Truly Allotment Heaven today

I feel very fortunate to have my allotment plot ! I read about long waiting lists and that in some areas especially in London that it can take between ten to fifteen years to get a plot, so yes looking around my plot today seeing all the lovely veggies and flowers growing I really appreciated my 'Allotment Heaven'.

I worked from 1.30 pm until 4.50pm weeding mainly, as the rain seems to make the weeds prolific and the onion bed took some backbreaking work to weed.  I dug up 3 plants of my early potatoes ' Ulster Prince' and took them straight home, shared some with my lovely neighbours and cooked a few for our supper and they were delicious. We don't eat many potatoes so I have only planted first and second Earlie's this year.

I have dug up my first bed of Garlic 'Cristo' which this year thank goodness didn't get rust. It is a great crop and I think once again I have gone a bit overboard as I have a slightly larger crop to come up yet of a French variety.

The Globe artichoke bed looks brilliant and has a little squash in between Globes and lots of Asters  I can't wait for them to flower as it's the first time I have grown these flowers

The Spinach (three different varieties) is amazing and I am picking a large bag every other day and also giving the neighbours some. I intend to keep sowing so that I have enough until the winter months as we love it.

The Tayberry has fruit and I can't wait for it to fully ripen and pick my first berry, Yum !

The cucumbers in the greenhouse have tiny fruits YEAH ! we love home grown cucumbers and the tomatoes are full of flowers, and I have loads of lettuces and peppers coming on in the greenhouse. So all our own salad stuff sorted !

And here are a few photo's taken around the plot today. Lot's of flowers and bees buzzing, truly Allotment Heaven.

What more can one ask of life ?

Almost forgot to mention that I have been sent a lovely book to review which I will post about over the next few days. I think most of you with fruit growing on your plots will like this book,  it's all about making cordials, wines, beers, soft summer drinks and more from fruit we grow, buy or forage.

Have a lovely week.

M x


And in the greenhouse ..........

There are these beauties growing. Plus lots of different chillies (no photo's )

These are the tomato plants grown from seeds from Victoriana Nursery and they are called 'Abraham Lincoln' so far they are huge and look to be growing even bigger every time I visit the greenhouse. One fits into the palm of my hand, I can't wait to try one as soon as they are ripe.

I have 2 cucumber plants grown from seed, can't remember which seed company off hand, but they are called 'Burpless' I grew them last year and they are delicious. I can't keep up with harvesting them and have been giving loads away, shame they can't be frozen.

Fingers crossed I will get some decent Aubergines this year, so far 3 have started swelling.

The first little pepper has just started to grow, I have about 6 plants in the greenhouse so hope to get a good harvest from them.

It's such a busy time of year in the garden and the allotment so forgive me if I don't post as often and I am trying to visit the blogs on my blog list as you all inspire me.

Have a lovely week. M x

This and That

A bit of a pictorial post today, as although I have lot's to write about I don't have the time. I haven't been to the allotment much since last week other than a quick visit to gather some crops, water the greenhouse and pick up the rubbish that can't be composted and took that to the local council tip.

Five 'Munchkin Squashes' all which have been roasted, cut up and are going into a soup tomorrow for lunch. The little cucumber is the last one now, as the plants had given their best for ages and were past it, so they were composted.

I have had so many tomatoes that I decided to make this delicious 'Indian spiced Chutney' the recipe advises to leave it for a month or two before eating, Mmm ! not sure about that !! it tasted delicious straight off the spoon after I put it in the jars.

The Gladioli has flowered at last !! it is from a bargain bag of mixed summer bulbs for the cutting bed from 'Wilko's ' half price for £2.50 and loads of bulbs, the lovely spiky Dahlia ( see below) was in the bag as well, Bargain !!!

All pinked out

Sunflowers from the 'Sunflower Hedge' on the allotment.



I brought a bunch home for the house, they look wonderful. they are called 'Velvet Queen' and are multi headed and not too large, I don't like the really big ones.

.....................................................................................................

We went to the 'Seaside' first visit this year, so here are a few photo's I took there.

Bournemouth Pier




Arty deckchair shot !





The 'Merry-go-round

I made a pebble heart !