As an urban allotmenter, with the dream of one day running my own smallholding, follow my successes, trials and tribulations on the allotment as I strive to become self sufficient. I hope you enjoy.
I said there was something magical going on today...
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...as I collected my potato sacks to head up and lift my potatoes, one stray leftover had turned into a Christmas Bauble!
I've had 9 months (almost) since I took over my new garden and I thought it was time to look at a before and after picture. The first image is once we took down the large trees. Unfortunately, I haven't got any of before we started any work which is a shame. The second is this morning in the glorious sunshine looking magnificent. We're currently self sufficient in cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, spring onions, broad beans, herbs and, of course, eggs. Garlic will be harvested in a couple of weeks and I've already pulled up the last of the spinach that was sown last year - it bolted but went to the chickens so not a waste. Currently in the ground are onions, peas, French beans, soya beans, parsnip, carrot, beetroot, lettuce, sweet corn, tomatoes, courgette, several squashes, cucumber, and an array of brassicas. I'm growing potatoes in bags and hope to do the same with my sweet potatoes. Ive never grown sweet potatoes so its a first for me. In the greenh...
Someone told me this week, the reason vegetables are seasonal is so that you don't get bored of them. By the time they're back in season, you'll have had enough of a break and be ready to enjoy them again. I thought it was quite a nice way to look at things. However, I do think marrows may be an exception to this rule! I've been 'lucky' this year...the dry weather in May and June meant a lot of my squashes didn't make it so I haven't had the usual glut of courgettes and marrows from the plot. I know by this time in the year, some of you are regretting the decision to pop another seed in back in the spring. For an alternative stuffed marrow try this... Peel and cut marrow into 1" thick rings. Meanwhile fry off a red onion with some diced spicy chorizo sausage. Add a handful of peas, some mixed herbs and some cous cous and mix together to make the stuffing. Fill the marrow rings with the stuffing. Cover with foil and bake for an hour. Check ...
On the 29th January we got our three hens. We decided on three different breeds - a Splash Orpington, Crested Legbar and a Cemani. They would give us three different coloured eggs (blue, brown and white) and the Cemani is good winter layer (so I am told). Having been beaten by the weather, they spent the first week in the greenhouse while I finished building their house. That was actually quite good thing in the end as they gave the ground in the greenhouse a thorough weed, rake and fertilise ready for sowing. Having got them at 6 weeks of age, they were not yet ready to lay (usually 18-24 weeks old is when they start) but each day we still checked for eggs. I closed off the nest boxes at first so as to not get them into the habit of sleeping in there. This is a really easy habit for the chickens to get into, but a hard one to break. We don't want them soiling the nest boxes and eggs! Knowing that the day was getting close, last week, ...
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