to business and get the seeds sown, not an easy task without a greenhouse at this time of year in Scotland!!
Started these sweet peas off about a week ago on window ledge, just cheap packets from Morrisons, variety is galaxy mixed,these are just to add a little colour and hopefully scent to the allotment.
If you click on picture to enlarge it you will see that germination rate is fairly high, this method uses two paper towels, one below one above, soaked and kept moist, very soon they will be transferred into rootrainers and hopefully sneaked into the newly decorated spare room, without too much fuss from 'er indoors'.....aye right:-). Started off my peas yesterday using the same method, varieties are Hurst Greenshaft, which I grew successfully last year and a petit pois variety celebration, this early start with peas stops the mice eating the seed, also sowed in compost, cabbage Primo and onions that I brought home from Spain last summer, manged some more digging before work also and plan to do some more today, will keep you posted on seed results...until then...happy Gardening.....Veggie

One Down...Many To Go

Tried out one of my lifelong ambitions at the weekend, actually tried out skiing, this was on my list of things to do before I die (bit morbid , I know

but if you don't get aff yer butt and do these things, before long you've left it too late!). We went to Aviemore in the Cairngorms, the snow was still plenty and the weather was fabulous, only expected to be able to stand up on the skis without falling, but actually managed to go on ski tow without falling off and skied down to bottom(well, mid way), only falling twice, I was fair chuffed with myself and would certainly like to have a go again, all be it a bit pricey for an old scrouge like myself.

back to the allotment....... got a good bit of digging done last week, tattie bed almost done, (think I've laid aside a bit too much of my plot for them, as I have lots of other stuff to get in, but we shall see and if this is the case, cut down on them next year, not had time to get greenhouse up yet and may struggle to get off to a quick start without one, however I'm sure I will catch up. planted some Jerusalem artichokes which I recieved from a dear lady (Sarah), who sadly passed away one week later, these will grow in her memory for many years and hopefully I'll have more to share with other friends in the coming years........until later....Happy Gardening....Veggie

Making a Start

Finally got around to start digging over my tattie bed, it's quite a big job but the soil is in really good condition after decades of manuring etc, few rows every day and I'll soon get thru it.

Was lovely sunny day today, even working without jumper or jacket on.

Planted my garlic today, even though it's probably the wrong time, managed to get 30 cloves from only 2 bulbs. potted up some flowers; lupins, red hot pokers and asparagus plants as they were all sprouting in hut will transfer to ground when it warms up a little.

until later...........Happy Gardening.......................Veggie

cheap seeds

Here's photo of veggie seed mentioned;

Chitting Tatties

Another nice couple of sunny days brought the 'allotmenteers' out in full force during the past weekTuesday was a lovely day so took opportunity to finish off gutting out the hut and started chitting of the tatties to give them a quick start, did not chit last year, will compare results this year.
got tip off about special seed offer from t& morgan...10 packs for £1.99,they arrived today, however source must have got mixed up'only' got 6...(still a great bargain though)...see photo..until later...happy gardening...Veggie

Fence Finished ........

managed to finish fence during the past week as we had couple of lovely sunny days
this will surely keep 'her Indoors' happy (for a short while anyway;-)
hopefully,the gaps in it, will enable wind to pass thru and it might stay up a little longer, still to tackle the removal of greenhouse base (which is well cemented in), however that's another day.....until later...Happy Gardening....Veggie

Poundland Bargains

Great bargains at Poundland; seeds shown have Six!! packets for a pound, can't loose at that price, included in packet are; purple sprouting Broccoli, carrots, onions, courgettes,beetrootand cabbage.they also have redcurrants and blackcurrants at £1 each, bought MORE tatties (10 tubers for £1),varieties were Arran pilot (earlies) and Desiree (maincrop)also Lupins and red hot pokers at £1 for three roots.

It's here at last............

Well after the mildest january I can remember, February is here with a vengence!
2 nights of hard frost and looks like more to come over the coming week, however it Kills all the 'Beasties' and eggs just lurking in the greenhouse, waiting to pounce on our fresh young shoots in the springtime...but not this year (hopefully).
after panicing about whether my fence posts were strong enough or not, my suspicions were accurate as they were still 'rockable' yesterday, had to troop over to Jewson's for another 3 bags, bought postfix this time and apon checking this morning...Hey Presto it worked. After few hours Kip (nightshift), lovely sunny day wakened me and I decided to tackle fence, things went much better and lo and behold I nearly finished it ! will do finishing touches tomorrow, which means I'll be a bit nearer getting to the plot to do what I really like.....Bye for now...Veggie

Fencing

Been busy few days as the weather has picked up and able to carry out much of the jobs on hold. greenhouse is now dismantled and ready to be taken to the allotment,yes in my car with greenhouse down this gave me chance to get stuck into building new fence; 30' long x 6' tall, post holes all dug out and new posts,8' tall, concreted in to 2' deep, will test tomorrow to see how strong they are, reason I say this, is that our local B&Q ran out of instant concrete (surprise, surprise) and I had to settle for the longer setting stuff, if all is well should get most of fence up tommorrow (nightshift), this job was not scheduled for this time of year but down to strong gales this year, the old larchlap gave up...Again!!!
when fence is up can concentrate on removing greenhouse base, which could be difficult as it was concreted in, then onto rebuilding it on plot (only hope I can mind how to do it:)Looked out the window last week at neighbours garden to see Daffs in flower....IN JANUARY !!! very strange..whatever next...Sweetcorn in March ???
..until we talk again...happy gardening...Veggie Perin

