tales from the allotment.

I have not been to my plot for a while what with the injured ankle and then being on holiday. I'm pleased to report that it is looking good. Today, amongst other things I planted three very poorly looking courgette plants. They really should have been planted out a couple of weeks ago. I gave them all a scoop of chicken manure pelletts, lots of water and put a little blanket of comfrey leaves round each. I hope they will grow big and strong.


My other discovery today is that mice have eaten half of the bar of soap that I keep up here.

A new slate. well, plot.

I'm always so excited about getting going with my plot this time of year. I'm full of plans and enthusiasm.

Every year I vow to be more attentive to the needs of plants, spend more time gardening and have my best looking plot and highest crop yield ever. I only ever manage a small improvement.

Anyway I'm ever optimistic.

I've been on line shopping for seeds, plant minders, a raised bed and vegetable cages.

I bought a new set of cheap plastic shelves which I have constructed in the bathroom to put my seeds on.

I grow seeds in toilet roll inners. It works quite well, I plant three to four seeds in each, some don't germinate, I pull out the weak plants and the healthiest one I plant out in the ground or in the greenhouse. Keeping it in the toilet rolls mean the roots are not damaged when replanting.

I planted cherry tomatoes and cayenne peppers two weeks ago, first tomato sprouts have just appeared, I'm so excited.

Saturday morning I cleared out some stuff into the skip and today I planted sweet pointed pepper seeds

I'm looking forward to it all coming together.

In other news, We had a family lunch today for my Gran's birthday. It was nice, actually good fun but the humour highlight was when the waitress said "I'll take that away darling" to my Grampa, who is hard of hearing and who then turned to my Mum and me and asked "did she just call me Alan?"