tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33630829837262420572011-10-20T08:39:16.689-07:00Our allotment, in Burydell Lane, Park Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, UKBurydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-19184791748603522142011-09-19T07:46:00.001-07:002011-09-19T07:59:57.595-07:00

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-44254667015250917642011-09-10T09:22:00.001-07:002011-09-10T10:04:49.041-07:00

Those of you with long memories will realise that this year's annual show was our fifth.The Working Party on Key Performance Metrics (Annual Show) has conducted an analysis of the entries and results over the five-year period.2007 one entryone 2nd Prize30p profit2008four entriesone 2nd Prize, two 3rd Prizes30p loss2009 seven entriestwo 1st Prizes, one 2nd Prize, two 3rd Prizes110p profit2010

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-86442573078900293092011-09-10T08:59:00.000-07:002011-09-10T10:05:51.864-07:00

I know we've left the blog alone for a bit, but here's some news: at today's St Stephens Gardening Club Annual Show – our fifth, more anon – we won a trophy!This year's results in full:coloured potatoes (5) – no prize, but a Post-It Note read: "beautiful potatoes – a bit large for exhibition"heaviest potato (998 grams) – 1st Prize!garlic (5) – 1st Prize and (get this) MacMillan Trophy for best

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-52192938785131408762011-01-30T11:22:00.000-08:002011-01-30T11:31:51.334-08:00

Today we did some good preparation for the season ahead. 2 good hours - the longest we have spent on the plot for what seems like months! Very invigorating and good to reconnect with our little patch of earthThe beds with green manure have all now been dug over and extra manure added if appropriate. The carrot bed had all our left over growbags dumped in it. We hope this will give our roots the

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-71344980489883677602011-01-02T10:14:00.000-08:002011-01-02T10:17:49.342-08:00

Happy New Year - and here's to another great year of growing (some) fab produce.This is by way of a Note for the Archive really rather than a genuine Blog. It is to record that we planted the garlic today - 56 Solent White (Bed 9), 13 Elephant (stalking along on the bank) and 18 Large Solent White (Bed 5). And the strange mutant garlic from yesteryear is still going. We are a little afraid of

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-69959615282884990332010-12-31T11:12:00.000-08:002010-12-31T11:38:59.188-08:00

Well it has been a long time. Festive greetings and a Happy New Year to all our readers!! We have been distracted by the Downstairs Improvement Project over 6 weeks in October/November during which time we more or less left the plot to its own late autumnal devices, having done the requisite sowing of green manure and plonking of real stuff on appropriate beds. It does show our growing confidence

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-57118526535776898512010-10-28T10:01:00.000-07:002010-10-28T10:31:08.170-07:00

And so dear reader the mighty Tower of Borlotti was finally laid low and the runner beans dismantled as we had the first sharp frost of the year. We picked a lot of pods and then - fatal error - took out the beans. Unfortunately some of the beans got rotten very quickly afterwards and had to be jettisoned. We now know that you leave the beans in the pods as long as possible and dry the pods first

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-4846974184156776972010-10-17T05:41:00.000-07:002010-10-17T06:26:25.162-07:00

Hello peeps. Two October weekends in the plot and there is now increasing evidence of slowing down. Last weekend we planted over-wintering onions in the carrot bed (kindly donated by Jan thus saving a dash to Ayletts), dug up the remaining potatoes, picked a cabbage and celery and raspberries and broccoli. And apples and blackberries (for free). Oh and the second large pumpkin so we're all good

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-33108234033678430022010-10-17T05:29:00.000-07:002010-10-17T05:41:28.729-07:00

Well looky here - it's both sets of our existing parents! For the first time, N's mum and K's mum and dad met for Sunday lunch and a parental inspection of the plot. All in all, a very nice interlude before we went away on holidays for two weeks. So not much allotment news for the last part of the month. See you in the next post.

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-6888749735743073952010-09-05T03:02:00.000-07:002010-09-05T03:42:10.449-07:00

The judges have spoken. Far be it from us to quibble.However…runner beans: no prize – beaten, I think, fair and square by quality competitionrunner bean (longest): no prize – the measuring tape cannot lieparsnips: no prize – our multi-pronged beasts, a Post-It Note advised, were given too much fertilisergarlic: 3rd Prize – despite the fact that the 2nd Prize-winner hadn't had its stalks tied (

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-89100684865357223882010-09-04T05:21:00.000-07:002010-09-05T03:42:31.749-07:00

Once more we face the judges' results at the annual St Stephens Gardening Club Show. We spent this morning, like anxious parents at a teenage beauty pageant, staging our exhibits:runner beansrunner bean (longest)parsnipsgarlicany other vegetable – we choose our first-ever crop of borlotti beansraspberriesa jar of chutney.The mood seemed sombre to me, many people grumbling that this past growing

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-90594426968708567082010-08-30T08:46:00.000-07:002010-08-30T09:21:02.231-07:00

Let's now catch up with ourselves - hold on tight now - you have just left behind all of July and touched on the first of August. We now reach the end of August. Time travel is a marvellous thing! As is the glorious vegetable on the right there, our first globe artichoke (from seed).On 29 August we attended the christening of Next Door's baby, Henry. A truly heroic day of drinking and festivity,

