23 November 2008 - Cold snap

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 some horse manure from a well known local garden centre (rather than waiting and hoping for local mechanisms to take effect) and having the Seed Audit.

The Seed Audit revealed a good deal of the packets had passed their plant-by date so these were evicted. However, some goodies remain. We discover that we have four courgette seeds left and some leeks and onions. We think that we will sow a few of the left-overs as a tribute - but add to the variety also. It is tempting to stick with those plants that did well, but of course, we want to expand our knowledge and experience.

We then purchased most of our seeds from the same garden centre, a list of which will be produced in due course and inserted into next year's spreadsheet. K has done an end-of-year spreadsheet which will help in making decisions. However, we can reveal that we have got some mangetout and rainbow chard seeds. We can hardly contain ourselves. We also obtained 4 runner beans from an old pod and lots of sweetpeas from dead pods. Decisions have to be made about potatoes and garlic though which cannot be put off for much longer.

Thence to the plot. All looks cold, damp and as it should be - we note that the cleared bank now means that we have a clear view of the field behind the bank and the sheep within. The overwintering onions so lovingly tended last weekend look still to be OK. The transplanted cabbage seedlings have survived, though we put a thingy over them in view of the cold snap. The cabbages continue to expand and the leeks are delicious. Something is bothering one of the kale plants so we dig it up in case it infects the others. We shiver, inspect and harvest all in the space of 20 minutes and rush home to the warm.

16 November 2008 - Some sorting out

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 today we removed the compost holder and had a good old fork over. There was lots of nice crumbly well rotted stuff which N used to refresh bed 3 (we did a bit of thinking earlier about which beds needed what for next year's fun and games and not all our beds need compost) along with a bag of leafmould from last year's leaves. This bed is covered with black plastic and looks officially gone to sleep. We of course removed the last crops from it, which were three leeks left over from the main bed.

K then removed the spring cabbage (though we won't be sure what they are until they begin to grow if previous form applies) and overwintering onion seedlings from the seedbed. The seedbed was made almost entirely with top soil last year, so we put half a bag of mushroom compost and more leafmould into it and again covered with black plastic. It will then be reactivated as it were in February when we sow the leeks and brassicas as we learnt that those started from seed in the soil definitely grew better. And it's a lot easier than piffling about with seeds and such at home. Three raspberry infiltrators were removed and donated to our neighbours.

The spring cabbage seedlings were then moved into a freshly composted bit of bed 2 - as this is where the brassicas will be next year. And one - only one dammit - raddicio seedling. Apart from one superb specimen, they look a bit bitten and weedy but here's hoping. The onion seedlings were then repatriated with their brethren in bed 1 - a lot of jiggery pokery and sorting out of crowded seedlings into their final positions leave us confident that we have a good healthy lot of onions coming in June (last year the rabbits got them but this year we are quietly confident that our security measures will prevent them doing the same).

N manfully pulled up and generally hacked a good portion of the bank on our side of the ditch. It looks bleak and empty but we think of potatoes, moving the comfrey and giving the butternut squash/pumpkin much more room on this new site. We don't think rabbits eat any of these. The next step will be to cover it in plastic, though we don't want to inhibit the lovely daffodills that will emerge in spring.

The kale is producing well and we regularly eat it, now of course we are eating leeks too. The cabbages and broccoli, though a little tatty, appear to be growing. It is interesting how the whole pace of growing slows down as the days are so short. The green manure is now well established and we just have to make sure that we dig it in at the right point.

Now is the time to start ordering and thinking about the varieties of things we want to grow. A large glass of wine and a few gardening mags should do the trick. We should do a proper seed audit to see what we have left - and decide now we have missed the autumn garlic planting spot - and whether to use our own garlic.

One of us was feeling decidely low par when entering the plot. Leaving it a couple of hours of hard work later equilibrium of a sort had been restored.

1/2 November 2008 - A word from our sponsor

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 subjected to a particularly unpleasant attack of vandalism about a week before we left. Our neighbours Jan and Pat suffered the most and had to rectify all sorts of damage on their return from holiday. Our famous saloon bar entry gate somehow caused offence to the morons concerned and was kicked away from its hinges. Appropriate action is being taken but it seems as though other local sites are also been targetted. The only mildly positive note is that the produce itself was not trashed, only people's "hardware" (sheds, equipment, etc).

