Allotment update

 The first Gladiator parsnip of the season coming in at 17 inches.

 Finally a picture in focus of my Falstaff brussel sprouts

 The Helenor swede is fattening up nicely.

The Marshmello strawberries bed had a bit of a tidy up and trim.
I planted a row of Cristo garlic and 2 short rows of White Lisbon winter hardy spring onions.
The next planting will be Senshyui and Electric Red overwintering onions.

Strawberry runners

With the advice of Monty Don on Gardeners World,Our Plot at Green Lane blog,Allotments 4 All and the people at the Allotment shop,I have been sorting out my Marshmello strawberry runners.
First job was to clear away the straw,then I cut off any leaves that were brown or shrivelled.
Then I filled some pots with compost and played hunt the runner and untangled it.
Some had already rooted in the soil so I cut them off from the parent plant and gave them a good watering.
I placed a runner in a pot and weighed it down with a couple of stones and hopefully they will take.
I also brought a few runners home, potted them up and pinned them down with a paper clip.
Looking forward to having numerous new plants later on in the year.

Straw trip

 I would like to thank The Hope for the strawbale and my allotment neighbours for the use of their wheelbarrow for transporting it back to the allotment.

I have only got 8 Marshmello Strawberry plants at the moment but two are already flowering and hopefully the straw will help against slugs.
I have planted out one row of Charlotte potatoes,one row of Rumba Onions and one row of Red Baron Onions,12 Early Onward Pea plants and some Borage.
In the garden I have planted Violetta Broad Beans,Swallow Peas,Early Nantes Carrots and Ishikara Spring Onions.
On the seed front I have started pots of Principe Borghese,Mortgage Lifter,Zinnia Elegans Queen Red Lime,Marigold Galore,French Marigold Golden Winner and Pansy Giant Fancy.
I have potted on Gazania Sunshine mixed,Zinnia Elegans Queen Red Lime and Slovenian Black Tomatoes.
I have also managed to cook my Piccolino Cucumber and some Black Hungarian Chillies.

Nice weather for a change

After the last week of horrible weather it was nice to finally get down to the allotment.I planted some marshmello strawberry runners kindly given to me by Manicscousers that I have had lounging about in the garden.I also harvested some volunteer Gladiator parsnips and a meagre amount of Brussel sprouts.I then dug over this years potato bed so I can get a row of Pentland Javelin in and moved my groundsheet off of the legume bed,the soil there looks lovely,after a bit of rain I will start to plant out my Aquadulce broad beans.
At home I have started some Early Onward peas and potted on some beefsteak tomatoes for a forum competition.