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-13299117987168413202010-08-30T08:10:00.000-07:002010-08-30T09:16:41.810-07:00

Hi there. Lots going on at the plot, though not necessarily photographed, so this is by way of a catchup. We had a slight hiatus in recording in July due to rockin' out at the famous Latitude festival. Only light maintenance and harvesting was possible, usual weeding chores, etc. We have been dining on potatoes (first earlies) - not a bad harvest but not quite what we had hoped. And lots of corn

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-46296939538801384432010-06-27T11:10:00.000-07:002010-06-27T11:30:29.371-07:00

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-75260067012670410952010-06-22T11:11:00.001-07:002010-06-22T11:43:02.697-07:00

Dear all - apologies for not posting sooner but usual lame excuses apply, including two weekends away camping. Hairshirt now over. No photos for this blog but we promise that the next one will be a Picture Special.This isn't to say that nothing has been going on. Au contraire. The celery, winter cabbage, kale, posy (cross between kale and sprouts), corn, courgettes, butternut squash, pumpkin,

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-4234594698749150342010-05-16T08:22:00.000-07:002010-06-01T11:11:28.635-07:00

Jack Frost (and our friend Doone - see below) has been to visit. Yes, in the second week of May, practically everyone's potatoes have been hit by frost. The foliage of most potatoes look like small brown lumps. Ours have also been hit, but not so badly - there are still stalks at least. We worry and ponder. We are told that "they will come back". We earth them up and put the protective

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-26214046217785580272010-04-29T10:24:00.000-07:002010-04-29T11:25:27.798-07:00

So said T S Eliot at the beginning of The Waste Land - though obviously this poem could not have been named after our plot, which is beginning to show definite signs of life and growth. We have been very busy each weekend, putting the finishing touches to beds and making a real move against the weeds that cometh in from the bank at the back. We are confident that the plastic sheets that were

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-28072120949529533902010-03-28T09:44:00.000-07:002010-03-28T11:17:29.739-07:00

A blog in two halves - well what with one thing and another...21 March saw the planting of the first - and second (a bit of a risk but hey) - potatoes in bed 3. These were Arran Pilot, Blue Danube and Orla. We then faced a quandary about the maincrops as there wasn't enough room for them too. We then decided to tidy up the patch behind the shed, move all our infrastructure stuff (useful bits of

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-35323991278060938702010-03-19T10:03:00.000-07:002010-04-04T11:22:57.027-07:00

Signs of life are beginning to be seen on the site. Several of us convened on Sunday morning to clear some vacant plots of rubbish prior to new tenants taking them on. We used it as a jolly excuse to have a bonfire (apologies no pictures) and generally reflect on the fact that it had been 6 months since we had last done anything communal on the site. This was almost entirely due to the dire

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-6217876105611238452010-02-07T11:19:00.000-08:002010-02-07T11:25:11.728-08:00

This is just a quick blog to note a few things that we did today on the plot (remember I mentioned how useful the blog was for checking back?) So this isn't for you, the reader, but for us the growers.We moved the strawberries from the Pagoda to the former carrot bed and covered them. It was an interesting experience - we didn't realise what tough customers strawberries are and how they

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-49027619113241798912010-01-24T09:21:00.000-08:002010-01-24T09:55:05.133-08:00

We've been through one of the coldest winters for 30 years (they say). These pictures were taken on 7 January. From 17 December to 18 January, effectively a whole month of snow, frost, ice and below freezing. It's just not what happens these days in winter. Apart from the inconvenience, moaning and groaning and general annoyance (not to mention cold), it also meant that it was too inclement to do

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-9900812002756921132010-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:002010-01-03T10:15:52.022-08:00

Happy New Year and Decade to All Our Readers! We hope that your year and decade will be productive and fruitful - and that ours will be rewarded by less slugs and more crops. We post a celebratory picture of our pumpkin's dramatic demise at Mr B's bonfire party event.Since we last posted, we went on a trip to Canada to celebrate N's mum's birthday with all the family. Great fun to see everyone.

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-82018768307615898352009-11-17T15:17:00.001-08:002009-11-17T15:18:59.443-08:00

Weird. Blogging about the allotment but sitting in Canada. It's an experiment.

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-44727188117669855142009-10-25T11:29:00.000-07:002009-10-25T12:03:16.855-07:00

Well dear Reader - no doubt some of you will have despaired of ever hearing from us again. It has been too long, and time has flown on by in ever increasing haste, tempus fugit. We now see gold and red trees, leaves being blown here and there and ... yes, the autumn heatwave is about to descend. Temperatures of around 20 deg C are forecast for this week. Not sure whether this is a good or a bad

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-23043451828672082102009-09-27T10:31:00.000-07:002009-09-27T11:09:45.601-07:00

A busy couple of weeks on the plot, aided by beautiful autumnal weather and punctuated by energetic communal effort on reinforcing our site with Council-donated fencing. Hard work from the various willing volunteers with just a bit left to do. We at last have made a noticeable impact on protecting our site - by ourselves.N took some pictures last week of an artistic bent so they will be appearing

