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 !

Still Harvesting

Purple sprouting broccoli (above)

Brussel Sprouts (above) wallflowers (below)

Today was the first visit to the lottie in a week. The sweet-peas are growing strong in the greenhouse. The garlic looks very sturdy and I should be able to get it planted out soon. I planted the garlic in individual sections, so it will be easy to plant out with little or no disturbance. The ones that I planted straight into the ground are also doing very well.

I cut the tops off the brussel sprouts, they are like little cabbages and are very tasty, some will be going in a soup with the leeks I dug up. The remaining brussels will get bigger now the tops are off the plants, and I will probably have harvested them all by mid February, I can then dig that bed ready for my beans.

As you can see in the photo my purple sprouting broccoli is just beginning to show some purple sprouts, I can't wait to harvest that as it's a favourite veg and so expensive to buy.

The photo at the bottom shows my wallflowers which have grown so big, they are going to look and smell wonderful. I think it's because they are protected from the weather in their bed by the greenhouse, as I lost some that were planted in pots.

As you can see in the bottom photo I still have lots of leeks to harvest, I need to get some more sown soon.

I can't believe it's over !

Where on earth did the last three days go ? I'm sure I say that every year ! but it's true, Christmas just flew past. I had a wonderful time with family and friends and lots of nice pressies.
I was so pleased with my brussel sprouts from the lottie, I harvested loads of small tasty sprouts for Christmas day lunch and steamed them until tender but still a bit crisp, and then pan fried them briefly with a knob of butter, salt & pepper and some chestnuts, they were delicious ! I am now looking forward to my purple sprouting broccoli, no sign of anything to pick yet. It seems so long since I sowed the seeds and planted them, I only hope the harvest is worth the wait because they take up a lot of growing space for a long period.

I can't wait to get sowing in January, I have a wooden box full of seeds. it's my favourite job and watching the first leaves poke through the compost is amazing.

I hope you all had a good Christmas and I would like to wish everyone a -

Very Happy and healthy New Year