The Hiatus has been reached

Sadly we have come to a decision that our allotment is simply too much for us.

Not that we are giving up but we really need a new strategy, since starting work again I have realised that annual beds mixed with mares tail is a non starter.

I simply can't keep up with the weed growth and its too damaging to the crops.

So we are thinking or creating a small forest garden with a no digging policy.
Permaculture mixed with pot based annuals should do the trick.

We have been beaten down mentally by toil and and poor results...its a time for a re-org.
If i can't keep up with weeds when I have all day to do it then best to make a new plan.

mares trail is not beatable and it will continue to grow whatever we do so bets to beat it with trees and shrubs and give up on root veg in the ground. This will hopefully remove the associated stress I have been feeling about our patch.

We feel a little better about it now and look forward to the next plan.. but hey ho on the weeding goes...for now... :)

Weeding and winning

So the fight continues and now the family have joined we are making short work of the weeds, they come back after a couple of weeks..but as I've said before hey ho and on the weeding goes.We are now cropping peas a plenty, and I would advise anyone to do these,they are easy and mainly unaffected by weeds. And it is cool to see young ones working out that peas don't really come from Captain Birdseye!!The beetroot patch has been ravaged through hard weeding and has had to be refilled with many baby beets..numbers however are still low.
Raspberries are flourishing at home but the patch at the allotment is a little way off yet...the flowering calendula and poppies bring some well needed to colour to the area.Tomatoes in the greenhouse are coming on they live with a pepper and a vine and so far the fights have been minimal, we are hoping for a happy balance.
The rhubarb is behaving slightly better after a good ripping off of leaves but its still a tough old bird.
Joey ate his first Daddy grown carrot the other day and then tried to dig them all up, I have advised to let the, grow a bit first but still very happy with what we have.
I've decided on the whole to try and be philosophical about the weed issue, like so many things in life it ain't perfect but it does give us a huge boost and we do enjoy it.So have decided not to let the bastards grind us down....hey ho and on the weeding goes...

Alittle more weeding

The weeds are taking over and I am now pulling out handfuls of pinky weed and much greeney weeds..please don't let the detailed nature of the description intimidate you:)

Anyway I have now realised that not mulching with something is dumb, mulchy mulch mulch or the weeds will rise.

I have taken offensive action against the weeds in the beetroot patch only to have them taunt me with new shoots..they will rue the day huh??

The baby calendula are up and all ornagey which highlights the weedy bits well and at least differentiates them from the weeds anyway....

Blueberries are coming....oh I have tomatoes in my almost finished greenhouse...and a vine..hope the get grapes etc..no brewing for me yet maybe later..a still In the shed..hmm...

Anyway I have one black cherry on the previously thought to be sterile tree...this tree is all happy and is showing off its cherry to everyone...hey ho and on the weeding goes...

Is the honeymoon over??

The malaise of the allotment holder

So the first few months go well, plants start poking through..some are already in flower mainly strawberries and rhubarb, plum and apple .
Then April comes and the weed army is in full effect. Whilst oftem the most blossomy it seems to me the most depressing and busy allotment holder months..which is a bit of a bugger as this April has personally been a complete arse…so on retrun to said hallowed growing area I was greeted with pea destruction..even though bug clear was deployed *other pesticides are also available* the buggers have still monched my PEAS!!!

I have now become a little pea obsessed, I have 4 planting areas for peas..I have also planted sweet peas to give the greeblies some fodder..not sure how to convince them that they are the scrummiest pea plants in the village but working on it still.

The pear tree is ominously without life yet..we await news of its demise…Joey will not be pleased…he is a pear-aholic…
The mares tail is becoming a bit of a karmic problem as I am beginning to suffer anger issues at it..and also mildly depressed about its necessity to plague me – hating a plant seems harsh but really it takes the fun from our previously weed free patch…

Sunflowers are now 3 inches high and will hopefully provide a bit of light at the end of the weeding tunnel…hey ho ..on the weeding goes.

Free Greenhouse has arrived.

If you manage to bore all your friends with talk of your allotment then eventually you will find a person who no longer want there greenhouse. Here's were the fun begins. Usually the deal is if you can take it down its yours. This is fair if a little time consuming and fiddly. Free greenhouses are obviously the best kind, less landfill, social interaction and free growing space.

Archie the plant mangler has planted marigolds and broccoli today so hopefully they will bring us future joy and dinner.
mares tail is getting all leafy and hey ho on the weeding goes...

Pea murdering bugs, seeds and seddlings and the constant dig for victory.

Managed to get a few hours in today down t'patch.
I have witnessed sum burnt broccoli seedlings...I have offered them love and water and await results. Poor things. The parsnips and are breaking through and the carrot babies are springing up mostly in the carrot patch. Mares tail is still the evil weed of the patch and is generally enemy number one...however...

I have a new menace to report, the dastardly pea weavel!! Da da daaa!
They have murder some peas and heavily munched the rest. I have pea forced down the root of chemicular attack...well they started it!

The fruiting plum (sorry thought it was a cherry in my tired head) has fallen into blossom and is glorious and is taking over from its androgynous neighbour. Got lots done and nothing looks to have changed. Ah well hey hoe and on the weeding goes...

Children and Working your land.

How wonderfully idylic it seems to bring fruits of your own seed to the ground you have acquired to grow things with you. To pick up all your weeds, dig over your compost, and be your mini munkins our gardening delight. In reality this is very rarely the case. From time to time they will be your rake fetchers and seed chuckers but often they will be not. My middle son is a digger, seven years have helped him find his true place in our alotment. He will dig usually a large round hole and is training towards tenches, weeding is also a growing skill but aonly in 30 second periods..then usually back to the digging.

The youngest is a mauler of plant babies. He is a path ignorer and constant ground waterer of great repute. He does not descriminate and therefore sometimes does actually water some plants..it makes wellies essential but thats ok. He will often fill the back of his pedla car with soil and woodchip....sometimes even planting a strawberry or two within. He is also a neighbour allotment invader...a boinger on freshly seeded patcheser...quite a challenge to do anything with no. 3 son. We often wanfer and look at birds...this is often better for the back than digging. Maybe he is on the side of the weeds..he is very funny when not imtimidating the plants..I think the tree and rhubarb are probably safely robust.

No. 1 son is past real interest and a bit concerned about icky soil and flies. Thgis can be alittle debilitating when trying to work in our place so he is a shed dweller and no.3 son chaser..to his credit...

In reality time spent alone on your patch can be hugely productive..but the soulk is fed better when company is had..I have allowed myself time to talk to my near enighbours who are always full of good advice..usually slightly doomful..sweetcorn loving badgers being the most worrying but its better..runnning away to the shed is a different matter..this will be dealt with later...


hey ho and on the weeding goes...