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-52196934178749274542009-09-12T09:30:00.000-07:002009-09-12T11:37:01.418-07:00

The 2009 St Stephen's Gardening Club Show drawn to a close, leaving us contemplating a strategy for next year.We entered seven categories:parsnips - our finest three from those we dug on the weekendcourgettes (zucchini) - three of our yellow varietygarlic – our five best, out of 180 or so bulbs harvested this year. Entered in the 'Any Other Vegetable' category; it seems to us that garlic deserves

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-39629513085373289422009-09-06T09:29:00.000-07:002009-09-06T10:08:16.108-07:00

Phew! We just can't keep up. There's so much to do at the moment with the harvesting, the pickling, the decisions about who to dispense to and the freezing. The overflow freezer in the attic is already nearly full. We have donated veg to various colleagues, friends, neighbours and family and still we can't keep up. Last weekend was our camping Bank Holiday and we provided the main ingredients for

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-856694076461528442009-08-17T11:11:00.000-07:002009-08-17T11:58:56.871-07:00

This blog is going to focus on Outputs rather than Progress Reports. But before we get onto that, we know you'll want a quick roundup of progress.These two weekends have been extremely busy - we are in the eye of the storm in terms of harvesting, tending, weeding, etc, and we are truly tired by the end of each session. Courgettes and now beans (french and dwarf) are regularly picked. The recently

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-61554630715798678552009-08-02T09:13:00.000-07:002009-08-02T10:37:21.423-07:00

Time alone will tell whether today was the best day of the year in the allotment. Perhaps, though, it is our end-of-staycation-tinged view that has made our day seem so rich.To start, we had an 80th birthday party for Jim, who, we believe, is the oldest Burydell allotmenteer and, it is rumoured, whose father and grandfather had plots here. About 40 people turned up at lunchtime at The Falcon

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-32719756381885656822009-07-24T03:06:00.000-07:002009-07-24T05:21:33.451-07:00

Three long weeks without blogging doesn't mean that there hasn't been lots of action. And now we have a chance to catch up as we are having a Staycation - 2 weeks holiday, most of which we will spend at home. Not because of the credit crunch but because we cannot leave the allotment for a 2 week period in the summer time. Note that the search for something to provide shade is over - a £4 beach

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-18927443715051710052009-06-30T11:10:00.000-07:002009-07-01T11:03:23.764-07:00

Blimey, it's hot. As I type, we have officially entered into a Heatwave. There's swings and roundabouts associated with heatwaves - swings are that crops like corn and beans get plenty of incentive, but roundabouts are that you have to water and be extra vigilant for things drying out. We try not to do it too often so as to encourage a proper spirit of sustainability - for some crops (e.g.

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-23253989124924940292009-06-24T06:34:00.000-07:002009-06-24T06:38:14.789-07:00

We are entering the season of plenty.Brought carrots to work for Sally and David. See their feedback here (if necessary, scroll to 24 June 2009).

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-74840625390951670052009-06-16T05:10:00.000-07:002009-06-17T12:16:23.082-07:00

Two weekends' worth in one blog. There is simply not enough time to garden, do allotment, tend greenhouse and now blog. But we must try. The greenhouse is very beautiful and even has some things in it, mostly tomatoes which is ye traditional greenhouse croppe. However, we have enlivened the proceedings with a melon (cripes!), cucumber, chili and sweet peppers. Whether any of these will survive

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-90570541721995428062009-05-31T11:16:00.000-07:002009-05-31T11:38:21.921-07:00

Lots of work on the plot this weekend which was beautiful - hot and sunny with a slight breeze. We divided our forces so that N was engaged in erecting (ahem) the new Greenhouse which is great, and I did a lot of stuff on the plot. There are photos but frankly one is a little cream crackered so forgive me this time for not adding them.Aside from the usual strimming and weeding (we do seem to get

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-55654950134476925512009-05-17T10:58:00.000-07:002009-05-17T12:03:28.029-07:00

So now for the picture show. A productive day yesterday with photographic evidence now to show you for each bed. Stay put and enjoy the ride. We begin with a picture of potatoes coming up on the bank. Both first and second earlies are now showing well. Rhubarb looking a bit eaten still. One asparagus. We plan to put squash up here as there's more room. And the comfrey are flowering and

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-52038169630652482552009-05-12T12:00:00.000-07:002009-05-12T12:38:16.121-07:00

Once again, technical issues prevent photos being added at this time but we couldn't carry on keeping you in the dark. We promise a picture only spectacular soon. We realise too that while there has been much work on the plot, you probably don't believe us given the length of time since our last communique. We have been preoccupied with holidays and garden improvements. Of the latter, we can only

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-60080231011419444152009-04-13T10:48:00.000-07:002009-04-13T11:08:57.247-07:00

Dear Readers, we are struggling with technology on many different fronts, so although there are photos on my (replacement) phone they may take a while to appear on this blog. But appear they will because there is a lot to see so don't tut and give up on us.Highlights are the shallots which now look like 60s flower children - crazy, man. Their green tentacles/spikes/shoots are well and truly doing

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-28433754087391405712009-04-06T09:34:00.000-07:002009-04-06T09:38:37.580-07:00

As a well-earned break from dismantling and reassembling our garden shed (to make room for the coming greenhouse), N and K planted our fifth bankside crop: more potatoes, which have moved from the comfort of the spare room (where they've been chitting) to the sunny bank. You should have seen their eyes!Beautiful weather.