The weekend of 4 October we spent some time weeding and tidying the plot, and discovered much to our astonishment that the so-called "pumpkin" had in fact been masquerading as a butternut squash, of which it managed to produce one. We were still able to pick carrots and of course the trusty raspberries and kale, which is pretty good when you think about it.

The green manure (field beans and clover) was beginning to get well established. We shall have to remember to dig it in at some point. We. are unsure as to whether field beans actually produce any beanage.

N pulled up the dead courgette plants and, because this variety grows kind of upwards, it was very obvious to see where a fruit had been removed. N counted 89 such marks - from 4 plants! We were amazed and pronounce it the most productive of our crops this our first year. Everything looked sad and wan, but we still managed to find a few runner beans and although the sweet peas were definitely beginning to flag, their flowers still smelt sweet.

Fast forward to 1/2 November - quite a lot has happened in the intervening period. We suspect that there have been many raspberries in our absence as there are still some coming now (though not as many of course). The leeks look really leekish and we have chosen one for N to pick for supper tomorrow. The most exciting thing is that there was a heavy snowfall earlier in the week (in October!) while we were still away and while other structures on the site yielded and buckled under the weight of the snow, the Pagoda stood firm. N is quietly smug.

Otherwise, the kale is still good and very tasty. The cabbages that K had thought of as purple broccoli are now looking significantly better, presumably because the cold has killed off whatever was eating them. Indeed, they look uncannily like January King (JK) cabbages. The other cabbages, that K thought of as JK cabbages, now look as though they are purple broccoli. There was obviously an elementary slip-up in the process earlier. It shows the importance of good labelling but does add a certain element of "je ne sais quoi" to the growing process.

Disappointingly, the seeds planted in September in Bed 2 failed to materialise. The overwintering onions in Bed 1 are still there but not as many as we would like, and the chard has been munched on. The seedlings in the seedbed (spring cabbage and overwinterinig onions) seem to be OK, though the cabbage has been a little eaten. (If indeed it is cabbage as I seem completely unable to identify the damn things again after sowing.)

Bed 4 (ex-courgettes, beans, sweetcorn, butternut squash) has now been completely cleared and dug over. We intend to put compost on and cover it though want to make sure we are doing the right thing for what we want to grow next year. Bed 2 (ex-carrots - got the final ones up today) etc - needs digging/composting also.

We also stripped the last vestiges of dead sweetpeas, beans and thousands of nasturtiums from the Pagoda. It is sad to do this yet very satisfying at the same time.

We look at the bank with its weeds and stroke our chins meditatively. We hope to acquire a free greenhouse from somewhere and want to put it on the bank (once cleared). It's going to be another busy winter.

20/21 September 2008 - Consolidation

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 ceased to produce and the spent sweetcorn. The courgettes, bless them, are still going. However, there is little point in denying that the end is nigh for the main growing season.

We had to harvest our butternut squash now as well, as the plants appeared to die overnight. We suspect downy mildew. Although the plants themselves had died, we have harvested 9 squash, ranging from small to medium. They are drying on our conservatory window ledge, looking rather like pears. We know that the butternut squash seedling we had donated to Pat and Jan is still flourishing and growing, so it definitely was a premature end to our harvest.

The mini-pop sweetcorn is left in to provide an attractive windbreak, but we won't be eating their cobs unfortunately as they were bred to be eaten small. Letting them grow was a miscalculation. Bigger is not always better.

The sweetpeas are dying down as are the runner beans. Elsewhere in the fruitcage, the raspberries are in full flood. We have even frozen some. They are delicious. There is even the chance of a second crop of strawberries as some flowers have appeared.

Of the seed sowings we made recently - of winter crops that grow over winter - only the chard and overwintering onions seem to be thriving. The spring cabbage seedlings in the seedbed have been protected by our famous home-made cloche system. We sow some winter spinach, winter spring onions and lettuce at home to get started in the cold frame.

