Tuesday 10 November 2009

Slow, but steady progress!

Welcome back to Reads Allotment Retreat, where finally we bring some news from the plot! (Albeit old news as due to my recent illness I've not lifted a spade now for a good couple of weeks).
Our first view today is of our new potato bed, which is slowly but surely being dug ready for next springs planting's. The bed was home this year to our climbing beans, and is now almost completely dug over. Progress has been slow as it had only been shallow dug for the beans. There's also a multitude of stones and weeds to remove as we go. We are digging down now to a minimum of 1 spit (a spade's depth) and opening up the final layer before replacing the turned and weeded earth. This, together with a generous top dressing of our plot made compost (more of that later) , should be sufficient growth depth for the 6 rows of spuds that are planned. The beds that were home to the spuds last year are now earmarked for different crops, as we try and form a mini plot rotation. We won't be bothering with a 4 year rotation as the space and layout would make this difficult, but we may get a 3 year plan underway! The soil itself is now looking good, and the nitrogen rich roots from the climbing beans have been left to rot down where they grew, thus enriching the soil further over the winter. We don't plan to manure the ground this year, rather wait until next autumn. This will let the spuds do the work of breaking up the soil further over the course of next year.

If you look closely at the picture above, you will notice that there is a large mound the length of one side of the bed. This is the result of emptying our compost bin (pictured left), so that we can once again fill it up! The content was mostly topsoil turves that we had cleared away - approx 4" deep - so that we could get a head start last year with planting up our new plot. This autumn / winter's compost will be more "green" material, including weeds and veg leaves, and will probably be topped up with more turves from Plot 87 as we start to clear that. We must have composted and made a good half ton of topsoil, and this will be spread around the plot as we go, helping us to create the good tilth that is required for new plantings. Unfortunately, there's still another compost bin adjacent to this one that needs emptying, but good too in the fact that we haven't got to fork out (no pun intended) for more topsoil. This to me is the heart of having an allotment. I often gasp at fellow plotholders stories and tales of how much they have spent "buying in" topsoil to get to the same stage. How easily some people waste money eh?
Finally, a view to remind us (as if a reminder were needed!) of the hard work that still awaits on our new plot. There's been no progress on our winter project - the greenhouse - but by siting the structure where it is now, we have discovered an otherwise hidden and well established Asparagus bed - aren't we lucky! This will supplement our efforts at home, and hopefully yield a decent crop next April.
There's a lot of work still to do, but we think we are starting to gain the upper hand. As Percy Thrower used to say, " a little work done often is the key", and that is what we are doing. Hopefully you'll stick with us as our 2nd year of allotmenteering draws near, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.

Take care all; wherever in the world you are, and enjoy your gardens.

TTFN

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

well it might look a long time till you reach your goal but you have already achieved soo much. I can't believe people go and buy topsoil...that's just ridiculous!!! Hope you get the greenhouse sorted soon.

Gary and Jen, and Ruby and Peter said...

Hi Tanya,
Thanks for the reassurance, sometimes it seems like an uphill struggle. Now especially as we all have bad colds!
We just look at plots like your own and think, one day we'll get there!

TTFN

Jo said...

I've enjoyed reading your blog. I got my allotment in March of this year, so you've only had your's a short time longer than me and yet you're way ahead. I'm really enjoying it though, you hear about so many people who give their allotment up as soon as they come to their first hurdle, but I couldn't do that, I love my lottie.

Gary and Jen, and Ruby and Peter said...

Hi Jo,
Thanks for your comments, and an official welcome to our blogs. It's always nice to get comments, especially from "New" readers.
There's always something to knock you back, but perseverance is the key. All things take time, and you just cant rush it. Good luck to you with your allotments, and hopefully we'll "chat" again soon.

Take care,

TTFN