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-52630840173731938222009-03-30T11:04:00.000-07:002009-03-30T11:34:05.906-07:00

Two weekends to catch up on. 21/22 March was busy and so was 28/29 March too. No slacking, no sirree. Due to technical issues we were not able to take photos except the one on the left, which is of the new carrot seedlings in the Rolls Royce carrot bed.Bed 1 - Shallots are now springing into life. They look like anenomes and are rather exotic looking. Chard is looking good and strong and the

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-6947183774108706072009-03-17T12:48:00.000-07:002009-03-18T12:23:12.536-07:00

Lots to report on the plot. We made an early start on Sunday as it was so beautiful and spring-like which makes all the difference. We were so busy that we forgot to take pictures, apart from this one which Jan took for us.Firstly, the bank. N continued to prepare the right hand side of the bank for the following: asparagus, rhubarb and first early potatoes (Arran Pilot which were so good last

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-45615611711771730782009-03-08T10:08:00.000-07:002009-03-08T10:43:56.421-07:00

Dear readers, it is a mercy that I am here to tell the tale at all. We have been sabotaged by Chunder (and worse). It has afflicted the two of us most pitifully but thankfully at separate times, otherwise the bathroom situation would have been unbearable. Happily there was a day between the two onslaughts, yesterday, where we got a tolerable amount achieved on the plot.N continued to dig up the

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-33316929794043777582009-03-01T10:50:00.000-08:002009-03-08T10:08:36.283-07:00

Happy Birthday to K! Here are birthday visitors to the plot.At long last the weather is feeling less inclement. As we had a busy weekend, we only had time to go to the plot long enough to sow parsnip seeds (3 per station, 5 inch apart) in Bed 1. We had to remove the final 4 leeks from that quadrant. Apparently parsnips are slow to germinate and erratic, so we have to sow other catchcrops to mark

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-80264038240705677872009-02-15T09:18:00.000-08:002009-02-15T09:41:18.513-08:00

This weekend most of the snow was gone, but many of our neighbouring plots downhill were still waterlogged.A few final touches were made to the new bed (now known as Bed 7), almost all of which has been constructed from a former chest of drawers.Also completed were two sets of trenches in Bed 6 (pictured) and Bed 5, filled with kitchen compost, for the summer's peas and beans.Unfortunately, the

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-45732523307233639042009-02-08T10:40:00.000-08:002009-02-15T09:27:16.785-08:00

Very quick blog. Just wanted to record before I forgot that we planted 32 shallots variety Pikant. Also N finished constructing the carrot bed. Autumn raspberries now cut down and purple sprouting broccoli beginning to show purple bits. Very cold and snow covered. Snow and rain and ice all previous week.(N adds: The good news is that although there are rabbit tracks aplenty over the allotment,

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-87674934413564475762009-02-03T10:03:00.000-08:002009-02-03T11:31:29.293-08:00

England is once more paralysed by snow. Granted, it is 4-5 inches, but get over it. (KS note: N originates from Canada where snow is a far more regular and copious event.)Up first thing to the plot, mindful that the last time we had heavy snowfall quite a few fruit cages and other structures crumpled.To my lasting relief, the Fruit Cage stands proud. (The key is in the design.) Who knows how the

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-30084381080867609022009-02-03T09:43:00.000-08:002009-02-03T11:29:34.974-08:00

Up to the allotment to help our neighbour ladies shift their shed and greenhouse. The working party, as well as the chatting party, were rewarded with tasty sausage and bacon rolls. We are sad to lose neighbours who have been such good friends, but pleased that they are settled where they are less vulnerable.Now, a quick picture tour of our allotment (that K gets around, doesn't she):

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-424150348912220622009-01-23T09:12:00.000-08:002009-01-27T08:46:39.050-08:00

We had a very distinguished visitor on 16 January - my old friend Matthew who is an organic farmer in Hungary! Readers will appreciate that I was more than a little nervous on conducting such a notable visitor to the plot. Frankly, most of our visitors know Bog All about growing veg so one can get away with wittering nonsense about blight and green manure. Not with this one. He pronounced himself

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-12135607185649025582009-01-11T07:47:00.000-08:002009-01-11T08:15:18.793-08:00

Well, not really, as it turns out. Having consulted a few books and YouTube, and armed with a fresh pair of secateurs, we went up to see about winter pruning our apple trees. You think you know a tree, just because you walk past it frequently, or because you planted it, or because you've eaten its fruit. But until this afternoon, I actually would have been hard pressed (apple banter) to sketch an

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-2678477346634380082009-01-04T10:39:00.000-08:002009-01-27T08:47:33.920-08:00

Welcome to the New Year here at the plot! We hope all our readers had a suitably festive season - we certainly did, sustained by the ongoing consumption of fresh produce from the plot. It has been quite marvellous to think that - almost - we are self-sufficient. OK, so there is not that much variety but we now appreciate the seasonal aspect of eating.Our main staples have been kale and leeks, and