The cabbages are doing well, albeit some have been severely attacked. We are at a loss as to what to do - they are protected by environmesh after all which should keep out the white butterflies that lay the caterpillar eggs. However, it was pointed out that by protecting our crops against pigeons we are also preventing other more helpful birds picking off the caterpillars for a juicy snack. Quid pro quo it would seem. We hope that the forthcoming cold and winter will kill them off anyway. The plants that are not attacked are thriving.

The leeks are looking good, though not as big yet as we had hoped. The green manure on the erstwhile potato patch is making its appearance, though slowly. Guess that's because of the time of year. The kale is looking splendid - quite Japanese in its curly purple beauty.

We also had a visit from Penelope, N's mum, who picked raspberries and blackberries most diligently. Over a tuno mayonnaise sandwich we mused on the therapeutic properties of allotmenteering.

N did a sterling job of laying more (free) paving slabs to increase the firm and weed-killing barriers and footways between essential areas of the plot. It will make an enormous difference in terms of mud and weeds. And it looks neat too.

Weather note: finally we have had a taste of summer, a lovely wistful Indian summer. We have felt warm and enervated by the sun. A shame it couldn't have happened earlier is the general view amongst the various plot holders. But you learn to be grateful for whatever you get.

7 September 2008 - Dig for victory

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 vegetables, 5 distinct kinds, to be staged on 900mm of table space
• 1a: as above, 3 kinds
• 2: potatoes white, 5
• 3: potatoes coloured, 5
• 4: heaviest potato
• 5: onions grown from seed, 5
• 19: courgettes (zucchini), 3
• 25: any other vegetable for which no separate class exists
• 80 (Novice): potatoes, 5
• 85 (Novice): any other vegetable for which no separate class exists in Novice section - our contenders were Elephant garlic, garlic and sweetcorn
  
• 86 (Novice): apples, dessert, 3
• 95: a hand knitted garment
• 101: a poem, taking as its subject "My Favourite View".

Scrutiny of our produce (you'll recall the Post-It Note advice from last year emphasising the need for consistency of shape and size) and the credit crunch (entry was 20p for each category) dictated some revised thinking about volumes of entry.

Also, because we anticipated being away camping on the day, we were reliant on the kind help of P (plot next door), who volunteered (well, agreed) to stage our entries. Given the fact that she was also going to be a competitor - indeed, our competitor - this was either a selfless act or an opportunity for sabotage.

Our thinking developed thus:

• 1 and 1a: way too much trouble
• 2 and 3: stick to the Novice category until you win (after which you are barred from entry)
• 4: our candidate had too many little holes in it
  
• 5: yes, yes, yes - we examined both reds and whites, decided there was too much variation among the whites; cleaned and scales removed (overskinning is, in the show guide, a "big mistake"), with the tops tied over themselves; exhibited on rings (sections of toilet roll, covered in shiny paper)
• 19: couldn't really rustle up three matching ones at this point in the season
  
• 25: went for Novice instead
• 80: not happy with the consistency - this decision reached after much agonising and debate
  
• 85 (Novice): yes, yes, yes - garlic tied as above
• 86 (Novice): three lovely pink apples, all on the same branch
  
• 95: the marital jumper
  
• 101: no, not really...

P duly took receipt of our entries and exhibited on Saturday morning, prior to anonymous judging. We were back in time for the afternoon show. Results:

• garlic: Third Prize! (Beaten by the Ladies)
• dessert apples: Third Prize!
• onions grown from seed: Second Prize! (Beaten by Mr G).

We are pleased, though disappointed about the handknit garment (the judges seem to have a thing for doily-style tops for infants), and a bit sad that none of our entries attracted a Post-It Note. As is traditional, the winners will be eaten (thank goodness the jumper didn't place.)

We can expect a payback of 50p (no cash award for third prizes) on an investment of 80p (and countless hours).

What we learned: on balance, I think we should have entered more categories. We had been reluctant to enter anything that wasn't flawless, but I think we would have 'medalled' (Olympic horror) in additional categories regardless of flawed produce (well, not flawed to us, but to the objective observer). Mr G has kindly offered advice next year (our third growing season!), which we will gladly accept.

