Allotment Life in Wrexham

New Notice Board

2011-10-18T13:59:00.000+01:00

The hottest day of the year? 90F in the shed!

2011-07-14T19:49:00.001+01:00

The day spent cutting grass, edging beds and generally tidying up.

New Potatoes

2011-07-10T09:35:00.001+01:00

Our first new potatoes of the year

Alongside our potatoes, Onions, Garden and Sugar Snap Peas, Runner, French dwarf and Broad Beans, we have now planted out Cabbage, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Carrots, Turnip, Beetroot, Butternut Squash and Courgettes. When the potatoes are lifted we will follow up with Leeks and Swede.

Leeks progressing in the Greenhouse.

Pressing on

2011-06-17T17:14:00.000+01:00

The Runner beans are now planted as are two rows of peas and one row of sugar snap peas. Replacement Broad beans and dwarf French beans are hardening off prior to planting.

Finally, a late start

2011-06-09T09:09:00.002+01:00

We are now planting up the beds after a slow start due to a busy period of personal projects. We have first early potatoes in beds 1 & 2, bed 1 "International Kidney" more affectionately known as "Jersey Royals" and "Charlotte" in bed 2. Onion sets are planted in bed 3 and the Runner Bean canes are ready in bed 5. A row of peas have bee planted in bed 6 and bed 7 has Broad Beans and bed 10 has been used as a seed bed for cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts and netted up for protection.

This picture is one of the reasons for the late start as the new "Engine Room" of the Allotment has been constructed in the back garden. Tomatoes, cucumber, melons are all under way and we have seeded more Broad beans as well as Runner and dwarf French beans.

A new season, a new start

2011-03-19T09:28:00.000Z

A bit of sunshine and down to the Allotment to cut the grass and start preparation for the growing season.

Early cold snap

2010-11-28T14:01:00.000Z

Went down for Brussells Sprouts for Sunday dinner and was greeted by this Winter Wonderland.

End of season tidy up

2010-11-10T18:17:00.000Z

As I have been too busy to regularly attend on weekends throughout Autumn, I have today started belatedly to tidy up the plot. All that is left to eat is one solitary cabbage, lots of Brussels sprouts, and a bed of Swede. Unfortunately, blight and early frost took care of the late planting of Christmas potatoes.

Summer Drawing to a close

2010-08-30T10:59:00.001+01:00

We have used all the cauli's and most cabbage, with the Broad beans and two rows of peas being composted. The Xmas potatoes have been earthed up but a general tiredness is starting to appear even though the Runners and French dwarf's are in full vigour.

Our first cauliflowers

2010-07-31T18:02:00.004+01:00

A real feeling of success with our first cauliflowers which are of retail standard!

Bad weather moves in!

2010-07-22T12:06:00.000+01:00

Views from the shed while heavy showers persisted yesterday.

Potatoes harvested

2010-07-13T22:45:00.001+01:00

All potatoes are harvested and what a fantastic assortment we had with fantastic taste. We are now preparing the beds for a second crop and some green beans.

New neighbours.....

2010-07-04T08:41:00.002+01:00

We have new neighbours and it's made a big difference with two thirds of the double plot already worked to a high standard.

Yesterday was another tidying up day with all the Brassica beds weeded and re-caged.

New potatoes!

2010-06-21T08:47:00.000+01:00

Today we have had our first taste of new potatoes. As can be seen from the photos beans peas and brassicas are also doing well.

Brassica's planted out.

2010-05-31T22:44:00.000+01:00

Today has seen the transplanting, of cabbage, cauliflower and sprouts and the construction of cages to keep those cabbage butterflies off!.....and more netting on the peas!

The plot is taking shape.

2010-05-31T08:56:00.000+01:00

The growing season is well under way with Broad Beans, Peas,1st & 2nd early and main crop potatoes showing well. The onion bed looks good and the Brassica nursery bed is ready for planting out into beds 1, 2 & 3. We have also sown the first wigwam of Runner beans and the first row of French beans with spring onions, elephant garlic whilst, Sweetcorn, carrots, parsnips and turnips are all doing well in tubs. In front of the shed we now have ripening strawberries and outdoor tomatoes.

Another bed completed

2010-05-21T21:16:00.000+01:00

Bed 10 is now open and ready for sowing of French beans.

Up goes the fence

2010-05-21T21:13:00.000+01:00

A week's holiday last week has seen us erect a fence.

The fence erected.

What a lovely view!!!

2010-05-11T08:35:00.000+01:00

New beds

2010-05-10T08:33:00.000+01:00

One new bed completed and another one started.

Pressing on!!

2010-05-03T19:40:00.000+01:00

We are trying this year wth carrots, parsnips and turnips in tubs in an effort to free up space.

We've started another new bed for Sweetcorn.

May Day 2010!!

2010-05-01T19:34:00.008+01:00

The Nursery bed is producing seedlings as the first two weeks it was under fleece to get the bed off to a good start.

We have planted some strawberry plants in a growbag by the shed as the fruit beds are not ready yet.

We have spent today tidying and cutting the grass.