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-51509007090053191832008-11-23T10:14:00.000-08:002008-11-23T10:37:21.464-08:00

Bbrrrrr. It is bloody cold. We are having what is officially known as a cold snap. Having woken up to snow this morning we decide on a pragmatic approach to the plot, notwithstanding the hilarious misunderstanding with the Council this week which had sent us a "non-cultivation" letter in error - the allotmenteer's biggest dread apart from vandalism. However, we comfort ourselves with purchasing

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-1537630669415884492008-11-16T12:39:00.000-08:002008-11-16T13:03:09.590-08:00

This will be a pictureless - or blind - blog as neither of us had our phones with us to take pictures. But we know you have active imaginations and it is more important to blog than not. You have also been there with us on the long journey to get as far as we have with the plot so let the power of imagination whirl you away.Last weekend, we took a whole load of home compost up to the plot and

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-17299637969428632862008-11-02T09:04:00.000-08:002008-11-02T10:03:10.936-08:00

Once again, an unconsciable lack of communication regarding the plot for which the usual drivelling apologies. Two reasons mainly - first, K's mobile, which had the latest plot pictures on, broke and had to be sent off to be fixed; and second, we snuck away to France for a much-needed two week holiday. Having now retrieved the phone and pictures, bloggery can commence.Unfortunately, the site was

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-74656403561877953132008-09-22T13:26:00.000-07:002008-09-22T13:58:10.966-07:00

The beginning of the end of summer on the plot. Last weekend was mainly essential maintenance and the first Allotment Association bbq, which was an unqualified success, due in part to the great weather. Great to see our renovated shed up and ready for use.Several things had to be relieved of their misery - the second sowing of peas had alas resulted in more downy mildew, the french beans had

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-18483476884764823082008-09-07T08:35:00.001-07:002008-12-10T16:52:14.451-08:00

The St Stephens Gardening Club Annual Show 2008 is over. The results are in. But more on that later - first you must wade through our account of the build-up to the show.Much consideration was given to strategy. Last year's results set the bar pretty high, but we're not going to rest on our laurel (Novice Potato: Second Prize). We shortlisted entries in the following categories:1: collection of

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-37461462548169839532008-08-25T10:25:00.000-07:002008-08-25T11:14:09.288-07:00

The passage of time on the plot is a continual shock. One minute you are sowing onions in the bedroom (don't ask), the next you are pulling them out of the ground and admiring their heavy beauty. Obviously with quicker crops such as radish and rocket one does not get that small frisson as the clock ticks much faster for them. With the slower crops it is a different matter. You inevitably reflect

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-49071290988514029032008-08-24T10:26:00.000-07:002008-08-25T11:12:33.506-07:00

Two weekends in one I'm afraid. Standards are slipping but not for lack of will, just energy. It takes us all ours just to keep up with the courgettes at the moment let along share our feelings with you lot.Last weekend, 17 August, saw the death of the peas. They had done heroically until the downy mildew got them. It is a nasty grey thing that just creeps up from the roots and even though there

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-4616714158735342132008-08-10T10:22:00.000-07:002008-08-10T11:37:20.519-07:00

A little bit of everything today. We have been on holiday for the last ten days and have visited the plot intermittently only for harvesting and basic weeding purposes. It is truly a productive plot and we have spent some of our holiday thinking about how to preserve our crop. It is not just the joy of trooping up there and thinking "I'll just pick a bit of this and that for me tea" - it is also

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-10353017727618664862008-07-27T10:29:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:18.753-08:00

So much to recount, so little time to blog.Yesterday was a big day on the plot. Apart from the usual chores of hacking weeds, chiz*, and watering, we did a lot of remedial work on the various crops. The peas, which are coming thick and fast (we have several small bags frozen in the fridge) need extensive weeding and some culling of plants which have either been cut accidentally or just manky from

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-69981174518753118302008-07-20T08:06:00.001-07:002008-12-10T16:52:20.367-08:00

With the exception of a post-party visit to the plot with friends (pictured below, sideways), we have largely ignored the plot while planning for, and recovering from, our summer party. Despite our inattention, all of our plants have been busy growing. Exceptionally well, it turns out, since we've had loads of sun and rain. Working across the plot from left to right (as you face the pasture

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-9814150043329246992008-07-06T09:33:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:21.917-08:00

The title of today's blog is ironic - we are anything but independent as we scurry about at home doing very important home improvements prior to our party next weekend. So time spent at the plot is limited, sadly, to some maintenance, much harvesting and a little weeding. However our disappointment was tempered by the foul weather. Almost like old times in the winter, though now it is lighter and

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-79156409484167998582008-07-03T11:42:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:23.056-08:00

It seems as though we were premature in our predictions of blight. Mr G, older and wiser than us, said that our early potato plants were merely indicating their state of readiness to be dug up and eaten. This is great news. We have now eaten or disposed of the first plot of Belle de Fontanelle (small, tasty) and dug up a couple of the regular Arran Pilots (much bigger, tasty). Very interesting.

