Pictures of dirt

The onions that I planted earlier have started to sprout,the recent rain has helped.
This is technically a picture of the brussel sprouts in my brassica cage unfortunately a tad out of focus.Whilst removing the yellowing lower leaves I disturbed lots of whitefly.
This is the area where I had my runner bean plants and I have already dug it over.Next year I will be growing potatoes here so another compost run at the stables is called for.

This is my area for next years legumes.The lighter colour soil are 8 bags of horse manure,the darker soil is council compost.It has been covered up and pinned down and hopefully the worms will do their stuff over the winter.

The nice weather has encouraged me to start my next digging project,the bit I left covered over,unfortunately this is the tree stump area.I have done a couple of square metres today and the roots are gradually coming out.The further I move from the tree stump the easier it gets.

In this area I want to plant some raspberry canes when T@M get round to delivering them and strawberry plants that I am waiting to root in the garden.

In the garden I have planted some daffodil bulbs,cut back some roses and mulched them and collected more leaves for next years leaf mulch.

Plot clearance begins

 A harvest of carrots,parsnips and some austrian and blue radishes.

I have pulled up the runner bean plants and composted them so the plot is looking a little bare.
All that remains are a row of Gladiator parsnips,Falstaff brussel sprouts and some Primo cabbages plus various odds and ends that may weather permitting get harvested.

GMT

 The new people(who appear to have 2 other nearby plots) have made a good start on Plot 72 which has encouraged me to tidy up a bit.I have moved my compost heap and made a start digging up tree roots.I can't see how this area can be productive so will mainly be using it for storage and as a dumping ground.I still have an area covered by a groundsheet that needs to weeded and dug over so I can put some Raspberries and Strawberries in.

I have finished my onion/garlic bed for next season with another row of Senshyu yellow and Electric red onions.
With the onset of GMT I have pulled up the Golden Sunrise and Alicante tomatoes in the garden and have 3 bags of leaf mulch on the go.

Last chance saloon

Yesterday I tidied up the tomatoes in the greenhouse in the hope of getting some sort of final crop.
I also harvested some broccoli and alicante tomatoes.
At the allotment I have planted up a row of Senshyu Yellow onions,Red Electric onions,Golden Gourmet shallots and a few more Garlic bulbs.
I covered my 12 by 8 bean patch for next year and got 8 bags of manure from my niece's stable.
Someone has finally taken on Plot 72 and they have made a decent start in weeding it.
The next job is to plant my spring bulbs.

The last of the potatoes

Yesterday I dug up the last of the Picasso potatoes and have dug the soil and composted it to put in some overwintering onions.I also planted another batch of garlic.I weeded my brassica cage which was full of whitefly.
On Sunday I worked in the allotment shop and took the opportunity to stock up with daffodils,tulips,crocuses and onions.
A bit of overnight rain softened up my old onion bed above so I have dug over a 12 by 8 section ready for a groundsheet to cover it over the winter period.
I also got some bonus garlic from last years planting which is a bit on the soft side but should be alright for cooking.It smells gorgeous.
From the garden we have had some Cabbage which was very tasty.
I have got Koralik,Beefsteak and Sungold tomatoes fermenting for seeds next year.

A pleasant surprise

I went to the allotment this morning and found that Plot 72B has been taken and cleared in less than a week.

Yippee no more 6 foot weeds.

                           
 Now all I need is for someone to do the same with Plot 72 and I will be a happy bunny.

 A lone rudbeckia that I grew from seed this year and planted on the plot.

The brassica cage is filling up nicely with brussel sprouts.Today I harvested yet more Painted Lady runner beans and Picasso potatoes and gave the plot a good watering.I also started my planting of Albigensian Wight garlic from saved summer cloves.
I have started off some sweet pea seeds in toilet rolls and taken cuttings of my ivy leaved geraniums.
I have also started saving Anaheim chilli seeds for my seed circle.

Today's harvest

Some nice Gladiator parsnips,more runner beans and potatoes,some fair sized boltardy beetroots and a blue radish.I also harvested some small carrots and lettuce leaves.
From the garden it was tomatoes and more salad leaves.