Been 'at it' again

Just back from Scottish borders after visiting family and attending local Burns supper, great night and company, however, on the way home around Edinburgh you have to pass a Dobbies garden centre, these places are brilliant, although a bit on the expensive side, was about to bypass it when out came the sunbeams again, quick left turn and before you could say "Bob's Yer Uncle" , I was over looking their seed tattie stock...I was very surprised to see the price was an amazing; 2x 3kg bags for £6, could not resist and added two bags to my now growing collection. Varieties were; Kestrel...2nd early
Pink Fir Apple....main crop (which I am assured taste amazing)
Also bought my runner bean seed; White Lady, chose this variety as it is stringless,which makes them a lot more palatable,also white flowers are not as attractive to the birds.....well have to go now got greenhouse to dismantle...
until later.....Happy gardening......Veggie

Happy Burns Nicht

Just pop this wee one in as it's the 'Bard's' ..well it is garden related;

The Gard'ner wi' his paidle


When rosy May comes in wi' flowers,
To deck her gay, green-spreading bowers,
Then busy, busy are his hours,
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.

The crystal waters gently fa',
The merry bards are lovers a',
The scented breezes round him blaw-
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.

When purple morning starts the hare
To steal upon her early fare;
Then thro' the dews he maun repair-
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.

When day, expiring in the west,
The curtain draws o' Nature's rest,
He flies to her arms he lo'es the best,
The Gard'ner wi' his paidle.

Just Can't Resist It..........

Well it's that time of year again, cabin fever is starting to set in, the long, cold, wet, windy nights are starting to take their toll on us, the ground's starting to freeze up, and we suffer severe withdrawal pains as we long for springtime, then there's a brief glimmer of hope, as the heavy clouds subside and the warm, golden rays disperse the emptiness of winter( even if it is only for half an hour :-)
This triggers off an automatic reaction amongst gardeners to get to the garden centres/nurseries as fast as we can, yeah I know we still have about another 3 months up here in scotland before we'll actually need the stuff, but we just can't help it !, I was the same when I used to grow Fuchsias... could not pass a shop without buying much more than I needed, well I've not changed my habits much since converting to veggies,after our much welcomed sunburst ran out and bought;
Maris Bard....2.5kg early tatties...£3
Epicure.....(THE Ayrshire tattie) at same price
Shallots...Golden Gourmet at £1 bag
Onion sets Sturon also £1
also trying some garlic I bought from Morrison's (it's Spanish but just look how big the bulbs are for 50p each), they might work, might not but at that price it's worth a try. also got my lime which I'll need to put down soon on Barrasica bed.

All the veg bought was Thompson and Morgan, From a local garden centre which I thought to be reasonably priced
and best of all ...no postage!!!!
This will ease the pain for a while or at least until our next sunburst jolts us into' mad veggie buyer 'mode again .
...until we talk again...happy gardening...veggie

Rain, Rain, and more Rain

Not had much chance over the past week to get up the old 'Lottie'
(due to the heavy rain and winds),should really be making an effort
to dismantle my greenhouse and get it relocated on the plot, but afraid to start it until the danger of these gales have passed in case I have to leave it and the wind wrecks it. have new fence to build in back garden before serious work on the plot starts, this was task that I had not planned, but will come under heading of emergency repairs. We had first frost this year last night, although it was not a heavy one, followed by nice sunny day today, would have ventured up plot but I'm working nights this week and by time I'm up most of the daylight has gone.
Started to gather new collection of seeds and seed potatoes for the coming season
Homebase now have them in stock at fairly reasonable prices, bought 2x 2kg bags of maris piper potatoes and 2 x 2kg bags of Maris Peer at the price of £3 per bag, would not normally buy as early but if I don't these varieties go very quickly.
Most of seed orders in, will report in detail in future post.....happy growing..VP

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Cheap Plants

Popped into B+Q to get out of the rain before going to the allotment, ended up buying bag of mixed 'Glads', £2.50 for 50 and couldn't resist the Primroses at knockdown prices of 75p for 6 and £2.20 for 15, can't even buy the seed for those prices, should give a nice show of early colour, don't know whether to plant in garden or plot, might even buy some more and do BOTH!!!......Cheerio...Veggie

Happy New Year

Happy new Year to all of you keen gardeners out there, hope you all had a great rest over the festive season and are raring to go this year, hopefully with lots of new ideas and new challenges for the coming months.during the festive break managed a few visits to 'Plotland', well it did get me away from the hustle bustle of the Christmas shopping and a chance to get some winter jobs started before the mad spring rush. Been clearing massive pile of junk mixed in with earth/compost etc, think this has been there for decades, got it down to ground level now,raked and tidy to enable me to put in some compost bins and possibly cold frames or seed beds as it is a sheltered spot between the hut and the conifers surrounding the plot perimeter. Have included couple of photos, but it's quite hard to get a good view of the plot, will have better ones in the springtime. top pic shows view of plot, the others were the pile of rubbish behind hut, before and after, I'm still rotten at laying out this site but should improve as I go along...HAPPY GARDENING...Veggie