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-33855725525540787522008-06-22T12:06:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:23.695-08:00

Most plots are experiencing potato blight - evidenced by yellowing leaves and dark spots – so we took the decision to lift our first earlies (Belle de Fontenelle) before something sinister happens.These were the spares seed potatoes we sowed next to the comfrey - we retrieved two-thirds of a bucketful. Over lunch with our allotment guest, Mr Perry, they were deemed to be delicious.He was sent

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-10705532222190625522008-06-15T11:55:00.001-07:002008-12-10T16:52:26.491-08:00

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-2178459554318546612008-06-14T07:54:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:26.749-08:00

Well hello. Lots to catch up on. Last weekend we spent a lot of time on the plot which was great and had a visit from K's mum and dad. And this weekend from The Neighbour and Oscar Dog - see next blog.There is now so much to do. We cast our minds back to a few months back, when it was just digging and grumbling - and to this time last year, when we didn't have much going on other than the

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-78630820229065065992008-06-01T10:25:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:27.897-08:00

Much labour this Saturday, as we prepare for the start of summer, glorious summer.We brought to the plot five paving stones that had been liberated from our back garden - to form a salad bed at home - which were installed, resting on a bed of wood chippings, as an elegant walkway from our gate nearly to the Pagoda.The seedling broccoli were planted in Bed 1 next to their slightly more mature

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-43341330879047453242008-05-26T06:05:00.000-07:002008-05-26T06:42:37.142-07:00

This post there will be no pictures - just didn't take any as there is so much else to distract in the plot. I'll try to make the prose come alive.On Friday 23rd, K nipped up on her own for a quick check on the courgettes, beans and corn, planted the previous weekend. Alas the corn was looking droopy and dry, the courgettes apathetic and the beans looking frankly weedy. Homemade compost mulch was

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-85812719428191641622008-05-19T11:57:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:28.921-08:00

More pictures, because they're more interesting than text. Still a bit tired from the fete (our local village bi-ennial event which was a rip-roaring success).Pictures in no particular order: rampant rocket. Think we might have oversown. Then, lovely happy peas. (Though we have to beware of Mice.)Our first real compromise. We had to buy corn seedings from the garden centre as ours did not emerge.

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-90125352748685572982008-05-14T11:24:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:30.799-08:00

Apologies for late posting but hopefully our readers will understand - and even perhaps rejoice for us after reading this post.We were away the weekend before so Saturday 10 May saw us putting in a lot of hours on the plot. Glorious sunny weather made us sweat somewhat but it was worth it.Because the weather had made everything start to grow (except some notable exceptions - see below), including

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-20708363350880804532008-04-27T10:27:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:32.122-08:00

First, a visit from K's sister and her family, including two future gardeners (allotment slaves).Louis puts our (his) beans in. We are going to sow two lots - he chose Montano. 3 beans to each pole. Much watering. He also planted nasturtiums in the Pagoda. Beautiful weather - lots of people out. Family very impressed with our progress.Back today for more concerted effort. Peas coming up strong,

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-18140787344680641092008-04-20T11:02:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:33.020-08:00

A quick trip to the plot this weekend as the weather yesterday was cold and inclement.It was also quick because we attended a local ceremony to add two more names to the War Memorial, two local soldiers who had died in the Falklands and Afghanistan. Combined with the death of one of our neighbours over the road last week and the funeral of a friend on Friday, our thoughts have been on the more

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-2672667813307144122008-04-13T10:34:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:34.392-08:00

To our local gardening club to pick up bamboo poles for our beans and some topsoil. Weather note: sunny, cloudy, stormy, rainy, not warm - something for everyoneThen along to survey progress of the crops planted two weeks ago.Much joy, loyal readers, as sun, rain and water have transformed our dried peas into seedlings. We also note first appearance of leek seedlings in the seed bed that look

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-1180865064859888602008-04-05T09:02:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:36.023-08:00

Pop up this morning because K wants me to see something.But first encounter our ladies and discuss Thursday's meeting of interested Burydell Lane plotholders. All agree it was encouragingly well attended and exceptionally well chaired. Some venting and moaning allowed, but the group's collective attention drawn to the subject at hand: do we wish to form some sort of association, with an intitial

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-10079398877445844252008-03-30T11:35:00.001-07:002008-12-10T16:52:37.252-08:00

True to our word, we are once again back in the land of almost synchronous blogging.Today was a perfect spring day, the first nice day since last week some time. We have been benighted with wind and rain and have used our time off to improve matters in the (home) garden. We did nip up to the plot last week very quickly to plant six more strawberry plants - Hapil - but as it was so whistlestop we

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-7417823771624721582008-03-21T11:23:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:38.354-08:00

I don't know what happened. We just lost the momentum for a bit, distracted by trivial non-plot matters such as the felling of a tree in our garden, our cat's first rabbit of the season and such. But we will try now and capture for you two weekends worth of plot activity on 8/9 and 15 March. Because we don't want you to think that we have lost interest in the plot - far from it.(The thing I am

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-103957175471809852008-03-02T10:07:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:39.504-08:00