In other news, N dug the remaining potatoes (always a bit Dan Quayle-anxious about the 'e') which brought us a two-thirds full (never one-third empty) IKEA bag of spuds. As usual, stored the flawless (now a total of one and a half large bags - including the last earlies - and five trays of drying, muddy taters). N is a touch disappointed in the overall haul; K thinks it is about what we got last year, and N has become jaded. Sewed two types of green manure on the former potato patches.

Adjacent, the kale, on the former site of the first earlies, is thriving in a rather striking purple and green combination.

K maintains that eternal vigilance is the price of having winter cabbages to eat. They are still attracting caterpillars.

The second batch of peas has succumbed to downy mildew; although we ate a few samples, they are on their way out. A series of corn harvested, too. Not terribly impressive to anyone who has had fresh Canadian corn. Quite gappy when it comes to kernels. We must have had 25 courgettes over the last couple of weeks; some eaten, some frozen, some given away. Beans still coming but, to be honest, also on their way out.

About eight squashes (gourds, I recall, in my homeland) in progress. We wonder if we should have been more ruthless and concentrated the plants' growing power in a few larger items. Leeks still upright and green. Carrots disappointing, in a mis-shapen way. How accustomed we have been to straight, blemish-free fruit and veg, occasionally in cellophane.

K can see winter onions coming into view. The pak choi, and whatever else N planted around the kale, is hard to distinguish from weeds.

Much joy in the Fruit Cage - autumn raspberries a-plenty (supplemented by local blackberries), fragrant sweetpeas, apples so crisp and sweet.

But it's definitely autumn, after a rubbish summer. Our thoughts must turn to winter activities, and spring dreams.

25 August 2008 - We have a Plan

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 how things were this time last year - even with the aid of the blog it can be difficult to recall precisely what went where and why - and what they were like when you were sowing the seed back in the dark January days.

We are beginning to feel the slow yet urgent rhythms of the soil as it gathers up its energy for the grand finish of the so-called summer crops beans, courgettes and the extravagantly showy corn. However we still have around 10 butternut squash slowly ripening on the vine, raspberries, sprouting broccoli or some mystery cabbage, the January King winter cabbage and of course the leeks to keep going. Harvesting is a regular activity - as I write French bean and courgette pickles are being made.

It also means that the 3 small bare patches in Beds 1, 2 and 4 offer us more opportunity to think about Winter and Spring. But having done that, we then have to address the matter of eventual Spring/Summer growing next year because of the principles of crop rotation. It is a little like the popular party game of our youth, Twister. Of course we were still in the throes of establishing the plot architecture this time last year and really did not have the scope we have now, with good soil and well established beds.

After all that, here is The Plan.

1. Winter Bed 1 Leeks, chard, overwintering onion - the two latter from seed sown today
Spring/Sumer Bed 1 Roots - carrots, onion, chard, parsnip

2. Winter Bed 2 Spinach, overwintering spring onions, winter lettuce (sown today), overwintering onion from the seedbed after carrots gone
Spring/Summer Bed 2 Other - Garlic, spinach, onions, salad

3. Winter Bed 3 Green manure
Spring/Summer Bed 3 Brassicas - calabrese broccoli, raddicio, other brassicas

4. Winter Bed 4 Winter cabbage, spring cabbage
Spring/Summer Bed 4 Roots - maincrop potatoes (first earlies on the bank)

5. The extra potato patch at the top we have put green manure on and will use that for the pumpkin next year.

6. The main potato patch will be green manured after the potatoes are dug up and this will be the main bed for peas, beans, courgettes and corn. And maybe some more garlic.

7. The fruit cage will continue but we will introduce more strawberries.

The planning so far ahead and remembering to succession sow are two of the most difficult skills for the allotmenteer. We wonder about how we will improve our soil on the beds that will be in constant use between seasons. And there is the question - again - of timing. We assume that certain crops will be ready when they may not and some may linger on long after their bed time. What is undeniable is that there is a real thrill in sowing seeds now near the end of the main growing season for crops to eat in a few months time. We want to be able to grow all the year round and who knows - we may even beat the credit crunch with a vegetable crunch all of our own.

