17 June 2007: How it all began

Because every story we had ever heard about getting an allotment (gardening space provided cheaply by the local council, see history of UK allotments) involved waiting years for one to become available, we assumed that getting on the waiting list was a low-risk strategy.

Indeed, it seemed that way when we approached our local (St Stephen's Parish) council. Both their sets of allotments had waiting lists. Emboldened by this, and anticipating years of being able to groan about poor local services without actually having to garden, Nicholas approached the St Albans Council, who had plenty of empty plots just around the corner.

A viewing was arranged with Mr Ian Getley, of whom more later. Nicholas selected plot 40 in the Burydell Lane Allotment. It's a five-pole plot, measuring just over 126 sq m. 126 sq m doesn't sound very big until you have to put a rabbit-proof fence around it.

Eventually, a contract, a key and a ring-binder full of information arrived. On 13 May, our hearts full of the prospect of winning Largest-Pumpkin-of-the-Year-Award , we took possession. Up the road past the mill (of which more later) up Burydell Lane (as quaint as it sounds), over the River Ver and turn left through the gate. Plot 40, our plot, is at the far end, almost in the corner, one side bordered by nettles and hedge, behind which is a field (rabbits and lambs). We are the frontiersmen.

Our first act was to disregard the necessity to install a perimeter fence. To keep rabbits out, you need to dig chicken wire about 18 inches under the ground (and, presumably, extend it high enough to prevent bunnies hopping over). Now none of this should be necessary, since the council put rabbit-proof fencing around the whole site. However, as Mr Getley explained to me, they forgot to take the rabbits out first. (Mr Getley's own plot, in the opposite corner from us - hmm, he recommended Plot 40 to me - is a masterpiece of potato-centric success. Rows upon rows, just coming into flower - which indicates harvest time.)

We have sunk the fence posts but, to be honest, I'm holding out sinking the fences until I have a quorum of Australian nephews present to implement my plans.

On taking possession, the plot may be summarised as follows:

• not overly nettle-ly
• sloping (somewhat terraced) from northeast to southwest
• grass and weeds (some pretty, some nasty)
• full sun all day (when there is sun)
• stony and friable soil; we are told it's very fertile; did we mention the stones?
• near a water tap
• near a public pathway which leads to the fields beyond.
  

Three accomplishments on 13 May, despite cold, wet weather:

• 28 Shannon Scottish basic seed potatoes planted in four rows, looking shockingly likes shallow graves (Bed 1) - cardboard, homemade leafmould from Arcadian Gardens (oh, the irony of our former address) and potato fertiliser (purchased from our new comrades at the St Stephen's Parish Gardening Club - formerly the St Stephen's Parish Horticultural Society, recently rebranded to attract younger gardening talent - from their Saturday afternoon clubhouse - 12 noon to 2pm, times may vary, phone ahead)
  
• two raspberry bushes and a clump of forget-me-nots (Bed 2) - from our friend Mr Birt in Bury St Edmunds
• the layer of grass from Beds 1 and 2, turned upside down as future compost.
  

Followed by a weekend with Tim Tyndale (nephew, strong like ox) in which:

• preparations began for our future seed bed (Bed 3), largely a matter of digging through the thick grass, putting that top layer to one side (compost pile) and covering with the groundsheet of our tent so that the weeds are killed - Tim did this
• Bed 4, prepared as above, fenced with chicken wire about six inches below ground (Tim did this) and planted with (all from the St Stephen's Parish Gardening Club bring-and-buy sale - they brought, we bought): celery seedlings x 16; purple broccoli seedlings x 3; lettuce seedlings x 3; sprout seedlings x 3; and spring onion seedlings x 8
• Bed 5 prepared as above - dug, no fencing
  
• cold frame established; cupboard and window from local recycling centre (of which more later - we also scored a sledgehammer, spades and a pitch fork); Mr Birt's Magic Bean seedlings established.

Weather: hot, hot, hot.

3 June 2007:

• in Bed 5, seeds - Autumn King carrots, Purple Dragon carrots, 3 rows of two
• in Bed 5, yellow climbing bean seeds (+ leaf mould)
• Bed 5 completing of fence (bodge job, blame work-shy nephew)
  
• post-mortem for Mr Birt's Magic Bean seedlings in the cold frame
  
• in Bed 4, intersowed spring onion seeds among onions; intersowed radish seeds among celery
• in Bed 2, improved netting rooftop.

4 June 2007:

• watered using hose (is this as gripping to you as it is to us?)
  

Weather: warm.

10 June 2007:

• planted courgette seedling x 2 and pumpkin seedling (award in the bag, basically) in compost heap.

Weather: sunny with torrential rains.

So there we are. This blog is taking more time than the allotment.

And