What a way to celebrate a birthday - yes gentle reader, it was K's birthday on 1 March, so many happy returns were expressed.Some very good time was spent in Aylett's garden centre on the actual day, purchasing the following: Apple tree (Cox), Apple tree (Scrumptious) - both the second size up from dwarf - and several varieties of Euphorbia for the garden. We also splurged on a blueberry bush,

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-63151941607075317142008-02-24T09:29:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:40.790-08:00

Yesterday we went on a whistle-stop tour of the plot with our friends Mr B and L from Suffolk (he who donated the original raspberry bush).They duly admired and wondered at the amazing Pagoda-like structure that is the cage. And the daffodills are coming out on the bank. And the Elephant garlic is looking good.We went back today and spent a most useful few hours sorting out bits and bobs. The

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-3109011847321590422008-02-10T09:19:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:42.520-08:00

After a bit of a blogging break, we can now bring you up to speed on life at the plot. We have been attending its needs (mainly cage construction and remedial fencing - see below), only to find ourselves without the energy to type.Today saw the completion of Fruit Cage Stage One, plus considerable progress on the plot as a whole. The Fruit Cage front door is in place, constructed using bits and

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-7207699679490382352008-01-20T10:28:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:43.525-08:00

Today's blog is a two part story of dashed hopes and happy serendipity. To start us off, here is a picture of our home-made cold frame - not quite sure what to do with it yet.The various seeds we have ordered have come through the post. Now we await the early potatoes (Arran Pilot). We have put all our seeds into order (really) and have disinfected the seed trays and various pots in readiness. It

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-24500655212973728342008-01-13T12:57:00.001-08:002008-12-10T16:52:45.407-08:00

A Saturday morning meeting with our neighbours, who valiantly volunteered to help us shift our shed. In the end we decide simply (hah!) to pivot the shed, so that its door faces the compost container, rather than - as originally planned - shift it toward the rasberries to form one end of The Cage. This is partly because the ground between the shed and the raspberries is alright - good enough to

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-28720334663821676852008-01-06T09:33:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:45.993-08:00

Much of our final days of holiday were spent in plot.We picked up some raspberry canes and strawberry plants at a new (to us) garden centre, Aylett's Nursery, and commenced digging the area (230cm x 460 cm) which will form the base of the fruit cage. This involved clearing bits of turf around the edges, digging in some well-rotted horse manure and, finally, digging the whole thing over. The next

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-37758536846541469302008-01-04T10:04:00.001-08:002008-12-10T16:52:46.477-08:00

And a Happy New Year to all our readers! We have been very busy planning for our growing year. In the midst of internet searching, seed packet reading, spreadsheet construction and chasing of mushroom compost, we had an unexpected visit from Mr B, our friend from Suffolk and the donor of the raspberry bushes. He was, we think, impressed with the size of the plot and commented on how much work we

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-75230391399750986862007-12-27T11:24:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:47.336-08:00

Planning well-advanced, we get down to the dirty business of implementation. N has new boots for the allotment, K has a new Double-Ender Thermos for tea and such. V exciting.We are alone on the allotment, for the second day in a row, and we suspect that the other plotters are either less dedicated or more organised than us. The garlic has finally made its first appearance. Its sturdy shoots

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-55402250229483759432007-12-27T10:35:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:47.451-08:00

Christmas morning comes, and we venture up for probably the final harvest of the year: our Brussel sprouts, who have been invited to join us for Christmas dinner.Something has been at the sprouts. Because there appear to be scratches on the stalks, and they have only been eaten up to a certain height, we think it must be mice or rats or voles or something else on its hind legs. Later, we remember

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-39096861714275035982007-12-18T09:35:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:49.015-08:00

This weekend we have managed to spend quite a bit of time in the plot. This is because the weather was not wet and indeed quite sunny though very cold as the picture on the left shows (ice on puddle). We thought we should Go For It.A very sad sight met our eyes when we first got to the plot. It looked as though something has eaten the vibrant growing tips of our over-wintering onions. It is

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-41111272126252801082007-12-18T09:16:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:49.122-08:00

Two footnotes - it has been very cold recently, and for the last couple of weekends, wet too, preventing us from getting to the plot. Footnote 1 - yours truly heroically double-dug the new bed on her own on a day off from work. Jan, allotment neighbour, was amazed that I was going to do this and generously lent me her wheelbarrow, without which I would probably still be there, toiling in the mud

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-89200943227873104552007-11-26T12:09:00.000-08:002007-12-27T11:22:54.740-08:00

We are pleased to report that other members of the family have seen the benefits that blogging can bring in the way of collective information sharing and the fostering of debate - our brother-in-law Daren in Toronto has begun his own blog. It deals with far more elevated matters than ours, such as the televising of baseball and the role of lawyers in a free and democratic society. We thought our

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-51255978384426565852007-11-25T10:39:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:50.404-08:00

This is a two part post. First, we forgot to post last Sunday's (19 November) labours, probably because they were pretty mundane. We took up the compost that had been "brewing" in our rotating composter and K womanfully emptied all of it out to mix with the stuff that was already in situ in the "Dalek" compost container. N got on with preparing the wood for the second bed and digging the trench,

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-58860895867730054982007-11-11T13:13:00.000-08:002008-12-10T16:52:51.833-08:00