17/24 August 2008 - Death or Glory

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 were still some peas at the top it clearly was near the end. It took a long time to dig it up, disentangle the various sticks and canes and netting and drag the peas back to our green compost bin at home for St Albans to deal with. We couldn't compost it because of the downy mildew but a commercial facility will be far hotter and be able to kill the bugs. We have 5 or 6 good size bags of peas in the new freezer (dragged up there using ingenious acrobatics and a good deal of nerve from Yours Truly who is quite short - the freezer is now also operational after a visit from A Bloke). RIP Peas. But we still have some growing on Bed 3 anyway.

We had to do a lot of strimming as the bloody weeds had threatened to take over in some far-flung corners of the plot.

Another RIP but not so tragic was that for the Volunteer Potatoes which showed distinct signs of some unpleasant ailment. They were accordingly dug up and were ginormous. They of course had been in the ground right from the beginning as it were. Very interesting as a biology experiment. A couple were donated to our Next Next Door neighbours who were delighted. We would enter one for the biggest potato in the forthcoming St Stephens Gardening Club Show (yes, it really is coming up again - thanks for sticking with us all this time) but it has minute holes which indicate The Maggot.

We also found time to make our very first courgette chutney - 4lbs courgettes, ginger, 2 heads garlic, 2.5lbs onions, 2.5lbs brown sugar, malt vinegar, cayenne pepper. God knows what it will be like. It filled about 14 scavenged jars and is safely stored in the garage. We will know in 3 months whether it was worth it. It took me back to the time I worked in a pickle factory for the summer before university - halcyon days. It is the first time that either of us has done anything remotely like this. Is it a natural part of the aging process? Or have we only now got with the real zeitgeist?

Today (24 August) was a different kind of trip. It was full of banter and wisecrack with our various friends and neighbours up on the plot, including a revelling in the mighty victory of N, Pat and Jan in the recent St Stephens Garden Club Quiz. In fact, Burydell took 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. Beijing forsooth.

Other than the normal weeding, we were alerted to the presence of bloody caterpillars on some of our protected cabbages. This led to a mild tantrum from one of us especially as we had spent so much on the mesh. However, it was a useful reminder of the importance of tending - general looking and checking. There can be interesting revelations. Tending the purple sprouting broccoli for caterpillars I suddenly thought - these are not purple sprouting broccoli at all - they are some kind of cabbage. Ho hum.

The other crop we mentioned last time as being on its way out was also duly shuffled off. Thank you broccoli - Ironman lest we forget - for your fabulousness. Mr G told us today that though he didn't like broccoli, he did like ours. Perhaps we should send some to George Bush. N noted that its root system was very complex and also threw up new shoots. Does this mean that if we had left it a whole other load of plants would have come up? We decide to experiment and plant a couple of shoots in the newly-cleared bed.

This means that we now have three half-beds clear. Beds 1, 2 and 4. We have raked them and got them ready for their next crop.

No-one had warned us how hard crop rotation is. We spent 2 hours going through Rubik-cube like diagrams and discussions, querying different definitions of plant groups, and generally panicking. We now have A Plan. And we shall share that with you tomorrow.

10 August 2008 - Cornucopia

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 the responsibility incumbent on anyone who grows more than they can reasonably eat or give away - to store. The upside down picture to the left is of the sweetpeas.

Storage is thus An Issue and not just confined to Ikea shelving systems or rearranging the garage.

There are three basic methods of storage. Firstly, keeping in a cool, dry, place and using as needed - this is for potatoes (though they prefer the dark) and garlic (so far). Secondly, freezing. And thirdly, making preserves (e.g. chutney). We have not yet tried the latter but fully intend to do so and have been blagging jars off our Neighours.

Plaiting the garlic was a truly absorbing pastime. This is what people did before telly. After some cursing, replaiting and storming off in tears we created 4 garlic plaits containing 13 bulbs each. The elephant garlic bulbs are prepared similarly but are way too dignified to plait. We have already had some roasted with chicken and they are indeed milder than the smaller variety. Apparently they are not even garlic but are related to the leek. But that's another story.

The second method has led us to purchase a small freezer as our existing facility is filling up quickly which has been put into the loft and a Bloke is coming to install electricity up there. Seriously folks, we just don't want to waste it, even if it is courgette. We have been freezing courgette, peas, broccoli and beans. However, don't be thinking that we are a bunch of meanies - we have given away a significant amount of produce which has been much appreciated by friends, home and plot neighbours, lady from shop and family.

