Sunday 1 February 2009

An allotment post at last !

I finally made it to the allotment today, it's been almost a week, and I only managed to stay for about 20 minutes. It is so cold and my hands were frozen, I hate not being able to do anything up there.
My allotment neighbour was there cutting back his fruit bushes, he mainly grows fruit of all kinds and has now got asparagus growing which he had earthed up today. He doesn't grow any other vegetables at all.
Apart from him and myself the only other life up there were the allotment Chickens, I went over to take a photo of them and they thought I had food and were making a rare old fuss and noise. I was sorry to disappoint them, but they sadly don't belong to me (I wish) so they would have to wait until their owner came to feed them.

I checked on the sweet-peas and the garlic in the greenhouse, some of the sweet-peas looked a little droopy, but I am sure they will buck up. The garlic is doing well and the ground planted bulbs have grown a lot since last week. Since I cut the heads off the brussel plants the sprouts are growing much bigger, perhaps I should have done that before. The purple sprouting broccoli isn't quite ready to be picked yet maybe at the end of February? I think I read somewhere that taking the tops off helps the side of the stems to sprout quicker, I must look into that ! does anyone out there know anything about this ?





A deserted allotment- this is taken from the main
gate entrance, my plot is way down the end of
the field and then right, so a bit of a walk !

6 comments:

Anna said...

No allotmenteering still for me so it's good to read about somebody else's exploits. My sweet peas in the
greenhouse at home are also droopy :( I never seem to have much luck with autumn grown sweet peas. I am not sure about whether taking the top off the purple sprouting broccoli stimulates the side stems to sprout.
Will be getting my veggie growing books out, at some point today, so will come back to you if I find anything out.

Anna said...

Hello Maureen - just to let you know that I have consulted my veggie growing books. A couple of them mention picking the cental spear of purple sprouting broccoli first, one suggesting when it is about 4 inches long. Also I don't know whether you have come across the 'Down on the Allotment' website but there is a relevant post here : http://veggies-only.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

I have bought 'Rudolph' to try out this year :)

Maureen said...

Hi Anna, Thanks for looking that up for me and also for the link, I will check that out tomorrow. I have got "Rudolph" down on my list to buy, Ive read that its a good one to grow. I can't wait to harvest mine it's been for best part of a year.It's "Unwins" and just says Early Purple Sprouting.
Ive bought french climbing beans called "Fasold" which are supposed to be excellent, so can't wait to get sowing. Have a good W/E.

Anna said...

Shirl, you are more than welcome to a share of my packet of 'Rudolph' :)

Maureen said...

That is very kind of you. I would love to do that, if I have any on my list ( right hand side of the blog)that you need, you are more than welcome to share some in return.

Anna said...

If you email me at thegreentapestry@gmail.com with your address I will get the seeds off to you sometime this week Maureen. No need for anything in return - my seedbox is bulging :)