We start this post by apologising profusely to all our readers who will no doubt be wondering why we haven't been keeping them up to date with the exciting developments on the plot. There are several reasons for this, all of them valid and some may say, extenuating. We have had a HOLIDAY - gasp - away from this country for some 10 days. We also had a housewarming party the weekend after we

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-52534055777952205912007-10-12T09:20:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:52.085-08:00

We owe you an apology for the slight hiatus in bringing you news of the plot. There are many and various reasons for the hiatus but none that can totally justify leaving our readers so deprived. Truth to tell, the only big event was the visit of Penelope, N's mum, who has indeed commented on the blog in the past and was eager to see for herself the glorious plot. She was suitably impressed by the

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-47525279916623309302007-09-30T12:47:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:53.365-08:00

This weekend we were very busy with matters arboreal at the bottom of our garden, so our visit to the plot was brief, though productive. We had hoped to get some Hertfordshire compost from the recycling centre, but unfortunately (or, looking at the bigger picture, fortunately) they were sold out. We wheedled another pallet from the nice recycling folk, to add to the one we got from the Radlett

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-71147928208773511932007-09-23T10:21:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:54.786-08:00

Much joy as my sister Rachel arrives for an overnight visit - fitting us in between Finland and Canada. Jet-lagged, she is bundled off immediately, of course, to the allotment, where she is suitably impressed, and notes the luxury of a plot within walking distance of home.With the girls out on an improving walk in the pastures, I am left to complete the fourth wall of our new raised bed. Which

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-39110173408911313032007-09-16T13:53:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:55.642-08:00

A quick blog of today's plot events. As reported yesterday, the late lamented Pumpking left some deserving relatives who have rallied to the cause. We made soup today of the pumpkin flowers we harvested yesterday which was fine if a tad exotic. Apparently, you can eat pumpkin leaves too - they stirfry etc just like other greens. Also you deserve a brief weather update. It has been lovely, early

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-33508367693422108802007-09-15T10:10:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:56.476-08:00

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.But first, the good news. After the tragedy of the original pumpkin, five of its brothers (or clones, I suppose) are making their presence felt. The have been propped on wooden boards, to avoid the decay suffered by the original. Sunshine will harden their shells in time for

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-10534119808709263962007-09-08T11:37:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:57.710-08:00

We are entering the balmy days of September. A little chillier in the mornings and the evenings are drawing in ever so slightly. But lovely clear calm weather prevails, and joy is in our hearts this morning as we prepare for our first experience of the St Stephens Annual Show.Earlier in the week we submitted our entry form, accompanied by 20p - in the Novice Potatoes (5) category. The tricky bit

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-68482580153428698412007-09-02T09:50:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:58.674-08:00

Oooh have we got news for you. A lot seems to be happening all at once, some happy and some sad things. Get on board the Allotment Rollercoaster! Firstly, we dug up the potatoes. Avid readers will recall that they were planted in appalling conditions in small trenches dug directly into the grass, i.e. we did not dig up the soil as such. They have suffered, as have others on the allotment, with

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-41999996593910039482007-08-22T11:30:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:52:59.344-08:00

About 25 new posts, indeed, all countersunk and wired with our fence mesh. Yes, the main elements of our fence are complete - all that is left is joining the dots in three corners and finalising the gate, thus securing our compound against all comers. Rabbits, in particular.Completed the final section of the fourth and final trench today, once again experiencing the smooth sloosh of spade

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-67914811124950937792007-08-20T12:44:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:53:00.401-08:00

We are on holiday for a few days so thought we would get on with finishing the Great Wall of China, aka our allotment fence. We did aim to start on Saturday but a late night with The Neighbours (of whom more later) scuppered that. Discipline is all in the allotment game. Well, discipline is alott in the allotment game.Sunday saw us inspecting the plot after a week's neglect. Strange to say,

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-62252327624609095962007-08-12T11:49:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:53:01.675-08:00

We return Saturday morning, to find that no one has finished the fence. The North Face scowls at us, an uneven trench too shallow by far.Despite this, we begin to fence the first half of the North Face, with some success. You have to sink the mesh below ground and curve it outwards. Apparently someone has conducted psychological experiments with rabbits, and they get very down when faced with the

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-65070563701455399412007-08-05T10:33:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:53:02.300-08:00

We've got backache. We've been digging. We've got sunburn in the only really hot weekend we are looking likely to have this year. Up at the plot yesterday, we do our usual inspection of the crops (sounds much more impressive than it actually is as we hope you have gathered through blogs passim). The giant pumpkin is the most expansive and happy looking plant, and we cannot bring ourselves to "

Kim Snoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3363082983726242057.post-56795348689915796492007-08-01T07:04:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:53:02.829-08:00

Crawl from my deathbed at the behest of The Neighbours, whose dog needs walking.Oscar (for it is he) and I perambulate up Burydell Lane to the allotment, where Jan & Pat are busy erecting their shed. Some holding of panels ensues, while Oscar supervises.Much to sniff at in our plot.Exciting news: Jan & Pat may have excess timber, and we get first dibs.

Burydell Lane Online Gardeningnoreply@blogger.com1