Back to the plot. The courgettes are still throwing out fruits but we worry (!) that they appear to be slowing down a touch. Magic Water is duly applied. We have become adept at courgette recipes and fully intend to make some chutney.

We have three kinds of beans - tiny thin beans, French beans and good old fashioned runners (in the Pagoda). They are all doing well. We are beginning to recognise that period of pomp when a plant is at its most productive and to make the most of it. The next crop to be harvested will be the corn - we had two cobs today but it was too early, though they were delicious nonetheless. The raspberries are threatening to deluge us soon and the onions are pushing themselves up and over. The "show" onions look magnificent but we have to wait.

More autumnal delights are the butternut squash which are going great guns, so much so that we decided to "nip" some off to encourage larger fruit. They also need more room, poor loves. The leeks we transplanted with bated breath seem to be more than happy in their new home. The winter cabbage, sharing a bed with the broccoli, looks expansively cabbage-like and the kale, also transplanted with bb, at least has not died. It needs to acquire more leafage. The purple sprouting broccoli looks better than it did.

Today we sowed raddicio, overwintering onion and spring cabbage in the seedbed; and carrots, pak choi and spinach in amongst various crops. The carrots say you shouldn't sow after June but we thought - to hell with it. We also intend to sow overwintering spring onion when we can find a suitable space.

We have two crops that appear now to be past their best - but we salute them for their heroic performance. The peas (first lot) alas appear to have downy mildew and although there are flowers on the plants it all looks a bit dire and production seems to have slowed to a halt. The broccoli are still throwing up "tasty sideshoots" (quoted from the packed) but are taking up a lot of room. We feel uncomfortable like at the end of a visitor's stay - just when are they going to leave? We still are eating carrots as and when, usually as a juicy crunchy starter.

Other activities included N removing the cross-struts (or whatever technical term is appropriate) that had precluded the act of walking upright in the Pagoda. Brilliant. N also did a useful bit of wood-tidying into a handy new organiser made out of a pallet and fixed to the shed (thanks to Pat for that idea). The second peas needed some remedial work and now have a new set of poles and a home-made net.

Issues to resolve: what to do about strawberry "runners"; what to do with summer-fruiting raspberries in terms of support

Weather note: sunny, showers, moody

26/27 July 2008 - Elephant, Man

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 not enough room. The broccoli needed some attention, removing some large leaves that had gone orange. The courgette steadfastly continue to grow - upwards - and if I had not had my inspection spex on, we would not have discovered the french beans waiting to be picked. We finally realise of course that these are dwarf beans and that is why the vast majority of them have not climbed the wigwam. Chiz again. It does means that we have a whole 'nother crop to consume.

Nature lovers: On the right is a picture of a newt, exposed by the removal of the potatoes. On the left, a bumblebee having fun in a sunflower.

There are many aspects to the work of the allotmenteer. An important one - which perhaps we should make more of - is what is commonly known as "tending" the crop. Tending not onlyy includes feeding and watering - but regular inspection to make sure all is well. Otherwise diseases and pests can get a grip before you know it (ok, I sound like a gardening book). Or you could miss some poor vegetable's moment of glory by mistake.

Another important aspect is the on-going cycle of waste and compost. We dragged another load of kitchen compost up to add to the comfrey already in the compost bin. We anticipate Black Gold at the other end. The "Magic Juice" from our compost is having a stupendous effect on Bed 3 (or C depending on whose blog you are reading).

N dug up the last of the first early potatoes which were enormous, and will keep us going for a while. And then he dug up the garlic and the Elephant Garlic - 57 and 9 bulbs respectively. The disinterment of the Elephant Garlic, which took some time due to the enormity of their rootage, was reverently witnessed by Jan and Pat who offered us a suitable libation for the occasion. We remembered that it was the first crop that we properly put in, a long time ago now we think (note to self: must check blog for when) and felt a little nostalgic. The bulbs of both crops were extremely respectable - the largest Elephant Garlic belonged to one that we had left to flower. Jan and Pat offered to dry out the garlic in their greenhouse after which we will plait it and hang it in our kitchen to keep out those pesky vampires.

