Chocka-Block!

I have now just about run out of space on the Pellon Plot... for this month at least! This is probably more down to my bad planning on my part rather then a lack of actual space! I'm sure (he says) next year I will be more organised... Thinkin back I could have had a couple of rows of Early Potato's in, which I could have dug up and replaced with Turnips/Sweedes about now getting two crops out of one bed...
also come the winter I think I might have to dig up my rhubard and replant it in the space next to the manure `dump`as this seems to take up alot of growing space for something you dont really get much back from!

It almost makes it tempting to take on the next plot up.... even if it looks like this!

...although this is what my plot looked like less then 12-months ago, well probably worse as this is mainly grass - I'm not sure if I would (at the moment) have the time, or energy to take on clearing another plot - whilst keeping the current on well managed!
Plus points would be that on the one above I could maybe have a pond, some more perenials, a wildlife corner... which would probably take up 50% of the space... mmmm, watch this space!!!



The Japanesse Onion sets are ready to lift (as I was told by my neighbour) Ive moved the soil back of the top of them to let the sun get to them... shame there aint no sun at the moment though - but I'll be leaving them till next weekend once the allotment compertition is over!



At the other end of the Onion Bed I have now cleared all the spring onions - some of these went on the Compost Heap, although there were quite a few nice sized ones left over, and the one's which had got a little too large I have had a go at pickling!



In the Spring Onions place I have planted out a block of Sweede's, the garlic is still in the background which I'll lift at the same time as the onions. I might also have a go at direct sowing a couple of rows of sweedes too.



Back to wastes of space this is my `carrot` bed... yep, a full bed dedicated to carrots! This might not have been too bad - except for the sparadic germination meaning I have large gaps in most of the rows! Not detered though I've still sown 2 more lines through the middle!!! The worst part of this bed is trying to hand weed inbetween them all... what a boring job!!!



In the seedbed now my Lettuces have all gone to seed they've been taken out and a couple of rows of replacements sown - radishes and lettuce you can see growing in the foreground, then Ive sown some more carrots(!!!) beetroot, radishes and lettuce (to fill in any gaps!)



The only other change on the Plot this weekend is my `weedy bed`. This is the one which did have Punkins and Courgettes in it! With the spectacular failer of them though... and the lack of space I've finally managed to give it a good digging and weeding and have planted some Turnips in here. I dont doubt that I'll have missed plenty of weed roots - but so long as I keep my hoe handy I recon I'll be able to keep on top of them!

The rest of the plot is pretty much as is... all growing away nicley...

Mid June

Planting and growing on the Pellon Plot is now rife, after the last couple of weeks of sunshine everything seems to have taken of and the plot is almost in full production. I say almost as my failed "Punkin Bed" (failed as in the Punkins have dissapeared) is still covered in plastic waiting to be dug over... I'll have to get it done soon though as my Turnips and Swedes are almost ready to be planted out... and theres no where else to put them!!!!

Heres the Fruit Bed, one rhubarb growing away, the other seemed to die back! I pulled the leafs of it though and it has now started sprouting again. at the far end of the bed are my strawberrys... and in the middle Leeks!!!!

Strawberrys are looking well, and according to Albert will be a good crop this year cause its so been so hot

"Little Leeklings" still not the size of a pencil - but they seem to be doing ok anyway - even if the soil has fallen into the holes I dibbed out for them.

Winter Destiny Lettuces that I sowed in September last year have now started to go to seed, although they were nice they have now been demoted to Rabbit Food. Row of replacements growing behind them though, with a couple of rows of Radishes (also no show of my parsnips yet - might have missed the boat on these) My Rossa Lettuces never showed either?

Jappanese Onion Sets look great, all nicley swelling and fingers crossed should be ready soon. A couple have flowered (or tried to) but I just broke the flower head of and they still seem to be swelling. Got told of the other day for watering them - apparently you dont water onions or potatos???

Garlic is looking ok too. Had a bit of a dig around the bottom of one the other day and there seems to be a quite good bulb at the bottom of them - I was told not to water these either

I have a carrot! Or at least I think this is a carrot! Its one of the Early Nantes 2 which I sowed months back with nothing showing through. Was hand weeding the bed and discovered that something was actually now coming up. The other side of the bed I have Autumn King which are also coming through. The Nantes seem a little sparce, esspecially as I sowed three rows - twice, but everyone seems to have had trouble with carrots this year


Got my middle "long bed Number 3" dig over and weeded, and have planted my Cabbage and Cauliflowers I grew from seed. They seem to be ok despite not being netted etc to protect them from the birds! After digging it over remembered they need firm soil though, so me and my 3 year old had to trample over the soil - which he didnt mind at all! I'm still amazed at how fast things will grow once your put them out in the open and given them a bit of water - at this rate they might even grow quicker then the slugs can eat them!

At the other end of the bed my lad planted 3 sunflowers - he's waiting to see if they'll grow bigger then him, although before they do I'm going to have to go out and buy some longer canes! Bit of space between these and the cauli's which I'll probably fill with lettuce or something!

Long Bed No. 4 - which is where my planting plan kind of went a bit to pot! In this bed I have... Alsia Craig Onions, Reb Barron Onions, Greyhound Cabbage, Swedes, Leeks, Tomatos, and sprouts!!!!!!!!!!!
Next year hopefully I'll be more organised in getting the various beds ready BEFORE the plants need to go out! :)

Planting through plastic... still not sure if this will be a success or not - plants dont seem to be doing anything! I think come Autumn I'll give the crouch under this a really good and thorough digging/weeding and try do away with the plastic for 2007.

Runner Beans have started running - but are suffering from vertigo and dont seem to want to climb up the canes...

Herb Garden by my "patio" ... should start to fill out over the next couple of months... years! I have planted some Horseradish here, then read the label which says they grow upto 2 foot wide, so I'll prob have to take a macheti to the plot to get into my shed in the coming years!

Main crop Desiree Potatos - enough said??!?!?!? :)

Couple of pics across the plot...