Nursery bed.

2010-04-11T19:10:00.002+01:00

Today saw the completion of the nursery bed. We have sowed Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Kale and we have erected a mesh cage to protect the seedlings from birds and cats and maybe humans!!!! :-).

Spring sunshine!!

2010-04-10T21:10:00.004+01:00

A busy day in the Spring sunshine mowing and tidying the plot for the growing season. I have put Strawberry plants in a Growbag by the shed as the fruit beds are not ready yet.

Poultry manure has gone into bed 3 as the carrots were late coming out and the Autumn sowing of Broad beans failed due to the harsh winter. I am going to use this bed as a nursery bed this year to bring on brassicas.

Easter Weekend

2010-04-06T22:09:00.002+01:00

We've had Easter weekend and further progress has been made with the new bed, we have also spruced up a number of beds by turning them and we have also planted our potatoes, 1st and 2nd earlies as well as Main crop. Onions sets have gone in as well.

March - slow progress but progress nevertheless

2010-03-27T19:34:00.020Z

I have had little interaction with my Blog through March, but some progress has been made through the month.

Bed 7 has been completed.

I have now opened up Bed 8 and stacked the turves in readiness for the double digging.

Rhubarb!! - The first signs of growth and a new season for the Allotment.

Making a start

2010-02-13T16:22:00.000Z

The weather was fine today so I ventured down to the Allotment and made a start on a new bed.

A Winter Wonderland!

2010-01-07T21:17:00.000Z

It was just like a Christmas card.

All the plots look the same today!!!!!!

Get ready for outdoor work

2010-01-02T14:12:00.004Z

January is generally a fairly quiet time in the Allotment. But you need to push on with your digging and manuring whenever the weather and the state of the land permit. You should also prune and begin to spray your fruit trees, if you have not already done these jobs. But January is a time when you should be thinking and planning, ordering your seed potatoes, vegetable seeds, fertilizers and so on, and making sure that your tools are in good order and that you are ready to begin gardening in real earnest next month, or as soon as local conditions will let you.
Before coming to the various jobs of the month, there is one really important matter that we should say something about––the condition of your soil and the great need to keep it in good heart, for we must not expect to go on producing satisfactory crops year after year unless we restore to the soil what the plants take from it. We must also keep the soil in "good tilth."

What is GOOD TILTH?

It is the top foot or so of soil got into a "crumbly" condition. The "crumbs" hold a lot of water on their surfaces and let surplus water drain away quickly through the big pore spaces between them. These spaces supply air, which the roots need as well as water. When rain falls, the uppermost "crumbs" soak it up till they are saturated––like blotting paper dipped in water. Then the surplus soaks downward to the "crumbs" immediately below, and so on. Each "crumb" is like a little sponge. If there is more rain than the "crumbs" can hold, the bigger spaces between them allow the extra water to drain quickly downward and the soil does not become waterlogged. The roots of plants in "crumbly" soil can grow easily down the air spaces between the "crumbs." All around them are "crumbs" containing the water the roots need. At the tips of the roots are tiny hairs which absorb water. So you will see how important it is that the tips of the roots should not be damaged when planting out.

THE VALUE OF HUMUS

What is "humus"? It is a formless material made up of tiny particles produced from the remains of plants and animals when they have decayed. It helps to maintain a "good tilth" and thus ensures good aeration. But it does more; it helps the soil to remain moist and provides plant foods.

New Year's Day 2010

2010-01-01T16:21:00.005Z

It is a very cold day to start the year and the ground is too hard to do anything with now!

1st January 2010

......and a flash back to 8th August 2009.

.....but there's no-one else about.

Preparing for the winter

2009-11-16T21:19:00.012Z

We have lifted the carrots and we are really pleased with the result. Broad Beans have been sown following the carrots, it is hoped that the Autumn sowing will deter the Black Fly due to an early harvest in May or June next year.

We have spread the Farm Manure over the beds allowing the weather and worms to do their work over the winter.

We have planted a Rhubarb crown, so we will watch this space with growing interest as spring approaches.

November..........

2009-11-01T08:37:00.001Z

"No warmth, no cheerfulness, no helpful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member,—
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds—November!"

Clearing up

2009-10-24T09:03:00.003+01:00

We have cleared all the beds except for the carrots in readiness for the manure delivery.

Allotment & Garden Guide - October 1945 (2)

2009-10-11T09:31:00.003+01:00

CLEAR THAT RUBBISH

Clearing up the garden or allotment is a job that should not be put off. If decaying vegetable material, old sticks, cabbage stumps and other rubbish is left to rot in the garden, all kinds of pests and vermin will be encouraged. Keep up with the work of clearing the ground as soon as the crops are finished. Put all suitable material on the compost heap, while not forgetting the needs of any domestic livestock.

Bean sticks can often be made to serve two seasons, if they are carefully stored and kept dry during the winter. Pea sticks of the brushwood type are seldom much use after one season and should be burned.