We also think it is time our readers met Jan and Pat, our trusty allotment neighbours. Here they are in their own splendid plot.

Today (Sunday), it being really hot and everything, we thought we would finally move the kale, leek and purple broccoli seedlings to their proper homes. Readers will recall that the plan was originally to move these to the vacant spaces left by early potatoes and garlic - and that indeed is what we did, although we have fears that we have left it too late. Mr G is of the view that the plants (which can no longer be described as seedlings) may not take and are altogether too comfy to move. We decide to do it anyway to make better use of space - and we are also of the view that the plants would be far better off with more space. We do not plant all - some of the weedier broccoli and kale is kept for instant use, with only the largest and strongest specimens. We worry that it is also too hot for them.

Notwithstanding the fact that we ignored his advice on this occasion, Mr G is an invaluable source of knowledge and opinion and we are sure that readers will be thrilled to learn that he thinks our broccoli are the best on site. He also envies our peas as he cannot grow them. Such accolades are meat and drink to the novice allotmenteer.

The leeks are divided by grower (Mr G - see blogs passim/us) and have their tops snipped off. The ones sown as seed directly into the ground definitely have the longest and strongest roots.

When we return later, with The Neighbours plus visiting parent and two dogs, the kale and broccoli do look extremely sorry for themselves, all wilty. We tell them to pull themselves together and look to the winter cabbages for inspiration.

We are going to make chutney. Of whatever we have to.

Weather note: hot hot hot. K stood under hosepipe several times and N did Water Hat.

Chef's note: all our veggies taste delicious.

* For younger readers," chiz" is a term used by Nigel Molesworth in "Back in the Jug Agane" and other classics written by Geoffrey Willans, illustrated by Ronald Searle (as any fule kno). It means general feeling of cheesed-off-ness.

Bounty - 20 July 2008

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 beyond:

Our main-crop potatoes are thriving, with many beautiful white and yellow flowers. These were torn off yesterday, when Mr G said they draw energy away from the spuds. (This I knew, in theory, but I also thought there was something to do with the flowers that would signal harvest time.)

Leeks and kale in the Fruit Cage have come on, too. Leeks now too big to move out (as we had planned). Kale very leafy with bright purple stalks. Marigolds, sweet peas and sunflowers (pictured below) are also bursting with colour and growth. Raspberries growing nicely (but short on fruit so far). Blueberry bush fruiting. Strawberry plants died down, but I don't think we were expecting them to crop again. Apple trees have little apples on them (again, predictable, but exciting).

In Bed 4 (?), the Elephant Garlic is still some time from harvest, but we had one of the regular garlic bulbs for dinner with courgettes (more later). Very tasty and, being fresh, the cloves were visible but with no dried wrapping between them. We've had carrots from this bed, too.

Bed 3 has a few carrots in, too, but is specialising in peas. Yesterday we harvested all the pods that were ready, which, if we still used shopping bags, would have filled half a bag.

From Bed 2, we took about eight broccoli, heads the size of a person's head, but a little smaller, many of which we gave to friends and other plotters. Word is that they will continue to crop.

In Bed 1, the corn is tall and have those corn wispy things poking out. Butternut squash are growing slowly but surely. Beans and peas are on the ascent up their frames. The most amazing crop, so far, is the courgettes (zucchini) who can, literally, grow a few inches a day in the right conditions.

Sunflowers on the bank and by our fence are beautiful - and look just like the sunflowers you see on television. Who'd have thought.

Despite being sunny, the day was overshadowed by a creeping concern that we won't be able to cope with the harvest. Of course we know this is nonsense, because we can always give it away, but we had two full carrier bags to take home yesterday, even after sharing most of our broccoli. (Oh, yes, lessons to be learned about planting little and often, rather than everything maturing at once.)

But we also turned our thoughts to dining in the coming winter - with this in mind we froze some broccoli and the peas, after blanching and (this was fun) plunging them into iced water. We may need to get a bigger freezer.

We were heading out (into the big city) to our friends John and Ray's celebration of their recent civil partnership, and thought we'd bring them a basket of goodies. So, on a bed of kale, there's broccoli, two carrots (one of them rude) and two courgettes. Happy eating!