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, an activity which has become almost second nature. Very pleasing seeing that the old stuff was almost completely rotted down to dark crumbly organic matter. We did not do more on the plot because we had exciting bulb planting activity in our actual garden.We had a late-morning start at the allotment (25 Nov), but completed the trench for the walls of 
our second proper bed. Then much screwing of the walls and, kerplunk, our second bed. Now the interior needs double-digging, with incorporation of our compost and perhaps some manure. Maybe worms, too. It's the clay-ey-est corner of the plot, and needs breaking up. The clods we dig up are white and lead us to speculate on the age-old mystery of what happens to old dog poo when it goes white - how come we never see it no more?
Dug up three (collective noun - heads) of celery, which have never really approached the majesty of commercial celery. A bit small, thick veins - lack of or too much water - hard to know what went wrong. However, at the end of the day, after much washing at home, it was transformed into soup. Delicious. And sampling a raw stalk led us to conclude that it was finally reaching its zenith. We find out from books that celery is all the better for having been bit by the November frosts we have had. We also harvested sprouts for dinner, which are boiling now. They too also benefit from the frost.
our second proper bed. Then much screwing of the walls and, kerplunk, our second bed. Now the interior needs double-digging, with incorporation of our compost and perhaps some manure. Maybe worms, too. It's the clay-ey-est corner of the plot, and needs breaking up. The clods we dig up are white and lead us to speculate on the age-old mystery of what happens to old dog poo when it goes white - how come we never see it no more?
Dug up three (collective noun - heads) of celery, which have never really approached the majesty of commercial celery. A bit small, thick veins - lack of or too much water - hard to know what went wrong. However, at the end of the day, after much washing at home, it was transformed into soup. Delicious. And sampling a raw stalk led us to conclude that it was finally reaching its zenith. We find out from books that celery is all the better for having been bit by the November frosts we have had. We also harvested sprouts for dinner, which are boiling now. They too also benefit from the frost.We anticipate much help from N's brother Andrew next weekend, and Andrew and Tim (the 
Australian Nephew) the following weekend. Perhaps crack the Fruit Cage. The plot now looks sleepy and autumnal, apart from the sprout plants and the celery. The overwintering onions are showing very willing (we have a picture but it is very hard to decipher the growth in these small pictures so won't bore you with it) and the raspberries have finally packed up their bags - we have to cut them down almost to nothing in the spring. Nothing yet showing for the Elephant Garlic but it has been mighty cold of late, with proper frosts and everything.
So few hours of daylight these days. Zzzzzzz.
Australian Nephew) the following weekend. Perhaps crack the Fruit Cage. The plot now looks sleepy and autumnal, apart from the sprout plants and the celery. The overwintering onions are showing very willing (we have a picture but it is very hard to decipher the growth in these small pictures so won't bore you with it) and the raspberries have finally packed up their bags - we have to cut them down almost to nothing in the spring. Nothing yet showing for the Elephant Garlic but it has been mighty cold of late, with proper frosts and everything.So few hours of daylight these days. Zzzzzzz.
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