THOSE BONFIRES

Keep them to the smallest limits and burn only woody or diseased material, the underground parts of thistles, docks, couch grass and the like. Bonfire ash should not be left out for the rain and dew to dissolve and wash away the very soluble form of potash it contains. It can be incorporated in the garden soil immediately it is cold, or it may be bagged, stored in a dry place and used as a fertilizer when needed.

Allotment & Garden Guide - October 1945

2009-10-10T18:28:00.003+01:00

"Hail, old October, bright and chill,
First freed man from the summer sun!
Spice high the bowl and drink your fill!
Thank Heaven, at last the summer's done!"

An American divine wrote that October is nature's funeral month and that the month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming: that October is more beautiful than May. Gardeners may well argue about that, but they will agree that the sun of their gardening year is setting in October. It is a time for reflection, for a judicial summing up of our successes and failures.

Are our failures due to any lack in ourselves? Did we fail to tackle those pests in good time or did those poor, worthless crops result from a lack of fertility in our soil? The farmer, we are told, looks at winter with spring in his eyes. So does the good gardener. For both the practical couplet is this: "In October dung your field, And your land its wealth shall yield."

But the reader may say, "It's all very well for the farmer, but where can I get dung?" Well, the answer to that has been given many many times; it is simply this—if you can't get dung, make compost. And how few gardeners do, yet compost will help them to keep their land fertile.

THAT COMPOST

October is the picture month — the month for painted leaves, as Thoreau, the American nature writer called it. That's a nice poetic thought, but to the sensible gardener those painted leaves, when they drop, become compost. Leaves of oak, beech and birch are very valuable for the compost heap, but pine and spruce needles, together with lime and plane tree leaves, are best burnt and the ashes used instead as a fertiliser.

So Marc, let's get that manure!!!!!!

The end of the Runner Beans

2009-09-28T11:51:00.004+01:00

But we may be lucky with some late Peas!

We've had the last of the Runner Beans and the plants are now in the Composter as well.

Fellow Allotmenteers

2009-09-21T10:49:00.005+01:00

Graham's plot looks well.....

Dave's Peas are looking good.....

End of the French Beans

2009-09-21T10:42:00.007+01:00

....and a coat of paint on the shed.

The French Beans have gone into the composter.

Another bed dug!

2009-09-11T18:32:00.004+01:00

The latest large bed is now double dug and complete. You can see the dead grass by the shed from the turf and surplus soil storage whilst digging.

Will the late peas crop?

2009-09-09T17:22:00.012+01:00

Dave is raising his beds.

Digging continues!

The late peas are growing and they are now needing support.

End of the Peas

2009-08-31T18:06:00.004+01:00

The peas have gone into the composter and the radish have been harvested.

Tidying up

2009-08-23T19:41:00.004+01:00

Today was just a tidying up day, cutting the grass and ensuring the edges of the beds were re-cut and weed free. The harvesting of peas, French and Runner Beans continues.

Steady progress

2009-08-19T15:35:00.004+01:00

We are slowly completing the next bed with bed 5 showing new growth with peas, radish and lettuce.

A new bed under way.

2009-08-08T20:10:00.003+01:00

Cats and the carrot bed

2009-08-07T22:27:00.003+01:00

A cat has scratched the carrot bed twice and therefore I have covered it with plastic bag pieces to save the cat attacking the bed again and hopefully saving the rest of the carrot crop. Also, the bags will stop the birds on bed five as I have sown three rows of French dwarf beans. You can also see in the first photo where the grass is recovering from being covered during bed four's preparation. The second photo shows the Runner Beans now in full flower and healthy plants in beds one and two.

Bed preparation continues

2009-08-03T08:29:00.004+01:00

Now that the shed is erected it's time to crack on with the beds while the weather is fine.

The shed takes it's place well.

2009-07-30T20:34:00.004+01:00

The shed has been erected and is a timely addition to the plot. The tools can come down now and will save on the carrying back and to. The shed will become a welcome haven during the frequent rain showers.

The wet weather continues

2009-07-29T13:34:00.002+01:00

Progress at the allotment has been slow due to continuous wet weather. We have ordered a shed however, so the base had to go down!

The carrots are in and new beds in progress

2009-07-13T17:47:00.000+01:00

The carrots are now sown in the third bed, we have started a fourth bed and completed a fifth bed at the start of a new column.

So now we're ready for sowing carrots!

2009-07-11T08:26:00.000+01:00

The new bed completed, and a view of the progress on the rest of the Allotments. There are very busy people here and the second photo shows the results of their hard work.

Pushing on!

2009-07-10T10:30:00.001+01:00

I am now moving onto the next bed as there maybe time for some carrots for October harvest.

Into July

2009-07-10T10:27:00.001+01:00

Then at the beginning of July the fruits of the hard labour begin to appear.

Keeping the Birds away

2009-07-10T10:23:00.000+01:00

Throughout June I tried to keep the birds away from the emerging Pea plants.

The beginning, early June 2009.

2009-07-10T09:21:00.000+01:00

These are new allotments at Pentre Gwyn, Wrexham. The hard work has started and the first two beds are ready. Due to the lateness of the start I am going for Runner Beans, Dwarf French Beans and main crop peas.